Story Published: Aug 17, 2008 at 5:06 PM PDT
NEAR EUGENE, Ore. - The Rock the Future concert brought more than 20 bands to Sylvan-Ridge Hinman Vineyards over the weekend. But it wasn't your average rock concert.
"The point of a Rock the Future event is to make the focus of the event community groups that do the heavy lifting around the community to make the world a better place," said organizer George Tollefson.
Cascade Middle School teacher George Tollefson is one of the organizers.
"I'm not a music teacher, no," said Tollefson. But he said, rhythm and rhyme bring people together: a key, he believes to solving everything from poverty to illiteracy.
Suggested donation was just ten bucks to get in the door. But community organizations and organizers said it was more than about money. It was a great way for folks to walk from booth to booth and network to make their organization stronger.
"We've been able to get more farmer contacts," said Jim Ley of Fern Ridge Gleaners. "We've got more farmers if they need our help. We've also got contacts here so that if they have grapes left over we can do that too."
"I just learned about Oregon Credit Union over there and a micro lending project," said Marcia Koenig of Lane E.S.D. Migrant Education Program.
It wasn't hard to get bands to come even though they have to pay their own way.
"It's right up our alley," said Phoenix Echo from the band A Blinding Silence. "We're just trying to do our part and make great music."
If this year's event is any indication, it looks like Rock the Future has a bright future of its own.