While 2016 was a difficult year. We lost many inspirational creative people and we gained a violent and divisive political climate, but here’s what I was up to, and I’m damned proud of what I accomplished this year.
In 2016, Post 134 has helped a lot of people in need including our good friend Daniel.Started the year with a trip to Utah to see Kase and Mary and to be on his literary PodcastWe signed up some amazing younger veterans to the post.
Helping Men Heal gave me an award for community serviceI ran for mayorThe mayor run was so great. I met some incredible people, like Bim Ditson here.Met some looney people like Lars Larson here.ON TV!Feel the PlaidMe and Bruce and David, these are some amazing men who are making a difference in our city.Kell excelled in her job.I was in the Portland City Club Debate. That was fun.the Oregon Humanities did a story on the poetry group I lead at Post 134I made friends with one of the most political figures in Portland, a man I respect very much, Joe Walsh.Found inspiration for my mayoral run in our Citizen Mayor Bud ClarkI got to meet Bud and signed him up as a member at Post 134Four of the 15 candidates got to be on a televised debate at PSU. I was one of them.I respect all the candidates and I was happy to be there.Here’s the campaign team. We came in fourth out of fifteen and raised only 7,ooo dollars. I’m proud of what we accomplished and I’m in debt to everyone who donated and especially these guys who made it possible with all their hard work.We had a fire at the post, and it took a weekend but we cleaned it up.I lost to a good man. I think he’ll be a great mayor.Memorial Day was a huge success.With the help of The Returning Veterans Project, we were able to paint the post.I went to D.C. to lobby for the Oregon Wildlands ActI made it to the White HouseI got to speak with Peter DeFazio. He helped me out when I was hurt after Iraq. He’s a good man.I spoke with Senator Ron WydenI had the honor of spending another year teaching at the University of Massachusetts, Boston with Warrior Writers.The pinup girls came back to Post 134!A little family fun before heading out to fight fires.Damon and I fighting fires in Oregon and Washington.I was blessed at a Powow by seven chiefs for being a wild land fire fighter and then again for being a combat veteran.We put the new floors in at the post.It was a community effort.
My short story The Fixer was published in The City of Weird, a book that hit number one of the Powell’s best seller list.We had an amazing Halloween at the post for all the kids in the communityMe and April Baer. The post was featured on State of Wonder on OPB.Jackie and I spoke at Catlin Gabel School for Veterans DayRunning for mayor I was able to help some amazing people. Lori is a courageous woman who has done so much this year. When I met her she was homeless and six months pregnant and now she’s housed and going to college to help others who were in her position.We had a big community Thanksgiving even better than the two years before.Me and Bigfoot hunter Cliff BarackmanI had a great conversation with Congressman Earl BlaumenauerI ran a Bigfoot 5kMe and Mike FoxWhile Damon and I aren’t fighting fires we’re lobbying for the veterans/lottery Bill in Salem.I ended the year by winning the City of Portland’s Emerging Leader Human Rights Award.
Sean Davis 