Volume 17, Issue 2
The Center News ~ February 2009
From The Front Office
It’s been a while since I have written this column due to family obligations in late December, so I have a good deal of catching up to do!
December began in a busy way with the annual Holiday Bazaar, which was a great success--or the Center and for the vendors who participated. We were able to increase the number of sellers this year by utilizing the lobby area as well as the front room. Although we were fairly packed in, the festive, cozy atmosphere led to lots of visiting, shopping and an overall fun time. There were 35 vendors, many of whom had never participated in this annual event. Hopefully next year we will be able to set up in the back, thus doubling our vendors, and allowing more “wiggle-room” for all. Thank you to everyone who made the Holiday Bazaar the huge success it was!
The other December activity I would like to mention is the Holiday Gift Basket Program. For the past several years the CCC has sponsored this charitable venture, offering food and gifts for families with children who need a hand during the holiday season. Thank you to all who took part in this project--it warms me to know that there are so many people in our community who are eager to help out in this way. For those who may be considering donating next year, be assured that all monetary contributions can be tax-deductible due to the CCC’s non-profit status.
We did slow down a bit in January, but just a bit! Tuesday’s Dynamic Movement Class and the International Folk Dance Class are both taking a break; hopefully to resume again in the spring. Watch for notices on the website and flyers around town.
We had a wonderful time at the Friday Night Coffee House early in January when members of the Kunda! Marimba Band came and performed. We are hoping to bring them back again, perhaps in March, so watch for information on that. Hippies On Vacation once again graced the CCC stage mid-month, and a fabulous time was had by all. Thank you to Tim Alley, Reed Engel and John Jones of the band, and all the helpers who made the event a success. (There are so many aspects to putting on these shows, and our dedicated group of volunteers should be commended for their tireless endeavors.)
Board member Susie Shaddox is our new Volunteer Coordinator; please see her article below in this newsletter and consider helping out.
Another wonderful undertaking in January was the completion of our hallway floor. You may have wondered what was going to be done there, as it was unfinished for some time. Well, let me tell you that (thanks to the efforts of Bob and Jane Thompson and Reed Engel) the hallway is now a masterpiece of artistic building, with color, dimension, and our beautiful logo etched into the entry area. Be sure to come and check out what these wonderful community members have done for the CCC, and for all who use the building! It is a true honor to be able to showcase their talents, and to accept the gift of their beautiful work.
As for upcoming events, there are many in the works. February is packed full with Friday Night Coffee Houses, a Red Cross benefit, a Reggae show, a soap-making workshop, and an acting class that will begin on January 29. The aforementioned class is being offered by Oroville’s Community Schools through a partnership of that organization and the CCC.
We are also planning several Coffee Houses in March, including “Girl’s Night Out” on the Spring Equinox, and presentations by Okanogan County Master Gardeners. More details coming up on all of these, and more, so be sure to log-on to our website for the most current information.
Finally, the good news: our Appropriations award is imminent. Yes, we have basically finalized the paperwork and just need to follow a few more steps to be able to start collecting the funds. The $196,000 will go towards renovations of the back room and upstairs, and although there will be more funding needed, we are well on our way to realizing our goals! Now, that’s an achievement!
Again, many thanks to all CCC members and supporters, for we would not be here without you!
Until next time,
River
CCC’s Quest For The Okanogan County TAB Grant
~by Suzanne Dailey Howard
Monday night, January 12th, proved to be an adventure as board member Janet Culp and I traveled to Okanogan to appear before the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB). The purpose was to request a portion of the TAB monies to fund advertising for the CCC. These funds are derived from a 2% lodging tax in unincorporated Okanogan County.
The Cultural Center isn’t alone in seeking TAB funding. It seems every visitor center, group, and organization send a representative to the TAB meeting to plead their case/the reason they should receive funding. Each organization gets 3 minutes to speak. We were cautioned by several people to get there early, as people are heard in the order in which they arrive.
Practicing what to say and then timing it to within 3 minutes proved to be a challenge as the CCC offers so many events that bring people into our area and advertisers in a myriad of venues. At last, Janet thought I had it down pat. We were the first to arrive and I thought I would surely testify early and we’d be on our way.
Much to our surprise, the TAB called representatives up in a predetermined order. Guess what? I spoke dead last! The upside is that listening to other speakers proved educational, both in what to do and what not to do. Whew! My turn came and I spoke about CCC events--especially two day affairs that draw visitors, such as Green Okanogan Alternative Energy Fair and The Garlic Festival. And I spoke about our advertising (including the monthly newsletter and our website), plus I got all that info out in under 3 minutes.
My hope is that, in speaking last at the end of many voices, the voice of the CCC is the one they will remember.
Conscious Acoustic Reggae Dance February 28
Adrian Xavier will be returning to our stage on Saturday, February 28. The show, a benefit for the Word Sound Power Collective (WSPC), will be a solo acoustic set of danceable rhythms, with the message of love and compassion amongst people.
Opening for Adrian will be The Highland Reggae All Stars (Highland R.A.S.), featuring Ras D Bongo I, and a rare acoustic performance by Jahson Ites.
Cyndi Benitez will be making a delicious vegan dinner. Dinner will be served from 5:30--7pm; Suggested donation is $7.
WSPC is devoted to strengthening and supporting Rastafari elders; offering hope and welfare for those who have dedicated their lives to spreading the Nyahbinghi message around the world. The Nyahbinghi Creed is: Let the hungry be fed, the naked clothed, the sick nourished, the aged protected and the infants cared for.
Music will be from 7-10pm. Admission to the show is $5 - $10, also on a donation basis.
All ages are welcome. Please call Jahson at 485-3464 for more information.
Some Memories Of The “Early Days” Of The Center
~submitted by Kathryn Beach, known to some as Whispering Pine
I first remember Tim-I and Gail talking about having a meeting space for the community that owned and sponsored the Co-op, Barter Faires, benefit dances, and Healing Gatherings. I know there were many others with this vision of being able to gather somewhere other than the Co-op aisles and basement, street corners, and our seasonal and sporadic events.
It was Tim-I and Gail who 'put the bug in my ear' about the big run-down warehouse building being for sale, behind the Co-op. It had been put up for sale time and again, and was one more time...
I went over and looked into those big car showcase windows and dreamed of community meetings and dinners...I went around to the side and peeked into the big back room, imagining dances and live music, stage performances...I looked at the upstairs rooms and thought of office space, community group rentals, and more...I imagined how many people would have their own thoughts and imaginings....
At some point, I made the first move. I grabbed up my friend Meg Lange (Tonasket’s Librarian,) we walked over to talk to the realtor who was selling the building (who she knew), put down $100 earnest money, and started talking.
We also started posting notices and gathering people in the Co-op basement. Somewhere around a dozen people actively started talking, imagining, reaching into their own pockets...Thome George mentioned that he had a good friend who helped groups reach consensus on projects such as this, and he flew her in to spend enough time with us to do just that.
Over the course of a couple weeks we went from a group of at least a dozen people, with hundreds of brainstormed ideas of what we would like to do next, to what we would like to see happening there in 5 years, to having a set of Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation, a Board of Directors (everyone who participated in the workshop), and yes, a name--Community Cultural Project.
We strongly believed, because we already had experienced this ourselves, that the process of coming together and learning how to manifest our dreams by focusing on what we have in common was the mission and true purpose of what we believed the word 'project' meant to us. In other words, it was the process that was important. Without tangible goals the process could not happen, but it was the process of becoming which would hold the learning and healing we envisioned.
I can't resist sharing this second story also, because I think it is a good example of how important this process would become.
Sammy Reese was a good friend of mine, his daughter Alysa also. I came to know them both really well because we opened CCC's doors to teens as a drop-in center for a while. Sammy, Alysa and a small circle of Alysa's friends would gather and play the fantasy card game "Magic". I got to know this group really well-- their troubles, their humor, and their solidarity with each other...I adored these kids.
Alysa stood out from the crowd because of the beautiful light shining out from within, which manifested in one "magical" way through her fantasy artwork. She was 19 at the time, still hadn't finished high school, and the Alternative School principal, Andy Jones, spoke with me about her. I was, at the time, volunteering at the Alternative School, and Andy and I devised a plan for helping her.
Alysa began doing artwork at the CCC, where she not only had to concieve and execute a painting that fit in with the ongoing renovations, but had to present her ideas to the Board of Directors. For her work, to which she became very committed, she received school credit and also was paid through the JTPA program.
I worked with Alysa as her supervisor and friend, and many, many hours were spent together laughing, working, and learning how to deal with the 'mixed bag' of Board members who appreciated (or not) her work to varying degrees.
Alysa and I have both moved from Tonasket and, serendipitously, both of us have married Canadian men and live in Canada now. I started corresponding via email with her dad and he passed my address on to her. We began corresponding, even spoke on the phone to each other--I don't know which of us was more excited.
Then she shared the following words with me, "I'd like to say thank you for being such an influence in my life. Believe it or not, your example of kindness and the ability and willingness to take a chance on me was, and has become, a standard of treatment for others in my life." (I hope everyone reading this can maybe understand better how what you do there at that tiny community center in tiny Tonasket can ripple out and change the world.)
Alysa's paintings at the CCC have been painted over, removed and perhaps forgotten. But the results of 'taking a chance on her' now are reflected onto everyone she meets, including a loving husband and two adorable kids of her own.
Maybe that helps explain how the process is the learning and the healing, not just the physical results....
Editor’s note: for those who may not know, The Community Cultural Center changed its name from the original, The Community Cultural Project of Tonasket, about three years ago.
Learn to Make Your Own Soap
On Sunday, February 22nd, Cyndi Benitez will teach a two hour soap-making workshop at the CCC, starting at 2pm.
The class will begin with a brief overview of the history of soap-making, and then participants will be able to make their own vegetable based soaps, using botanicals and natural essential oils.
The fee for this class is only $5, which also includes the cost of materials. Pre-registration is required, as space is limited. Please bring your own rubber gloves and safety glasses.
Call 486-4029 for more information or to register.
CCC Hosts Public Flea Market Saturday, April 11
Do you have too much stuff? Do you need a little extra cash? This will be the perfect opportunity to clean up, clean out, and have a grand time doing it! Contact the CCC office for more information.
Volunteer At The CCC !
by Susie Shaddox
As the new volunteer coordinator for the CCC I’m writing this in hopes of inspiring you to do some volunteering at the center. I’m sure by now you’ve noticed just how much we’ve been doing here at the Center lately. A quick glance at the monthly calendar shows that we’ve been sponsoring a lot of fun, informative, and entertaining events--including dinner/dances, Friday Night Coffee Houses, talent shows, Holiday Bazaars, fundraisers, workshops, etc.
I hope that you’ve been able to join us for some of these events, as they are a great way to get out for good food, entertainment, and conversation with friends. This is a big part of what our community center is all about!
As you can imagine, all this activity requires a lot of work and that is where we hope you’ll step in. We need volunteers to help make it all happen. We need help with dining room set-up and take-down, meal preparation, serving, and cleanup when we offer meals with events. We also need people to help with other things that come up, like cleaning and building projects, office wor, etc.
Volunteer hours are recorded on log sheets at the center (please remember to write your time down when you volunteer!) and tallied at the end of every year. On paper these hours confirm that we have the local support necessary for sustaining a healthy, flourishing community organization. In real life here at the center we couldn’t do all that we do without the hours that volunteers like you put in. My goal in the next month is to put together a master list of people who might be willing to volunteer some time at the center.
If you’d be willing to be on our contact list please email the office at or call 486-1328 and we’ll add you. If you have something specific in mind that you’d like to help with let us know (meal prep, baking, carpentry skills, cleaning, event planning and sponsoring, office help, etc.), or we can just add you to our general needs list.
This is a great opportunity to really get in there and do something for the CCC, and I can promise you that it truly is fun and satisfying to be part of a crew that works together to make something good happen. Please call or e-mail – we’d so appreciate your help!
Working together, ordinary people can perform extraordinary feats. They can push things that come into their hands a little higher up, a little further on towards the heights of excellence.
~author unknown
Friday Night Coffee House Musicians Needed
Performers and musicians are wanted to present their talents to the public at the Community Cultural Center’s Friday Night Coffee House. Our goal is to provide a series of events which span a wide spectrum of styles.
We are seeking presenters who would be willing to offer a show in the following styles: Jazz, Blues, Country, Bluegrass, Classic Spanish Guitar, Strings, New Age, or any other genre of entertainment. Also welcome are poets, actors, and other artists.
January 9th was the first Friday Night Coffee House of the new year, and it was a great start. John Eikelman and Sarah Spark brought members of their Marimba Band from Republic and gave a foot tapping, shoulder shaking performance. Thanks John and Sarah for a great crowd-pleasing Friday night!
We may have some openings for this season, and certainly will have in the fall. If you have a song to sing, a story to tell, or a performance you’d like to share, please call board member Curt Howard at 486-1746 or email the office at
Do You Have A CCC Story To Tell?
We are compiling information on the history of the CCC. Do you have a story to share about the early days of the Cultural Center? Our membership has grown greatly over the past 16 years, yet most likely there are only a small handful of our current active members who know the steps that led us to where we are right now. That is why this information is so important!
So please, if you have a CCC tale to tell take some time and put the words to paper. Short stories, poems, and long pieces--anything that is meaningful to you will surely be of interest to our readers.
Please email your submissions to or mail to CCC, P.O. Box 664, Tonasket, WA 98855.
We hope to print these submissions in upcoming issues of The Center News.
February Friday Night Coffee Houses:
Feb. 6: Mariliz Romano, Doug Wilson & Friends – Piano, Celtic Harp, Jazz Quartet, Sing Along with Leaha Passaro
Feb. 13: Americorps Sponsored Red Cross Fundraiser – Spaghetti Feed – Details TBA
Feb. 20: Tonasket Writer’s Group
Feb. 27: Katie Johann & friends – A Variety of Skits “The Economy of Relationships”
Doors Open at 5 • Dinner Served at 5:30 • Music at 6
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Call the CCC office at 486-1328 for more info.
We hope you have enjoyed this online version of the articles in our print newsletter. For updates on items above, and for classes/workshops/events not in this newsletter, please see our Calendar. The Center News is published as a service to the Members of the Community Cultural Center. Letters and articles are welcomed from Members. Deadline for articles is the 20th of each month, and are best emailed. Send to
Acceptance of advertising does not indicate endorsement by the CCC of the product or service offered.
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