Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order by Carol Johnson at 7:30am. Sam Phillips led the flag salute.

Guests:

Kate Dexter and Mary Budke.

Minutes:

Dick Pilling moved to accept July 24 meeting minutes, second by Andrew May. Motion passed.

Announcements:

Julie H. announced Joyce Daze Blackberry Festival this weekend and the George Washington Inn Colonial Festival Aug. 9 – 12.

Sam Phillips announced a PL5 Fire Level, as bad as it gets. This year terminology has changed to burn restrictions instead of burn bans. Be fire safe!

Andrew May announced his Annual Corn Roast on Sunday, the 5th.

Peggy N. gave quote of the day.

Carol J. announced that it’s fair time. All funds raised go to improving the grounds.

Program:  Mark Ozias as President of Olympic View Community Foundation, which is a grant making foundation and champion of non-profit organizations.

There is a need to be strategic when working with non-profits because it is difficult to pursue bigger ideas. With relationships in the public sector they can accomplish more.

There are 800 registered non-profits in Clallam County, not including churches, ranging from one employee to 1500 (OMC). Executive salaries can be as high as $4,500 to $6,500 monthly to larger organizations. Peninsula College, Peninsula Behavioral Health, Serenity House, Habitat for Humanity, YMCA, and many more all contribute to the workforce. Food bank, WSU and Teas A & M have a new relationship: leveraged federal dollars via USDA and is now contracting with local farmers for produce that is distributed to food banks and paired with nutritional education. Now the west end is getting a regular supply for the  next year.

Non-profits provide employment and created economic development. The waterfront center is an example of many non-profits coming together. Recent private timber harvest impact study in Clallam and Jefferson County stated it supports 500 direct family wage jobs. OMC alone employs 1500 people.

Success stories were discussed: Sequim YMCA and Olympic Peninsula Healthy Families Coalition. Chronic disease prevention is a significant health issue. Clallam County doesn’t have resources to hold educational classes and must have partnerships with OMC, etc., to use their strengths.  He invited us all to get involved.

Anyone can help OVCF by contributing to their grant fund or by establishing a managed fun. Assets are professionally managed.

Mr. Ozias distributed index cards to write down ideas.

OVCF receives earned income, dollars from fiscal sponsor fees, managed fund fees, and contributions from donors. It has Board of COO from Jamestown, a trust banking individual, 2 Sound Bank employees, and 2 community members. Grant applications are accepted on a rotating basis and average $5K. By end of year they will have distributed $8 – 10K.

He sees housing and homelessness as primary issues. Possibly North Olympic Land Trust and Habitat could partner? Need to get the right people to partner. How do you define affordable housing? Teacher, police officer, nurse, etc., can afford the mortgage.

Landlords no longer have the right to refuse Section 8 vouchers. How do you overcome that? Encourage people to develop property to be rented out. Outreach and education are needed. It’s effective – Kathy Morgan from Jefferson County sees it working. “It’s the same tenants that need the education”. He stated government can’t do the education but non-profits can do that type of outreach.

How do you evaluate grant awards? Based on financial position, the specific program, compare other funding sources, look at the board members. They search for kernels of ideas for greater impact.

Affordable housing starts with sewer. How can that happen when the cost is so high and sewer is not being extended? He said the barriers are recognized but as commissioners, they cannot effect change. We need to bring the right partners together to come up with creative ideas. East of Port Angeles needs to be addressed and he is currently working with Mary Ellen Winborn.

Kevin stated that education when it comes to the role of tenant and nutrition both, go hand in hand.

Carol stated that we need to work together and that we can continue to bring up issues as PABA and think about solutions. She also stated that 4H and the county fair support our youth.

Upcoming Meeting:

Meeting adjourned at 8:23am.