HyleBlog - Friends of the Hylebos

Is Growth Management Managing Growth The Way We Want?

A couple of items of note today. Our old friend and 2006 Ruby Dance Keynote Speaker, Doug MacDonald presents a compelling argument that current growth management is not achieving the densities desired for urban areas. Growth, he states, is mostly happening on the suburban fringes, and imminent regional transportation decisions need to incorporate this reality into their decision making. 

Doug's article touches on a question that's critical to communities of the Hylebos: how do we create/foster urban communities that provide for density...and are compelling enough to get people to actually live there?

Another set of disconcerting numbers. Is volunteering waning nationally with the deepening recession? According to a new national survey, it is. This is contrary to the experience of past recessions when volunteering has held stable or increased. The National Conference on Citizenship reports:

...that 72 percent of Americans said they were devoting less time to volunteering and other civic activities, like providing food and shelter to those in need and participating in public discussions like town-hall-style meetings.

I don't believe we've seen evidence of a dip in Hylebos volunteering. However, we are heading into our heavy volunteer season and we'll have to see what the response is.

...And A Thanks To Bob Roegner

Yesterday, I wrote a piece thanking some key departing board members. Today, I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to our Current Past President Bob Roegner, who handed over the gavel to Margery Godfrey in July.

Each board president brings their own unique brand, and unique set of skills and focus areas to the organization. After a long, storied career in local and regional government (including Mayor of Auburn, several senior posts at King County), we were fortunate to have Bob volunteer with the board and eventually become President. In that role, Bob has worked to help the board develop some fundamentally important procedures as well as a more efficient board culture (Over the year's Bob's run a few meetings; I think our board meetings are now quite efficient, timely, and productive). Among the changes, we've revamped and revitalized our committee structure, developed our 2nd 3-year strategic plan, moved forward with a 3-year comprehensive advancement plan, and adopted the organization's first Personnel Policy. All the while, our programs and community presence have been growing.

Aside from his work as chair of the organization, Bob has been a mentor and advisor to yours truly. I deeply appreciate this as I've learned a great deal from him, and hope to continue doing so. Our meetings often ran overlong simply because Bob has the tendency to explain the intricacies of local politics and organizational operations...and I was always the willilng listener, hoping to learn something new. I think I'm a better ED after our 2-year partnership as ED & Prez.

I will say this, aside from his other qualities, you know that after putting up with me for two years, Bob has a tremendously deep well of patience and good humour!

Bob is also active in the FW Chamber of Commerce and the Boys & Girls Club, and is a columnist for the Federal Way Mirror, reporting & explaining the ins & outs of local politics. (see his latest column)

Thanks Bob for your service to the Friends and the Community as our Board President. I look forward to continue working with you on our board.

Starting Up Forest Health Program

I had a positive meeting with city of Federal Way officials to discuss our urban forest health program. The Friends will be putting together some public awareness and then a series of volunteer ivy removal efforts at Dumas Bay Preserve this fall. We want to use this pilot project as a launching pad a citywide forest health program.

I came out of yesterday's meeting with the beginning steps of building awareness within city government for the issue. Senior staff know it's a serious issue and would like to collaborate. Next up, I'll make a series of presentations to the Council and commissions with the hope of getting a policy statement for forest health.

In the news. Native bees are filling in the gap (somewhat) left by declining honeybee populations.

More invasives/natives story with a "Yuh Think?!" story. Removing invasive rats from an island has its own ecological problems.

Then an interesting piece about how some of the Stim money is funding Puget Sound tribal members to remove derelict nets from the bottom of the Sound.

The NYT recently published an article about the potential dangers of the common weed killer atrazine, which is commonly found in drinking water supplies.

Thanks to Outgoing Board Members

One of the True pleasures of my job, and working for an organization like the Friends, is working with some very special people on the board of directors. Today I'm saying a fond farewell to three such excellent people, who have been great joys to work with, and strong assets and advocates for the Friends. Jim Burbidge, Judy Turpin and Eric Stavney are retiring from the board after 5, 7 and 6 years, respectively.

Jim, who has been active in just about every important civic cause in Federal Way, has served as our Secretary for years and has always been a thoughtful presence on the board. He's the sort of board member that makes the Executive Director sharper because I always knew Jim was going to ask good, thought-provoking questions. That's a vital voice to have on a board and leads to a more effective, more efficient organization.

He is also the sort of board member who is comfortable as a fundraiser (which ED's always love!).

I remember the 2003 barbecue that our friends at Banrock Station Wines threw for us at the  park. It was not intended to be a fundraiser; the company wanted to use the event as a friendraiser and PR event, so we just invited friends supporters for free wine and food. At some point during the event, as people were extolling the work the Friends does, Jim stood up and said something to the effect of, 'well, no one's mentioned this, but can we make donations tonight to support this work?'

I think we got about $1,000 in donations we didn't expect. I said to myself, after Jim sat down, I've got to get him on the board!

Jim, thank you for being a great board member, a dedicated and passionate supporter of conservation, and for being a friend.

Judy Turpin is another departing board member who will be sorely missed. Many people know Judy from her years as a lobbyist for progressive causes in Olympia and her decades of work with the Washington Environmental Council.

Judy brought that experience to the Friends and provided a voice of wisdom and experience as we've waded through environmental policy issues and management issues as the organization has grown.Judy thank you for your years of wise counsel and commitment to conservation!

Eric Stavney served for a little over 6 years and during that time he's been Vice-President and served two stints as President. Eric stepped up to leadership roles in the board despite this not being his first choice. He did it because the borrd needed someone to fill the roles at the time.

Eric's first love is on-the-ground restoration work. He has been involved in, I believe just about every restoration project we've done, as a volunteer. A devoted father of two really wonderful children, Carl & Linnea, Eric often brings his kids to the events. Both father and children have racked up huge volunteer hours and garnered just about every volunteer reward we offer.

Eric, thank you for years of service to the Hylebos, and your friendship, as well as putting up with me all those times you were President!

All three served on the board during a time of significant growth and substantial achievements in our conservation goals. While board members don't always get a lot of recognition, and much of their work is done behind the scenes, we wouldn't be the organization we are today, and we wouldn't have the acres preserved and restored that we do, without Jim, Eric & Judy. Thank you for being on the board!

Go Green in the Mirror

Here's a link to a photo and blurb on the Go Green event that I attended. Hmm, I think "environmental guru" may be giving me a bit too much credit.

Saturday...Doing A Bit of Clean-Up

...catching up on some unresolved details from the week, cleaning my computer, blogging and listening to Arsenal (via the Internets) beat the snot out of Portsmouth 4-1.

Latest effort for Thinking Locally in the FW Mirror, talkin' about last week's HOV Lane groundbreaker. BTW, just 'cause I poke fun at Andy's series (which was a very good, informative series, BTW) on medical marijuana, I don't want to leave anyone with the impression that he advocates drug use. And don't let his sleepy-eyed, laconic, Dorito-eating lifestyle fool you, either. Our editor is Straight Edge all the way!

Driving the Five for the Hylebos

Today was a day spent driving between Federal Way, Seattle & Tacoma. Started the morning meeting with Steve Dubiel and Bill Brosseau at Earthcorps, one of our primary partners and a group that I just think the best of. Amazingly, we've been working with Earthcorps and today was my first visit to their office. I enjoyed seeing their digs and getting a sense of their workplace.

 

Here's Bill and steve in Steve's office.

Of course, we were strategizing on great, new conservation projects!

I ended up the day in Tacoma, meeting with AHBL and Steve Pruitt of Rainbow Consultants on a smart growth project we're initiating, then it was back to Federal Way to meet two of my favorite Friends, Mark and Adele Freeland.

Unfortunately, in the meantime our IT guru, Patrick arrived, assessed my computer, pronounced it severely sick and carried it out of the office for further tests. Hopefully, it's not too bad.

Have a great weekend. Enjoy the Hylebos! Enjoy the outdoors!

Gunner of the Month: Cesc Fabregas

He's young. His name is Spanish for Fabulous Footballer. And he's the Captain of Arsenal. Young Gunner Cesc Fabregas is the August Gunner of the Month. In one EPL game and one Champsions League game he's started the season right, controlling the midfield, igniting the offense with his pinpoint precise passes, and creating a scoring threat that unsettles opposing defenses.

Hylebos Job Opening

Do you like working outside? Do you like the satisfaction of tangibly improving the environment through habitat restoration? The Friends is looking for an energetic, organized individual to serve as Restoration Coordinator (see more here). The RC will work under the direction of Restoration Specialist Hillary Kleeb.

Contact me for more information or questions.

Worst Tree Decision Ever?

I sighted this poor tree stranded in a parking lot in Federal Way and I just had to get a photo of it. I can imagine the intentions were good to save this tree - or maybe it was required?? - but I can't imagine this being a good decision for the tree.