Our Story

It may well have been a rainy day in early 2016 when a few of us began talking about the Village movement and how it might support and enrich our lives on the northern Oregon coast. Aging in place has proven to be the preferred way for many. Our motivation has been that we want to create this lifestyle choice for ourselves and our neighbors from Arch Cape to Twin Rocks and the lower Nehalem Valley. Click here https://www.vtvnetwork.org for more on the Village movement.

We began having conversations with our friends and neighbors about creating a village here and enthusiasm for the idea quickly grew. A Steering Committee formed and continued the work of identifying the needs of folks in our community. The committee focused on how the village model could be adapted to our rural area with its unique attributes. Our efforts lead to the conclusion that yes, forming a village here was both viable and a really good idea.

We soon realized that rather than focus our efforts on creating our own local non-profit, it would be advantageous to join an existing village organization. In early 2019, Rainy Day Village Network became the 10th village under Villages Northwest, “hub and spoke” model operating in the Portland area. As a spoke we have access to the considerable experience of Villages NW to help us build our RDVN. For more about Villages NW click www.villagesnw.org

Our Mission

Rainy Day Village is a nonprofit community that helps older adults stay active, independent, and connected in the place they call home. Through members, volunteers and trusted referrals we create practical support and meaningful connection that helps people age well in community.

We developed Guiding Principles to keep us focused on our values:

Inclusivity
Sustainability
Member driven
Respect
Privacy/Confidentiality
Transparency
Collaboration
Ongoing reflection of process & principles

Open to new ideas and information

Our Leadership Team continues the work to make Rainy Day Village Network a reality. We are grateful to all who have participated, given their expertise and energy, and helped as village builders. If you are interested in the governance aspects of Rainy Day Village Network, please inquire about serving on the Leadership Team.

Leadership Team: Doug Sparks, Penny Weathers, Colleen Schwindt, Brad Hart, Debbie Curley, Madeline Bova