About Oregon Volunteers
Oregon Volunteers is the Oregon Commission for Voluntary Action & Service.
Oregon Volunteers General Fact Sheet
Goals, Objectives and Values
List of Oregon Volunteers Commissioners
List of Oregon Volunteers Staff
Frequently Asked Questions about Oregon Volunteers.
Frequently Asked Questions about becoming a Commissioner.
Our Mission
Oregon Volunteers promotes and supports AmeriCorps, volunteerism and civic engagement to strengthen Oregon communities.
Oregon Volunteers provides Oregonians a statewide entity to:
- focus service and volunteer efforts
- enhance the ethic of service and voluntarism in the state
- provide funds for state-based AmeriCorps programs
Oregon State Statute 458.555
(1) There is established the Oregon Volunteers Commission for Voluntary Action and Service within the Housing and Community Services Department.
(2) The commission shall consist of at least 15 members appointed by the Governor and may consist of not more than 25 members appointed by the Governor.
(3) The term of office of each member is three years, but a member serves at the pleasure of the Governor. Before the expiration of the term of a member, the Governor shall appoint a successor whose term begins on the first day of the next following month. A member is eligible for reappointment. If there is a vacancy for any cause, the Governor shall make an appointment to become immediately effective for the unexpired term.
(4) The appointment of the members of the commission is subject to confirmation by the Senate in the manner prescribed in ORS 171.562 and 171.565.
(5) A member of the commission is entitled to receive, from moneys available to the commission, actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of official duties as provided in ORS 292.495. [2001 c.848 §1; 2005 c.29 §1]
Our History
Formed in 1994, Oregon Volunteers was established in accordance with the federal National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. It is composed of up to 25 voting members creating a commission of non-partisan, diverse citizens reflecting Oregon’s unique nature. Oregon Volunteers has been part of Oregon Housing and Community Services since 2001.
The Oregon Volunteer and Community Service Act was passed in the 2007 legislation session with the stated purpose to promote the development of better communities by using citizen participation and volunteerism to foster greater civic responsibility. Oregon Volunteers Commission for Voluntary Action and Service is mandated to identify goals to develop and facilitate the initiation of public and private entity programs that will encourage and reward citizen participation and volunteerism.
Portland State University has been a partner and has provided a physical home to the commission since its inception in 1994.
