May 2019 News & Views
Look for News & Views in your inbox every month to see what's happening at Seabeck
A Message from the Director
T The rhoddies are in bloom, that must mean summer is near. We are busily preparing for summer right now. Mark has hired about half of the 40 or so extra staff he needs for summer. I have ordered staff shirts and starting to look at Fall vacation dates. As I always say, “You look up and it’s Memorial Day, next thing you know it’s 4 th of July and all of a sudden, Labor Day is here.” I love summer around here. It’s the time when this pace really hums.
 
We had a great turn out for the Seabeck Celebration on April 28 th in the Georgetown area of Seattle. Over 90 people enjoyed a great talk by Debbie Sommer about how she enjoys Seabeck while deaf and partially blind. I think we were all moved by her comments. Thanks for the great turn out!

We said goodbye to Wilma last month. She retired after 25 years of faithful service. She is currently in the Philippines but will return during the summer to her home in Seabeck. You may see her tending her garden near Huckleberry. Be sure and say Hi.
 
I have shuffled the staff around a little to replace Wilma. Seabeck Staffer Dan Westin is our new Facilities Director. He will take over Housekeeping and I have moved meeting rooms under his department. This seems like a much more efficient way to operate. Basically, he will oversee everything inside the buildings. The Maintenance Department will handle everything outside.
 
Speaking of Maintenance, John White has announced his retirement in June. He will be replaced by current staffer Fred Beninger. Fred has work with Dan in Maintenance for a few years. I expect them to form a great partnership that will produce great looking buildings and grounds.
 
The decks are going on the portables this month. I expect them to be open by summer. I think they will turn out to be great areas for all kind of groups. The new Inn patio opened with the new lighting. It is a much safer area since the upgrade.
 
The Pines Capital Campaign has reached the $1.3 million-dollar mark! Thank you! You will hear about a couple of mini campaigns very soon. One is to get every group that uses Seabeck to purchase a brick. The other is to get families to get together to purchase a room at Pines to honor their multi-generational presence at Seabeck. The Reiner Family from Olympia was the first to sign on to this campaign. I want to give a huge thank you to Marv and Mary-Lynne for their generosity and willingness to help with the campaign. We have asked for over a million dollars from various foundations, so we aren’t in this alone. We are in the home stretch and need just a little more help to get us across the line. Please talk to your family and friends about supporting the campaign.
 
See you soon,
Chuck

give BIG 2019
You can schedule your GiveBIG gift today!
Wednesday, May 8th is Seattle’s GiveBIG, a one-day online giving campaign to raise funds for Washington's nonprofits. Seabeck is participating once again this year.

You can schedule your donation anytime or wait until the 8 th and join in the fun at https://www.givebig2019.org/seabeck-conference-center .

You can also give directly to Seabeck though our website at www.seabeck.org
The Month of May
Holidays, Fun Facts & Folklore from the Farmer's Almanac
Celebrate the gorgeous month of May! The Sun is warming, the birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and the garden is growing. See what fun and interesting days May has to offer—from holidays to history to advice.

MAY CALENDAR
May is named for the Roman goddess Maia, who oversaw the growth of plants. 
  • May 1 is May Day. Mark the return of spring by bringing in branches of forsythia, lilacs, or other flowering shrubs from your region.
  • In Hawaii, May 1 is celebrated as Lei Day. Leis are garlands or wreaths that are often made with native Hawaiian flowers and leaves. Nowadays, they are given as a symbol of greeting, farewell, affection, celebration, or honor, in the spirit of aloha. Lei Day originated in 1927, when poet Don Blanding proposed a holiday to recognize the lei’s role in Hawaiian culture. Writer Grace Tower Warren suggested May 1 for the date because it coincided with May Day, a celebration also linked to flowers. She coined the phrase, “May Day is Lei Day.” The first Lei Day observance occurred on May 1, 1928. The following year, it was made an official holiday in the territory. (Hawaii did not become a state until 1959.)
  • Today, Lei Day celebrations may include music, games, exhibits, and lei-making demonstrations and contests. 
  • Cinco de Mayo (“The Fifth of May”) celebrates the victory of the Mexicans over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862.
  • Sunday, May 13, is Mother’s Day! Do you have something planned to show appreciation for your mother? Learn about the history of Mother’s Day.
  • May 21 is Victoria Day in Canada. This holiday celebrates the birthday of Queen Victoria.
  • Monday, May 28, is Memorial Day—a poignant reminder of the tenacity of life. It’s tradition to post the flag on this day; know your American flag rules.

MAY FOLKLORE AND FUN
A dry May and a leaking June
Make the farmer whistle a merry tune.
A snowstorm in May
Is worth a wagon load of hay.
Among the changing months, May stands confessed
The sweetest, and in fairest colors dressed!
–James Thomson, Scottish poet (1700–48)

SKY WATCH
  • May’s full Moon, the Full Flower Moon, occurs on the 29th, at 10:20 A.M. (EDT).

MAY ZODIAC SIGNS
Taurus: April 21 to May 20
Gemini: May 21 to June 20

MAY BIRTH SYMBOLS
May’s birth flower is the Hawthorn or Lily-of-the-Valley.
The hawthorn means hope, while the lily-of-the-valley symbolizes sweetness or the return of happiness.

May’s birthstone is the emerald. 
A few fun facts about emeralds:
  • The emerald is a green type of beryl. Its color ranges from light to rich green; the more saturated hues are more valuable, especially if pure or blue-green. 
  • Natural emeralds are flawed, with fractures or other materials mixed in, called inclusions, which may appear as needles, columns, or cubes of minerals or bubbles of gas or liquid. Sometimes oil or resin is added to fill fractures and improve appearance.
  • Some of the best emeralds come from South American mines, although perhaps the oldest known came from Egypt. The emerald was a favorite gem of Cleopatra.
  • The emerald symbolizes rebirth and fertility and was thought to grant foresight, cure various diseases, soothe nerves, improve memory, and ensure loyalty.

THIS MONTH IN HISTORY
May 23: What’s Your Name?
On this day in 1707, Swedish botanist and naturalist Carl Linnaeus was born. One of his major achievements was the formal introduction of a system of classifying and naming organisms according to genus and species, called binomial nomenclature. The method uses Latin words (a language commonly used by scholars in his day). For example, humans are classified as Homo sapiens. Homo, meaning “man,” is the genus and sapiens, meaning “wise,” is the species. Several species may exist within one genus, but each species only has one scientific name. Scientists today use a modified version of Linnaeus’s system. Because the same naming convention is used throughout the world, it eliminates much confusion when discussing organisms. 
Did You Know? Carl Linnaeus originated the use of 0 (the symbol for Mars) to mean male and 1 (the symbol for Venus) to mean female.
May 26: Terrifying Twisters
On this day in 1917, tornadoes struck central Illinois, killing 101 people. Originally thought to be just one tornado that wreaked havoc along a 293-mile-long path, the outbreak was later determined to be four to eight tornadoes. One of them lasted 4 hours and followed a track 155 miles long (including the distance traveled while in the air). Mattoon and Charleston were especially hard hit by an F4 tornado (original Fujita scale). In Mattoon, almost 500 houses were destroyed.
According to newspaper reports:
  • straw was driven ½ inch deep into a tree
  • a flagpole with flag was blown four blocks and planted upright in the ground
  • books and other items were carried 50 to 70 miles away
Groups at Seabeck
Mission Statement
Skandia Folkdance Society shall be to document and preserve the traditional dances and music of the Nordic lands (namely, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden); to conduct educational programs and activities that will promulgate knowledge of and promote interest in these art forms; to provide competent instruction in traditional Nordic dancing; and to foster the use of authentic Nordic music, both live and recorded, in all Society activities, for the preservation and teaching of traditional dance culture and music of the Nordic lands. 
Seattle's Skandia Folkdance Society  is a non-profit, volunteer run, educational and cultural organization founded in 1949. Skandia members come from all sorts of backgrounds, so one doesn't need to be a Scandinavian to enjoy the activities.

Skandia hosts dance parties twice a month with live music! The Seattle area is home to a large number of musicians who play traditional tunes of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. Dancing at the parties includes waltzes, hambos, schottisches, set dances, and mixers, as well as regional dances, with an hour of instruction immediately preceding each dance party.
Dance classes are held each week on a beginning, intermediate and advanced level. Instructors are Skandia members who regularly attend annual dance camps and travel to Nordic lands to study and compete in dance competitions. They share their knowledge, enthusiasm, and patience in a fun and relaxed setting.
They come to Seabeck in the Spring with over 100 guests every year. 



The Pines Capital Campaign

We have a desire to continue to offer our services for many years to come. Seabeck Conference Center is happy to serve people like you, and we invite you to be a part of our legacy. Your donation will help us build a new Pines (ready by Spring 2020) that will be a place for future generations to gather.

Donation Information below was updated April 26, 2019
All gifts are welcome. Seabeck Conference Center is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and your contribution may be tax deductible. If you have any questions, please contact our Executive Director, Chuck Kraining at (360) 830-5010 or email him at  chuck@seabeck.org .

Seabeck Conference Center
13395 Lagoon Dr NW
Seabeck, Washington 98380
360.830.5010 Email |  Website