About Us

​The Occidental Community Council is an all-volunteer, non-profit corporation with federal and state tax-exempt status. Our purpose is to meet the unmet needs of people living in and around Occidental. Established in 1986, the Council is governed by a board elected annually from the membership. The Council meets on the third Saturday of each month at the Occidental Community Center from 10:30am until noon, and all are welcome to attend. Each year during the second full weekend in December, the Council sponsors the Annual Holiday Crafts Faire. All proceeds from the Faire are put back into the community.

Who We Are
Officers:
President - Fawn Nekton
Vice President - Gino Gaffney
Treasurer - Mary Szecsey
Secretary - Andrea Doffing

Active Members: 
Fawn Nekton, Gino Gaffney, Kaye Martin, Diane Masura, Andrea Doffing, Gino Gaffney, Paul Stange, Laura Goldman, Su McMurty, Molly Hayward, Jenay Hofftin, Mary Szecsey, Trudy Espinoza

Membership
Membership in the Council is open to all residents of the Occidental area. We have both Associate and Working members. If you wish to support the work of the Council but are unable to participate in monthly meetings, please consider becoming an Associate member. As an Associate member, you will receive minutes of the monthly meetings and be asked to participate in activities, such as the Crafts Faire. Annual Associate membership fee is $25.00. Working members are $10.00.

We ask prospective Working Council members to attend three consecutive meetings. This way we can get to know each other, you can see how the Council functions, what we are currently working on and decide at what level you would be interested in participating. After this initial period and you have decided to join us, we ask that you attend as many meetings as possible.
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For further information, please email occinfo@sonic.net or drop by our meeting on the third Saturday of the month, generally held at the Occidental Community Center.
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In the second full weekend in December the Council sponsors the Annual Holiday Crafts Faire. All proceeds from the Faire are put back into the community.

Resource Fund
The Resource Fund of the Occidental Community Council was formed to meet the emergency, non-recurring needs of people in our community that are not met by the usual community resources. It is administered by a committee of Council members who are empowered to fund applications of up to $150 on an immediate basis. Requests for over $150 must be referred to the monthly Council meeting held on the third Saturday of each month. Residents of the Occidental/Camp Meeker area are eligible for assistance. For further information and to request an application, please email occinfo@sonic.net or write to the Council at P.O. Box 17, Occidental 95465.

Occidental Community Council Past Accomplishments

Our one fundraiser per year is the Occidental Holiday Crafts Faire. It is the second weekend in December and is free to attend. Beautiful local crafts, yummy food, prizes in the Bucket Raffle, and visits from Santa are highlights of this fun event.

Here is a partial list of activities supported by the Council since its inception in 1986.
  • Production of the Annual Occidental Holiday Crafts Faire.
  • Resource Funds managed by the Occidental Health Center and Harmony Union School District. Available for emergency non-recurring needs of groups and individuals in the Occidental Area.
  • The Young Writer’s Showcase for K-8 graders at Harmony Union School District.  
  • Funds for Student Art Show to frame artwork for the gallery.
  • Donations to the RR Senior Center to support the Senior Lunch Program held at St. Philips Church. 
  • Contributions to the April Fool’s Parade and Halloween Carnival organized by the Occidental Center for the Arts. 
  • Toys for Tots donations to local fire department every holiday season. 
  • Dog waste stations set up/services at both ends of town.  
  • Contributions to the Occidental Center for the Arts as a member and for Lobby Building Fund. 
  • KOWS.fm annual sponsorship. We love and support our local radio station! ​
  • Developed and manage the Community Bulletin Board display case at the Bohemian Market.
  • Helped to start an ESL (English as a second language) program for adults at Harmony School.
  • Sponsored the Community Service Awards, acknowledging local youth and their contributions to our community
  • Support for start-up and continuation of the Occidental Community Farmer's Market.
  • Contributions to the Harmony Music program to purchase instruments.
  • Sponsorship of Occidental Emergency Preparedness including CPR/First Aid classes, CERT trainings and Map Your Neighborhood programs.
  • Contributions to Tennis Court refurbishing.
  • Contributions to new sports gym floor at the Community Center.
In addition, the Council has provided frequent support or donations to the following programs and groups:
  • Occidental Area Health Center
  • Occidental Volunteer Fire Department
  • Harmony and Salmon Creek Schools
  • Face to Face (Sonoma County AIDS Network)
  • River to Coast Children's Services​
  •  Occidental Center for the Arts
  • Bob Burke’s Kids with Cancer and Other Serious Illnesses
  • ​​Ocean Song​
  • Occidental Arts and Ecology Center
  • Occidental Community Choir

Please consider joining us on the Council

$25 /yr. for OCC Associate Membership. 
PO Box 17, Occidental, CA 95465
occinfo@sonic.net
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