A Note from our Board President

As we delve into fall, bundle into sweaters, and share Room One's news, we reflect on the past few months with smiles and true gratitude.

After many years of providing services in an increasingly crowded, drafty, and leaking building, we're delighted – and deeply grateful for the private infrastructure grant that made it possible – to be moving into space that will allow for client counseling, support groups, workshops, community meetings, and more. This building is for everyone who would like to learn about or could use our support and services – please come visit us there!

October was the annual Give Methow campaign and we were simply amazed by the generous contributions to Room One. With so many much-needed non-profits in our valley, we are truly humbled by your support. Your gifts are energizing and a real endorsement of the work we do every day to bring direct services, prevention measures, and advocacy to the community.

One of the joys of being a Room One board member is getting to know and work with our truly talented and exceptional staff members. In dynamic planning conversations, board and staff examine the needs of the community, the effects of our efforts, and how can we more strategically meet our goals. Themes that come up in these planning sessions reflect Room One's passion for the work: collaboration, active listening, bold problem-solving, meaningful action, engagement, accountability, compassion, and inclusivity.

One of the questions that emerges as we do long-range planning is, "What do we need to do now at Room One in order to eventually work ourselves out of a job?" While we know that there will always be people experiencing pain and hardship, we also know that our vision of working in partnership towards a rural valley where everyone can thrive means that we're committed to building community capacity and responsive systems of support.

We invite you to join us in this visioning and action-based work! While the work ahead is big, the easiest place to start can be by asking yourself: Do I have something to offer (time, resources, skills, a kind word) that someone else might need.

With deep gratitude, Therese