EDITOR’S NOTE: For those of you that misssed Watt’s guest column about Oregon’s outlawing of potlucks… here’s the link
https://www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/guest-column-oregon-should-be-a-sanctuary-for-potlucks/
Here’s his latest – a letter to Governor Kotek, and if you’d like to join the potluck brigade, you can contact the Governor Kotek here – https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/share-your-opinion.aspx
(From Watt Childress)
Sent this earlier today (4/29/26) before going out to mow around the garden beds. Plenty of good food growing, thanks to Jennifer the beloved green artist. Hopefully we can share some farm-fresh cooking later in the season, contribute to the spirit of community without being scolded by state government as rule-breakers.
Dear Governor Kotek,
Now would be an opportune time for you and other Oregon leaders to encourage potlucks across our state as a way to boost togetherness and civility. The first step in this effort would be to reform administrative rules that forbid Oregonians from sharing home-cooked cuisine at inclusive community gatherings.
Perhaps this seems like a humdrum proposal. Indeed, the task of promoting potlucks is unlikely to grab the attention of folks who worry about today’s many dramatic misuses of government authority.
Yet potlucks are a practical and re-affirming way to invite folks to a common table where we can nourish relationships required to discuss important issues. They can help counter the social discord that has intensified in our country to the point of crisis.
Unfortunately, hosting potlucks is also an act of civil disobedience here in Oregon. That’s because our state’s administrative rules put us at the bottom of the list in terms of friendliness toward potlucks.
Every person I’ve spoken with, inside and outside Oregon, finds it hard to believe that community potlucks are illegal here. From what I’ve learned, the ability to host a potluck in our state without being hassled by a government agent depends on where we live. A look at the web shows there are a number of local potlucks advertised around our state. Presumably these have not all triggered the scrutiny of authorities.
Yet for years this kind of selective heavy enforcement has created anxiety for those of us who live in Tillamook County. Response by government to a recent event in Cannon Beach shows this stress is spreading along the coast (see attached pdf). Are those of us who work in this tourist area deemed less trustworthy for some reason, less deserving of the mutual benefits that come from potluck hospitality?
Here’s a common experience described by a local friend on social media:
“When I moved here from the Midwest in early 2000, I immediately organized a community potluck – it was common practice where I come from, to share a meal in community. It was great, I met so many neighbors, who became friends. People I would not have known without this community builder. It lasted almost a year before I was shut down. The city tried to go to bat for me, but was threatened with fines and other things. And that was the end of that.”
There are workarounds to this bureaucracy, I’m told. Organizers can turn community gatherings into private members-only events, restricting access at the door. Yet such blocks to public participation undermine Oregon’s core ethos, based on everything my heart knows.
Our state’s innovative and colorful reputation would be well-served by a special legislative potluck, in my opinion. Leaders could model community-building at a gathering in Salem, each of you sharing signature dishes to celebrate a reform that upholds our common liberties and capacity for teamwork.
Moving from last place to the top of the friendly list would be welcome news. It could be perfectly timed for Oregon to join the rest of America in saluting our inalienable rights as equals. Community gatherings around shared food are the focus of a national campaign to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Spearheaded by Utah, the campaign encourages potlucks in every neighborhood in America.
“This initiative invites communities to slow down, share food, and connect across differences — fostering belonging, conversation, and unity….Whether across the street or across town, America’s Potluck is about building bridges and celebrating community.”
Info about this campaign is displayed on the Oregon 250 website, further evidencing our state’s inconsistency with potlucks. It gives the false impression that Oregon supports community events where home-cooking is shared. Leaders could dispel this confusion by adopting Utah’s administrative rules, or perhaps Minnesota’s, which are even more welcoming of potlucks.
If this proposal appeals to you, I will gratefully assist and champion your efforts to move forward. Could some relaxation of enforcement happen in the interim, while permanent rule changes are pursued?
Rest assured I’ll keep drumming the pot here in our home kitchen, rallying support for a longstanding tradition that feeds community.
Thanks for your leadership,
Watt Childress