What gets me excited?  The dream of a new place for the families we serve.   Adams Square Family Center is TRM’s new project that will replace our aging Family Shelter.  Right now we have 12 family rooms in our shelter.  This new project will allow 36 families to get the housing and supportive services they need to stabilize their lives.  It will include a learning center, a family new life program for parents struggling with addiction, and an activity center for the children.  Our great architects, Kent McLaren and the folks at BCRA produced this computer generated aerial view of what the new building will look like.  I posted this video on YouTube.  You can search for it under Adams Square – Tacoma Rescue Mission, or just click on the link below. DC  “>”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0FP6MX3RwM” 

I was pleased to have a great conversation today with Craig Ueland, President and CEO of the Russell Investment Group, who committed to help support our new Adams Square Family Center.  Craig and his wife Nicole have long been supporters of the Mission and today he committed to lending his influence and support to making sure that Pierce County has the critical services it needs to help homeless families.  The support of the Ueland’s is important and exciting for the Mission as we engage the influence leaders of this community to support our 7.5 million dollar building campaign.  Other notable executives supporting the project are Herb Simon of Simon Johnson, and Patrick Kuo of Cascade Development.  Not to mention many politcal personalities such as our Governor, County Exec. John Ladenburg, and Mayor Baarsma and his wife Carol.   

Hi friends, back from a week of rest and relaxation with my family.  I was forwarded a great music video dealing called “21st time” by Monk and Neagle.  I am adding a link to YouTube so that you can see for yourself.  I would love to have people forwarding this link on because I think it really will help people develop a love for the homeless and a compassion for others. David  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvqwHGH3Tlw&feature=related <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvqwHGH3Tlw&feature=related> 

The Mission board meets each month to track the progress we are making on number of larger strategic issues that are facing TRM.  We met this morning to cover several issues.  First was to give the board an update on the financial status of the Mission.  Our report:  Things are great.  Our giving has exceeded our expectations and we are able to replenish our reserve funds for the summer months when we don’t have the funds to cover our expenses.   Secondly, we updated the board on our negotiations with Sound Transit, who has voted to extend their Sounder train to Lakewood and picked a route which will go directly behind the Mission.  This is a subject which will be around for a few years but we are thinking of how this will affect our services already.  Lastly we got an update from our architect on the new Adams Square Family Center, exciting stuff.  Thanks to the board for their help and direction. DC 

 The TRM Culinary Institute, a partnership between TRM and Bates Tech. Institute, held a special lunch for the Executive Staff and Board of the Mission on Monday the 4th of January.  The three graduates, Migdalia Bonds, Jimmy Christie and Patrick English cooked an awesome lunch for all of us.   This program is in its second year and I couldn’t be prouder of the two graduating classes so far.  They have learned valuable skills and most importantly are doing great in their recovery.   We owe a lot to Frank Jackson for making this happen.  This fall we will have another chance for New Life Program Graduates to get into this program if they want a career in Culinary Arts.  Here is a picture of our graduates…way to go!  DC 

Many individuals and church groups have participated with the Friday Night Feeds under I-705 and found it to be great to bless homeless people.  The Feeds have detractors as well due to fights, unlawful behavior, lack of proper security, etc.   The news now is that City of Tacoma is shutting them down for the the on-going violations and lack of a permit.  I had heard that the group that runs the Feed had shut it down on its own for a few weeks to try to get reorganized, but I haven’t gotten confirmation of that.  I did receive the following notice from the City that all TRM teammates should be aware of: 

“The City of Tacoma will be closing the Friday and Saturday night feeds under I-705 beginning Friday, February 8.  This is due to disruptive behavior that has increased over the past year, with a large fight on Saturday, January 26.  Also, neither feed has had a permit for over a year.    On January 26, security for the Feed reported a fight involving at least eight males which escalated to over 15 persons.  Security also reported that at least two of the males had guns.  Nine police units responded to people running from the Feed location.  The fight had begun at the Link station at S 25th and A.  The victim went to the Feed and the perpetrator followed, with the fight escalating.  We would appreciate you passing the word to your clients that the Friday and Saturday night feeds will not be operating. Thank you.”As always, the Mission is open every day and no one is turned away hungry. DC 

County Auditor Pat McCarthy visited my office yesterday to catch up with the Mission and all that we are doing to help the poor.  In addition, we talked about the recent News Tribune story (link below) which details Pat’s efforts to solve a problem with abuse of voter regulations by the ACORN group.  As I understand it, ACORN registered transients and gave the TRM address as their address.  Seems like they also falsified some registrations and fraud was done.   I am glad that this problem was caught, I am not so glad that the Mission continues to be mentioned in every article.  In particular, the articles all make it sound like we registered the voters.  Pat McCarthy had it right when she told me, “The Mission is one of the victims, not the perpetrator.”  Pat is also running for County Executive this year and although we didn’t talk too much about politics, she did talk a bunch about the importance of good management of social services and praised the Mission.  She came to our Give Thanks Luncheon in November and loves the idea of our Adams Square Family Center.    Here is a link to a recent article on this voter fraud:  http://www.thenewstribune.com/front/topstories/story/272772.html    DC   

Hi everybody and welcome to the TRM blog! I am excited about having a chance to dialogue with staff, clients and supporters on the subjects that involve the Tacoma Rescue Mission. This is a great, informal way for us to share good news, daily challenges, stories of lives being changed and much more.

Previous to becoming the CEO at the Mission I ran a small non-profit that trained leaders in South America. Our small ministry had a blog that shared with our supporters the weekly activities of that work. It was great fun and I enjoyed it immensely so I know this will be even better.

Typically I like to share things that happen in my day which I think may be interesting to you, good stuff and bad stuff, so that you can get my perspective on the Mission. In addition we will keep you posted on what’s happening in general.

Other staff will be posting things too and everyone is invited to comment.
Let’s keep in touch.

DC