November 2025

Volume 26, Number 8

November, 2025

The Oregon Whitewater Association brings private boaters together for the enjoyment of whitewater boating. Our vision is to promote whitewater safety and training for all of our membership in an effort to provide safety awareness and confidence when executing river rescue skills. OWA is the community of choice where fun and river adventures thrive and where people and rivers connect.

Photo of the Month

This month's featured photo was contributed by Scott Harvey. In this photo we see OWA member Ben Plummer finding his line through Mill City Falls on the North Santiam River during the club's October Fall Color Float.

If you want to have your favorite river picture featured, send it to vicepresident-newsletter(at)oregonwhitewater.org. You can also submit pictures through Instagram or the OWA Facebook group.

Contact Information

Your OWA Officers and Volunteers

OWA Board of Directors

Brenda Bunce, President

Meredith Brezinski, Vice President - Events

Karl Mitsch, Vice President - Newsletter

Justin Richard, Secretary

Doug Smith, Treasurer

Tom Riggs, Membership Director

Jason Urasky, Technology Director

William Brezinski, Training Director

OWA Volunteers

Scott Harvey, Trip Coordinator, Newsletter Editor

Cary Solberg, Advertising Editor

Scott Ogren, Webmaster

Steve Oslund, First Aid Kits

Bruce Ripley, Safety Auction Lead

Matt Saucy, Boating 101 Lead

Jared Linkhart, Safety Training Associate

President's Corner

Presidents Corner : November 25

One of the things I love most about our club is that we’re more than just a group of boaters—we’re a river community.…

Next OWA Meeting

Event: February Club Meeting

Location: Flying Pie Pizza - 7804 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215

Website: http://www.flying-pie.com/locations/portland

Date: Wednesday, February 11th, 2026

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.

Schedule:

6:00 – 6:30 Social Time with Pizza
6:30 - 7:15 Club Business
7:15 - 8:15 Presentation
8:15 - 8:30 Clean-up

Topic: Looking for a guest speaker for the February 11th club meeting. If you know someone who would be interested in being a speaker for one of our club meetings, please contact Meredith Brezinski (Vice President - Events) events(at)oregonwhitewater.org

Speaker: N/A

Description: Come on down, enjoy pizza, salad and refreshments with fellow boaters.

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Do you know of a speaker for one of our monthly meetings?

Do you know someone engaging, entertaining, and full of knowledge who you would like to hear speak at a club meeting? Any club member who successfully connects OWA with a speaker for one of our meetings will be entered into a prize drawing for a $75 gift certificate to one of our sponsors. Club members who give a presentation will also be entered into a prize drawing. To discuss a potential speaker, email VicePresident-Events(at)oregonwhitewater.org.

Trip Reports

Stay safe and healthy on the river and be prepared for emergencies.

Do you have a trip coming up? OWA has two extensive Wilderness First Aid kits and AED’s that go on all club trips and are available for club members to take on private trips. You can check them out by sending an email to firstaid(at)oregonwhitewater.org.

Special Feature

Special Feature - Dispensing Drinking Water

Embarking on a whitewater rafting adventure means immersing yourself in the rugged beauty of the wilderness. While the…

Safety Moment - Accident Summary

The American Whitewater Accident Summary for January–June 2025 is now available online. Since our inception, American…

Special Feature - Low Head Dam Inventory

American Whitewater worked intently on two cycles of the biannual Water Resources Development Act to ensure a National…

Do you have something to share with the OWA community through the newsletter?

Do you want to share the tale of your latest multi-day rafting adventure or just the basics of your recent day run? Do you have a recipe your river friends must try? Is there other river-related content you want to share? Any club member who submits written content published in the newsletter will be entered into a prize drawing for 1 of 2 $75 gift certificates to one of our sponsors. Submitting photos gets you a chance to win 1 of 2 $25 gift certificates. To submit newsletter content or photos for our social media accounts, email VicePresident-Newsletter(at)oregonwhitewater.org.

OWA has a Facebook group exclusively for members. It is a great place to connect with other members to meet up at the river or exchange gear tips. Anyone can follow the OWA Instagram page.

OWA is an affiliate member of American Whitewater. OWA members receive a $10 discount off of individual membership. American Whitewater is a national non-profit 501©(3) river conservation organization with a mission is to protect and restore America’s whitewater rivers and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely. Click the Logo to visit the AW website and learn more.