December 2025
Volume 26, Number 9
December, 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 taken by April Mitsch on her home river - East Fork of the Lewis in Clark County, Washington. The photo was taken during a sunny fall day from the Hiesson Bridge looking up stream. This river is a valued source of recreation to the community providing opportunities for kayaking, tubing, steelhead fishing and swimming. Have any OWA members visited this river? Popular access points include Moulton Falls and Day Break county parks.
If you want to have your favorite river picture featured, send it to . 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
Next OWA Meeting
Lucky Labrador - 1945 NW Quimby St, Portland, OR 97209
This is our annual Holiday Party.
Wednesday, Dec 10th, 2025 (6 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
We have the event room reserved for Wednesday, Dec 10th this year! Join us for our annual ugly sweater contest and the white elephant gift exchange as well as the end of year prize giveaways!
The holidays are upon us once again which means it is time for our annual party. It will be held at the Lucky Labrador Beer Hall on NW Quimby Street. You can start showing up at five but the pizza and salad will not be served until 6 p.m. We will have the time-honored white elephant gift exchange as usual.
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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 .
Trip Reports
Special Features
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 .
Recipe of the Month
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 .
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.
As a special Holiday treat we get to see some of the pictures that Mary Turner and the rest of her Tatschenchini Boat Crew recently captured from their 2025 trip. Please enjoy the photos responsibly and Happy Holidays to all!
