‘9/12 Project’ group in Illinois Valley gaining members
From our weekly issue dated November 25, 2009
Bill Waggoner
A national movement started by conservative commentator Glenn Beck is picking up steam in Illinois Valley, as the Cave Junction Chapter of the 9/12 Project continues to grow.
The 9/12 Project has been promoted widely by Beck, an increasingly popular Fox News television personality. It is designed to bring the nation back to the same sense of unity it had on Sept. 12, 2001, the day after the infamous terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
Selma resident Bill Waggoner serves as chairman for the Cave Junction chapter after being elected to that post by its members.
Waggoner, 73, said that he became involved in the 9/12 Project in September. At that point, the chapter boasted around 20 members. He said that has nearly tripled since then, largely due to word of mouth.
“It’s people telling people,” Waggoner said. “It keeps spreading.”
The 9/12 Project is based on nine principles and 12 values. The principles are belief in God, family and country, honesty, hard work and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Values embraced by members of the group are reverence, hope, thrift, humility, charity, sincerity, moderation, courage, personal responsibility and gratitude.
Waggoner said that many of the area chapter members are newcomers to the political scene.
“A lot of the people who have showed up have gotten involved for the first time out of concern for their country,” he said. “What’s happening in Congress and with the government is pulling people out of the woodwork.”
Several members of the Cave Junction chapter, including Waggoner, participated in the April and September tea party protests outside the Josephine County Courthouse in Grants Pass. Many recently have registered to vote, he said.
But despite the conservative leanings of many members, Waggoner said that the group is nonpartisan, and even welcomes third party members.
“We’re trying to get away from the rigid party bit,” he said.
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Waggoner said that the group plans to host candidates seeking local office and interview them, but will not endorse any.
“We will look at them from a Constitutional perspective,” Waggoner said.
Other 9/12 chapters have sprung up in Cottage Grove, Canyonville, McMinnville, Salem, Vancouver, Wash., Lane County, Jackson County, Southeastern Oregon, La Grande and the greater Portland metropolitan region.
The Cave Junction chapter typically meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at the RCC Kerby Belt Bldg. However, no meetings are scheduled for the fourth Wednesdays in November and December because of the holidays.
For more information, visit www.oregon912project.org or e-mail cj912project@gmail.com.
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