Director Daryl Grigsby
Seattle Transportation Department
600 Fourth Ave., 4th floor, Seattle 98104-1826
684-5000; Daryl.Grigsby@ci.seattle.wa.us

Acting Director Terry McCarthy
Washington State Ferries
2911 Second Ave., Seattle 98121-1012
515-3400; tmccarthy@wsdot.wa.gov
www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries

FAUNTLEROY YMCA FINDS NEW DIRECTOR CLOSE TO HOME

On October 1, the Fauntleroy YMCA opened another chapter in its 87-year history of service to the community when neighborhood resident Jeni Gauthier became director.  She succeeds George Fraser, who transferred this summer to direct the Auburn YMCA.

 Jeni has spent nearly two decades in YMCA service, starting in Bellevue.  She was most recently administrative director of the Management Resource Center downtown, an arm of the national organization supporting YMCAs throughout Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.

"The mission and values of the YMCA are close to my heart," she said, "- how we work as individuals and as a staff developing spirit, mind, and body.  I'm energized by the Y's ability, both nationally and locally, to really make an impact."

The location of this branch is particularly appealing, she said.  "I love the Y here, especially the community and personality that being located in a church creates.  It feels right to me.

With a full-time staff of 10, complemented by many part-time employees and instructors, the Fauntleroy YMCA has considerable strengths on which to build, she noted.

"I'm excited about having the opportunity to focus on several key areas, most of which have to do with increasing our outreach to the community," she explained.  "I think we can do more with middle and high school students, work more with the schools, and take more advantage of the wisdom of the many elders who live here."

SALMON WATCH STARTING

By mid October, the watch will be on for coho spawners returning to Fauntleroy Creek.

Following training by Seattle Public Utilities on October 2, more than two dozen new and veteran volunteers signed up for weekly half-hour shifts to count returning fish and monitor habitat conditions.

"This is a great opportunity for community residents of all ages to contribute to important scientific research and to celebrate, firsthand, the return of our watershed's most remarkable residents," said watch coordinator Scott Allen.

"If you missed the training but would still like to help, contact me right away.  Our information packet and on-site support can get you up to speed."

Depending on rainfall, the watch will run from four to six weeks.  The observation site for watchers is at the base of the fish-ladder viewpoint.

For more information about the watch, contact Scott at 938-8818 or scotthallen@yahoo.com.

During his transition, he and his wife, realtor Anna Nerbovig, often talked about the special persons who had happened along at pivotal times in their lives, offering encouragement and direction when most needed.

With both his children grown and no longer in requiring close attention, Gerardo began to look for a way that, with Anna's help, he could do the same for other young people.  They had explored other programs such as Big Brothers when they heard a presentation at West Seattle Rotary about Steps Ahead.

"I turned to my wife," he recalled, "and said, 'This is it.'"

Steps Ahead is a one-on-one mentoring program for high-school freshmen at risk of academic and social failure.  Started in 1990 by the nonprofit group, Community for Youth, the program is available to some 150 students at three Seattle high schools.

Fall is when Krista Olson, program director at Chief Sealth, is most in need of recruits.  The program is in its second year there and 30 freshmen are waiting for 30 new volunteer mentors.

Successful mentors, she said, can be of any age or background but they two qualities are essential:  "They must be able to make commitments and follow through and they must be able to be very honest and open with these students."

The program focuses on helping ninth-grade students through the transition to high school.  With support then, experience shows, students have better attendance and grades and are better equipped to stay in school.

At Sealth, well over half the students who had a mentor last year want to continue the relationship.

"They really enjoy the program and develop a strong bond with their mentors," Krista said.  "We offer those who continue more of an emphasis on developing leadership skills." 

At a Steps Ahead retreat, Gerardo interacted with several students, among them a shy young man.  They took to one another and, by mutual request, were matched.  They began their relationship in January by negotiating a two-way contract.

 "It includes goals for my transition as well as his, such as getting my driver's license," Gerardo explained.  "I report my progress to him and he reports his progress to me.  This is what I like very much about the program.  We are partners, checking on each other.  It nurtures both of us."

Mentors are asked to have weekly contact with their mentee, attend a weekly support gathering of mentors, and participate in special workshops, retreats, and recreational outings.  Gerardo has chosen to do more at times, knowing that he could count on the program's access to support resources.

"We get training from wonderful specialists and the mentors cover for one another when necessary," he said.  "It's a big commitment - absolutely.  But it's not just the kids who are being empowered."

Nor is Gerardo alone in his involvement.  Anna was so impressed with what she had seen that she recently accepted an invitation to join the Community For Youth board.