This time of year, not surprisingly, there are reminders of the importance of family everywhere; even pet food commercials remind you not to forget your furry friend this time of year (we already have cans of turkey feast for everyone).
And while I think that it is indeed good to be reminded of the importance of the individuals that we often take for granted (love you honey), I am also fully aware that not everyone has a loving family to appreciate. Therefore, while this column does focus on family, keep in mind that family comes in many forms and may or may not include the family you are born into but it can always include the family you choose.
Family Volunteer Day, always the Saturday before Thanksgiving, is a Global Day of Service celebrating the power of families working together to support their communities and neighborhoods. In 1990, the Points of Light Foundation (POLF) started Family Volunteer Day to celebrate this effort. Since then, POLF has partnered with Disney’s Friend for Change for sponsorship and generationON, the youth and family service division of POLF, to manage the event. Take time out with your family this season to help others and make a positive mark on the world. Click here for more information.
When we moved to this area from Texas, we thought we had left the natural disasters behind, only to learn about the pending threat of a massive earthquake.
Now we understand that this threat starts in Yellowstone (the park, not the TV show!) How could there possibly be a connection when Yellowstone is in Wyoming, 800 miles away? Good question. Hear Dr. Gary Ritchie tell us the story at History Pub at Heritage Distillery this Thursday, November 17. For details, click here. Details here.
The program is sponsored by the Olympia Tumwater Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that “honors the philanthropic legacy of the Schmidt Family and the Olympia Brewing Company through a wide range of community projects including awarding annual scholarships, preserving the historic Schmidt House and archives, supporting the Tumwater Historic District, and providing the Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls for public use and enjoyment,” according to its website.
Admission to the Puget Sound Estuarium (PSE) will be free all day this Sunday, November 20! Come to learn all about the orcas that share the waters of Puget Sound. The exhibit consists of photos and information about the southern resident orcas and there will even be mammal-themed games and prizes! PSE, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit was founded by the South Sound Estuary Association (SSEA) to create opportunities for the public to learn about estuaries, geology, natural and cultural history, marine life, and human impact on the Puget Sound (the biggest estuary in the United States by volume and second largest in the United States by shoreline). Their mission is to foster learning opportunities that inspire people of all ages to connect with, protect, and enjoy the unique estuary environment of Puget Sound. For details, click here.
November 18 and 19 the Spouses’ Club of Lewis-McChord will host the 2nd annual Kris Kringle Market. The event is modeled after the European Christmas markets and will include an indoor beer garden, 60 artisan vendors, 15+ food trucks, photos with Santa, plus a North Pole Kid Zone with an obstacle course house, letters to Santa, holiday crafts, games, and more. For details, click here.
November 18 and 19 the community is invited to attend the 8th annual Swede Hall Bazaar. The event will feature 34 vendor spaces packed with handcrafted items along with a couple of direct sales representatives. For details, click here.
November 19 and 20 the Arbutus Folk School will be hosting a Craft Market featuring items created by its instructors out of clay, wood, wool, and more. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Arbutus Folk School a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Olympia that offers year-round classes, workshops, events artists’ residencies with a focus on ceramics, woodworking, blacksmithing, fiber arts, and folk and traditional arts. For details, click here.
Saturday, November 19 VFW Post 318 will be hosting its annual holiday bazaar. Attendees are encouraged to find perfectly unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for that special person or, for the friend that is so hard to buy for. For details, click here.
Saturday, November 19, St. Benedict Episcopal Church will be hosting a traditional Christmas Faire. The community is invited to attend and enjoy live music as you browse in this happy holiday environment. For details, click here.
Join the Washington Center November 17 as they pay tribute to Aunties of the Indigenous communities. “Aunties – Women of the Salish Sea” features stories by Native American and First Nations Matriarchs, told live from stage to be immortalized in an online series of shorts. The term Aunties is an honorific that signifies a woman or non-binary person who holds a place of significance and respect in their communities. This original Indigenous Performance Production features women and non-binary Aunties who have spent their lives dedicated to serving their communities through the creation of hope, opportunity, and connection. For more details, click here.
Join the Olympia World Affairs Council (OWAC) on Thursday, November 17 for a free talk on Israel, the only state in the world with a majority Jewish population. The featured speaker, Nancy Koppelman will explore 12 features of Israel’s history, diverse ethnic and religious ways of life, governance and justice structures, and educational system. Those interested may attend in person to participate virtually. The Olympia World Affairs Council which began in 1984 is an affiliate of The World Affairs Councils of America. According to the OPAC website, the impetus for the organization came from Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro who encouraged a group of people interested in international issues to form an organization with the twin goals of assisting State officials with visiting foreign officials and fostering a local appreciation of foreign cultures. For more details, click here.
On Saturday, November 19, TCMedia Studio A will be transformed into an intimate club environment to showcase popular area musicians and their music as well as raise funds to support community media programming and services. The featured performer will be Olympia-based pianist, composer, recording artist, radio host, and film composer, Scott Cossu. Cossu has been performing worldwide since 1980 and was one of the first artists to join the Windham Hill Record Label. Cellist, Holly Reeves will accompany Cossu. TCMedia is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to deliver communication resources that build stronger communities. For more details, click here.
Friday, November 18, 2022, Join Window Seat Media and Evergreen's Center for Community-Based Learning and Action for a conversation with local historians and organizers working at the intersection of oral history, community organizing, and social change. Learn about Window Seat's 2023 community oral history and storytelling cohorts, hear from past participants, and learn how to earn college credit by becoming a community oral historian. Window Seat Media is a local nonprofit whose mission is to use oral history and storytelling to spark conversation, connection, and social change in South Sound and beyond. For more details, click here.
Window Seat Media will also be partnering with CIELO to co-host a Community Storytelling Circle next Monday, November 21 titled: “Asking for help: Ways to access community resources without shame” (Maneras de acceder a los recursos de la comunidad sin Vergüenza). Founded in 1996, by a group of 8 dedicated Latinas CIELO’s mission is to promote community, self-sufficiency, and leadership of Latinos in South Puget Sound. For more details, click here.
Soliciting your ideas
If you know of a nonprofit that is doing something great, celebrating a success, needs some outstanding volunteers, or hosting an event, let me know! This column (aside from a little education) celebrates nonprofits!
Mary Beth Harrington, CVA (Certified Volunteer Administrator) lives in Tumwater. She travels the country speaking at conferences and to individual organizations articulating issues facing nonprofits. Send your ideas to her at MaryBeth@theJOLTnews.com
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