Oregon WAND members are amazing people! While we know about the many WAND activities taking place, we may not always be aware of how busy our members are also volunteering for other worthwhile causes. Here we showcase one Oregon WAND member in depth in order to share and highlight the wonderful contributions our members are making in our community, our country and our world.
Ruth Duemler
Ruth Duemler’s name is one of those you often see in print. Her letters to the editor regularly appear on the pages of the Eugene Register Guard and the Eugene Weekly. National WAND tracks media hits by WAND members and Ruth keeps Oregon’s performance in the impressive range.
Health Care for All has been a passion of Ruth’s for years now. She sees health care as a human right and she also highlights the financial devastation that can arise from a catastrophic health-related event. In a recent WAND program on homeless issues, Ruth reminded us that it is not only bank practices that have led to home foreclosures. Many times foreclosure is the result of huge health care expenses; and you can always count on Ruth to really know the facts and figures that support these findings.
Ruth was one of the first to attend the general assembly meetings of Occupy Eugene and immediately recognized the fresh possibilities of this newly formed group. She is an activist who effectively organizes in a variety of ways. From potluck gatherings in her home to inform and encourage others to join an effort, to recognizing and bringing to light the most recent assault on our environment or health, she finds ways to support and champion important movements that affect us locally and beyond.