It
was a jammed-packed agenda at last week’s Chamber luncheon. It included Tahoma’s ‘We The People’, the
annual auction of Ruby The Fish, an insightful speaker, and the Business of the
Quarter award presentation.
Let’s
start with ‘We The People’. As always,
this constitutional team from Tahoma High School is remarkable. The breadth and depth of knowledge is
astounding as is their poise and presentation.
Tahoma’s We The People has captured 17 state championships and again
this year, advances to the national competition in Washington, D.C. next
week. The United Three team, Sarah
Fuller, Matt Horne, Kristen Jamieson, and Sadie Nelson, wowed the audience who then
generously donated $406 to the Tahoma Foundation in support of WTP’s national
competition.
Next on the agenda was the annual
auctioning off of Ruby, a beautiful glass-blown fish and an icon of the derby. All proceeds of this auction go to the
purchase of prizes for the upcoming derby.
A tradition was born several years ago when Maple Valley City Councilor
Linda Johnson bought Ruby from an aspiring glass blower at the Museum of Glass
in Tacoma. Kevin Patterson bought Ruby
the first year but then surprised everyone the following year by bringing Ruby
back to be re-auctioned. It’s been the
tradition ever since – the highest bidder safeguards Ruby for the year then ‘releases’
it the following year. Previous owners
include Kevin Patterson, Jim Flynn (Flynn Development), Dr. Cynthia Cote, and
most recently Patti Jenson (Allstate, The Jenson Agency). This year’s generous bidder was Laura Moser
of Waste Management. Thank you,
Laura!
It was then Board Chair Kevin
Patterson’s privilege to present the Business of the Quarter Award. This quarter’s award acknowledged personal
leadership and courage, innovative practices, response to changing economic
conditions, and contribution to the community as a whole. She is one remarkable, determined,
entrepreneur – Wendee Mann of Versatile Designs. Congratulations, Wendee! And if you ever need work done inside or
outside your home, call Wendee!
Our guest speaker, Randy Spitzer
of Responsibility Cultures, captured the attention of attending members by
talking about taking responsibility. He outlined
three areas of taking responsibility in businesses and/or organizations: 1)
changing the social contract; 2) encouraging emergent leaders and 3) delivering
customer value. The assessment exercise
was particularly enlightening. His book,
Take Responsibility, is available and
usually retails for $15. At the
luncheon, he donated his books and all the proceeds benefited the ‘We The
People’ team.
And
all that adds up to our motto: The Chamber – Growing Business, Building
Community.
Added on 04/20/2012
Filed Under
Black Diamond News,
Chamber Announcements,
Chamber Events in Review,
Maple Valley News by Chamber blog
