The AL Alumni Committee is busy preparing for our second annual Evening with the Stars spaghetti dinner and auction - and it's going to be awesome!  Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 6th, 5 - 7 pm at the Federal Way Community Center.  Individual tickets are $20 each, and kids 10-under are free.  Here are some highlights of this family-friendly evening:

 

• Guests will enjoy a complete spaghetti dinner, including drinks (non-alcoholic) and dessert
• Table service will be provided by local celebrity waiters, including state legislators, the mayor and city council, FWPS superintendent and school board, judges, fire commissioners and more
• Auction items for all interests and budgets will be available for bidding
• Adult and youth alumni will share their leadership stories
• The winner of the first annual Bob Wroblewski Servant Leadership Alumni Award will be announced

Watch your email for details on sponsorship opportunities and individual registration. If you are interested in title or table sponsorship, or if you would like to volunteer to help with this event, please contact Amye Bronson-Doherty at [email protected].

1. Alumni rated the value of AL/ALY segments in this order (highest first): site visits, speakers, group work, leadership training, team project. All segments averaged 3 or higher on a 4 point scale.
2. When asked about the impact of AL/ALY on the respondent, individual and community development averaged 4.4 out of 5; professional development was slightly lower at 4.2 .
3. In rating the value of the AL/ALY network for alumni, community-based networking averaged 2.9 out of 4, and professional and personal networking were each 2.8 out of 4 .
4. Short answers describing most valuable aspects of AL/ALY revealed highly individualized experiences. This suggests that continuing to provide a diverse program of site visits, speakers and activities is critical in addressing every participant's needs and learning style.
5. Responses to the question of individual program impact indicated several key trends: AL/ALY provided a 'community revelation' experience to most, even lifelong city residents; many people describe "finding my voice" or seeing themselves as leaders for the first time; most respondents graduated with a new passion for leadership and community service.
6. Alumni indicated overwhelming desire to stay connected or reconnect with their own class, as well as AL-sponsored opportunities to interact with other alums.

As we close the 2011-12 program year, we are proud to honor the contributions of our outgoing board directors.

Dinah Herring, AL '09: Dinah connected with AL through Comcast, a premier partner for many years, where she is a Senior Account Executive.  Dinah was an enthusiastic participant in AL, and upon graduation she was asked to join the board, where she has been involved on several committees and finished her term as the board secretary.  Dinah helped coordinate our first Evening with the Stars event in 2011, and was an inspiring speaker at several program days and graduations.

Brady Nelson, AL '05: Brady is the agent owner of his Federal Way-based State Farm Insurance Agency.  His humor and insight as an AL participant caught the attention of our board, and he agreed to join them in 2006.  Brady served as board vice president in 2009-10 and president in 2010-11.  He also led several board committees, secured State Farm support for ALY and connected ALY participants to the State Farm Youth Advisory Board.

Lisa Skari, PhD, AL '04: Lisa is Vice President at Highline Community College, one of AL's long-term sponsors. For her team project, Lisa helped create the Advancing Leadership Youth program.  She joined the board following graduation, and has been the treasurer for two consecutive terms.  She also participated on finance, marketing and program committees, and helped create our current mission statement.

Advancing Leadership is grateful for the work and inspiration provided by these outstanding alumni and directors.

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to Lydia Dawson, AL '03, the King County Housing Authority's Living Green award honoree.  A flowering plum tree has been planted in her honor at King's Court.  "I was allowed to choose where I wanted it planted anywhere in King County, and I told them that Federal Way was the place...where I live, worship, volunteer/serve and play."

Way to go Cindy Ducich, AL '10, the recipient of Federal Way Rotary's Service Above Self award. Cindy is an active volunteer with the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce, Federal Way Communities in Schools, FUSION, Multi-Service Center and Centerstage.

Join us in welcoming Danny Peterson, AL '11, our newest staff member.  Danny has volunteered his time regularly since graduating the adult program. We'll be putting his skills to good use as he helps coordinate and prep our program days for AL and ALY '13.

Lillian Yeh, AL '09, passed away April 14th, 2012 following a traffic accident that occurred on a family vacation.

 

Lillian worked at the City of Federal Way for several years, and was a warm and insightful member of the Advancing Leadership Class of 2009. As an alumnus, she was an active community volunteer as well as an accomplished painter.

 

Our deepest sympathies go out to her family.  We remember her fondly and appreciate her many contributions to family, community and the city during her time with us.