Here we go Guys! Greg Schifsky weighs in on how his 50 years have been traveled

Hi Everyone.... I heard from Greg Schifsky and he provided a nice narrative of his activities as an Oregonian for the past 40 years and he will be sending pictures soon. I always have a picture of Greg as one of the “fun” players in my life and I think many would agree with that assessment -  I also want to say he was one of the "gifted" guys in our class with his art.  I remember some drawings he did and I really liked them.  I know he has put his "art" in his life and as you read his story you will see this is true.    Here is his story......

Brian, story of my life?  Hah! We've all got plenty of history by now....I'll summarize as follows:

After St. Marys HS, I went on to Oakland CC and then to Diablo CC.  Then whilst getting sucked up in the Viet Nam draft, a friend's bro-in-law suggested  that I join the Army to guarantee a clerical position; 1966-1969 SP5 Admin Specialist, tour of duty in Korea, Letterman Hospital, Oakland Army Base.  Missed  'Nam.

Then I went on to Oregon in 1973 for a change in life and scene.  Been here ever since, but I'm still a son of California.

While watching the Bay Area grow significantly, and now it's happening in Oregon, I oppose population explosions and any and all immigration.  My environmental friends are shocked!! Our college grads need jobs, along with the other 70% of Americans who need them too.  I tend to be a social entrepreneur or activist, environmentalist, and deeply care about social justice. I despise racism.

Schooled as a Landscape Designer, I pursued that trade with my Contractor's License, to become a tree specialist, L.A. designer, contractor, gardener, and then marriage.  I went on to being a Tilth Certified Organic Farmer (http://tilth.org/certification) for 7.5 years.  I also received an Oregon State University Master Watershed Stewards certificate.

I volunteered in a local  K-5 school teaching habitat enhancements, co-founded the "Bridlemile Creek Stewards" which is a local group that is an environmental oversight group spent 13 years as a board member for the local neighborhood association  ,lobbied the City of Portland for six years to better organize its codes and regulations regarding trees and got a new City Ordinance which will now be implemented in 2015. I also taught inmates at CRCI (Columbia River Correctional Institute) in Portland with the LGGF (Lettuce Grow Garden Foundation), to help them learn how to grow organic produce for the prisons and for themselves.

Hobbies?  gardening, model railroading (picture coming if I can find it), photography (will have an example), camping, exploring this incredible country has been a great experience.  Great places I have traveled include:  Glacier National Park, Big Bend National Park.  For sheer beauty it is difficult to top Moab, Canyonlands, UT and Northern Arizona.  I guess I would give honorable mentions to:  The Mojave, Mt. Shasta, Finger Lakes, New York, or really anyplace in upstate NY.  Now after 12 trips to Mexico -  I'm now done with long distance travel !!

Children?  no. However, plenty of nieces and nephews and ten great nieces and nephews. I've certainly collected family and friends all over the United States and plan to visit them.

I've been retired since 2006 and need to behave that way more often.

Greg Schifsky

Portland, Oregon

              Pictures coming!