May 2008 Archives

At a special awards breakfast on May 16, General Lowenberg presented Washington Emergency Management Division's 49-member Human Services Team with the coveted state Extra Mile Award from the Washington State Productivity Board as part of the Public Service Recognition Week.  

The team operated between Dec. 13, 2007, and Feb. 28, 2008, as part of the Presidential disaster declaration DR 1714 for the floods and windstorms of December 2007 in Washington.

The Extra Mile Award is given to an individual or group of public employees who surpass expectations for exemplary public service by demonstrating at least one of the following attributes:   

• Execute an innovative solution.
• Improve efficiency.
• Exhibit visionary thinking.
• Overcome great odds or disadvantages.
• Demonstrate personal valor or bravery.         

"The team selflessly provided exceptional, timely and record setting service to a highly traumatized segment of state citizens at the worst moment in their lives." the award stated.

Team members assisted individuals who were forced out of their homes or suffered uninsured personal property losses. The award said team members worked right through the holidays, logging 12 plus hours a day, seven days a week, for weeks on end providing qualitative services at a record pace

  The team's record was as follows:

·         conducted preliminary damage assessments in 11 counties leading to a federal declaration in 10 counties;

·         performed community relations operations in 10 counties in less than 60 days garnering over 10,600 registrations;

·         co-managed 10 Disaster Recovery Centers serving 6,139 disaster victims;

·         managed two different state help lines handling approximately 5,000 calls;

·         processed 4,330 Other Needs Assistance grant cases awarding approximately $2.8 million to disaster applicants for personal property losses;

·         helped 272 individuals/families find assistance for their disaster related needs not met through federal assistance in the largest flood disaster in the state in more than a decade.

Team members "should take great pride in being recognized for the quality and quantity of the work you have done to help others in this event.  It is one thing to excel as an individual, and yet another to excel as a team, Go Team!" stated Team Leader John Vollmer, deputy state coordinating officer--human services for DR 1714.

 Photos from Space-So Grand and Inspiring

'Inspired Living' Guest Bloggers Niki and Howard

Before we moved, we gathered up a large amount of the local newspapers, the "Nickel" Want ads, and looked at postings on local bulletin boards. Seeing a fairly religious posting nestled next to an excerpt from "The White Book" showed us a possible leaning to balance was in the area. At least we could be among like minded folks! (Still, it helps to keep in mind, "It's an alone journey" after all.)

We developed relationships with others that provide services (and help) in this neck of the woods. We are very grateful for their experience and knowledge and knew we needed their opinions. This approach, treating folks as the 'experts' you deem them to be, has created good working relationships with fair-minded folks. We met members of several 'Pioneer' families who loved to share their history.

There is a once-a-month "Ladies gather" that rotates locations each month. It is a pot-luck, and you bring your choice of beverage to share. I met the 'Egg Lady', the 'Honey lady', and discovered who was good with computers, who was bi-lingual, who could sew, make wine, grow gardens, can food, was herbal-efficient, organic, could sing, babysit and could raise sheep. We circulated a "Contact List" and whoever wanted to be on it - is. They developed a call system where you called the people below you on the list. It works well. Several times it was used in emergencies to good advantage. We share a 'plant exchange' in May. We bring extra plant starts, and exchange flowers, veggies, house plants and often clothing exchanges, or items for a local family in need. For holidays, we each brought a poem or song or 'reading' from our many varied backgrounds, in a spirit of co-operation. And, we each helped in a local "professional" cannery, exchanging part of our work, to help make salsa, or to add our tomatoes to be canned for trade!

Learn to grow your own food. Not just tomatoes, although with a bit of seasoning, you will be in enchilada and spaghetti sauce for a long time. We discovered tomatoes stored better, more reliably, in jars. The new lining in the cans does not have the shelf life it used to have. You must learn to do your own canning! And, that means, you must have the proper supplies, now. We recently heard that there are now some "LED" Grow lights and are considering trying them with hydroponics indoors!!

Get a copy of Carla Emery's "The Encyclopedia of Country Living", it's great! Check and see if there is a food-co-op, such as www.azurestandard.com Or www.mountainpeople.com , delivery in your area. We belong to Azure, out of Dufur Oregon, they are in several states now. Call them and ask for your local contact person, and get a customer number, use it to see the 'better' prices on their web site. No tax!! There is also a magazine called, "Countryside (& Small Stock Journal) Magazine" for homesteaders and city folks that want to be living- an Inspired life!

Onward!! ~Niki & Howard

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KLEAN KANTEEN - ALTERNATIVE TO PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES

 

I know many of you have dumped your multi-colored Nalgene water bottles (and other polycarbonate bottles labeled with a number 7 on the bottom) since learning of the dangers of leaching Bisphenol-A, or BPA.

I've just come across a great alternative from Klean Kanteen. They make a lightweight stainless steel water bottle that comes in a variety of sizes including one for little hands that they call the Kid Kanteen. What I think is really cool is you can have them put your organization or company logo on them.

Check them out here Klean Kanteen

Here's a link for more info on BPA: The Green Guide