Commerce and tourism

The chamber does much to support businesses

After reading the opinion article written by Emma Amiad regarding the Chamber of Commerce and tourism, I felt I must respond.

First, I would like to say that I have the highest of respect for Emma’s opinions and for all she does for our community and believe that she has some great ideas, especially the Welcome Wagon idea. I would love to see this implemented in the future.

I would like to challenge Emma to attend the Chamber board meetings and our general membership meetings to find out what the Chamber is doing for all businesses on the Island; I think she would be surprised. Our current efforts on tourist issues also includes an emphasis on getting the message out to our local community to support Island businesses. We are currently searching for a suitable space in the Vashon town core to move the Chamber offices but need specific kinds of space that are not easily available, like parking and wheelchair friendly entrances and bathrooms. Many of our old buildings and/or street-front spaces do not work.

Another idea that is not correct is that increased visitors or day and weekend tourists do not help the dentists, seamstresses, acupuncurists or attorneys. It is a common analysis that for every dollar spent locally, 75 percent comes back into the community. If a restaurant is able to hire employees for full-time, year-round positions, those employees will then spend their dollars for other services on the Island; they can go to the dentist, get a haircut or buy lumber to fix up the new home they were able to buy. At our forum meetings last week this was very well explained.

And last, our forums were not held to get community approval for our VITAL program, but to inform the community of what we are doing to keep rumors and misinformation from spreading, as we well know can happen on Vashon (Johnny Depp!). We will continue to move forward and appreciate positive and critical feedback from the community that will help the Vashon/Maury Chamber of Commerce to reach their goals of helping to create a strong and lasting economic community.

— Linda Bianchi, board president, Vashon Chamber of Commerce

Let’s not stop at tourism

I am so glad to see the community gather to discuss our common problem of not enough local income. Thank you!

I think the current idea of tourism has great merit; however, it needs more to go with it or to follow.

It will generate income at the retail level, but it will not add many more higher paying jobs.

In early April, a group gathered to discuss Vashon as a demonstration on issues from food security to wind energy, as well as a model of sustainability.

Let’s not let the creative energy stop there.

I am happy to see that two women have started specialized health centers recently. I have long felt that medical needs could be filled here better than in most small communities. We have a number of good doctors, plus a number of alternative healers, physical therapists, acupuncturists and more. Just ask me — I have had to use them all recently.

To change the thrust, I wish we could convince some of our restaurants or our food growers to put in a separate facility for food manufacturing. On that one I could probably help a bit.

Again, thank you to Amy Herbig and the Chamber of Commerce for drawing us together to seek solutions. Let’s help them wherever help is needed. However, let’s not drop the ball at that.

— Vy Biel, owner

Country Store & Gardens

Nationalized health care

Think of those in debt

This is an answer to a letter by Douglas E. Larsen, giving us reasons why he is so scared at the prospect of government run health care.

It just might scare him more if he were one of the many in this country who has debts for thousands of dollars because their private insurance company hadn’t wanted to cover necessary medical care. Unreachable costs for insurance are also frightening.

Most civilized countries have a government run health care program and find that it works better than one run for profit by insurance companies.

— Phoebe Johannessen

DreamBoats calendar

It’s a feel-good project

Calendar ‘Guys?” I love it. But I just noted Ms. Laura Wishik’s concerns. In response, I want to say that, as a homeschooler, I have decided against giving additional donations to the schools. I already pay my taxes, after all. However, I will definitely buy this calendar. I imagine other unlikely contributors may happily give their money via the calendar, as well. The efforts of these people to reach our diverse community should be celebrated, and our schools should be allowed to benefit.

Let’s raise our children to know when to be serious and when to be lighthearted about something. For so many subjects, it is not the “outside image” that matters, but, rather, it is the “inside purpose and intent” that we need to look for. After all, one woman in a burka is miserable and another is truly joyful and content.

If we want to teach empathy, we have to first teach an openness to different perspectives. I appreciate Ms. Wishik’s concerns. I also think that it is a narrow view placing a stereotypical label on something. This calendar project seems to feel good to everyone involved. That can’t be said for most “true pornography,” which is also usually a for-profit venture. This calendar is a loving act for a charitable cause. It’s like comparing apples and oranges because they are both round!

— March Twisdale