||| FROM DAVID TURNOY |||
I want to extend a big thank you to our generous Orcas community for making the recent canoe journey a wonderful success. Sandy and Uuve Taylor provided their beautiful and historically significant property right above Buck Bay as a scenic setting for the canoe families to camp.
We had volunteers helping us set up at the Olga Community Club and providing dinner. Dozens of families brought potluck dishes for the Wednesday community dinner; we probably had well over 100 people present. Learner and the Co-op provided beverages for dinners both Wednesday and Thursday.
More volunteers helped us clean up, with a special group taking care of trash and recycling. Several more volunteers helped us Thursday when we had the Salvadorans (Johanna’s Catering) provide a special dinner that was really enjoyed by the canoe families. We also had volunteers who prepared gift bags for the canoe families. And my biggest thank you is to my wife Geri, who worked tirelessly Wednesday, Thursday, and on into Friday’s final cleanup.
We couldn’t have done any of this without generous contributions of funds from many of you, including some rather large donations. The canoe families, some of whom are descended from those who once lived in these islands before being expelled, truly felt welcomed. There is a strong possibility that this journey may become an annual event. If so, we would like to form a committee so the work can be spread out a little more. It really feels good to be able to support this effort, and we hope a number of you might be willing to join in.
We would like to especially thank the following people: Darcy Leach, Pete and Elijah Giampietro, Bethany Marie, Maria Papademetriou, George Post, Rayel Gossett, Jan Jacobsen, Mike and Lisa Seehof, Steve and Lynn Emmes, Leslie Brazeau, Lisa Steckley, Deborah Mcleod, Linda Ellsworth, Norris Carlson, Joanie, Wendy and Andy Hiester, Lucas Limbach, Uuve and Sandy and Crystal Taylor, Marie Wolf, Jenny Welch, Susan Slapin, Vibha Patricia Golem, the Orcas Senior Center, Ray’s, Darvill’s, Orcas Arts, Wise Owl Wellness Farm, Island Thyme, Carla Stanley, Dave Roseberry, David Densmore, all the potluck contributors, Johanna’s Catering, Cindy Morgan, Cappy’s Septic Service, Sew ‘n Sew, Darvill’s, Janet Alderton, Oddfellows, Salmonberry School, Kate Jewell, Chris Graham, Nels Magelssen, Cynthia and Craig Abolin, Mark Ellison, Mark Mayer, Ezekiel Barr, Peter Fisher, John Clancy, LeeAnn Chastain, Nick and Liz Williams/Crosby, Debra Sparks, Robert Austin, Pepper Brinkley, and anonymous donors. If I missed anyone, I apologize but thank you very much. It truly takes a village.
Thanks again!
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Please join with me in giving a BIG SHOUT OUT to David and Geri Turnoy, the main organizers of the Canoe Journey on Orcas!
Geri and David picked up the idea of hosting the Canoe Journey in Olga and ran with it from the very beginning. They provided the continuum from last year’s canoe journey, called the volunteer team, helped raise funds, attended weekly meetings with organizers from Lummi and other islands, kept communication alive, prepared and managed the entire event on Orcas and were engaged hands-on in all its aspects. It was an impressive accomplishment. We owe the success in large part to you! Thank you!
Sandy & Uuve
And many thanks to Sandy and Uuve for generously volunteering their beautiful property on which to host the canoe families and for all their work that went into making this happen.
David and Geri Turnoy