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 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.
Bill Ruckelshaus and Billy Frank, Jr. Receive 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom
President Barack Obama has announced that on November 24, “Bill” Ruckelshaus will receive the 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom at a ceremony at the White House. This award is presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public endeavors. The supreme civilian decoration, this award recognizes Bill’s outstanding service to our nation, and unending dedication, integrity and achievement in his public, professional, and personal life. Other 2015 awardees include founding Ruckelshaus Advisory Board member Billy Frank, Jr., who (until his passing last year) was a tireless advocate for tribal and environmental rights. The Center is honored to have benefited from the visionary leadership of these two men. For more information, visit the Center’s website, or read the White House Press Release featuring all 2015 recipients.
Get Your Ticket Now! Statesmanship in the Statehouse Dec. 9th
On Wednesday December 9th, the Ruckelshaus Center and Slade Gorton International Policy Center will host the third installment of their Statesmanship luncheon series entitled Statesmanship in the Statehouse. The event will be held at K&L Gates in downtown Seattle from noon – 1:30 pm, and feature State Senators David Frockt (D-46th), Curtis King (R-14th), Linda Evans Parlette (R-12th), and Christine Rolfes (D-23rd) sharing their thoughts on the current legislative climate, along with prospects for increasing collaboration in the Washington State Senate. Admission is complimentary for the first 50 Chairman’s Circle members; other interested parties can attend for $35 each. Seating is limited. Purchase tickets or contact us at (206) 428-3021.
5th Annual Chairman’s Circle Luncheon
Thank you to the over 300 supporters who attended our September 24th Chairman’s Circle Luncheon featuring former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Trent Lott (R-MS) as they presented their Bipartisan Blueprint for Civility & Democracy, and recommendations for promoting collaboration and improving the legislative process in Washington D.C. Watch the TVW coverage of the conversation between Bill Ruckelshaus and the Senators.
Collaborative Healthcare Policy
The Center recently completed a study assessing demand for healthcare policy consensus building in Washington and the Pacific Northwest. The Center is currently seeking to build capacity and increase its involvement in healthcare policy projects. For more information, read the Healthcare Policy Study (pdf), the Healthcare Policy Study One-Pager (pdf), the Collaborative Healthcare Policy one-pager (pdf), or contact Adjunct Faculty for Healthcare Kevin Harris at kevin.harris.2@wsu.edu, or (206) 292-2387.
Eldercare Fact Sheets
The Center has published two peer-reviewed, WSU Extension Fact Sheets stemming from the baseline study it conducted with the UW Health Policy Center on the eldercare workforce. The companion documents are entitled Washington State’s Eldercare Workforce and Aging in Place: A Policy Approach for Aging Well. The fact-sheets can be viewed and downloaded for free at the WSU Extension Publications Online Store: pubs.wsu.edu, or from the Center’s website.
A New Partnership in the Columbia Basin
Building on the findings of a large and complex assessment conducted by the Ruckelshaus Center and Oregon Consensus, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) has announced the formation of the Columbia Basin Partnership. The Partnership is comprised of both sovereigns and stakeholders, and was created to develop common measures of success for Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead, both those listed and not listed under the Endangered Species Act. These goals will be collaboratively developed to meet conservation needs, while also providing harvest (including tribal treaty rights) and fishing opportunities. This is an important example of the impact the Center can have on public policy in our region.
Welcomes and Farewells
The Center is pleased to announce that Megan Clubb, CEO of Baker Boyer Bank; Urban Eberhart, farmer and irrigator from the Kittitas Valley; and Dave McShea, Partner at Seattle law firm Perkins Coie have joined its Advisory Board. Advisory Board member Deborah Moore of the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Program has decided to step down; the Center is grateful for her service. We also said farewell to our Administrative Coordinator Michelle Norman, who accepted a job as Events Manager for the Washington Arboretum Foundation and intern Aubrey Beals, who will complete her graduate studies at the UW Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. Welcome to the new faces; all the best to those moving on!
Annual Giving
As 2015 comes to a close, be sure to remember the Ruckelshaus Center in your year-end giving. Thanks to private support like yours, the Center continues to serve as a neutral resource for collaborative and sustainable problem solving throughout the Pacific Northwest. It’s also a great way to congratulate Bill Ruckelshaus on winning the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Gifts are eligible for donor credit at either or both UW and WSU. Contributions of $1,000 or more will qualify you to become a member of our Chairman’s Circle and enjoy complimentary admission to our Chairman’s Circle Luncheon and other events. For those interested in supporting the long-term priorities of the Center, consider contributing to our Endowment for Excellence. Donate or feel free to contact us via phone at (509) 219-2418, or email at ruckelshauscenter@wsu.edu.