Going Up?

On May 22, the UO Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America returned to Portland for another action-packed professional development tour before the end of the school year in June. Our first stop in the City of Roses was Maxwell Public Relations, an independent, woman-owned brand communications agency, where we were joined by my colleague Dianne Danowski Smith, APR, Fellow PRSA.

Maxwell PR, located in the Lair Hill neighborhood, works with consumer brands to help strengthen local economies, such as the City of Astoria, while nurturing human connection and opportunity. To my great delight, the agency's presentation was facilitated by Maxwell PR Account Director Jessica Lee, a former student in my public relations classes at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.

Next up was We Communications, a global communications and integrated marketing agency locate in the Pearl District. Packing too many of us at once into the elevator, the car jerked abruptly, then stopped, so two of us exited quickly and took the stairs. Meanwhile, the rest of our group remained stuck in place for about 20 minutes until help arrived. Yet as you can see, nobody panicked during "The Great Elevator Caper."

Once our full cohort was in place, the We Communications team provided a comprehensive interactive session focused on describing their work with national and international clients with emphasis on the intersection of technology and humanity.  Much to my surprise, the We Communications team in Portland also included several former students and advisees, including Sophie Ey, Megan Connor and Daphne Martin.

At the end of the day, it was yet another fabulous UO PRSSA professional development tour thanks to the professionals at Maxwell PR and We Communications, with a tip of the fedora to Shaelyn Ross and Riley Severino for coordinating the junket to Portland. The last UO PRSSA trip of the year was the perfect complement to the group's trip to New York City in February. Thanks to all the professionals we've seen in 2024-25, and despite "The Great Elevator Caper," these aspiring public relations professionals have no place to go but up!

A Boy And His Dog

We met on a sunny but crisp January morning in 2012 at Sand Dunes Kennel in Florence, Oregon. She was one of eight English creme golden retrievers bundled in a corner of the kennel. Most of the others were sleeping or feeding. But this pup walked across the kennel to the base of my feet and untied my shoes. "This one has moxie," I said aloud. "She is the one."

We spent the next 13+ years together with our canine companion, much beloved by our entire family. We took trips galore to the beaches of the Oregon Coast and the hinterlands of the Cascade Mountains. She was our resident alarm system as she patrolled the perimeter of our fence. She had escaped death before. But on March 21, she passed.

The family is devastated. Moxie has been by my side for 18 percent of my current life span, and an integral part of our lives for well over a decade. It's been difficult for me to reconcile. My heart insists it's still mending. But my mind tells me to remember all the good times, all the funny moments and the pure joy and love that Moxie brought to our family.

We learned immediately that Moxie was not a good traveler. On the road back to Eugene, she threw up in the car. When we relocated her to the crate, she pooped in place. She was a Nervous Nellie whenever we traveled with her somewhere. But eventually, she came to tolerate our trips with much coaxing and reassurance, along with a comfortable berth in the car.

Moxie was not only a beautiful golden retriever, but her personality was pure sweetness and light. On walks, the people we met couldn't help but comment. Many felt a compelling need to pet her, and she always accommodated them. Kids loved her.

When I would leave town on a trip to hither and yon, I would often hear this: "She knows you're gone and she's slightly depressed about it." But when I would return, she would go bonkers with enthusiasm.

We spent much time together at our Owl Conservatory retreat in the North Cascades, enjoying our trail walks and meanderings in Shugart Flats. Unlike Carmen, who would wander off into the brush, causing great consternation, Moxie always stuck close by. Her loyalty and love for her family was off the charts. Interestingly, she had no interest in most other dogs...

...except for her beloved half-brother, whipping boy and chief ally, Boba Fett, an English bulldog adopted by my daughter's family. Buddies from the beginning, Moxie had no problem bossing Boba around. Yet she was a loving big sister to the irascible Boba Fett, whom could bully and intimidate much larger dogs, including a Russian wolfhound.

Despite the fact that she is a Capricorn, Moxie was pure water dog, whether it was cooling off in the kiddie pool we bought exclusively for her use, rolling in puddles over at the Lane County Fairgrounds, wading into the current of the Chiwawa River, or diving into the frigid waters at Lake Wenatchee State Park near the Owl Conservatory. She was all in.

Moxie was always my "wing pup" when I needed her the most. She was there for me: when I slipped in the backyard and fractured two vertebra, she diligently escorted me to the couch where I remained until having spinal fusion surgery; when I was in recovery mode, she never left my side; and when I slipped down the hallway stairs, she was the first to arrive.

She escaped death on several occasions, starting with a near miss by a speeding car when she bolted across the street to greet the mailman. But she also survived major surgery to have her spleen removed. An examination of the organ determined that the abscess was benign and she survived for two more years, even shaking off a stroke late last year.

What she could not escape was a traumatic injury she received at Suds 'Em, our longtime groomer. Our veterinarian confirmed that Moxie had suffered severe bruising around her neck, resulting in blood and fluid filling her lungs, making it harder for her to breathe, and preventing her from getting up on her back legs and walking. Negligence, plain and simple.

Despite the tragedy of her loss, we will remember the good times: chasing the Canadian geese over at the Lane County Fairgrounds, swimming with the other bathers at Lake Wenatchee State Park, walks on the beach near the Siuslaw Jetty in Florence and so much more over her 13 and a half years with our family.

We are heartbroken and we will miss her terribly. Some have asked: Is there another dog in my future? Goes without saying. Life is simply too short without a canine companion.

Meet The PRos

"Just say yes, even if you don't think you're ready." That was the consensus opinion among panelists from a variety of agencies and organizations at the "Meet the PRofessionals" event sponsored by the University of Oregon Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America on April 23-24.

Panelists included four former students from my classes in the public relations sequence at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, including Hannah Smith (Gard Communications), Justin Hanes (Amazon), Jennifer Foss (Intel Corporation) and Aaron Grossman (Portland Trailblazers).

Hosted and coordinated by UO PRSSA Events Director Tessa Campbell and President Jillian Gray, panelists offered lively responses to questions posed by Tessa and Jill, and spoke of their professional journeys as a circuitous route following years of networking and "trial and error."

Attendee Aislyn Morrill commented on LinkedIn: "I said 'yes' to showing up alone, to talking with strangers, to learning something new. As I started talking to other attendees, I found common ground -- people who also care about helping others, working with nonprofits and showing up as their best selves."

"Because of that, I gained valuable insights, grew my network and met people I genuinely connected with," Aislyn continued. "This experience gave me clarity, connections and confidence." Day 2 of the event offered another opportunity for students to connect with professionals in a more informal setting.

A "tour de force" from PRSA Oregon, including (from left) Andrea Watson, APR, Jonathan Yost, APR, Stacy Moe-Kean, APR, and Kelliann Amico, APR, Fellow PRSA, ventured down from Portland for the day to help out, and another former student of mine, Ann (A.wordsmith) Smith, joined us for the session.

Three Waterfalls Lodge

Built as a wilderness retreat on the Washougal River near the Columbia River Gorge by a prominent Portland judge (below, with his visage carved into an old cedar stump) in the 1920s, the Three Waterfalls Lodge is a secluded, picturesque setting for a family retreat over spring break.

The property features several acres and is located in a classic Pacific coast rainforest of large Douglas firs, Western red cedars and the occasional Sitka spruce, with Bracken ferns and sword ferns and moss -- lots of moss -- virtually everywhere. Weather cooperated and provided both days of sun and rain.

Best views were from the front deck overlooking the Washougal River (above) ambling down to the Columbia River Gorge about 10 miles downstream. The cabin, built before the existence of such things as building codes or land use laws, could never exist near such sensitive waterways in this day and age.

Despite its age, the lodge has been upgraded with all the modern amenities, including wi-fi capability, though cell phone service was a bit spotty.

Nonetheless, we had "old school" features, like a turntable with a healthy collection of vinyl record albums, and a television with a plentiful supply of VHS tapes, along with board games and playing cards.

Rising To The Occasion

In its first year in the Big Ten Conference, the University of Oregon's men's basketball team has earned a return trip to March Madness after weathering a competitive schedule in one of the nation's premiere leagues, finishing 24-9 and beating powerhouses like Wisconsin, Penn State and Ohio State.

Yet it was a mere two years ago that the Ducks landed a less desirable berth in the National Invitational Tournament, leading to criticism by The Oregonian suggesting it was time for the team's longtime coach and sure-bet Hall of Fame Coach Dana Altman to ride off into the sunset.

Not so fast, my friend. I took umbrage at such a short-sighted -- nay blinkered -- suggestion. I was compelled to write UO Athletic Director Rob Mullens and show my support for Coach Altman, who has an overall head coaching record of 710-367, with 15 consecutive 20-win seasons at Oregon.

"Hi, Rob. As a 38-year season ticket holder to Duck basketball, I was disheartened to read in The Oregonian that Dana Altman, whom I consider a great coach, was so frustrated after the NIT game against Wisconsin that he consequently took too much responsibility for the lack of fans in the stands."

"While I appreciate the fact that Dana is a stand-up guy, the real reasons behind the lack of fans at the game go way beyond the performance of the team or the coaches. The real for the lack of attendance, aside from the fact that it was spring break, is lack of parking, ticket prices and late games."

"Dana is not the problem. He is a Hall of Fame coach-in-waiting whom I hope will remain at Oregon for many years to come. UO should develop new approaches to address the real reasons for lack of attendance: provide more parking options and get more creative with ticket prices and scheduling of game times."

Incredibly, I heard back from Rob Mullens almost immediately: "Thanks for your thoughtful note. And many thanks for your generosity as a long-time season ticket holder to Oregon men’s basketball. We are in total agreement that Dana Altman is a Hall of Fame coach and is the best person to lead the Ducks."

"You provided a lot to unpack in your other three key areas.  Given your 38 years of experience, I would like to touch base with you via phone to learn more and share information which may be helpful. Please let me know your availability and best number to reach you. Thanks again for your loyalty. Rob."

Now that's what I call customer service. After a 15-minute conversation with Rob Mullens, I was reassured that Altman was in good stead with the athletic department. The very next season, the UO men made the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament. This season, the Ducks made the Big Dance again.

Along with Oregon natives Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad, Altman reloaded with key transfers from other former Pac-10 schools, such as T.J. Bamba from WSU and Branden Angel from Stanford. On Friday, March 21, the Webfoots will face off against the Liberty Flames in Seattle. Go Ducks!

Thrill Ride

With the college football season now in the rear view mirror, it's safe to say that the University of Oregon Ducks took fans for quite the amusement park thrill ride, leading Head Coach Dan Lanning to ask his team and Duck fans everywhere: "Are you not entertained?" In the end, the team fell short of its ultimate goal in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, but fans can take comfort in the fact it was a helluva ride.

Consider that in their first year in the expanded Big 10 Conference, the Ducks not only won the conference championship, completing an undefeated season, but also became the first Big 10 team to ever beat the heavyweights in the league -- Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State -- all in the same season. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (top) became the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.

Gabriel was also the second consecutive Heisman finalist, following Bo Nix. The team featured numerous all-league and all-American players who will be drafted by the National Football League. Though the Ducks lost to Ohio State (.816) in the playoff quarterfinals, a team they had beaten earlier in the season, UO nonetheless finished third in final poll, and featured the highest winning percentage (.823) in the nation.

Last Canyon Next To The Mountains

(Editor's Note: This article is reprised from a previous GonzoPR post and celebrates my new coffee table picture book titled "Aye, Chiwawa: Wilderness Photography" published in January, 2025.)

The Chiwawa River (above and below) flows into the Wenatchee River below our property in Shugart Flats near Plain in the North Cascades of Washington. So it was only fitting that friend and frequent climbing companion Steve Still and I explore the headwaters of the Chiwawa in the Glacier Peak Wilderness during the week of August 11-18.

The river, which takes its name from the Native American (probably Wenatchi, but possibly Salish) expression for "last canyon next to the mountains," has a low valley -- 2,000-3,000 feet -- and is surrounded by 6,000- to 9,000-foot peaks in the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

Because it resides in a low valley scoured by Ice Age glaciers, the Chiwawa River is a delightfully meandering stream that provides a white sandy beach at the base of our property where our kids would frolic in the hot summer sun where the Chiwawa joins the Wenatchee River on its way to the Columbia River in Wenatchee.

Back before we had kids, Rebecca was the Rock Creek Prevention Guard, patrolling campgrounds in the Chiwawa Valley, while I was the wilderness ranger for the Chiwawa and Napeequa drainages.

As the eyes and ears of the U.S. Forest Service up the Chiwawa River, we were based at the Rock Creek Guard Station about halfway up the valley on the way to the road's terminus at the old Trinity mine.

Glacier Peak (below), known to the natives as Dakobed, or White Goddess, is the most remote and inaccessible volcano in the Cascade Range. The broad massif looms large over other significant peaks in a vast wilderness that covers over a half-million acres.

With deep valleys carved by glaciers, forbidding cliffs and ominous ramparts of ice, the Glacier Peak Wilderness is only a place for those who are willing to brave its precipitous trails and high routes.

After quietly pouring out lava for most of its long existence, Glacier Peak burst into violent activity about 12,000 years ago, expelling immense quantities of ash and smoke.

Prevailing winds carried the ash hundreds of miles to the east as far away as Montana and Alberta, Canada. In the post-glacial period in the U.S., only Mt. Mazama (Crater Lake) covered a larger territory.

And so it was on Thursday, August 11, Steve and I departed for Owl Farm to prepare for our wilderness sojourn.