<div dir="ltr"><i>Please forgive our cross-posts.</i><div><img src="cid:ii_ld285g1v0" alt="Expedition Happy (square) (1200 × 400 px).png" width="542" height="181"><br></div><div><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-a974c4d1-7fff-7133-919c-b0767159a9d7"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">START THE NEW YEAR OFF BY EMBRACING WELLNESS AND SUPPORTING PUBLIC LIBRARIES WITH “EXPEDITION HAPPY”, A UNIQUE VIRTUAL STATEWIDE CHALLENGE</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Public Library Division (PLD) of the Oregon Library association (OLA) is pleased to announce “Expedition Happy”, a unique virtual wellness challenge and fundraiser to support public libraries throughout Oregon.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">From January 18 through April 19, participants in “Expedition Happy” will complete a virtual statewide challenge, with virtual “stops” at public libraries in nine different counties along the way.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Participation is easy; after signing up, participants simply log different wellness or health activities (including walking, running, swimming, biking, reading and more).  Every activity logged adds miles to participants’ total, helping them progress through the 969-mile </span><a href="https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5339208466" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(5,99,193);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">virtual challenge course</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.  Throughout the challenge, participants will make virtual stops at 11 public libraries in Oregon, learning more about each library’s history, collections, unique services, and more.  The libraries on this year's inaugural route, in the order they will be "visited" by participants, are: the State Library of Oregon, Salem Public Library, Molalla Public Library, Garden Home Community Library, Washington County Law Library, Athena Public Library, Baker County Library District, Crook County Library, Sweet Home Public Library, Coos Bay Public Library, and Curry Public Library.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">While learning more about libraries throughout the state and staying active, participants will also be supporting PLD’s ongoing efforts to support public library employees throughout Oregon.  Funds collected from the $20 entry fee will be used to support PLD’s ongoing training and continuing education efforts throughout 2023. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">All participants will be eligible to purchase an </span><a href="https://www.bonfire.com/expedition-happy-2023/" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">exclusive and stylish “Expedition Happy” commemorative t-shirt</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.  In addition, the challenge will culminate in a special gathering for participants and finishers at this year’s Oregon Library Association (OLA) Conference.  Information about registering for the participant’s gathering will be included with OLA Conference registration.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">To learn more about “Expedition Happy” and to sign up, please visit </span><a href="https://runsignup.com/Race/OR/NorthBend/ExpeditionHappy" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(5,99,193);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://runsignup.com/Race/OR/NorthBend/ExpeditionHappy</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.  </span></p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">For more information about “Expedition Happy”, the Oregon Library Association, and/or the Public Library Division, please contact</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(5,99,193);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><a href="mailto:pldsecretary@olaweb.org" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(5,99,193);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">pldsecretary@olaweb.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></span><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"></div></div></div></div></div>