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eNews Fall 2013

Posted by cahnrs.webteam | February 17, 2015

The mission of the William D. Ruckelshaus Center is to act as a neutral resource for collaborative problem solving in 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. For more information, visit our website.

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.

Support the Center

Supporting the Center is a tax-deductible investment in the quality of life in our state and region. Donations are matched up to $100,000 per year by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and qualifies for donor credit at both WSU and UW.

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Legislative Leaders, Governor’s and Secretary of State’s Offices to Discuss Improving Governance and Civility on November 12 and 13 (RSVP soon!)

In keeping with its focus area on civil public discourse, the Center is serving as a series sponsor (alongside the WSU Division of Governmental Studies and Services) for the Washington State Governance Series, co-hosted by the Governor’s and Secretary of State’s offices. This includes two upcoming lunch events focused on ways to improve state government, the public’s view of government, and legislative civility. At a November 12 event in downtown Seattle featuring Secretary of State Kim Wyman, Bill Ruckelshaus will introduce the Center. A distinguished panel of current and former legislators will include Advisory Board members Slade Gorton, Linda Evans Parlette and Hans Zeiger. The Henry M Jackson Foundation, K&L Gates and The Seattle Times are serving as event sponsors. A November 13 event in Spokane will feature a similarly distinguished panel. The events are free, but a RSVP is required, since seating is limited. RSVP by November 1st for the Seattle event and the Spokane event. The series resumes January 22 with a lunch event in Olympia (details available soon).

Legislature Invests in Chehalis Flood Mitigation and Fish Enhancement

The Legislature fully funded the $28.2 million request from Governor Inslee and his Chehalis Basin Work Group in the 2013-15 capital budget for flood mitigation and aquatic species enhancement in the Basin. The Governor has asked the Center to continue facilitating the Work Group, which has adopted an ambitious schedule for a series of technical, policy and public workshops from October 2013 to September 2014, to gain input into and support development of specific flood mitigation and aquatic species enhancement recommendations, due to the Governor and Legislature by November 2014. Outreach has begun to involve all interested parties, as technical information is gathered and analyzed and decisions get made about which directions to take. More information

Preparing for the “Silver Tsunami”

The Center is partnering with the University of Washington Health Policy Center on a study (sponsored by WSU Extension) of the capacity of the eldercare workforce in Washington state to meet current and projected demand. The current baseline study is the first phase in a larger endeavor designed to help stakeholders in Washington state engage in a coordinated, collaborative effort to address elder health care and support services capacity concerns. The Center is also participating in an initiative of the University Network for Collaborative Governance (UNCG) to launch similar efforts in other states, to supplement related activities at the federal level.

Welcome, New Board Members and Liaisons

The Center is delighted to announce that former Washington Governor Christine Gregoire has accepted a seat on the Advisory Board. Bill Gates, Sr. is stepping down from the Board, but has accepted the Chair’s request that he serve as the Board’s founding Emeritus Member. WSU President Elson Floyd has appointed Anson Fatland, WSU Vice President for Economic Development and External Affairs, to replace Colleen Kerr as his alternate on the Advisory Board. Craig Thomas of UW Evans and Julia Gold of UW Law have been appointed by their respective deans as UW Liaisons to the Ruckelshaus Center, replacing Jason Smith and Elizabeth Ford, who have each left the institution. Welcome to the new faces and best wishes to those who are moving on!

Senator Alan Simpson Debunks America’s Fiscal Situation at the Chairman’s Circle Luncheon

On August 2, the Center hosted its third annual Chairman’s Circle Luncheon. A sell-out crowd of 175 gathered to hear recently-retired U.S. Senator Alan Simpson—co-chair of the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform—spin anecdotes and dispel misconceptions about addressing our nation’s fiscal challenges. Here are some glimpses of the media coverage generated by Senator Simpson’s visit:

Thanks to all who attended! Watch for the next Chairman’s Circle luncheon in August or September 2014. More information

Remember the Center in Your Year-End Giving; Double Your Donation With a Match from the Gates Foundation!

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 invitation to events like the Chairman’s Circle and Statesmanship luncheons described above. The easiest way to donate is online or you can contact the Center at (509) 335-2937 or E-mail.

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