Our 2011 Spring Fundraising Gala is now history. After months of planning and preparation, the big night finally arrived… and we had a blast!
On behalf of NPI’s staff and board, I want to thank everyone who participated in the event, particularly our Master of Ceremonies, Bob Ferguson, and our speakers — Timothy Ford, Reuven Carlyle, Scott Macklin, Jay Inslee, and Peter Steinbrueck.
We had a full lineup, but the different perspectives made for a very refreshing and diverse speaking program. That’s something we strive for — it’s something people have told us over and over that they love about the event.
Additionally, I want to thank Don Mock, Steve Kim, and Jacques Willis for the wonderful music they provided. They have a sweet sound, and we very much enjoyed it during the reception (and afterwards, as we were breaking down).
We also had outstanding bar service thanks to our sponsors Jessica Greenway and Ken Nelson. A big thank you to them for taking on that responsibility.
While we are still adding up the receipts, I’m pleased to report that we did well, as in past years. The success of this event will allow us to make new investments in digital infrastructure that will greatly benefit our existing projects and permit us to launch additional ones.
As I mentioned during my remarks, tomorrow we will begin accepting nominations for the Lynn Allen Fellowship. The Fellowship is an opportunity for young progressives to learn organizing skills and practice the art of bringing people together (as opposed to just studying it).
Applicants who are accepted will help NPI and NWroots organize the 2011 NWrootsConference, taking place this July 9th in Pioneer Square. They’ll also assist us in preserving Lynn’s legacy online at Rebuilding Democracy.
Lynn did a good deal of the heavy lifting required to pull off the first NWroots Conferences. I know because she and I worked together on those events. She had experience that I did not, and her experence helped me become a better organizer. In honor of Lynn, I want to pass on that knowledge to others.
Finally, before Peter Steinbrueck began speaking last night, Bob Ferguson mentioned that audience members could submit questions for Peter which would be answered in a later podcast. We are still accepting questions. You can leave yours in the comment thread, or direct it to @nwprogressive on Twitter.
Again, thanks to all who came to our 2011 Spring Fundraising Gala for a memorable evening and a wonderful event. Your support means everything to us, and keeps us moving forward even in tough times.