FROM THE BOARD –   Review of 2021

Wow!  What a year we’ve had!

Hello, my name is Karen Leu and I’m the new president.  Eileen Wirkkala was our president and she served FOCS unselfishly with all her heart and every speck of her energy for nearly 20 years.  I’m happy to say that the FOCS Board have been very good stewards of the Historic Chinook School thanks to Eileen and an amazing Board of Directors. 

Board Director Changes

This fall founding members Loma Billups and Joanne Leech resigned.  FOCS is grateful for their dedication and hard work in saving the school and helping us provide beautiful historic buildings for our community enrichment.  Among their many talents Loma and Joanne created the Oktoberfest fundraiser which has been a significant source of fun and revenue for FOCS for over 15 years.  Though Oktoberfest is on hold, look for it in the fall as the community demands it!  The Board FOCS welcomed Nancy McAllister to our Board to replace Loma’s position and the number of Directors now stands at eight members.  We need Board candidates to fill the three vacancies.  Candidates skilled in computers, social media, business marketing, or community involvement are especially desired.

Grants and Membership Donations

This year has had its challenges. The Pandemic is affecting our revenues.  Fortunately, in early 2021 the Board applied for and received grant funds from the Arts Fund Grant.  In December, we wrote a grant and received funds from the American Rescue Plan Act distributed through Pacific County.  Our membership stepped up too with generous donations which help cover revenue losses for the event center and matching dollars from the Corder Foundation for the Food Bank.  We made the hard decision in June to eliminate our paid event planner position.  We are now opening the buildings with volunteers including our Board Directors.

The Board has been busy!

The past four months the Board has accomplished a lot!  As you know we had an online auction called “Winterfest” it brought in a lot of needed revenue!  We started a fund through Giving Tuesday to landscape the grounds. We began a Strategic Planning Project to help guide our future.  We have recruited three wonderful volunteers:   Darlene Webster, Evelyn Luethe, Colleen Carrington.  They help us tremendously by opening the school buildings for tourism and activities, decorating, conducting tours, plus an abundance of other jobs.  We need more volunteers.  Please come join the fun!

The FOCS Board of Directors is extremely grateful for our generous membership and the trust they place in us.   Thank you.     

Karen Leu, President