Name: Christopher Zilar 
Company: Spokane Regional Health District 
Position: Program Manager
Graduation year: Class of 2006

Why do you support Leadership Spokane financially and as a volunteer? LS was a powerful experience for me.  I made some lifelong friendships.  I have been able to call upon several LS graduates for professional help - even from people who were not in my own class.  There have been times where I gained access to someone simply because I mentioned that I was in LS. 
 
The main reason I support LS is because I truly believe in the LS mission.  Leadership, management, and administration are distinctly separate functions.  It appears to me that many supervisors or others in positions of power do not have the skills, time or temperament to be true leaders.  Leadership is a vital role of people in authority.  LS is a catalyst to leadership skill development.
 
My personal politics tend to be quite liberal.  I work in public health, where we serve the underprivileged.  Thus, my work experiences lend supportive evidence for my political leanings.  LS broadened my experiences.  I can more easily understand conservative views.  I still might disagree with conservative viewpoints, but I can respectfully understand them.  Further, I can better articulate my viewpoints in a way that is palatable to conservatives. 
 
Why is it important to donate your funds and time? I want to see LS succeed and reach as many people in authority as possible.  I want LS to reach a diverse group.  Ultimately, I see LS as playing a key role in Spokane's future successes.

What prompted you to become a donor to Leadership Spokane? My wife and I take time every January to discuss our responsibilities to the community.  We decide which non-profits we will donate to.  There are so many worthy causes, and we receive numerous phone calls from a wide variety of charities  asking for donations.  We simply cannot donate to them all.  LS had an impact on my life.  It seems reasonable that I give back.  Admittedly, I had not considered donating until I received an email from Allen Battle.  

What method do you use to donate (monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.)?  We use online banking.  It is a great way to make the commitment stick and never have to worry about it.  I know that every month, a check is automatically sent from my bank to LS.  As mentioned above, my wife and I review our financial commitments each year.  Online banking allows me to easily adjust the dollar amounts I donate, so if we decide to increase our donations to LS, it would only take a few moments of my time to make it happen--then I don't have to think about for another year.

You can donate to Leadership Spokane online through our PayPal account, or by contacting Beth at 321.3639.

Lisa Hamilton (2008) has a new position at American Behavioral Health Systems. Marcea Mandsager (1992) is a Licensed Representative working with Financial Security, a Division of Northwest Farmer-Stockman, Inc.

Servant Leaders

Jason Alvarado (2007), XeroOne Systems, is running for Cheney City Council. Visit www.jasonalvarado.com. Katy Bruya (2005), Washington Trust Bank, Tami Kennedy (2008), Bargreen Ellingson, Alethea McCann (2007), Spherion Staffing Services, John Pilcher (2005), consultant, and Joel White (1995), Spokane Home Builders Association, are on the steering committee for the Inland Northwest Coalition. Gordon Budke (1983), Budke Consulting, Kathy Greco (1993), The Guardian, and Chuck Lund (2000), MetLife, serve on the Junior Achievement board. Marcea Mandsager (1992), Financial Security, is the chairperson for both Northern Idaho Development Committee and the Polo Auction Committee for Ronald McDonald Charities. Nancy Vorhees (1983), Inland Northwest Health Services, serves as chairperson on United Health Services Credit Union's Board.


Awards, etc.
Scott Jones (1983), Fidelity Associates, was featured in the June/July issue of the Business Catalyst.

 

Educational Resources

Summer Japanese Cultural Workshops at the Japanese Cultural Center at Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute demonstrating various activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult; activities are oriented towards children, but anyone is always welcome to attend! Topics include hiragana (23 July), basic kanji (30 July), and dance & yukata (6 August). All classes are Thursdays from 3:00 - 5:00 PM. Contact Candie Coker at candiec@mfwi.org.
Sustainable September Spokane, a project of Community Minded Enterprises and its partners, features a month of events that will move the community closer to sustainable living. Sponsors and donations are needed. Visit www.sustainableseptemberspokane.ning.com.


Leadership Opportunities

Community Health Association of Spokane seeks board members for three-year terms, especially those with
financial backgrounds. CHAS is a non-profit system of
federally qualified community clinics providing quality medical and dental health care to families and individuals of all ages, regardless of insurance status. Contact Peg at 444.8888 or phopkins@chas.org
Corbin Senior Activity Center seeks board members for 2010 - 12. Contact Christa Richardson at 327-1584 ext. 10 or christa@corbinseniorcenter.org.
Gonzaga University Institute for Action Against Hate seeks submissions for the eighth volume of its peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary Journal of Hate Studies. The Institute is interested in articles that address the topic of "The Other Among Us"--particularly focused on immigration, refugees, etc. Submissions due 1 February 2010. Contact againsthate@gonzaga.edu.
Inland Northwest Coalition (INC) seeks volunteers to support the selection, grooming, and election process of "Free Enterprise" supportive candidates for local offices. Contact Tami Kennedy (2008) at tkennedy@bargreen.com.
Olive Crest seeks donations for foster children heading back to school this fall. Backpacks, paper, binders, folders, calculators, rulers, or gift cards to Target, Office Depot, or Staples are needed. Deliver your back to school donations by 30 September to the Olive Crest office (12402 N Division Street, #123.) View details here.
School's Out Washington seeks nominations from the Spokane area for the Afterschool Hall of Fame Awards. Spokane must be represented for leadership in the afterschool field. Nominations are due 18 September. Forms and more information is available here.
Spokane Arts Commission seeks nominations for the 2009 City of Spokane Arts Awards. Individuals, organizations and businesses are encouraged to nominate candidates for these awards in these categories: Individual Artist; Arts Organization; Arts in Education; Individual Benefactor; Business Benefactor; and Arts Community Leadership. Forms and a complete list of past winners are available at  www.spokanearts.org/awards.aspx Deadline for submission is 7 August.
Unity in the Community seeks volunteers for the event on 15 August at Riverfront Park. Contact Jim Mohr at 279.6081 or jmohr@iel.spokane.edu or Mark Beattie at 313.6658 or beattiem@gonzaga.edu.


Events, by date