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AmeriCorps Training…Again

Day’s Verse:
“This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ “
Jeremiah 33:2-3

Today I’m heading off to even more AmeriCorps training in Trout Lake. We’re spending two nights there, driving down today and back Friday night. Expect silence through at least Saturday; Trout Lake is quite remote, and although they do have computers with internet (amazing!), the AmeriCorps people work hard to keep us busy to make the trip worth the drive. I still wonder why they picked Trout Lake. It’s central to Washington and Oregon, true — centrally inconvenient for anybody not living in Hood River. I hear it’s pretty, but our 10-day stint in January didn’t reveal much of that; perhaps this time, or the time in July, will have less ice, snow, and rain, and more views of Mt. Adams. Continue Reading >>

Posted on by Katie

Mariners Salute to Volunteers Game

Day’s Verse:
Then maidens will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
Jeremiah 31:13

I’ve been working on and off for the last month planning a volunteer recognition event: Taking the volunteers to the Mariners Salute to Volunteers game on April 20. This involved:

  • Compiling a complete list of all the people who had volunteered for the Bike Alliance in the last year (the Bike Alliance didn’t have anything like that);
  • Emailing all those volunteers with an invitation to the Mariners game;
  • Compiling a list of RSVPs, including how many people wanted tickets for somebody other than themselves (we charged $8 per ticket per extra non-volunteer, a total steal, even for nosebleed seats);
  • Purchasing the tickets (my first large purchase on the Bike Alliance credit card — almost $450. Frustratingly, I had 11 no-shows. At $8 a head, that’s a good chunk of money for a cash-strapped nonprofit);
  • Organizing and confirming that staff people got food and drinks and extra cash;
  • Providing all the details the attendees needed to make it on time, plus of course accommodating last-minute requests and “can’t meet then” difficulties;
  • Wrangling the attendees on the day of, including receiving the money a few of them owed and passing out tickets to each individual;
  • Herding all those cats into one group for the big parade walk to Safeco Field. I encouraged people to wear bike helmets to look like a group, but most people were too self-conscious to actually do it.

Here’s the photo summary of what I achieved:

Mariners Game: Safeco Field

That’s 49 Bicycle Alliance volunteers and staff, already enjoying themselves before the game even started. I deem it a success. Continue Reading >>

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KDOG Project: Success

Day’s Verse:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27

These are pictures from the Kirkland City Council Study Session on off-leash areas. This is the big meeting we were trying to use my door hangers to advertise and encourage people to attend.

Total KDOG member attendance: 37 — too many to fit in the meeting room!

Kirkland City Council Study Session 3

Kirkland City Council Study Session 2

I think I have about 25 door hangers left out of the 750 I received on March 23. Not too shabby for barely 2 weeks of scrambling around. Continue Reading >>

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Somewhat Disappointing

Day’s Verse:
One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
Acts 16:14 (context)

A couple weeks ago, I spent quite a few hours working really hard on an email newsletter for KDOG, the group I’m doing my Community Action Project with. On Monday, March 29, at 4:05 pm, I triumphantly finished it and emailed it to the KDOG mailing list through my Bicycle Alliance account. I felt a little thrill of excitement at having shared something I worked so very hard on with all those people. I also hoped it would get a few people to come out and help distribute door hangers on Saturday, April 3. Continue Reading >>

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Barking

Day’s Verse:
“Do men make their own gods?
Yes, but they are not gods!”
Jeremiah 16:20

This is one thing I’m working on these days. If you’re here April 3rd, I would sure love some volunteer help distributing KDOG door hangers. More details here and here.
Bark for KDOG

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My Life Is Full

Day’s Verse:
There was a man named Cornelius who lived in Caesarea, captain of the Italian Guard stationed there. He was a thoroughly good man. He had led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer.
Acts 10:1-2 (context)

So I’m sorry if you had something else you wanted me to think about. My memory and processing power are all used up, and you’ll just have to wait until I complete some tasks and free up some space. Continue Reading >>

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For Reals!

Day’s Verse:
Hear and pay attention,
do not be arrogant,
for the LORD has spoken.
Jeremiah 13:15

At work, I’ve been doing research on policies for “hiring” and “exiting” volunteers. The Bike Alliance doesn’t have any such policies even for staff that I can find (caveat: I’ve looked, but they could exist somewhere I’d never search. Asking staff for help is on my list), so it looks like I’ll be writing them myself.

In my research, I came across a web site whose first sentence said, and I quote, Continue Reading >>