— from Susan Gudgell, Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce President —
All are invited to join the Orcas Chamber of Commerce at its End-of-Summer Bash!
We business owners and summer hosts can take a breath, have a bite, sing a lick, rest easy, look around and enjoy the hottest, busiest summer ever with the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce Barbecue this Sunday and we hope EVERYONE will join us. This is how we party at our house!
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. you can come to the Village Green in Eastsound and party with Orcas Islanders and guests of all ages and persuasions and mix it up with us, as we play games, make music, frolic and feast on a Barbecue banquet prepared by world-renowned island chef Bill Patterson of Chimayo/Sazio Dinner Club. He has donated his time to do this, as well as his staff’s time. ” He is truly my Muse in anything I do where food is involved,” says Michell Marshall, organizer of the event for the Chamber.
There’ll be Tuscan-style chicken, charcoal-grilled flank steak and Umbrian-style roast pork, Portuguese potato salad, corn on the cob and watermelon. All for $15! This is our “summer gala” and we want everyone to come and stay as long as you like!
Beer is $5 and wine is $6; pies made by volunteers organized by Velma Doty are $5 with ice cream for just $2 more!
The Chamber has rented out the whole Village Green from County Parks for the day! Games start at 11 and run til noon; there’ll be a Beer Garden and the Lions Big Tent for eating and drinking.
The Dust Bunnies, the two Martins (Lund and Gerard) and Skye and the Frequent Flyers will perform from the Stage on the Green.
All this fun has been organized by Michell Marshall to support the 2015 Orcas Island Shakespeare Festival, scheduled for next April to support businesses during the “shoulder season,” before school is out and summer vacations start. The committee organized to help with the Big BBQ Bash are Michele Wiley, Leslie Seamans, Jennifer Pietsch, Bill Patterson, Velma Doty, and Lance Evans. “They all worked very hard to make this come together. It really does take a committee,” says Marshall.
Michell thanks:
- Bill Patterson for his outstanding assistance, including the Chimayo/Sazio staff volunteers
- Island Hoppin’ Brewery for donating a keg of beer
- Madie Murray for donating the poster graphics
- Carla Stanley for creating the decorative artwork
- Velma Doty for organizing the Pie sale and managing the Pie Booth
- Leslie Seamans for music arrangements
- Emmanuel Episcopal Church for lending chairs and tables
- Chamber Staff Lisa Boyd and Heather Johnson
- Geddes Martin of Ship Bay for food prep assistance
and volunteers Jim Biddick, Gil and Karen Blinn, Chris Dolan, Mia Kartiganer, Doug Marshall, Carol Owens, Michael Powell and Toomas Liblik for their generous contributions of time and talent to this fun, end-of-summer event!
All to support the Chamber of Commerce mission “to promote the commercial, professional, financial and general business interests, civic interests and general welfare of the island.”
Michell says, “I hope you can attend our Big BBQ Bash this Sunday. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy our community and wonderful Village Green, with great food and festivities and a good time for the whole family”!
Does anyone know if the food will be Organically grown? Thanks! DE
I’m very confused…I keep hearing about this big “Thank You” to the islanders that the Chamber is putting on now at the end of the Summer…then I read that I am supposed to pay $$$. That doesn’t feel like a great way to say thank you. I would much rather see the Chamber begin some programs to promote other businesses here (maybe ones that don’t start up and then expect the rest of us to provide their customers!) Most small Chambers have strong small business components( teaching potential businesses how to set up, run their business successfully, attract customers, and survive) but I feel that all I see from our Chamber is tourism, tourism, and more tourism! I have personally known several telecommuting businesses that left the Island over the last year due to total lack of support and I feel that is a real loss. Businesses that can support our 20/30/40-something population on a better than minimum wage and without degrading the island are of real, true value and should be supported
I am confused as well. Is this a Chamber thank you event or a fundraiser for the Shakespeare Festival? We were thinking of going and bringing an elderly neighbor to the festivities but upon seeing the prices, I don’t think we can warrant spending upward of a $100 for a stroll in the park and something to eat. As a year-round Orcas Island resident, worker and consumer we were excited to come and celebrate the successful season with our fellow Islanders, unfortunately the costs are above my “island” pay grade. We wish you well on your fundraiser, but I will continue to celebrate community Orcas Island style, a big neighborhood potluck and lots of laughter. No checkbooks needed!
Thanks everyone for prostituting yourselves to the rampant tourist based economy here on Orcas. Now come on down and pay way too much for some grilled chicken. I’m curious what businesses are “degrading” the island. I would guess those that focus exclusively on the tourist dollar- painted trinkets and overprices burger slingers… What the island needs is business by islanders for islanders. Not a few rich business owners that have a hotel and restaurant that make their yearly off the guests for three months and pay their employees the grand minimum wage of 9.37/ hour and don’t even give a shift meal or drink. Quit the song and dance tourist eating from our hands and paying us as illustrated in the orcas island promotional video…Which basically said, “come here…ride down the middle of our roads in ridiculous little three wheeled scooters, let us serve you wine while you fly around and stay in places the locals will never get to. Lets build some real business infrastructure for the islanders. So yes dear chamber, let us thank the local minimum wage earners for all their hard work making a few local businesses a lot of money over this infestation of humanity called tourist season…let us give back to them by offering such a wonderful event….and since everything has been donated why not make a few dollars off them as well….after all at most of their current pay grade it should only take them 3-4 hours of work so their plate of grilled chicken, a piece of pie, and a tasty refreshing beer donated by island hoppin brewery.
I’m confused as well. This is the first I’ve heard of our need as island residents for any sort of thank you from the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is already doing a whole for our community. Remember the July 4th party, the Shakespeare and Bird Festivals?
The Chamber does assist current and prospective business people; check with the Chamber’s staff for recent and future seminars set up to coach those wanting to begin businesses here. These prospective and current businesses provide jobs and the services we all need.
Yes, the BBQ will hopefully raise some funds for the Shakespeare Festival, an annual event enjoyed by many.
Sunday’s Barbeque celebrates Labor Day bringing a joyful summer to a close. Like the party thrown by the Chamber of Commerce for the July 4th holiday, tomorrow’s Barbeque gives us all, residents and visitors alike the opportunity to gather for play and good food. Enjoy being together!!
I LOVE it! What a great idea for another fun venue on Orcas for both residents and tourists. The concept reminds me a bit of “The WAVE” on Lopez Island which has been successfully going on over Labor Day weekend for years and years. My family is looking forward to the celebration and BBQ. Thank you to all organizers for the hard work that went into planning and executing this community party.
Thanks, Wes, for reminding me that I’m a prostitute because I brought some friends to Orcas who bought dinner at local restaurants, souveniers from local potters and artists, and who paid the lodgings taxes.
I think that someone (me?) should remind you that the three months of tourists pay for much of our road repairs and assorted other year-’round amenities. They also pay your salary (assuming that you work, that is).
There aren’t enough people who live here year-’round to fully support our economy. We need those tourists. Try running a business exclusively “by islanders for islanders,” and see whether you can survive.
And, while you’re at it, stop telling other people what they should do. Do whatever you want, but don’t try to direct the rest of us.
Right on Wes. You could not have described the situation better!
I’m surprised at some of the rather harsh comments regarding this Chamber sponsored event. I did not attend but I am well aware of the incredible amount of time organizers and volunteers contribute as well as the monetary contributions and of course there are always items that need to be purchased.
I hope our local business owners are enjoying a great summer, as are the many island residents who are employed by these businesses. And kudos to all the wonderful volunteers and contributors who are always willing to lend a hand when needed.