Potluck Tomorrow!

Just a gentle reminder that it's "POTLUCK" tomorrow!

Hope to see you there...

March 2018 Lunch Menu

Easter Sale Open to Public!

Check out our Easter Sale that's going on Mondays & Wednesdays from 10 AM - 2 PM.  The Easter items are new!  We have some beautiful items that are very unique.  All our prices are reasonable, too!  We'll have one sale on Saturday, March 17th, for those who can't come in on a weekday.

Board Meeting 02/19/18

Board Meeting started at 1:00 PM on 2/19/18

Board of Directors:

Co-Chair:  Thela Stepp

Co-Chair:  Teena Scott

Treasurer:  Betty Howells

Secretary/Co-Treasurer:  Linda Johnson

Members at Large:  

Dave England

Shirley England

George Johnson

Olive Vincent

Board Members Attending:

George Johnson

Linda Johnson

Teena Scott

Betty Howells

Thela Stepp

Dave England

Shirley England

Board Members Absent:

Olive Vincent

Members Present:

Sue Watson

Kevin Watson

Angela Denman

Nadine Whitlock

The agenda was read by everyone.  George Johnson moved to approve the agenda.  Thela Stepps Seconded the motion.  The agenda was unanimously approved as distributed.

The minutes for the previous meeting were read by everyone.  George Johnson moved to approve the minutes.  Thela Stepp seconded the motion.  The minutes for December 2017 & January 2018 meetings were unanimously approved as distributed.  

Treasurer's Report:  

Betty Howells submitted the Treasurer’s Report for the last month.  Details of the savings andchecking accounts were discussed in detail.  

Communication:

We received a flyer in the mail about a trip to Mount Rushmore.  It will be scanned and posted on our blog.

Property Taxes:  We received our property tax statement last week, showing taxes are due April 30, 2018.  

New Business:

Put events into the calendar with the menu.  March 17, 2018 we will have an “Easter Sale” from 10 AM - 2 PM.  Volunteer sign up sheets will be at the front desk.

Workers from the City’s Public Works Department will come in and grade our parking lot.  We will ask Ron and his crew if they can do this on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, to keep it nice and make it easier for the seniors to walk in the parking lot.

George & Linda Johnson will make a new sign for the Senior Center.  The size will be

4’ x 4’.  

Old Business:

The cookbook is coming along.  Angela mentioned needing some “history of Rainier” articles in the cookbook.  We’ll contact Karen Creamer from the Rainier Historical Society and ask her for articles, pictures and information about Rainier to add to our cookbook.  Over 100 pages of the scrapbook have been scanned and are in digital files, so selected pictures and articles about he Senior Center will be added to our cookbook.  We have almost 70 recipes, so far, with many people who’ve committed to bringing in their recipes.  So far we have many people who want to order cookbooks, too.  Our goal is to have it ready by April to be online in digital and print on demand.The cookbook is coming along.  Angela mentioned needing some “history of Rainier” articles in the cookbook.  We’ll contact Karen Creamer from the Rainier Historical Society and ask her for articles, pictures and information about Rainier to add to our cookbook.  Over 100 pages of the scrapbook have been scanned and are in digital files, so selected pictures and articles about he Senior Center will be added to our cookbook.  We have almost 70 recipes, so far, with many people who’ve committed to bringing in their recipes.  So far we have many people who want to order cookbooks, too.  Our goal is to have it ready by April to be online in digital and print on demand.

Old Business that was tabled until next meeting.

1. Door Sign - letting people know that the entrance is on the side of the building
2. Open side door to the storage room.  Close off the door into the eating area.
3. 
   
   
   
   Adjournment:
   
   
   George Johnson motioned to adjourn the meeting.  LInda Johnson seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.Meeting was adjourned at 1:49PM by Thela Stepp.  The next general meeting will be at 1 PM
   on March 19, 2018.
   
   
   Minutes submitted by:  _______________________
   
   
   Approved by:  ________________________
   
   

2018 Native Plant Festival

Renewable Energy on your Farm

Open House in Grand Mound & Rochester

Coffee with a Commissioner

Save the Date:  March 5, 2018  10:30 AM at the Rainier Senior Center

Come have coffee, snacks and visit with Gary Edwards, our local County Commissioner.  He is very knowledgeable about  many of the issues and concerns people have in our area.  Please bring your questions and come visit with Gary.

Gary is serving his first term as Thurston County Commissioner and represents the Board on the following committees:

• Area Agency on Aging
• Emergency Medical Council (Medic One)
• Fire Commissioners Association
• Law and Justice Council
• Nisqually River Council
• Thurston 911 Communications (TCOMM 911) Administration Board
• Thurston Thrives Coordinating Council

To find out more about Gary Edwards, visit his page at: http://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/bocc/Pages/bio-district-2.aspx

Here's a picture of Gary - now:

Here's a picture of Gary, years ago when he visited the Senior Center for lunch, when he was a Thurston County Sheriff:

Location:    108 Michigan Street, Rainier, WA 98576  
Questions:  Ask for George Johnson(360) 446-2258  

Thank you for coming to "Coffee with a Cop"

Wonderful turnout for "Coffee with a Cop." started out with 30 people and ended up with over 40. Thank you all for supporting our local sheriffs!

Captain Gordon Phillips has been a deputy for over 27 years.  He answered questions members of our community had about fences, weapons, mail theft, how to report a tip or situation in our neighborhoods.  

He fielded questions about standards for becoming a sheriff.  The standards are high, yet there are many jobs available for people who can't pass the physical to become a deputy.  

Sheriff John Snaza shared details about the Thurston County Sheriffs Department (TCSC).  Both John and Gordon started out as reserve deputies, which is done on a volunteer basis.  You can't tell a reserve officer from a regular, paid deputy.  This is a demanding, volunteer position, so it can be very demanding on family life to be a reserve officer while working a full time job to support your family. 

• The (TCSC) serves Rainier, Bucoda, Rochester and Tenino (after hours).  
• They respond to 1600 - 1700 calls in Rainier alone every year.  
• Rainier pays yearly for the service of 2 deputies.  
• Thurston County has the same number of sheriffs as they did in 1995.
• The population has increased by over 100,000 people since 1995.
• It takes on average 
• 11 minutes and 32 seconds for a sheriff to respond to an "in progress call."
• There are only 7 sheriffs on duty in the morning, only 8 during the middle of the day to cover all of Thurston County.  This is why response time isn't instantaneous.
• The (TCSC) refunds money not spent on the cities they serve.  This year Rochester will receive a refund of $12,000 and Rainier will receive $9,000.
• There are 11 Police Academy classes every year.  The TCSD has six people waiting to go to the academy.   It is hard to recruit new deputies.
• Deputies on the TCSD are volunteers in their communities.  They are ministers, coaches and do a lot of other community service work.
• Law enforcement officers are more trustworthy than clergy.  Only one half of one percent deviate from the high standards set by their departments.

The new jail for Thurston County is open.  It was full to capacity after the second month of operation.  They have 408 beds and need 120 more beds, because violent offenders and people with mental health problems have to be in cells by themselves.  About 50% of prisoners have mental health problems, while 70% of prisoners have a drug problem.

Overflow prisoners go to jails in other counties.  Each county has different training and standards.  Thurston County no longer sends prisoners to the Nisqually jail.  The Nisqually Reservation is a Sovereign Nation and they can't be sued, but Thurston County could be sued.  The TCSD is hoping to pay for more beds in their new jail with a bond.  

A special "Thank You" to Captain Gordon Phillips, Sheriff John Snaza and everyone who attended "Coffee with a Cop" today!  We will do this again, soon!