Development, Communications and Marketing Committee Co-chair
Audit Subcommittee Chair
Former Board Chair
Joan Plank grew up in Salem and is a fourth-generation Oregonian. She worked at the Oregon Department of Transportation for 36 years. During that time, she spent nine years attending night school and graduated from Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science in marketing.
For more than 20 years, Joan spent a lot of time in our beautiful Capitol representing ODOT at the Oregon Legislature. She spent many late nights and weekends in the building testifying at hearings or waiting for them to convene, watching floor sessions, meeting with senators and representatives, making sure the bills she was responsible for were moving ahead and that no surprise legislation or amendments were advancing. The building felt like her home away from home.
“Walking up the front steps and popping out of the revolving doors into the Capitol rotunda is inspiring — every time. So much that shapes Oregon begins in the Capitol and is a legacy for all citizens. I want to be a lasting part of preserving the beautiful building’s history, and I’ve named the Oregon State Capitol Foundation in my trust so I can be.
The process to make a legacy gift was easy because I took care of it as part of creating a trust document while doing estate planning. The attorney knew exactly what to do.”
Joan Plank
If you’d like more information about showing your love for the Capitol and all it represents with a legacy gift, contact Joan Plank.
At your service
When asked to be on the Oregon State Capitol Foundation Board after retiring from ODOT, she didn’t hesitate to say, “Yes.” She supported the Capitol Foundation’s work, and serving on the board meant she’d have a reason to spend time in the Capitol.
“The best part of being on the OSCF board came from serving a term as Chair. My favorite experience was helping throw the switch at the Capitol Tree Lighting in 2016.”
Joan Plank. (Begin watching at 50:30 to see Joan help Santa and friends flip the switch.)
Preserving Capitol history
Joan’s father, who also grew up in Salem, was nine years old when our current Capitol opened in 1938. Joan always loves to hear the story about him and other kids crawling inside the Oregon Pioneer, which was laying in front of the Capitol prior to installation. He said he could roll-over the Oregon Pioneer’s head.