South County issues By Connie Gallant, Quilcene, WA
cg@conniegallant.com Issues concerning residents and lifestyle of South County.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Joe and Joy Baisch presenting youth accomplishments.
Joe and Joy Baisch are making a difference in South County through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. For the past several years, the Baisch's, who are residents of Brinnon, have been involved in a project to improve the chances of success for our young students. Through an innovative and entrepreneurial process, they have helped students in forming Big Quil Enterprises (BQE), a business run by the students with mentoring from community leaders and educators.
On Friday, Dec. 8, the Baisch's, along with Pam Roberts representing WSU Extension, shared a power-point presentation showing the many successful projects that our young students have undertaken. Hosting the event at the Brinnon School, the community was well-represented by a cross-section of business people, teachers, and grant foundation evaluators. Among those attending included Commissioner Pat Rodgers, Tom and Sue Bettinger, Brady Blake, Jim Watson, Ken Dressler, J.D. Gallant, Bud Schindler, Denise Williamson, Jim Hodgson, Charlie Baker, Karla Miller, product development manager for the Northwest Area Foundation, and Diane Morehouse, President of QED. Students Jake Murray, Nathan Hood, and Sam and Pete Dressler represented Big Quil Enterprises.
A short, student-produced video, featuring the current president of BQE and Rhody Parade Queen Liz Hodgson, from Quilcene, highlighted the learning experiences participating students have been exposed to with the oyster business. Students are also being introduced to natural resources education at a young age, and use their own video productions as a learning tool. Some of these projects include the Chimacum Creek Restoration and the SeaGrant Shellfish 101 Workshop, where they receive basic training on technology to study shellfish.
Big Quil Enterprises is, in essence, a sustainability model in partnership with WSU Extension, 4-H, Taylor Shellfish, Quilcene and Brinnon School Districts, U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, Coast Oysters, SeaGrant, U.S. Forest Service, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The objectives of this program include:
- Developing leaders.
- Building business skills.
- Encouraging teamwork.
- Providing educational and technical assets.
- Facilitating work experiences for youth to earn school activity dollars.
- Building on community assets, such as Ecotourism and Aquaculture.
Joy Baisch went on to explain several of the money-making projects the students have brainstormed on and developed, such as oyster gift boxes, bag design, and video productions promoting our section of the Hood Canal.
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