Thanksgiving Appreciations and Observations
Posted on November 28, 2019 by Janice Thompson
Tags, General Interest
Thanksgiving, a holiday with an emphasis on gratitude and without gift giving expectations, is my particular favorite. As I near the end of my first year as CUB’s Deputy Director, I have some special Thanksgiving appreciations.
First, I thank CUB members. For 35 years since our creation by Oregon voters via a 1984 ballot measure, we have learned from and relied on the financial support of our members. Thanks for your continued support and help in spreading the word about CUB’s statutory mandate to advocate for residential utility consumers.
Second, I want to thank the CUB board. An important feature of the CUB board is its geographic diversity and representation from each of our state’s congressional districts. With members from Lakeview to Portland, this hardworking group does a great job of guiding our efforts and amplifying CUB’s work across Oregon.
Third, I want to thank CUB staff. We are Oregon’s utility policy wonks for the people, and our lean but effective group represents residential utility customers in regulatory and legislative arenas. Increasingly our extensive energy policy agenda is intertwined with our telecommunications efforts on broadband and digital access, since decarbonization of the energy sector requires new interconnections between utilities and customers.
I would be remiss, however, in not observing the historical context of Thanksgiving. Native tribes held harvest feasts of thanksgiving long before the Pilgrims arrived, and usurping Native American traditions and land has continued throughout our country to today. Recognizing this history and other societal inequities is a critical element in understanding how energy and telecommunication systems haven’t worked fairly for all customers, especially our low-income neighbors. This understanding is a backdrop to CUB’s diversity, equity, and inclusion work, which I am honored to work on with CUB’s board and staff. We have much more work to do, but a commitment to equity is building here at CUB, for which I am also thankful.
Best wishes to all for a warm, safe, and bountiful Thanksgiving weekend.
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11/25/19 | 0 Comments | Thanksgiving Appreciations and Observations