Lighthouse Environmental Programs

2007 Accomplishments

Our accomplishments are the result of so many people working towards a common goal.

Administrative

Appointed by-laws committee with Ed Van Patten as lead. Other members on the committee are Gloria Wahlin, Sarah Richards, Mary Vaughan, Sam Brown and Rick Blank.
Updated and approved LEP by-laws
Selected LEP Web Domain
Created LEP web page
Approved LEP letterhead
Set time for LEP Meetings
Set date and time for Annual Membership Meeting
Held initial LEP Board retreat, focus on LEP Organization and structure
Developed LEP Board of Directors Notebook
Established a paper on clarification of role, structure and guidance for Keepers titled History of the Keepers formation and purpose
Adopted a LEP policy statement for the distribution of License Plate proceeds
Developed Lighthouse License Plate purchase - Thank you cards
Upgrade and continued marketing with Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce
Annual report from Lighthouse Coordinator to Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Fiscal

LEP Treasurers Report Year 2007 reported on separate document.
Adopted for one year the use of credit/debit cards for Gift Shop purchases
Credit/debit cards were approved for continued use
Gift Shop sales increased by 13% for the first 11 months of 2007. December 2007 sales increase by 9.5% (poor weather).
LEP approved $105,000.00 of funding for WSU Councils operations. Some of this funding will be returned to LEP through grants.
Appointed LEP Endowment Committee with Don Leak as lead. Other members on the Committee are Fletcher Davis, Rex Porter, Ed Van Patten, Sarah Richards, Rick Blank and Don Meehan.
Donations were made this year to the LEP Endowment fund
Finalized LEP Endowment Fund brochure
Sold 3155 Lighthouse License plates. 27 plates were for trailers and 17 plates were for motorcycles.
Approved Lighthouse License Plate Fund Policy
Increased marketing for Lighthouse License Plates, rack cards for ferries, posters for County Seats, license plates for motorcycles and trailers and brochures

Programs

Established a 25% License Plate Program Grant Committee with Gloria Wahlin as lead. Other members on this committee are Rex Porter, LEP Board Member, Captain Gene Davis, Curator of USCG Museum Northwest, Elinor DeWire, President of Washington Light keepers Association and Gene Grulich, Architect.
Drafted and received Board approval for 25% License Plate Program Grant application documents
Conferred with potential applicants and distributed 25% License Plate Program Grant applications

Grants/Agreements

Updated and approved LEP/WSU Letter of Understanding
Updated and approved Interlocal agreement between WSU/WSP&RC Fort Casey
Developed and approved Interlocal agreement between WSU/WSP&RC Cama Beach/Camano Island
Established and approved LEP organizational structure
Skagit River Systems Cooperative Grant was applied for by BW and was awarded for $10,000.00 which includes 15% management overhead. The length of the grant is for 12 months to help conduct a Skagit Basin near shore feasibility assessment to determine potential restoration sites for salmon habitat.
Climate Stewards Grant from the Northwest Clean Air Agency applied for by BW and was awarded for $9,000.00 plus $2,500.00 overhead. These funds will train Climate Stewards Monitors in partnership with Skagit Co. BW and Padilla Bay Foundation.
DOE Community Litter Cleanup Program Grant was applied for by WW and awarded for $28,975.00 is a contract with Island County which contracts with LEP to clean litter from Island Countys beaches, roads and parkways. This grant also funds litter prevention education to students, community organizations and businesses.
Public Participation Grant for $52,600.00 applied for by BW and was awarded through June 2009. The purpose of this grant will raise the publics awareness of the estimated 3 million tons of plastic debris floating in the North Pacific Gyre and the great threat to the health of our environment and ourselves.
Puget Sound Action Team Grant applied for by BW and awarded for over $6,000.00. This was used for interpretive items at the Coupeville Wharf Marine Education Center.
Camano Island State Park Contract with BW. $500.00 for deliverables to BW for monitoring pillar sites.
Keepers acquired a $1,500.00 grant for interpretative signage at the Lighthouse

Membership

Appointed officers: Rick Blank, President; Don Leak Vice President; Ed Van Patten, Treasurer and Don Meehan, Secretary
Lee Hart was appointed to serve as Treasurer in Ed Van Pattens absence
Appointed representing members from each Council; Jim Somers and Susie Smith for BW, Rick Blank and Ingri Johnson for WW, Lee Hart and John Mello for Docents and Peg Scalf for Keepers
Formed WSU Lighthouse Docent Council
BW hired a part time support staff person
Membership meet with Island County Commissioners about budget issues
Keepers hosted a Wonderful Enchanted Evening fundraiser for the Lighthouse

Education

Placed a new Interpretative Kiosk at the Lighthouse Parking lot in partnership with Fort Casey State Park. John Mello and Doris Northcutt teamed with Eric Watilo from the Programs section of State Parks.
LEP funded $10,000.00 for the printing of the book, Getting to the Waters Edge
Developed and placed life-size photographs of a Light Keeper and a Soldier at the foyer entrance of the Lighthouse
Enlarged and hung photograph of Col. Casey in the Lighthouse living room
Dick Malone constructed replications of an original Keepers work bench and tool box. The tool box was stocked with original Keepers tools.
Dick Malone constructed a Traveling Library Trunk for classroom study for schools
Created and installed an interpretive display Orcas; The Gift We Nearly Threw Away , an underwater camera and mural in support of the Coupeville Wharf Marine Education Center

Resource Management

Attended Fort Casey Strategic Planning monthly team meetings
John Mello served on the Fort Casey Strategic Planning Team representing Lighthouse Docents
Worked with Fort Casey Staff in consolidation of Lighthouse interior Fort displays. Removed excess display cases.
Repositioned Lighthouse lenses
Restored original paint color to Lighthouse entrance foyer
Purchased and placed a table and side board circa 1900 for the dinning room
Placed room identification signs for each room in the Lighthouse

Partnerships Developed or Maintained

WSU Extension - Island County
Island County
Washington State Parks and Recreation
Fort Casey State Park
Cama Beach/Camano Island State Parks
Skagit County BW
Island County MRC
Skagit County MRC
NW Straits Commission
Puget Sound Action Team
People for Puget Sound
Eco Network
Padilla Bay Foundation
Northwest Clean Air Agency
Skagit River Tribes
Swinomish Tribe
Department of Ecology
Washington State Department of Licensing
Washington State Light keepers Association
US Coast Guard Museum in Seattle
Gene Grulich, Architect serving on 25% Lighthouse License Plate Grant funding committee
Ebeys Landing National Historical Reserve
Island County Historical Museum
Town of Coupeville
Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce



A Washington State non-profit serving Island County and surrounding areas