FANS is in a start-up phase and is working to establish the organization in the community and begin membership and fundraising activities.  Its 10-member Board has contributed over $1300 to date.

As part of their business plan, fundraising and promotional efforts include a:

• FANS Club membership program (similar to Friends of the Library) where individuals and families may join during an annual fund drive.
• Family Event – A yearly fundraiser aimed at community families.  This event might feature a touring magician, a juggler or dance group or a special family recreation day or night event.
• Major Donor Event – Aimed at adults with a strong interest in Island Rec, this yearly event will focus on gathering islanders and providing them with opportunities to contribute to FANS.

Once FANS is established, it will receive an annual “Needs List” provided by Island Rec.  The “Needs List” will be used to determine fundraising goals for the coming year.  The list will feature opportunities that are currently not available through the existing Island Rec budget.  Such needs might include:

• a scholarship program to to support islanders who may not qualitfy through Island Rec’s existing public scholarship program, but who cannot afford the cost of a particular activity.
• pilot program(s) that enhance Island Rec’s community offerings.  An example might be a “Movie in the Park” series where movies can be viewed outdoors during the summer.
• outreach to our Latino community and
• park enhancement and/or capital improvements at Island Rec’s parks -Lafarge, The Family Park, Skate Park and Eddie & Friends Dog Park

Recipients of a General Scholarship award must:

• show a commitment to scholastic achievement,
• show the ability to successfully complete their program with excellence and in a timely manner and,
• demonstrate financial need.
  

The sphere of influence of the Culinary Arts program is wide.  The program has been offered for ten years and serves 120 students each year.  There is collaboration with several other school programs.  The Special Education program operates a student store where baked goods are offered for sale to all the students of Friday Harbor High School.  The Culinary Arts program serves 200-600 community members dinner 4 to 6 times per year. Skilled students are employed in local restaurants. In addition, students go home and use their skills to prepare food for themselves and their families. Instructor Ruthie Paull says, “I can think of no more positive influence than students using skills they learned to impact the gastronomy of a school, their families and community.”

The 2012-13 school year Culinary Arts program will expand its collaborative and fundraising efforts to include the Yearbook student staff , inviting them to use their publishing and photography skills to make a calendar featuring photographs of foods and recipes prepared by students of the Culinary Arts classes. The calendar will be offered for sale with proceeds supporting the Culinary Arts program.  In return, the Culinary Arts students will create and cater the food for the annual Yearbook distribution party in June.

Culinary Arts is a multifaceted and collaborative program that uses hands on learning to benefit student achievement.

The acquisition of safe, stable, easily transported and set up theatre seating platforms is a long term capital investment in Island Stage Left performances.

With professional actors, top-notch scripts, a loyal audience, a nomadic style (ie. no building overhead), and over 3,507 volunteer hours in 2011,  Island Stage Left is proud to enter its 14th year of operation -  its 14th in the black.  Careful business planning and respect for limited resources  have enabled Island Stage Left to continue to provide top quality theatre on a budget that is tiny compared to most theaters that hire professionals, but the trade-off is that for every indoor show, Stage Left builds not only a set, but a mini-theatre.  Lighting instruments, the light board, the sound board and all their cords and cables, instead of being permanently hung, are put up and taken down for every show;  The front of house area including the theatre seating platforms are set up and taken down for every play. This creates much more wear and tear on the few items that make it possible to produce a season, not to mention hours of volunteers’ time.

Over the years, the  original seating platforms began to mold and rot. The tops have been replaced, donated carpet attached and the legs have been screwed together and unscrewed so many times that they were starting to split. These platforms began to be unsafe.  Stage Left volunteers were getting older and began to experience back pain and knee pain.  It became increasingly apparent that providing a new set of theatre seating would be necessary before the Spring 2012 show could open.

A turn of events opened a door and Roche Harbor has paid for half the cost of a new, lightweight, set of expandable theatre seating platforms and steel railings that hold nearly 300 pounds per square foot and can be erected in less than an hour by two people with no screws or hammers. (compared to needing 9 people and 3 hours to set up)

Manager and Director Helen Machin- Smith took advantage of a no-cost shipping opportunity.  The acquisition of safe, stable audience risers is an absolutely essential capital expenditure that will last long into the future.

John’s brightly colored Cessna was a frequent sight in our skies. He was active in Angel Flight, and was a founding member of the San Juan Eagles, a volunteer group of local pilots who fly cancer patients to the mainland for treatment. As the president of the San Juan Pilots Association, John was active in addressing aviation safety concerns throughout the region. And he regularly used his own airplane to transport his wife, an EMT instructor, throughout San Juan County, so she could ensure that each island had well-trained medical staff.

The goal is to honor John’s memory by encouraging others to follow his example, and by giving them the tools to do so.  In pursuit of this goal, the San Juan Pilots Association has established the John Volk Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation to provide financial assistance to students pursuing a career in aviation related field.

Your gift will help local students get a start on an aviation career.

The fund distributes its earnings annually to the Friday Harbor High School music director to be used by them for the most pressing needs.  These have largely gone to the purchase and maintenance of instruments and sound equipment used by our students.

Your gift will help our local school’s music programs.

The SJCIF Career Training and Scholarship Fund provides educational support in two ways:

1. By awarding scholarships to individuals pursuing a career path that would not involve a traditional, four-year college curriculum. These scholarships are open to San Juan Island residents of all ages who intend to pursue their new career locally and/or,
2. By awarding grants to directly support career training programs.

For at least the 2012 calendar year and, in anticipation of the new employment opportunities that will result from the opening of the PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center (expected in December 2012), the emphasis will be on healthcare careers. In spite of this emphasis, there is no guarantee of employment as a result of any financial assistance offered.  Exceptions to the healthcare emphasis will be considered on an individual basis.

There may be no higher impact that one can have than by contributing to the health and wellness of community.