INTERFAITH CONNECTION

Interfaith Works promotes interfaith understanding,

and serves the community through
charitable, social and educational endeavors.

WORK & PLAY

Business was accomplished and fun was had by all at Interfaith
Works’ Annual Meeting, April 15. More than 50 people attended.
They were entertained by a number of musicians and inspired by
volunteers and residents of Camp Quixote. There were great door
prizes and there was lots of good food. IW’s 500 volunteers were
recognized for the service they provide in over 1000 tasks each year.
And new board members were elected.
Directors Marijke van Roojen and Richard Lopez, and President
Leslie Edwards-Hill were thanked for their service on Interfaith Works
Board of Directors. (Richard) Miles, Buddhist Teacher of Open Gate
Zendo, was elected President; Marge Johnson from the community
at large and Rich Young from Bahá'í Assembly of Thurston County
East were elected as directors.
Watch for articles about board members in this and future issues of
this newsletter.

Published Monthly by Interfaith Works, PO Box 1221, Olympia WA 98507

(360) 357-7224 * InterfaithWorks@comcast.net * www.interfaith-works.org
Issue No. 2008-05 May 2008, p. 1
 25TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION
OF THANKS
Co-chairmen Billy Harris and Luther Smith invite you
to help plan the 25th ANNUAL INTERFAITH
THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION.
The annual Celebration is a wonderful opportunity to
learn how and why the people of many different faith
traditions give thanks. Past programs have included
a Muslim children’s choir, a bell choir, dances of
universal peace, storytelling, Buddhist chants,
Native American prayer, instrumental and vocal
music, poetry and much more. Following the
program, refreshments will be served and members
of the audience will get a chance to meet and chat
with their neighbors of other faith traditions. The
Celebration is a wonderful family event, entertaining
and edifying for young and old. This year it will take
place on the afternoon of Sunday, November 23.
In order to make each year’s Celebration fresh,
different and interesting, we need fresh ideas and
new perspectives. Will you help plan this year’s
program? Or maybe you can recruit your spiritual
leader to become involved? If you might be
interested, but have questions, phone the IW office
at 357-7224, weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00
p.m. or just show up at the first planning meeting,
Tuesday, June 3, 6:30 p.m. in room #222 at First
United Methodist Church of Olympia, 1224 Legion
Way SE.
SECRETARY URGENTLY
NEEDED
Because of pressing family needs, Interfaith Works’
Recording Secretary, Shannon Blood, will be leaving
the Board of Directors in June. As a result, IW is
eagerly seeking a volunteer to take up her position
at least through April 30, 2009.
The position of recording secretary requires
approximately 6-8 hours per month, 10 months of
the year. Responsibilities are to attend and record
minutes of Board Meetings, 1st Thursdays, 6:30-8:30
p.m. and of Program Council Meetings, 3rd
Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m., and to submit those minutes,
electronically, to the IW office in a timely manner,
and to visit the IW office at least once a year to
assure that IW records are properly maintained.
This is not a boring job! IW’s Board and Program
Council meetings are usually lighthearted and fun,
and the business undertaken is interesting and
rewarding. However, the recording secretary is
critical to the work of Interfaith Works. The position
is one of three legally required of a corporation in
Washington State. Please consider volunteering for
this important, but relatively easy task! Or perhaps
you know someone with the time and skill who you
could tell about our need. Any interested person
may phone or email the IW office (contact info on
front of newsletter). The staff will gladly answer all
questions.

No Cost Vision Clinic at Union PEACE, KIDS, CAMP

Gospel Mission: Available to those
with no insurance & living below
200% of poverty. Eye-health exam
and glasses available to those who
qualify. Clinic open Monday, 5:00-
8:00 p.m. 413 Franklin St. NE
Olympia. Contact clinic manager,
Violet Hoffman, 709-9725.
One week can change lives. Plant seeds of peace and
humanity in your kids. Send them to a camp they’ll never forget.
NOW ACCEPTING CAMPER APPLICATIONS
FROM YOUTH OF ALL RELIGIONS & FAITH TRADITIONS
ENTERING GRADES 7-9 IN THE FALL
PUGET SOUND INTERFAITH YOUTH CAMP
August 24-29
$100 PER CAMPER SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
Applications online at www.soundinterfaithcamp.org
or phone 357-7224

May 2008, p. 2
 WHO'S WHO AT I DOUBLEYOO: Rich Young
I was born into a Bahá'í household in Pendleton, Oregon in 1945 where we were the only Bahá'ís in town. My
mother was always active in civic events and my father was on the city council and even became Mayor of
Pendleton. Nevertheless, being the only Bahá'í child was a gift that made me aware and sympathetic to the
difficulties of those who belong to minorities. Of course, it wasn't very long before there was an active Bahá'í
community in Pendleton, and it is still going strong.
I left Pendleton to study music at the University of Oregon, then one
year at the Pedagogische Hochschule in Oldenburg, i.O., Germany. I
got my degree in music, and now I’m retired after 35 years of teaching
band and vocal music in the public schools of Oregon, Department of
Defense, Germany, and Washington. I play piano sometimes and like to
sing. I have sung in and directed church choirs of various
denominations, as well as Bahá'í. I also sing in the Olympia Choral
Society.
Today, I live south of Olympia on five acres in a forested area near
Rainier with my wife, Melissa, who is a nurse for the Olympia School District. We have half a dozen chickens
and a cat. I am trying to raise chestnut trees and keep a large vegetable garden going as well. We also have
a few fruit trees that sometimes have fruit!
I have served on many Bahá'í elected and appointed bodies local, state, and national. I am currently serving
as member of the Spiritual Assembly of Thurston County East. I’m a member of the Board of Brighton Creek
Conference Center, a 24 acres campground in Pierce County. My wife and I and two of our children have
made a pilgrimage to the Bahá'í World Center in Haifa, Israel, and later went pioneering (working for the Bahá'í
Faith supporting ourselves) in Switzerland, then Germany. I am a regular volunteer for Friends of the Yelm
Library, and I represent the Bahá'ís of Thurston County East on the Program Council of Interfaith Works.
Rich Young, newly elected to the IW Board of Directors, has been deeply involved in the development of the
World Sacred Music Festival as well as other IW programs.

WORLD SACRED MUSIC FESTIVAL OF OLYMPIA

NEEDS YOU!
Be part of this growing musical tradition.
The committee is seeking a few more music lovers to be part of
planning the 2009 festival.

If you want to be part of the excitement and can give a couple hours
each month, come to the next committee meeting, June 2, 11:45 a.m.
at Traditions Café, or phone 357-7224 weekdays, 9-1.

Learn more about the World Sacred Music Festival at

www.olysacredmusic.org.

May 2008, p. 3
 COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Interfaith Works is pleased to announce some of the activities and events of our members and cooperating
organizations; IW does not necessarily endorse these events. More details & events at www.interfaith-works.org
Religion and the Public Square Community Forum Free panel discussion at The Evergreen State College
May 28
with local Buddhist, Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy and leaders followed by presentations by students
Wednesday
of Evergreen’s Religion and Society program about service learning projects they did in local faith
6-9:30 p.m.
communities this spring. Refreshments served. Char Simons, 867-6710 or Stephen Beck, 867-5488.
May 29 Planning for the Community Meditation for Global Peace Anyone interested is welcome to join in on
Thursday the fun of planning this August's Community Meditation for Global Peace. The committee will meet
7 p.m. at Dan Ryan's house: 123 Decatur St NW, Olympia. Call Dan at 352-3293 for directions or details.
May 30 & 31 Huge Rummage Sale - a fundraiser for Fern Haven Center Fern Haven's (www.fernhavencenter.org)
Friday & annual Rummage Sale will be better than ever this year. Lots of great stuff, low prices, and a bake sale as
Saturday well. Come by to browse and join in the fun. At the American Legion Hall just past Priest Pt. Park. Call 754-
8 a.m. - 4 p.m. 1600 if you have stuff to donate or can spare several hours to help with the sale.
HU, A Love Song to God This free class at Lacey Library about the universal nature of HU (the sound
May 31
behind all sounds) is offered by Olympia Eckankar Center, 943-0628. Also held 7-9 p.m. June 4 at the
Saturday
Tumwater Library and 7-9 p.m. June 24 at the Olympia Eckankar Center (509 12th Ave SE, Suite 5). HU is
1-3 p.m.
both the voice of God and a love song to God. Listen to the HU at eckankar.wa.org/hu.html
June 2,
Music lovers wanted at the World Sacred Music Festival planning meeting at Traditions Café. For
Monday
details phone 357-7224 weekdays, 9-1.
11:45 a.m.
June 10, Tues. IW newsletter deadline
12 noon Deadline for articles, calendar items, and ads for the June IW newsletter (coming out about June 17).
June 11 Building Sustainable Systems Workshop: “Granting You Success: Mission… Market… Money” at ESD 113
Wednesday (601 McPhee Road SW) with Sylvie McGee, MSW of All For A Good Cause Consulting. Sponsored by
9 a.m. - 4 p.m TOGETHER! Info/registration: enelson@thurstontogether.org or 493-2230, ext.24
June 11 Earth Stewardship Committee meeting All are welcome to meetings of IW's Earth Stewardship
Wednesday Committee in the library at First Christian Church (7th & Franklin, downtown Olympia). For details,
12 noon please contact Leslie Romer at LeslieHR@aol.com or 357-7638.
What is Blossoming Within You? Come join Christine Valters Paintner, for a day of renewal. Use art,
June 14
poetry, contemplative prayer, sharing, and ritual to explore your own places of blossoming and new growth.
Saturday
Register by Friday, June 6. Cost: $50 + $5 for art materials. Call The Priory Spirituality Center at 438-2595
9:15 a.m.-3 p.m.
or visit www.stplacid.org for details on this and other Priory programs.
June 17 IW Program Council meeting at The United Churches to plan and execute the programs and projects
Tuesday of Interfaith Works. All interested persons are invited. The next meeting will be September 16. For
7 - 9 p.m. details, call Interfaith Works at 357-7224.
Awakening the Dreamer/Changing the Dream Symposium Where on Earth are we going? And what can
we do about it? These are two of the questions that are at the heart of this symposium, sponsored by
June 21
Pachcmama Alliance. Our mission is to bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and
Saturday
socially just human presence on Earth. This is a multi media interactive experience at All Souls Unitarian
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Universalist Community (6326 Martin Way E Suite 103, Lacey). $20 (includes lunch.) Contact Ann
Aubuchon 491-6933 annaubuchon@msn.com or www.awakeningthedreamer.org

May 2008, p. 4
 CROP WALK 2008 – WOW!
The turn-out for Crop Walk 2008 was phenomenal! Of course, the beautifully sunny, mild
weather didn’t hurt. Walking in solidarity with people around the world who walk 5-10 miles
daily for clean water, food, and firewood for cooking, approximately 525 people walked the
10K, 6.2 mile route on May 4. That’s better than 25% more participants than those in last
year’s walk.
Who walked? Families, friends, seniors and children. Some folks ran; some raced or were pushed in wheel
chairs; some were in strollers or wagons. Most were recruited by the following congregations or organizations:
All Souls Unitarian Universalist Community, Center for Spiritual Awakening, Community for Interfaith
Celebration, Congregation B’nai Torah, First Baptist Church of Olympia , First Christian Church, First United
Methodist Church, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Lacey Community Church, Lacey Presbyterian Church,
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, New Life Baptist Church, Olympia Friends Meeting, Olympia Unitarian
Universalist Congregation, River Ridge Covenant Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, South Sound
Buddhist Peace Fellowship, St. Andrews United Methodist Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, St. Mark
Lutheran Church, St. Michael Catholic Parish/ St. Vincent DePaul, Temple Beth Hatfiloh, Tumwater United
Methodist Church, The United Churches of Olympia, Unity Church of Olympia, Westminster Presbyterian
Church, and The Volunteer Center.
CROP stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty. Besides walking, our Crop Walkers raise
money to help people in need in Thurston County and around the world. Last year’s total of funds raised was
$50,300. This year’s goal is $53,000. We don’t expect to know exactly how much was raised this year until
June 30; so far about $42,000 has been turned in. Look for updates in future issues of this newsletter.

The Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) is a community-based mediating and training service that
seeks a skilled mediator and trainer to run its training program. Core offerings include a
professional 40 hour course and two advanced mediator courses in family and multi-party
mediating. Other offerings are tailored to meet diverse needs in the community. Please email
Evan Ferber, Director, for more information at eferber@mediatethurston.org.

SUPPORT THE INTERFAITH WORK

We appreciate your one-time gift or monthly contribution, no matter the amount.
I would like to support the programs and activities of Interfaith Works

Amount of Gift:______________ ( ) one-time ( ) monthly _____Please send information about individual membership
Name:_________________________________________________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________________________________________________

Phone:___________________ E-mail:_______________________________________________________________
Please include this form and make checks payable to Interfaith Works, PO Box 1221, Olympia WA 98507.
Your gift to Interfaith Works, a 501(c)3 organization, is deductible as allowed under federal tax law.

May 2008, p. 5
 IW NEWSLETTER
Please let us know if you, someone else, a faith community or another organization would like to receive a
copy of our monthly newsletter, either by U.S. mail or by email.
The deadline for the next newsletter is 12 noon on Tuesday, June 10. If you have ideas for articles,
announcements, or other newsletter items, let us know and send them in. Thanks!
— Janice Holz, IW Office Manager, 357-7224

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about the 3rd Tuesday of the month.
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May 2008, p. 6