Reba Gilman, Principal of Aviation High School, will be giving a presentation at the June 9 Education Luncheon, held at the Sea-Tac Occupational Skills Center. Her topic will be Learning that Sticks: Teaching and Learning Through a Context of Aviation and Aerospace. The Education Luncheon will be held at the Sea-Tac Occupational Skills Center, 18010 8th Avenue South, Seattle, from Noon to 1:30 pm. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m.

Cost is $20 pre-paid or $25 at the door. Call the Chamber office to make reservations (206) 575-1633.

At its April meeting, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to become a member of the Transportation Partnership. The Transportation Partnership is an organization comprised of regional organizations and businesses who strive to keep informed and have an influence on transportation issues in our three-county (King, Pierce, and Snohomish) area. Areas of study and discussion are road projects as well as commuter systems. The Partnership receives updates from RTID, WSDOT and Sound Transit on a regular basis. The Partnership is co-chaired by Bob Drewel, Steve Leahy, and Rick Bender.

Partnership membership includes Southwest King County Chamber members Master Builders Association, Port of Seattle, Bank of America, The Boeing Company, Puget Sound Energy, and Washington Mutual.

Other area Chambers who have joined the Partnership are Greater Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Kirkland, Redmond, and South Snohomish County.

If you would like more information on the Transportation Partnership or want a more complete list of the Partnership’s roster, please contact Nancy Damon at the Chamber office, ndamon@swkcc.org or (206) 575-3016.

The countdown has started for the selection of the 2006 A•C•E award recipients. The first step is for Chamber members and friends to nominate Chamber member businesses for one of the awards. Award categories are: Large Employer Business Excellence, Small Employer Business Excellence, Non- Profit/Humanitarian Service, Beautification, People’s Choice Award. Click here for the nomination form.

The awards will be presented at the Chamber’s November 3 celebration at the Seattle Hilton Airport & Conference Center.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be a sponsor of this annual celebration of business excellence. Click here to select the sponsorship option just right for your company.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) requests public input on the proposed Tukwila to Renton Improvement Project [I-5 to SR 169 – Phase 2]. A public scoping meeting will occur on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the Renton Community Center (1715 Maple Valley Highway, Renton WA 98055). Through the scoping meeting, the community is invited to give comments on environmental issues including social, economic and natural resources to be studied in a National Environmental Policy Act and State Environmental Policy Act Environmental Assessment.

The Tukwila to Renton Project is the second phase of improvements on I-405 between I-5 and SR 169 (Maple Valley Highway). The first phase of improvements on I-405 in this same area is the Renton Nickel Improvement Project, which is currently going through the environmental assessment process. The Tukwila to Renton Project improvements extend approximately four miles along I- 405 from I-5 to SR 169 and approximately one and a half miles along SR 167 between I-405 and South 180th Street.

In addition to the improvements included in the Renton Nickel Improvement Project, the Tukwila to Renton Project includes adding one lane in each direction on I-405 between SR 181 and SR 167, two lanes in each direction on I-405 between SR 167 and SR 169, and one lane northbound on SR 167 from South 180th Street to I-405. The Tukwila to Renton Project also reconfigures the SR 181 and SR 167 interchanges, including improving High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) connections between SR 167 and I-405.

A portion of the Tukwila to Renton Project, the SR 515 (Talbot Road) Interchange, is funded for construction. These funds are from the transportation package approved by the 2005 Washington State Legislature. The SR 515 Interchange Project, as the first step to reconfiguring the SR 167 interchange, is located between SR 167 and SR 169. Additional funding is required to complete the entire Tukwila to Renton Project, including the SR 167 interchange.

All written comments received or postmarked by June 6, 2006, will be included in the formal scoping document considered by WSDOT. Project comments should be submitted in writing to the I-405 Project Environmental Manager, Allison Ray, at the following address or e-mail address:

Allison Ray
600 108th Ave NE, Suite 405
Bellevue, WA 98004
allison.ray@i405.wsdot.wa.gov

Contact Colleen Gants, Public Information
(425) 456-8500, colleen.gants@i405.wsdot.wa.gov for additional information.

Join us for a wonderful day of golf, great networking opportunities, a no host cocktail reception and auction. The annual Get-Away Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, August 4, at Glen Acres Golf and Country Club. The shotgun start is at 12:30 pm. The returning major sponsors are Baker Commodities, Inc., Seattle Division, and BBC Dodge, Inc. There are still sponsorship opportunities available including Tee and Green, Reception, Beverage, Hole-In-One, Corporate Foursome, and Tee Sponsor Items are currently being accepted for the auction that will be held following the tournament. If you would like to be a sponsor of this event or donate an auction item, please contact the Chamber at (206) 575-1633, by email at staff@swkcc.org, or click here.

Sea-Tac Occupational Skills Center

The Veterinary Careers class at SeaTac Occupational Skills Center would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to all of the local veterinarians, groomers, pet stores, and animal rescue facilities who participated in our internship program this year. Our gratitude goes out to Chamber member, A Place for Pets.

We would also like to thank the Burien Parks & Recreation department for giving us the opportunity to provide community service for senior citizens through offering free pet grooming every month at the Burien Community Center.

Continued industry and community support of our student interns will help us offer the best educational opportunities to our future animal care providers by giving them invaluable hands on experience in many different animal-related career fields. Our thanks to you all!

Kirsta Dunlap is a senior at Global Connections/Tyee High School in SeaTac with a graduation date of June 21, 2006.

During her four years at Global Connections/Tyee High School, Kirsta has taken Introduction and Advanced Marketing and Retail Management courses. She was fourth place in the DECA Area Competition, served as a DECA officer, and during the month of February, nominated as DECA member of the Month.

Outside of school, Kirsta works as an Espresso Manager. Krista’s aspiration is to successfully own and operate a business.

We wish you every success in obtaining your goals and ambitions!

Meaghan Luchau is a junior at Mount Rainier High School in Des Moines with a graduation date of June 2007. She has taken a specialized business course in Retail Management at Mount Rainier High School.

Meaghan’s extra curricular activities and achievements include ASB Secretary, DECA Chapter President, Camp Fire Group Leader and WoHeLo Award recipient, FFA Member, Youth Group Mentor and Horsemanship Intern.

Meaghan states, “My goal for the future is to attend a four-year university, earning a degree in Equine Management, Equine Sciences, or Zoology”. In the future, Meaghan would like to continue to help the global community through volunteering, as she finds that serving others is greatly rewarding and fun.

Congratulations, Meaghan. You are headed in the right direction for a bright and successful future!

A great big “Thank you” to the following Chamber members for referring a new member to the Chamber:

Elizabeth Paulson of Cascade e-Commerce Solutions, Inc., for referring Puppy Stairs who has now become a Chamber member.

Rick Moore of Simply Thai Restaurant for referring IPTN North America, Inc., who has now become a Chamber member.

Do not miss this opportunity to win a trip to Club Jalisco, located in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Tickets are $5.00 each and available at all events, at the Chamber office, or click here to request tickets. Proceeds benefit the Scholarship Program of the Success Foundation. Drawing will be held June 9, 2006. Need not be present to win.

Donna Braungardt
Manpower Temporary Services

FARMER'S MARKETS

Burien Farmer’s Market
Thursdays ~ May 11 – October 5
11:00am – 6:00pm
4th Avenue SW and SW 151st Street

Tukwila International Farmers’ Market
Wednesdays ~ May 17 – September 27
3:00 – 7:00pm
Corner of S.144th St. & Tukwila International Blvd.

Des Moines Waterfront Farmer’s Market
Saturdays ~ June 17 – October 28
10:00am – 2:00pm
Des Moines Marina, 22307 Dock Ave. S.

CITY FESTIVALS

Tukwila Backyard Wildlife Festival
Saturday ~ May 13
10:00am – 3:00pm
Tukwila Community Center, 12424 42nd Ave. S.

Burien Strawberry Festival
Saturday ~ June 17 – 11:00am – 8:00pm
Sunday ~ June 18 – 11:00am – 5:00pm
Burien Community Center & Dottie Harper Park

SeaTac International Festival
Friday ~ June 23, 11:00am – 7:00pm
Saturday ~ June 24, 10:00am – 8:00pm
Sunday ~ June 25, 10:00am – 5:00pm
Angle Lake Park, 19408 International Blvd.

Tukwila Days 2006 Community Festival
Saturday ~ July 8
10:00am – 3:00pm
Tukwila Community Center, 12424 42nd Ave. S.