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closeSummit promotes community togetherness
The 15th annual Community Summit for the Sumner/Bonney Lake area draws officials, students, community members to discuss topics of interest
Roxanne Cooke
Hundreds of local residents, leaders and students gathered at Calvary Community Church last Thursday to share ideas about local issues — including the addition of a YMCA in Sumner or Bonney Lake — for the 15th annual Community Summit.
The event included a Town Hall Meeting on underage drinking, seven “breakout sessions” about topics of local significance, dinner and a keynote speech by Tacoma-Pierce County YMCA CEO and President Bob Ecklund.
Last year’s Summit, also hosted at Calvary Community Church, motivated many people to get involved in the community and allowed many students’ voices to be heard, said Stacy Guthmiller, community development director at Calvary Community Church.
“This really is a valuable event,” Guthmiller said.
At one breakout session at this year’s Summit, Ecklund talked about what it would take to bring a YMCA to the Sumner/Bonney Lake area. Approximately 30 people attended the session.
Ecklund, who is credited with increasing the Tacoma-Pierce County YMCA’s membership from 37,000 to more than 77,000 today, said one of the top reasons a community wants a Y is for a sense of belonging.
“It’s a community hub where everybody comes together,” he said.
Though there is a YMCA in South Hill that serves more than 22,000 people, the traffic on Meridian is a deterrent, especially for residents outside of Puyallup, Ecklund said.
But putting a Y in Bonney Lake or Sumner first takes market research to determine if it’s viable, he said. If it is, the study would also identify a practical location and facility size.
Three locations that will be considered include the QFC lot on the east side of Main Street in Sumner, Bonney Lake’s Washington State University Demonstration Forest and downtown Bonney Lake.
Market research is necessary, Ecklund said. Otherwise, a YMCA can turn out to be too large for the community that uses it — essentially wasting resources and losing money in the process.
“I would never build more than the community’s ready for,” he said.
The cities of Sumner and Bonney Lake have already agreed to split the cost of a $45,000 feasibility study, to be conducted by the YMCA. Research to be done includes interviews of approximately 25 community leaders, as well as a random sampling of residents.
“It’s all up to you folks,” Ecklund said.
In building a Y, the communities involved take 60 percent of the cost while the YMCA covers 40 percent, he said. The Y takes on the operational cost once it’s built.
Later in the Summit program, attendees gathered for Ecklund’s keynote speech. Several local leaders came up to the podium to welcome residents and promote the event.
“I am so impressed,” said Sumner School District Superintendent Gil Mendoza, attending his first Summit. “Your participation in the Summit is what makes a difference in the community.”
Ecklund’s keynote speech contained some of the same information from his breakout session, but he also honed in on how to lead.
It takes discipline, understanding strengths and weaknesses, confidence and the ability to adapt, he said.
“It’s all about us giving people hope,” Ecklund said.
Councilwoman Cindi Hochstatter, who has attended local Community Summits for the past four years, said the event was a good opportunity to get to know Ecklund’s values.
It was also a chance for locals to find out about the Community Center Task Force and the YMCA feasibility study, she added.
Jordan Daniels, a senior at Sumner High School, said if she weren’t going away to college next fall, she would be interested in utilizing a local YMCA. Daniels attended to get involved and support two friends who received awards for their involvement.
“It helps you become aware of what’s going on in the community,” she said.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT AND UNSUNG HERO AWARDS
The Community Impact and Unsung Hero Awards honor those who have contributed to the health and well-being of the community but aren’t often recognized for their efforts. Most people who receive the award give time and talent on an unpaid basis or staff members who go above and beyond the call of duty in serving students. Award recipients:
> Carly Fitzpatrick
> Leota Musgrave
> Sierra Espinal
> Susan McCammon
> Erik Swanson