Nominate a Leader for City Club’s Dennis Seinfeld Leadership Award!

There’s still time to nominate an up-and-coming leader for City Club’s annual leadership award. Do you know someone who takes an idea, inspires others, and makes that idea a reality? Many such people aren’t publicly recognized, perhaps because they are quiet servant leaders or they are new to the scene. Honor these people and give them the recognition they’ve earned by nominating them for the Dennis Seinfeld Leadership Award. Details are at www.cityclubtacoma.org, and the deadline is May 6.

Click here for the 2008 Leadership Award Nomination form

May 7 Dinner Program

Compassion, Law & Order, Public Policy: Is There a Balance for Tacoma’s Homeless?

Nativity House, 2304 Jefferson, Tacoma, 6pm

Tacoma’s chronically homeless make up just 10 percent of the homeless population, yet they use 50 percent of the resources for serving the homeless. Thus, Tacoma, like other metropolises, has taken a firm stance against its street population. At the same time, the City is working on a lasting, compassionate solution for hundreds of temporarily homeless and at-risk families.

Recently, the MLK Housing Development Association indicated it may close the City’s largest emergency shelter. What impacts will this have? Can we get tough with street people and maintain compassion for the homeless? What is the community’s long-term plan for reducing/preventing chronic homelessness? What needs of which homeless people does it address?

Our three dinner speakers represent a balance of perspectives—on public policy, law and order, and social justice—for addressing the rationing of limited resources for the homeless:

• Troy Christensen, program manager for Pierce County Human Services, is chair of The Road Home Leadership Team, Pierce County’s 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness.
• Robert Luke, community liaison officer, Tacoma Police Department, was appointed three years ago to take the lead with the Housing First program for the TPD.
• Nick Leider began his work at Nativity House in 2001 as a year-long Jesuit Volunteer and became executive director two years ago. He is also a member of The Road Home Leadership Team.

Nativity House, a day shelter, is closed to clients on Wednesdays, so it is opening its doors to us for our usual City Club wine social, buffet dinner, and stimulating program at a site specific to our topic. Parking will be available at the nearby Commencement Bay Coffee Co., in the shelter’s small parking lot, and on the street. Club members will be on hand to guide you to the front door.

Thanks to Julie Anderson for coordinating this program.

May 21 Lunch Program

Going Green: The Mayor’s Green Ribbon Task Force

Landmark Convention Center, 47 St. Helens Ave., Noon

The Mayor’s Green Ribbon Task Force, appointed by the Tacoma City Council in February 2007, is about to finalize its climate action plan, a road map for how the city should reduce its carbon emissions, to present to the City Council in June. At our May lunch meeting, Ryan Mello, co-chair of the task force, will give us a preview and provide perspective as he addresses these and other questions:

• Are cities being forced to do this because the federal government is not?
• Are similar cities in the country or the world working on this too, or is Tacoma “cutting edge”?

• Can individual cities or regions really make a difference?
• What would be the best-case “green” scenario for Tacoma/Pierce County?
• What if we did nothing?
• What are some unexpected challenges or atypical opponents? Who are the city’s unanticipated allies?

Besides co-chairing the task force, Mello is the Pierce County conservation director for the Cascade Land Conservancy and also serves as an elected commissioner for Metro Parks Tacoma.

Join us for this green forum and find out how proposed changes might affect your own practices and routines in the years ahead.

Thanks to Sarah Miller for coordinating this program.

Upcoming Programs

May 2        Dinner Program, 6pm, Special Venue: Nativity House, 2304 Jefferson, Tacoma

Compassion, Law & Order, Public Policy: Is There a Balance for Tacoma’s Homeless?

May 16       Lunch Program, Noon, Landmark Convention Center, 47 St. Helens, Tacoma

Going Green: The Mayor’s Green Ribbon Task Force

June 4        Dinner Program, 6pm, Wheelock Student Center Rotunda, UPS

To Be Announced (watch for updates at www.cityclubtacoma.org)

June 18      Lunch Program, Noon, Landmark Convention Center, 47 St. Helens, Tacoma

Annual Leadership Lunch, Introducing Dennis Seinfeld Leadership Award Nominees and Winner

Advance reservations are required for all programs by the Monday before the program

Cost: $23 for members and $30 for nonmembers

Call 253.272.9561 or RSVP online at www.cityclubtacoma.org

Hats in the Ring? Join the City Club Board of Directors

It seems wherever you turn this time of year, you’re hearing about an election taking place somewhere, and City Club of Tacoma is no exception. Our fiscal year ends in September, and that means new officers will be taking over. City Club’s nominating committee has begun seeking candidates in several positions up for election this summer.

How about you? Lending your leadership skills to City Club doesn’t just benefit the club. Serving on the board of directors gives you an inside track on club management and direction, enables you to get better acquainted with your fellow members, and enhances your visibility in the club and in the community.

The board meets only once a month for 90 minutes immediately before the monthly dinner program, and involvement in a committee may require another few hours a month, for a total commitment of little more than five hours a month.

Interested? Want to nominate someone? Please contact President Bob Mack or President-Elect Sue Schaeffer.

Directors whose terms expire this year are listed below. Thank you for your dedication and service!

Len Ganduglia – has served as membership committee chair (two years)

Mary Ann Miller – served as membership committee chair (one year)

Joe Quaintance – served as treasurer (two years)

Sue Schaeffer – served as programs committee chair (two years) and has served as president-elect

Click here for the Petition for Board Position Nomination form

City Club of Tacoma thanks everyone who helped make our April programs a success:

• Judge Tom Larkin, Sheriff Paul Pastor, and Mary Robnett – dinner speakers
• Chris Keay – dinner program moderator
• Doug McArthur and Kari Wilkinson – luncheon speakers
• Brian Boyd – luncheon program introductions
• Chris Keay, Roger McLennan, and Jack Warnick – City Club member coordinators

Click here for Program Suggestion form

Your 2007-2008 Officers and Board of Directors

Robert E. Mack, President                              

Sue Schaeffer, President-Elect             

Lin Spellman, Secretary                                   

Nancy Hawley Keech, Treasurer                     

Julie Anderson, Past President             

Directors

Sharon Babcock                                  Pat McCarthy

Phil Chang                                          Mary Ann Miller

Len Ganduglia, Membership Chair        Sarah Miller, Programs Chair

Ann Gosch, Newsletter Editor              Ian Morrison

Chris Keay                                         Joe Quaintance

                                                          Nina Rook, Communications Chair

To nominate someone for a position on the board simply have 10 of your fellow club members sign a petition and submit it to the City Club office! Call for more info: 272.9561  

Contact Us:

City Club of Tacoma

1019 Pacific Avenue, Suite 1701

Tacoma, WA 98402

253.272.9561

253.272.5437 fax

email: [email protected]

On the web at www.cityclubtacoma.org

Newsletter Editor:         Ann Gosch

Newsletter Archives

Click here to download January 2008 Newsletter

Click here to download February 2008 Newsletter