Page 11 - 2016 MARCH issue

the prison’s common areas and in many of its who are near death.
cells as well. Inmates earn credits by working “It takes them outside these walls for the
at the prison and exhibiting good behavior,
and can save the points for use toward items last time,” Rowe said. She added that hospice
like small televisions and MP4 players. Now staff are working with prison staff to have the
those televisions allow inmates to enjoy the walls of every room in the hospice unit painted
nature channel at any time of the day or night. white, so that the channel can be viewed in a
larger format than the televisions at the foot
Inmates loved the program for a number of each hospice bed allow.
of reasons, they say.
Rowe said that for her, watching the channel
“It takes you out of being here,” said Jean brings her in equal measure to the past and to
Keating, who entered CCCF in 2013 after what she dreams of for the future. That was the
being convicted of manslaughter. Keating is case for inmate Lanelle Warner as well. Warner
scheduled for a 2019 release. She said that the began a 10-year manslaughter sentence in
channel mirrors Oregon’s geographic variety 2011. Warner was raised in a cabin on a Native
with its scenarios. American reservation, where she hauled water
and chopped wood for the family’s stove.
“There is always a place (on the channel)
that someone is going home to,” she said. “It’s a piece of home,” she said.
Warner said that she intends to better
Some images are screened with audio to appreciate the natural world once she is
match, like the sound of wind blowing or of released. But for Eklof, who likely will never
birds chirping, while others include classical again see any of the scenarios shown on the
music. Keating said that the sound of birds channel in person, there is a touch of heartache
was especially exciting as it is something that in her appreciation for the program.
inmates forget about after spending years “It’s a strong example of what we’ve lost,”
behind bars. Eklof said.
Contact Jake Bartman at 503-636-1281
Images of stars and the moon are another ext. 113 orjbartman@pamplinmedia.com.
scene inmates “don’t see for years,” Keating This article originally published in the Wilsonville
said. That scenario is Cynthia Rowe’s favorite. Spokesman. Reprinted by permission from Jake
Rowe has been serving a life sentence for Bartman.. Lanelle Warner and Karlyn Eklof are
murder since 2003, and works in the prison’s members of Audacious Orators.
hospice care unit. She says that the channel
has proven especially powerful for women

Widen Your Business Footprint

Do you have a business or service that you wish to promote? Could it be beneficial to share
that information with other Toastmasters? An investment of $25 will place a color copy of
your business card in the program of our Spring Conference, Leading the World.

Toastmasters like to do business with other Toastmasters.
Whether you attend the conference or not, your name
and business will be in front of potential clients. Your
advertisement investment will help support our conference.
Place your ad before April 15th to assure your place in the
program. Click here to place your ad.

Volume 2 Issue 8 - MARCH 2016 11