11:45 AM: That’s just part of the crowd in the upstairs hall at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW), where the first-ever West Seattle Joiner Jamboree is the place to be today. We’re here, based at a table on one end of the room (across from the coffee and snacks), and the hall is full of your neighbors, both representatives of more than 50 clubs, organizations, coalitions, etc, (see the list in our calendar listing – many are regularly featured in our calendar and daily event highlights), and people who’ve come to find out more about what’s happening in the community. This is continuing until 3 pm; updates to come!
(Added: Photo by Dave Gershgorn fpr WSB)
Be sure to get a raffle entry card while you’re here – get five participants to initial it and you’re eligible to enter; they’re doing drawings just before the top of each hour, and you need to be here to win.
12:30 PM: If you’re bringing warm clothes to donate, do that right at the lower entrance – we photographed the cart a few minutes ago as it was filled up, again! There’s also a bin for food donations here, and the White Center Food Bank is tabling next to us, too. Sharing our table is a rep from the West Seattle Tool Library. And back downstairs is where you’ll find performances – we caught a bit of the clogging demonstration (video added):
12:50 PM: We’ve had a couple photographers roaming for highlights for us. WSB’s Torin Record-Sand found Amber from Scream Club Seattle (which inspired much discussion when they launched at Lincoln Park, where they’re having monthly gatherings):
Some businesses are here because of the community events they offer – among them, Lori and Tim from West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), which leads free community runs multiple times a week, and special events like the Gobble Gobble Group Run on Thanksgiving and the Christmas Light Run (December 21):
Both participants and visitors are all across the age spectrum, we’ve noticed – babies to seniors!
1:15 PM: Ever gone to Alki for Silent Dance? They’re here too – with the headsets that make it “silent”:
Thanks to everybody who’s stopped by the table to say hi – including some of the participants – we were happy to meet Perla from the Morbidly Curious Book Club, one of several book clubs whose meetings we list every month (next gathering, November 20, and Perla tells us the group has been growing steadily).
2:07 PM: Time’s passing quickly – less than one hour to get here if you haven’t been already! Adding more photos from Dave Gershgorn: first, below right is West Seattle Joiners organizer Julie Garbutt with Andrea O’Ferrall:
From left below, Kathy Dunn and Kate Wells from West Seattle Bike Connections, and Chun Yu and Lara Gardner from West Seattle Urbanism:
Paula Walters from West Seattle Ukulele Players teaches a song on ukulele.
Kay Paredes from Heavily Meditated, chatting with a potential joiner:
Amy Beaudoin from the Westside Neighbors Shelter:
3:02 PM: The event is wrapping up – to get ready for the shelter-benefiting Boeing Employees Choir in the sanctuary!
The Joiners promise another event next year.
| 13 COMMENTS