2020 WDRC Outstanding Support Recognition
The WDRC is grateful to work with a wonderful and expansive group of dedicated volunteers, board members, and donors whose contributions support collaborative approaches to conflict, even while facing some of the most difficult and urgent challenges our community has ever seen. This year, we would like to publicly recognize a few of our outstanding supporters whose efforts have significantly promoted our shared vision for Whatcom County: a community in which people approach conflict in creative and healthy ways.
2020 Outstanding Donor Recognition: Stephen Gockley and Ellie Posel
Our 2020 Outstanding Donor Recognition goes to Stephen Gockley and Ellie Posel. Stephen and Ellie are strong supporters of the WDRC and it is through their generous contributions that the WDRC is able to continue to respond nimbly while addressing emerging community needs during these challenging times. Stephen and Ellie spoke to their reasons for giving when they shared, “Being able to work through differences constructively is critical to the health of our community, especially in this time. The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center teaches skills for handling disagreement and provides trained mediators and facilitators to help resolve conflicts when they arise, benefiting families, schools, employers and employees, local government, and others. Thanks to the WDRC for building trust and helping us all live together more productively.”
2020 Youth Program Outstanding Volunteer: Kristy Gallegos
Our 2020 Youth Program Outstanding Volunteer award goes to Kristy Gallegos. Kristy has made a significant impact in many areas, including: our juvenile court classes, our youth poetry contest, and our Restorative Justice learning series with DVSAS. Kristy brings vast knowledge surrounding restorative justice, years of experience as a poet and writer, and keen emotional intelligence when working with youth.
In August, she will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts and a minor in Education & Social Justice. Kristy’s personally designed concentration in, "Disrupting Systemic Violence in Public Education & Policy Through Creative Collective Genius", has proved itself a huge asset to the WDRC Youth Program. In the Fall of 2020, Kristy will begin a Master's program at Prescott College in Social Justice and Community Organizing.
Outside of the WDRC, Kristy is also a volunteer advocate at DVSAS. The care Kristy has for the adults and youth she works with is apparent in her patient listening skills, deep empathy, and ability to connect with others. She is always willing to take on another project, and we are so grateful to have Kristy as part of our Youth Program team. Thank-you, Kristy!
2020 Community Mediation Program Outstanding Volunteer: Kate McLean
Our 2020 Community Mediation Program Outstanding Volunteer award goes to Kate McLean. Since becoming certified as a Small Claims and Community mediator in 2017, Kate has brought enthusiasm and innovation to her myriad roles within the WDRC. She quickly acquired an endorsement as a Parent-Teen mediator and our case managers count on her for her brilliant summarizing and astute questioning to keep things on course.
As a Psychology Professor at Western Washington University focused on adolescent and emerging adult development, Kate brings an educated and valuable perspective to our Parent-Teen mediation and training opportunities. Kate also co-created and leads a WDRC workshop for parents called, Keep Calm and Parent On: Navigating the Teen Years. She most recently has helped adapt this training into a virtual format.
Kate is an exceptional mediator and trainer who exhibits a welcoming, professional, and insightful demeanor when engaging with clients. She brings patience, empathy, wisdom, adaptability, and overall approachability with her into every mediation session. It has truly been a pleasure to work with Kate over the years, and we cannot wait to harness her skills when she completes her Family Mediation Training this year and joins our Certified Family Mediators. Thank-you, Kate!
2020 Family Mediation Program Outstanding Volunteer: Doug Fenton
Our 2020 Family Mediation Program Outstanding Volunteer award goes to Doug Fenton. Doug has been a mediator with the WDRC for nearly a decade and builds on years of experience as a private law practitioner in Canada. With a focus on Family and Foreclosure Mediation, he brings his true heart into the field and is an extremely gifted mediator who can “handle anything”.
Doug approaches his cases with an expectation that people will really benefit from doing the hard work and living their agreements with integrity. He communicates clearly, often skillfully navigating through the most difficult cases we have had, including clients with complicated financial and emotional histories. He often mediates cases which involve attorneys, all of whom have developed the deepest respect for Doug’s professionalism and wisdom.
This Spring, Doug stepped seamlessly into mediating telephonic Foreclosure cases for homeowners facing foreclosure in Whatcom County. With his desire to help folks move forward, to work with them patiently, and to set boundaries that help them create change for the future, he has made an incredible impact in people’s lives. We are extremely grateful to know and to have the opportunity to work with a person of such strength, clarity, and professionalism.
2020 Supervised Visitation Program Outstanding Volunteer: Lynne Arrott
Our 2020 Supervised Visitation Program Outstanding Volunteer award goes to Lynne Arrott. Lynne has served as a visit supervisor for the past two years and is an amazing asset to our Supervised Visitation Program. She consistently goes above and beyond her volunteer position and serves as many as three families at one time within our program, all in dedication to the families we serve.
Lynne brings exceptionally high levels of warmth, empathy, and a desire to work with families from all walks of life. Lynne is also dedicated to creative problem-solving to ensure that the needs of the families our program serves are being adequately met.
Lynne has always demonstrated her dedication to the program, but her true commitment to the program was shown when she agreed to continue volunteering within the program even after moving out of the State. When the program closed to in-person visits due to COVID-19, Lynne was more than willing to begin to serve as a virtual visitation supervisor. The families that Lynne works with were also incredibly pleased to see her smiling face supervising their visit all the way from California.
Lynne has served as a sounding board to new ideas, a dedicated volunteer, and truly a key member of the Supervised Visitation Team. We are beyond grateful for all that Lynne continues to bring to our program and the relationship that she has with our families. Thank-you, Lynne!
2020 Outstanding Outgoing Board Member: Tim Schermetzler
Our first 2020 Outstanding Outgoing Board Member to recognize is Tim Schermetzler. Tim’s passion for restorative justice practices led him from being a volunteer and community educator in Milwaukee, WI, to law school in Washington, and then to service on the WDRC board as he launched his legal career here in Bellingham.
Tim’s contributions to the board were many including serving on the Governance Committee at the time when the decision was made to purchase our building: A Permanent Place for Peace. Most recently, Tim led the Fund Development Committee during a period of transition. His optimism and encouragement sustained us and led us to initiate a serious approach to donor development as a part of our fundraising. Even though he is no longer on the board, Tim continues to be an active member of this committee as a volunteer.
Tim is always willing to volunteer for tasks that needed to be done, or to find colleagues of his that could provide needed expertise or support. He has repeatedly helped us to update and refine bylaws and policies and his legal acumen was evident in each of these projects. The WDRC is very grateful for Tim’s service and we look forward to our continued partnership with Tim as we invite him to serve on our Advisory Board, a group of community leaders who advise the WDRC.
So on behalf of the board and the organization Tim, we thank you for everything you have done as a member of the board of directors and look forward to continuing to work with you to advance the cause of peacebuilding in Whatcom County.
2020 Outstanding Outgoing Board Member: Alivia Jelinski
Our second 2020 Outstanding Outgoing Board Member to recognize is Alivia Jelinski. When she first came to the board, Alivia had identified the WDRC as an organization that had a positive impact on the county where she could apply her talents, creativity, and energy. The board has benefited from both her passion and talents in her three years of service.
Coming to the board, Alivia had both academic work and professional experience in the hospitality and events industries that she put to work immediately as part of the Fund Development Committee. She took her board responsibilities seriously and could be counted on to follow through. She could also be counted on to encourage follow-up in others. Alivia helped to revamp our WDRC fundraising and she never let the big, strategic picture out of sight; a tribute to her business savvy.
At fundraisers, Alivia was always enthusiastic and engaging, making every event she attended even more fun. When working with Alivia, one knows they are working with a supreme team player. She knows how to work with others, to lead her peers, and to keep projects moving forward. Alivia is a true pleasure to work with and we will miss her for that too. The board hopes to maintain its connections with Alivia and her can-do attitude as a member of our Advisory Board.
On behalf of the entire WDRC, Alivia, we thank you for everything you have done as a member of the board of directors and look forward to continuing to work with you to advance the cause of peacebuilding in Whatcom County.