09/22/2025
Letter from our President:
Dear Board Members and Community,
After much reflection, I am writing to formally resign from my position on the Board of Directors for Pendleton Community Connections, effective immediately. Earlier this week, Heather Oleson reached out and shared that the board had discussed the idea of me stepping down and allowing her to serve as interim until a longer-term fit could be found. While difficult to hear, I want you to know that I receive this not as a rejection, but as a sincere and needed redirectionāfor me, and for the organization.
The truth is, I care deeply about this mission. Pendleton needs this. When I founded PCC, it was in direct response to the closure of the Pendleton Senior Center. That closure left a vacuumāa loss of identity, connection, and community for so many of our elders. We knew someone had to step in. It began as a vision for four low-cost, community-building events each year. But to see where it's grownāto see 60 to 80 seniors gathering every week at Backfire Stationāis nothing short of miraculous. What Carol and her āsenior lunch bunchā have done is exactly what I always hoped would happen: build something bigger than any one of us.
Iāve worked tirelessly to help build the foundation. But the reality is: Iām no longer doing the organization justice. My workload has increased significantly over the past six months. Iāve wrestled with stepping down for quite a whileānot out of ego or reluctance, but because I didnāt want to risk the work fading away. I saw myself as a kind of life support, just trying to hold things together until the right team was in place.
And now, you are. Knowing that the board has the courage and unity to ask for what PCC truly needs confirms for me that the team I hoped to build has, in fact, been built.
So itās time to pass the torch.
Please donāt forget me. And please stay true to our mission:
"...to empower, engage, and uplift our senior community by bringing meaningful opportunities for engagement, support, socialization and connections. We are committed to breaking the cycle of isolation by creating welcoming spaces where seniors can build relationships, share experiences, and rediscover their place in our community."
Iām grateful for your honesty, your grace, and your continued commitment to the mission. If there are behind-the-scenes tasks I can support, you have only to ask.
And one request of my own: Iād love to continue serving as Emcee for your events. Itās where my heart is, and Iād be honored to help when you need a voice.
I am proud of every one of youāand I canāt wait to see what you do next.
With heartfelt appreciation,
James Turk
