IN THIS ISSUE:

This reveille home

The Brightwater Education Project

Pain & Suffering

The BBRC Acronyms

Friday Potpourri

Deasy is a Ruby

New Member Application Accepted: Curt Cummings

Classification Talk: Chip Erickson

District Leadership Assembly

In Retrospect

Steve Goodier: Humor Makes a Serious Difference

Web Fun

The Brightwater Education Project

Earth Day, 2004 is an appropriate time to show our support for the environment, said Alex. He was proud to introduce several people who “live and breathe environmental stewardship. Peter Holt, City of Redmond Parks Department, gave a quick synopsis of the project that has involved the BBRC for ten years. “The Sammamish River is part of the Lake Washington watershed. It used to meander through the valley between Redmond and Woodinville, a 28-mile wiggly waterway. Then, it was straightened out and that project took a toll of trees and shrubs that grew along its banks. This damaged the journey of the Chinook, Coho and Sockeye salmon, heading upstream to spawn. By planting trees and shrubs, the water is cooled and made more pleasant for the spawning fish. We thank you for participating in our Sammamish Re-Leaf project and maintaining your investment in the river.”

Eight educators formed a presenter’s group to make presentations about the environment and Brightwater. Brightwater is the massive King County waste treatment project that is proposed to be situated just north of Woodinville in Snohomish County.

Teachers involved from Northshore and Lake Washington school districts joined to form the Brightwater Teacher’s Task Force. Represented by Brian Healey and Mike Reid, Healey said, “Environment is a great teacher and the area we live in is one of great beauty.”

The gist of the message delivered by the pair of educators is that this project can be something more valuable than just its waste water treatment job. “What we’ve got is a community environmental education facility that processes wastewater. A video presentation “Seeking the Hidden River of Waste,” was shown outlining the educator’s vision for the new facility.

There was a need for a major capital project, as far as waste water treatment was concerned, but the planners reasoned that the facility could also house a community center and an environmental education center. “We could see this new project providing students with environmental challenges,” said Reid. “Brightwater will prove itself a good neighbor.”

A question was posed: Who will use the center? The answer was school tours, use by environmental organizations and the public at large. This will be a state-of-the-art waste water facility and will provides many stewardship opportunities. Children and adults alike will be able to see the hidden river for themselves making learning an environmental bonus.

Plans call for field trips with different schools and a lending library with an emphasis on environmental themes. The Education Center is planned on the Brightwater site, north of Woodinville. There will be an exhibit hall, meeting rooms, a resource library and a community hall. Within a short distance is an outdoor classroom, an area offering outstanding learning opportunities with woodlands and wetlands.

The teaching program will have demonstrations of cutting edge projects. These will be self- and docent-led. Visitors will be able to view critical areas of the treatment plant seeing how it all works. The Environmental Center would be run by a private, public or perhaps a partnership of the two, under an appointed Board of Directors. Funding for the proposed center could come from mitigation money that is available. Any profits from the Center’s operations would be dedicated back to the center. The balance of funding is a key issue. Supporters will be going after grants and corporate support.

So, what would success look like? “This project meets the needs of community and offers professional leadership opportunities. It would be a valuable resource to the community. Less waste saves money. Better informed citizens means a more responsible electorate. The Brightwater Environmental Education Center is a project that deserves support by the community at large. It is a most incredible opportunity that most regions never get.” The team concluded their presentation by asking for an endorsement of the vision, which will be taken up by the BBRC board of directors.

Thanks to Alex Rule for his introduction. A certificate supporting Rotary’s literacy campaign — a Braille book to a 5-year-old blind child at the Kindering Center — was given to the two presenters.

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