Daniel Scotton has a background in environmental justice issues, is slated to step into role in April
By Tony Boom for the Rogue Valley Times
A Rogue Valley-raised man has been named as Southern Oregon Climate Action Now’s first executive director and its first paid employee.
Daniel Scotton is slated to begin working for the group in April. For the past two years, he has worked for Equus Workforce Solutions of Medford, where he spearheaded rural outreach as a business services consultant in the Applegate and Butte Falls areas.
For all of its 12-year history, SOCAN has been led by co-founders and volunteer co-facilitators Kathy Conway and Alan Journet. The couple will remain in facilitator roles. A successful fundraising effort last year raised enough to underwrite the new position.
Scotton has pursued research on climate change and environmental justice issues for a while.
“We definitely understand that it is an existential problem. I couldn’t find one avenue to take,” Scotton said. “That’s what drew me to SOCAN, is that they have many different projects. I’m still learning the reach of what they have.”
A search to fill the position began in September and drew a number of applicants. The board of directors interviewed two finalists and selected Scotton.
“Speaking for myself, what impressed me was his familiarity with the area. The other finalist was from Portland,” Journet said. “He has a network of contacts that will be very helpful with SOCAN as we move forward.”
Scotton has served on committees with both the Medford and Ashland chambers of commerce. The position is full time, and Scotton will work from his Ashland home.
Major gifts to the campaign included $30,000 from the Oregon Raindrop Fund; $15,000 from the Oregon Community Foundation; and $5,000 from the Carpenter Foundation. Individual donors came through with some really fine support, Journet said.
A fundraising kickoff and a performance by the Shine On and Mountain Top bands also aided the effort.
Learning about all the organization’s efforts and the administrative side from Conway, who has handled much of that work, will be first on Scotton’s agenda, Journet said. Most of the work has been done by volunteers with an occasional contract worker.
“We don’t want to develop any new activities. We want the person to engage with us and become completely familiar with SOCAN,” Journet said.
New initiatives will have to be developed in tandem with the board and executive director. With the board, Scotton will also be working on fundraising, Journet said.
“I’m not the kind of leader who is going to come and make changes,” Scotton said. “I want to get an idea of where everyone else wants to go. I want to coalesce with what everyone’s opinions are.”
A graduate of Crater High School, Scotton was a resident of Central Point. In 2019, he completed a double major in philosophy and international economics for his bachelor of arts degree from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn.
“We will be freed up to focus on activities for which we are qualified,” Journet said of his and Conway’s future. Both retired university professors, they plan to continue teaching the Living with Climate Change course at Southern Oregon University and engaging in legislative advocacy.
SOCAN has supported climate action teams in Medford, Grants Pass, Jacksonville, Talent and Ashland. More information can be found at socan.eco.
Reach Ashland freelance writer Tony Boom at tboomwriter@gmail.com. This story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times.
