Jane Alden, Outlook Inn, John Steward and Food Bank Win Chamber Awards

Jane Alden, Mastermind of the First Annual Shakespeare Festival, wins special President’s Award at the 2012 Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting

By Margie Doyle

This year’s annual Chamber of Commerce meeting on Oct. 24 brought the business and non-profit community out in droves to celebrate working together to exceed expectations, and indeed, the event itself demonstrated that,  in terms of attendance and awards.

All the banquet tables in Rosario Resort’s Beach House (formerly the Discovery House) were fully seated, with additional chairs to accommodate later arrivals to the buffet of appetizers, desserts and a roast beef entrée. The meeting proper began at 6:30 p.m. with “Tonight Show” style interviews and door prize drawings before the Big Three awards for Customer Service, Environmental Consideration and Community Service. Those awards were given to the Outlook Inn and Sarah Farish for Island Friendly Spirit Customer Service  (the award was accepted by Adam Farish on his wife’s behalf); to John Steward and MapleRock Farm for Environmental Excellence; and to the Food Bank and Larry and Joyce Shaw for Community Service.

A special award was given this year, the President’s Award, which Chamber Board President Michell Marshall presented to Jane Alden in recognition of her accomplishments for the First Annual Shakespeare Festival, which occurred March 30 and 31.

Earlier in the meting, Alden expressed her enthusiasm for Shakespeare and the inaugural Orcas event, saying, “He brings so much richness, you can see yourself and all humanity in a compassionate way.” Alden, a lifelong teacher and performer of Shakespeare’s work, emphasized the performance, rather than simple reading of his work. She said that in future years, she expects the celebration to be island-wide, and not limited to Eastsound.

Chamber Executive Director Lance Evans pointed out that the two-day Shakespeare event, which brought out 125 volunteers, showed the Chamber’s commitment to “doing more things and doing them better.” He said that after the Shakespeare Festival, during the lodging and hospitality economy’s “shoulder season,” local merchants reported the highest weekend sales in three years.

Marshal said that the theme of the meeting: Working together for success,” celebrated both the Chamber’s role in developing goals with people who came to the Chamber with a specific project in mind  and developing partnerships among local talent towards mutual goals.

The interviews illustrated those partnerships. Students Melanie Flint and Bailey Johnson reported on their attendance at last summer’s “Business Week Camp,” which focused on agri-business.  Herman, Pathways Manager for Business Week, said that agriculture has been considered “dumb dangerous and dirty,” but now is involved in highly skilled jobs in renewable energy “that is creative, consumed, conserved and cash-producing;” and innovations in food production that is fresh, safe and affordable.”

Orcas Island School Superintendent Barbara Kline thanked Business Week  and the Chamber for their support, saying, “Our kids rise because of the tremendous support they receive from the island. I appreciate it, and the kids do too.”

Jen Vollmer and Pete Moe spoke of the growth of the Triple Ripple, two-day run in October at Moran State Park, from 45 participants and a loss of $1,500 in 2010, to 92 runners last month. Vollmer announced that the traditional “Fat Ass” race in January has sold out at 350 participants, and so a second , 50K race has been added for Feb. 2. These runs bring additional revenue to island  lodging and retail business and, added Vollmer, “They bring people to run in beautiful places.”

Christina Orchid praised the growth of “agri-tourism” saying that “there are lots of new farmers,” to which an audience member called out, “And lots of old ones!”

Jim Hooper spoke for the county’s Economic Development Council (EDC), sponsored by the State Department of Commerce and co-funded by the state and county.  Hooper spoke of the EDC’s recent campaigns in support of broadband and “Island Friendly Spirit” customer service.” EDC Executive Director Victoria Compton announced workshops on Nov. 27 (”Shoestring Marketing”) and Dec. 4 (“Business Planning”). Orcas Islanders Lance Evans and John Evans are members of the EDC.

The youngest guests at the Chamber celebration said it best: as expressed by Bailey Johnson, “Business camp gave me a real world taste, not knowing everyone, but working as a team;” and in the words of  Melanie Flint, “I didn’t expect it to be fun but if you’re open-minded, can relate to your company and have skills – Business can really be fun!”