SPEECH President's Message

by Janine Gates

Happy New Year from SPEECH! We are bursting with new goals and projects this year and welcome you to join us. SPEECH was incorporated as a non-profit in March 1991, so as we approach our 18th birthday, we will be celebrating it at our annual meeting on Feb. 27, 6:00 p.m. at Traditions Fair Trade. We'll acknowledge our efforts and have cake made by our founder, Gita Moulton! Come meet our new board members, thank former board members and volunteers, and talk about what we hope to accomplish this year!

We are poised to make great progress in 2009. SPEECH will have a real home to revitalize a sense of connectedness with the community by renting an office space at Media Island, 816 Adams St., across from the Olympia Timberland Library. Once we get settled, look for announcements about our open house, meetings, and a regular SPEECH coffee hour. Come in and get involved! Our phone number and mailing address, listed on our masthead, will remain the same.

In other great news, SPEECH recently bought all the outdoor Sitting Duck newspaper racks that you see currently around the community. The Duck ceased publication in December. Most of the racks happen to be green, so it was a perfect opportunity! From now on, please look for the Green Pages in those enclosed racks, all cozy and dry, as well as in all the usual indoor locations.

SPEECH wishes Sitting Duck publisher Terry Knight well and thanks him for his contributions to the community. In his final issue, Knight published actual Olympia City Council email exchanges between council members written during council meetings, obtained through a public records request. The transcripts read like they are a spoof from the satirical newspaper "The Onion" but alas, they are real quotes in the public record.

As someone who has testified before the council as recently as last month, I too, am concerned that some of these public officials may not be listening, or worse, have already made up their minds on issues before them. SPEECH hopes that a more trustworthy relationship between the Olympia City Council and Olympia citizens develops this year.

I look forward to seeing you at our 18th birthday party/annual meeting on February 27 at Traditions. Everyone who comes will receive a special green gift!

Janine Gates is president of SPEECH and can be reached through her website at www.janinegatesphotography.com.