Celebration of Hope 2008
Ninety-two people accepted invitations to attend “Celebration of Hope
2008,” Court Advocates’ annual volunteer appreciation and candlelight
benefit dinner held in conjunction with the annual meeting. Past success of
this event necessitated moving it the Dakota Café to a larger venue
-- the Manastash Room at the Kittitas County Fairgrounds. Our decorating team
led by Volunteer Coordinator Heather Stermetz transformed the room into a
winter wonderland. Dakota Café catered a delicious buffet dinner and
David Rawlinson entertained us during the social hour.
We are grateful for the support of our 2008 sponsors and co-sponsors: Central
Washington University Foundation; Old Mill Country Store; Mark and Carrie
Anderson; Chamber Cowboys; Rodeo City Kiwanis; Court Advocates’ Board
of Directors; Law Offices of C.K. Powers; Frances Chmelewski, Attorney at
Law; Sigle Law Offices; Debbie and Sanford Kinzer; the Lathrop Law Firm; Puget
Sound Energy; Anderson Hay & Grain; Winegar’s.
We also appreciate raffle and silent auction donors: Paul Coppin; Jan and
Brian McElroy, Badger Creek Products; Carol Pidduck and Jim Pidduck; Heather
Stermetz; Kurt’s Kustom Cutz; Healing Touch Massage; Gene Dana; Bea
Fairburn; Anderson Hay & Grain; Puget Sound Energy.
We thank everyone who attended the dinner and donated to the program. Thanks
to all of you, we are able to continue our work on behalf of the abused and
neglected children in Kittitas County.
Volunteer Appreciation Highlights
We honored Nancy Ann Jewett as the 2008 “Judge JoAnne Alumbaugh Volunteer
of the Year.” Mrs. Jewett, who recently retired as the court administrator
for Lower Kittitas County Superior Court, has been a volunteer with the CASA
program since 1990. She has served both as a court appointed special advocate
(CASA) and as a member of the board of directors, including a three year term
as president of the board. As a CASA, she has tirelessly and effectively advocated
for numerous children, suggesting and obtaining innovative solutions to seemingly
insoluble situations involving the children she represented.
Special recognition awards went to CASAs Patrick Brown (“On Time, Every
Time”) and Carrie Anderson (“Get ‘Er Done”). Recognized
for their tenure either as a CASA, member of the board of directors, or both
were Anne Read, twenty years; Kay Miles, twenty years; Heather Stermetz, ten
years; Carrie Anderson, five years; Patrick Brown, five years.
The Year in Review
In 2008, we advocated for ninety-eight children, including twenty-five new
children, ranging in are from birth to seventeen years old. Statistically:
* 60 % of the new cases involved neglect resulting from parental substance
abuse
* 22% involved domestic violence in the home
* 18% involved physical or sexual abuse of a child.
We closed the cases of six children who were returned home to a parent. One
case closed because the child turned eighteen. Four children became legally
free for adoption when parental rights were terminated by the court and are
already placed in their adoptive homes.
Officers and Directors Elected
During the annual business meeting held in conjunction with “Celebration
of Hope 2008,” the membership elected:
* Vickie Barela and Liesl Jones to the board of directors for three year terms
ending December 31, 2011
* Brian McElroy as president of the board of directors; Libby Street, vice-president;
Mike McCloskey, secretary; Karen Eslinger, treasurer for terms ending December
31, 2009.
Seven New CASAs Began Service
In 2008, seven newly trained volunteers began serving abused and neglected
children in Kittitas County as volunteer CASAs:
- Sandra Bankston
- Debbie Cernick
- Art DePalma
- Philip Garrison
- Toni Snowden
- Jean Thornton
- Kristen Tully
One of the volunteers is a social services student at Central Washington University;
three have occupational and professional experience in the medical field;
three are experienced educators.
