
As an all-volunteer organization, OADP appreciates every supporter willing to raise his or her voice in support of opposition to the death penalty. In conversations with family members, friends, and folks you know at work, it is helpful when you state support of our mission to repeal the death penalty in Oregon.
YOU ARE ALL APPRECIATED!
Among the thousands of people who opposed capital punishment in Oregon, those OADP members doing special work are the 90+ members of our Advisory Council. Council members contribute in many, many ways.
Advisory Council members speak up in conversations about the death penalty; they provided helpful suggestions on ways to advance our work; they attend our events; they support OADP financially within their means; they introduce us to other like-minded voters; and they encourage others to become members of the Advisory Council in order to be a more active supporter of our mission to repeal the Oregon death penalty.
Within the past few months we have added 5 new members. Conner Boyd, of Portland, was nominated for membership by Lance Mayhew, who was a council member and now serves on our board of directors.
When Conner was asked why he wanted to join the Advisory Council, he offered this statement: "I believe that if we want to address the rest of the social injustices in our country, we first need to remove the most inhumane allowance of our government. My purpose in life is to help make the world a better place by working with the least fortunate among us.
"Additionally, a cause like repealing the death penalty is something that can be achieved, there is an end goal in sight. My assumption is that the repeal of this law will rely on activating the youth of Oregon to demand change, and this is something I know that I can bring to the organization."
Conner has successful experience nationwide in community organizing and social media, skills that OADP greatly needs in order to expand our numbers with millennials.
Another young man, who lives in Salem and works for a Eugene law firm, is Trevor Walraven. When asked why he wished to serve on the Advisory Council, he offered the following statement: "I have a passion for criminal justice reform. As a youth who was sentenced to life in prison for my actions at 14-years-old and later becoming the youngest elected president of the Lifers' Unlimited Club at the Oregon State Penitentiary, advocacy has been a cornerstone focus for me. I have also had the unique opportunity to interact with the men on Death Row. I was privileged to engage and thus humanize the men as I myself was humanized through interactions in other arenas. I was also fortunate enough to help some transition off of Death Row and acclimate to the general population at OSP."
Trevor's unique background and development leads him to become a valuable and wise contributor to our community. He will participate in public speaking and private conversations with people truly wanting to know more about the criminal justice system and how we can all help to provide real justice in Oregon.
Board member Lance Mayhew suggested another outstanding candidate for the Council. Jon DeBillis has more than 20 years of experience as a professional writer, editor, and web content producer. He is effective in written and oral communication, possessing a familiarity with both internal and external communications roles.
When he spoke of the opportunity to join the OADP Advisory Council, Jon said, "My interactions with inmates has been a positive one and always reminded me of the humanity that binds us. In fact, some of those interactions brought me closer to my own faith. This is a calling to now work against the unjust practice to capital punishment."
Jon further states, "l will be a strong voice provoking conversation as a speaker for OADP."
OADP's board of directors and advisory council have several people who have experience in law enforcement and executives with the Oregon Department of Corrections. In recent weeks two more former high-ranking DOC employees have joined the Advisory Council.
Few people have the unique experience of working with four departments of corrections (Florida, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon), as assistant director of prison operations and being a prison superintendent as Stan Czernaik. Czernaik's last position with the Oregon Department of Corrections before retiring was Inspector General. He was recognized as a person with deep understanding of death row inmates and someone with a reputation, held by his co-workers, as fair-minded and compassionate.
Stan is retired after forth-two years in corrections work and lives in Dallas, OR. He is eager to work with OADP to help to educate voters about the many issues that exist with Oregon having a death penalty and the alternatives to a policy of state executions.
In a statement made in his application to join the council, Mr. Czerniak stated "As an ethical matter, no state has a right to end any human being's life".
The fifth of the latest group of the new Advisory Council members, and another person with deep ethical and moral feelings is Dr. John Vargo, MD. Doctor Vargo lives in Salem and has retired after twenty-one years as Chief Medical Officer for the Oregon State Penitentiary. From his years of service to the prison population he has a carried the deeply felt belief that "all persons should have the opportunity to repent and to know they have the opportunity for forgiveness and mercy".
Like all of our advisory council members, Dr. Vargo is eager to engage in dialogue with voters in order for them to better understand the many problems with Oregon having a death penalty and the better alternatives to carry on a better public policy that that includes the ability to execute citizens.
As a supporter of OADP, if you are wanting to become more involved and advance our mission, please do not hesitate to contact us and join others who share our journey to repeal the Oregon death penalty.
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