Salmon Creek Neighborhood Association July 2008 Minutes

As part of our ongoing coverage of the activities that shape your Salmon Creek neighborhood, the following are the formal minutes from the North Salmon Creek Neighborhood Association General Meeting, held on July 22, 2008.

The July 22nd General Meeting, held at the Three Creeks Library, began at 7pm with cookies and donated Starbucks’ coffee. A new sponsor, Krispy Krème, donated donuts for the evening.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, President Barbara Anderson welcomed all and made a few announcements:

• Previous Meeting Minutes.     Reading of the May 27 2008 General Meeting minutes was waived since the minutes have been posted on the NSCNA website and distributed by e-mail.

• Financial Report. The treasurer, Darin Kaysner reported $585.96 in the treasury.

Committee Reports

• Incorporation Update. Adequate funds are now in the treasury to begin the process of incorporation as a 501 (3) (c).  A motion was passed to authorize the Board to begin.

• Klineline Bridge Update. Dan Bodell reviewed progress on the bridge and even though there have been a few minor issues, construction is still on schedule to be completed in October.

• Zoning Request Update. Barbara Anderson advised that the Concomittment Agreement between the County Planning Commission and the rezoning requesters is nearing the signature stage. It will include two main issues to protect undesirable development on the land involved:

a) No Big Box stores will be developed

b) Traffic increases will be limited on the adjacent arterial routes.

• Neighborhood Park Update. Barbara Anderson announced that the County Parks and Recreation board has taken no action to prove up on the promised and funded park in the NSCNA area.  Attendees who are interested in applying pressure to the P&R Board are encouraged to join Barbara at the next meeting which is held on the
3rd Friday of each month. Contact her for details if you would like to help.

Our evening topics and speakers:

We in the NSCNA area are fortunate to have a wealth of medical/social programs and services.  Our speakers this evening represented two of those services.

1. Legacy Health System. Shawna Burkholder, Development Specialist, for the Legacy Salmon Creek hospital described the 3 year history of the hospital servicing our area. She also outlined the extent of the Legacy Health System in the greater Portland and Vancouver area, which includes 5 hospitals, a Hospice center, a research laboratory and 30 clinics (3 in Vancouver).  There are 906 employees at the Salmon Creek facility and it is the first totally new hospital built in the State of Washington in 31 years.  The local community is invited to tour the hospital and have lunch in the 3rd floor cafeteria (which has been touted by many as the best “restaurant” in Salmon Creek!!).  She introduced the new Pediatric Rehabilitation Program (PRP) with the in- house slogan “Watch Us Grow”.  Dr. Lisa Lyons who heads up the Speech Language Pathology group spoke about the Pediatric Rehabilitation Program and how it is helping youngsters of all ages in Speech, Occupational and Physical therapy. Ms. Burkholder then discussed the planned completion and opening of the 6th floor of the hospital with expansion of present services and introduction of new services. When questioned about volunteer opportunities with PRP we were advised to contact the
hospital who will put interested people in touch with the volunteer coordinators. It was also mentioned that the hospital has not yet reached a fund raising goal of $75,000 for
therapy equipment for the PRP.  It’s our hospital: visit, volunteer, donate!

2. Family to Family Program. Peggy Hays heads up the Family to Family Program under Child Welfare Services in Clark County. Family to Family is an approach started about 15 years ago in the mid-west that is based on a Family Team Decision- making process with goals of:

• Keeping children in their own homes whenever possible

• Maximizing placement children in their own neighborhoods

• When out of area placement is required maximize foster homes, relative’s homes

• Increasing joint sibling placement.

• Decreasing length of stay

• Decreasing number of moves

• Decreasing cross racial and gender placements.

Hazel Dell is one of two high placement areas in Clark County. Our NSCNA is included in that area with 103 kids having been placed. Of those only 2 of the placements were in-area with the remainder having to be placed out of area.  Many new foster homes are needed and volunteerism is encouraged for liaison support to a program called Building Community Partnerships. This group meets once each month at St. John Lutheran church. The local division of Children and Family Services is located at 907 Harvey in Vancouver and can be reached at 360-993-7900 or 1-800-243-4984.

3.” Volunteer Connections.”    A representative from Volunteer Connections advised us that they are putting together teams of residents who live in the community for disaster preparedness. They will be meeting July 23 at 201 NE 73rd Street, suite 201 from
6:30-8:30 pm. All interested parties were encouraged to attend.

4. Crime Tip.     Deputy Paul Prather of the Clark County Sheriff’s office gave a spirited speech to us about Gun safety and family safety plus he handed out free gun safety locks.

The meeting was brought to a close with drawing for door prizes and adjourned at
8:30pm. One-on-one discussions with the speakers continued after the formal meeting for those inclined to stay. Quite a few did so and the discussions resulted in additional details on each topic.

Our next General Meeting will be September 23rd 2008 at Three Creeks Library.

Many thanks to our local merchant supporters for refreshments at our meetings and coupons for  attendees.

Coffee Provided by Starbuck’s
Door prizes of  two  $25 gift cards and  jars of Burgerville sauce by Salmon Creek Burgerville
Donuts from Krispy Kreme

Submitted by;

Larry Gentry, Secretary, NSCNA

Please feel free to join your Salmon Creek neighbors at an upcoming meeting.