The mission of the William D. Ruckelshaus Center is to act as a neutral resource for collaborative problem solving in the State of Washington and the Pacific Northwest. The Center provides expertise to improve the quality and availability of voluntary collaborative approaches for policy development and multi-party dispute resolution. The Center is a joint effort of Washington’s two research universities.
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Supporting the Center is a tax-deductible investment in the quality of life in our state and region. Donations are matched up to $75,000 per year by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and qualify for donor credit at WSU and/or UW.
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The William D. Ruckelshaus Center’s electronic newsletter (eNews) is published two to four times per year. If you know of someone who might be interested in receiving this eNews, please forward it to them. If you wish to be removed from the list or would like to subscribe, please email us.
4th Annual Chairman’s Circle Luncheon Features Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair
On September 17, the Center hosted its fourth annual Chairman’s Circle Luncheon. More than 550 people gathered to hear Tony Blair discuss the challenges and opportunities of global leadership. Watch the conversation between Bill Ruckelshaus and Mr. Blair at the luncheon, provided by TVW. Thanks to all who attended! Watch for the next Chairman’s Circle luncheon in August or September 2015.
Center Seeking an Associate Director
The Center is accepting applications for an Associate Director. The Associate Director is a key member of the Center’s management team, serves as a sounding board and advisor to the Director, develops and manages conflict resolution projects, and may take the lead on special tasks like project and program evaluation. The deadline to apply is 11/23/14; the notice of vacancy is available from the link below. Please forward this information to any individual or list you think may be interested. Job posting
Stateswomanship and Public Policy Event
On December 12, the Ruckelshaus Center is co-sponsoring (with the Slade Gorton International Policy Center) a follow-up to the December 2013 Statesmanship luncheon that featured Bill Ruckelshaus, Slade Gorton, Norm Dicks and Dan Evans. Entitled Stateswomanship and Public Policy: Reflections on Collaboration and Leadership, this event will feature a conversation among accomplished women leaders from the Pacific Northwest. UW Law School Dean Kellye Testy will moderate a panel of including Christine Gregoire (former Washington State Governor), Jenny Durkan (former US Attorney for Western Washington), Kim Wyman (Washington Secretary of State), and Phyllis Campbell (Chair of JP Morgan Chase NW). This Seattle event (co-sponsored by K&L Gates, JP Morgan Chase, and the Henry M. Jackson, Kongsgaard-Goldman and Seattle foundations), is complimentary for the first 50 Chairman’s Circle members; other interested parties can attend for $35 each, if tickets remain. The sign up is below; if you are a Chairman’s Circle member, contact us at 206-428-3021 or ruckelshauscenter@wsu.edu for the registration code.
SR 530 Commision
This summer, Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Snohomish County Executive John Lovick asked the Center to facilitate a joint commission they established in response to the March 2014 landslide that took the lives of 43 people in the Stillaguamish Valley. The Joint SR 530 Commission is tasked to review the emergency response to the slide, and establish a timeline of events, including the initial emergency search and rescue, recovery of victims, community efforts and coordination among local, county, state, tribal and federal governments. The 12-member Commission will provide recommendations by December 2014 to improve planning and response to similar events. The Commission is operating independently, and will not determine liability, cause or fault, or act as a substitute for the courts in any way. More information >
Advisory Board Meets in Wenatchee
On October 24, the Center’s Advisory Board met in Wenatchee, Washington, hosted by ex-officio member State Senator Linda Evans-Parlette. While visiting that part of the state, Bill Ruckelshaus served as keynote speaker for the Wenatchee Rotary Club and members of the Executive Committee met with the Wenatchee World editorial board and hosted a community breakfast that resulted in a lively discussion on community issues and priorities among Board members and 30-40 diverse community leaders. The Wenatchee World published an editorial describing the work the Center entitled Ruckelshaus Center provides tools for solutions. Read the editorial >
Welcome and Farewell to Board Members and Staff
The Center is pleased to announce that Kristen Tetteh has joined the Center’s Advisory Board. Kristen is the Director of Communication for the Washington Global Health Alliance (WGHA). Kristen co-founded WGHA’s Party for the Health of it, to inspire young people to get involved in global health issues. Board member Read Smith has decided step down, after serving for several years. Over the summer, we’ve had several new staff members join the Center. Research Assistant Kara Whitman and Clerical Assistant Danielle Hurd are based out of the Center’s Pullman Office. The Center’s also brought on Project Assistant Raquel Espinosa, a recent graduate of the UW Evans School, and Intern Esther Ham, a UW Law student. Intern Megan Bunch has left the Center after graduating from UW Evans, to accept a fellowship at the Washington State Legislature. Welcome to the new faces and best wishes to those who are moving on!
Annual Giving
Gifts from individuals and organizations provide the financial independence that reinforces the Center’s neutrality and ability to quickly respond to areas of need. Through the Center, the universities are contributing to the resolution of important and thorny policy challenges. Please remember the Center in your year-end giving. Your gift is eligible for donor credit at WSU and/or UW and matched up to $75,000/year by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Gifts of $1,000 or more qualify you for the Chairman’s Circle (a group of the Center’s most dedicated supporters) and complimentary invitation to events like the Chairman’s Circle and Stateswomanship luncheons described above. The Center has also launched its Endowment for Excellence Campaign, to support the Center’s long-term priorities and provide stability. The easiest way to donate is online, or you can contact the Center at (509) 335-2937 or E-mail.