Gather & Share

||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION |||

One of the most important roles of OICF is to support capacity building within the nonprofit community. For many years, we have hosted regular meet-ups for nonprofit leaders to encourage collaboration and share updates and resources with each other. This week, during our monthly virtual meeting, the group began discussing capacity building resources that would support the health of our organizations, as many nonprofits face similar challenges in managing operations and building strong boards of directors. 

I’m looking forward to supporting the development of additional resources to help sustain and grow our nonprofits in the future. If you’re in a leadership role at a nonprofit and are not yet included in our monthly meetings, please let me know.

Creating space to convene and discuss issues affecting the community, problem-solve, learn, create, and celebrate with each other can take many forms. Here are just a few of many upcoming opportunities to get engaged: 

• Orcas Community Resource Center is hosting an educational lecture, Building a Stable Community, at the Orcas Island Public Library on Oct. 23, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

• San Juan County is hosting two informational events about the Comprehensive Plan Update on Orcas, October 23, 10am – 1pm at Island Market, and at the Fire Station from 4 – 6pm.

• The Pea Patch Steering Committee is hosting an open community meeting on October 29th (5-6:30p at Emmanuel Parish Hall) to share updates on the Pea Patch site design.

• You may have noticed a purple glow around town this month. The purple string lights aren’t for Halloween; they are to shed light on domestic violence during the month of October. SAFE San Juans is encouraging us all to recognize the signs, speak up, and support victims and survivors of domestic violence to help create a community where all people can live and love without fear of domestic violence. 

Hope to see you out there!