Welcoming Engagement Director Amanda Bullis

"I believe that we can learn to be better and heal the earth through thoughtful action."

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down for an interview with Amanda Bullis, who joined the WEAN team as Engagement Director on February 7. Amanda is WEAN's second full-time staff member and will lead member engagement, external communications, and education programs. The following is an excerpt from our conversation.  

—Marnie Jackson

Marnie: What drew you to a career in environmental advocacy and action? 

Amanda: This is a great question that I have been thinking about for a while, especially as I embark on this journey with you all. My favorite children’s book as a child was The Wump World, published in 1970 by Bill Peet, which is fundamentally a story from the point of view of a fictitious animal species about how pollution can have a massive impact on the natural world. The final frame of the book is a baby wump—kind of a cross between a capybara and a sheep—watching a sprout grow through the concrete after experiencing the complete annihilation of their planet through industrialization, and that image has always stuck with me as a sign of hope for us as a species. 

I believe that we can learn to be better and heal the earth through thoughtful action.

Read the full article on our blog.

Whidbey Island Water Systems Association Group B Membership Drive Underway

This month The Whidbey Island Water Systems Association (WIWSA) has kicked off a membership drive to increase the participation of Group B water systems in the water association. This is the beginning of an effort by WIWSA to ramp up engagement with the Group B community to develop a shared understanding of their needs and to use the water association's resources and connections to address those needs with the appropriate support.

If you’re an operator or a member of a Group B water system on Whidbey Island check out the WIWSA program. There’s a special meeting planned for March 14th for anyone interested in learning more!

What Contributes to Public Health? County Seeks Input

What does Island County need to be a healthier place to live, learn, work, and play? Island County Public Health, in collaboration with your Community Health Advisory Board, Board of Health, and over 20 other local health partners, is working to complete the 2024 Island County Community Health Assessment.

Right now, they are collecting information to better understand the health of our population and the factors that contribute to making us more or less healthy. Use this opportunity to share how important clean air, clean water, healthy forests and farms, and other environmental factors are for our community health.

How will your opinion make a difference? The results of this survey will go into the Community Health Assessment report. This report gets distributed widely throughout the county and region, and is used by community leaders, agency directors and staff, service providers, and community groups to help make informed decisions about what health needs exist in our community and what work needs to be done. 

Nourishing Soil, People, & Community

Step into a world where agriculture is not just about growing food, but about nurturing life—from the soil to the people who walk on it. The Organic Farm School offers a fresh lens on regenerative agriculture, emphasizing its vital role in reconnecting communities to their food sources. Watch the short documentary from Thriving Communities.

Your Input is Being Heard! Comprehensive Plan Vision Feedback Shared with Planning Commissioners by Staff

Image from Island County Planning Department. The above image shows top interest in Protection of Natural Resources, followed by interest in Rural Character, Affordable Housing, and Local Farms among survey respondents.

A February 2021 meeting of the Island County Planning Commission showed that feedback from in-person and online respondents to questions about our priority issues and areas resoundingly leaned toward environmental protection. Ongoing community input is a vital part of the comprehensive planning process, which will continue through June 2025 and will lay out the vision and intentions for our county's growth and stewardship over the next 20 years.

Please visit www.islandcounty2045.com/compplan and share your perspective plus see more ways to get involved. Visit our blog to see more feedback shared during the meeting.

Sound Water Stewards Accepting Applications for 100 Hour Steward Training

From Sound Water Stewards: ready for an adventure? Applications due March 10th!

Calling all passionate environmental enthusiasts! Are you interested in learning how to protect and preserve your favorite beach? Do you have a love for the geology and biology of these beautiful islands and the creatures that inhabit them? Are you ready to join a family of like-minded people? If so, Sound Water Stewards (SWS) is the place for you! 

SWS's highly-regarded, 100-hour long Volunteer Education & Training (V.E.T) program is what sets them apart from the rest. VET includes 15 class days on Thursdays through spring (9) and fall (6); plus immersive field trips. By the end of your training, you will feel more connected to the beaches, marine life, and ecosystems of Island County, be better able to communicate the challenges facing the environment, be able to describe SWS mission and programs, and feel closely connected to the people in your class and SWS as a whole.

Be ready to work hard and have fun! Details on class dates, requirements, and the application process can all be found here.

Comment on Shoreline Protections at March 19th Hearing

On February 6th, the Board of County Commissioners discussed proposed updates to the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) and received robust public participation. During the meeting, Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon asked, "What is Island County’s philosophy around the tensions of pushing back against nature to protect public and private property versus our desire to protect our fragile natural ecosystems that are facing so many stressors to their continued viability?”

Community members can send comments about the Shoreline Master Program via email and participate via Zoom or in person in the next public hearing on the topic, scheduled for March 19. Watch the Board of County Commissioners website for that agenda and Zoom link to be posted.

Hard armoring and concrete bulkhead construction, at the heart of the SMP debate, have been proven ineffectual at protecting homes from the long-term effects of sea level rise and are harmful to salmon and other species who rely on shoreline habitat. Avoiding such construction, as is consistent with recommendations from the Washington State Department of Ecology, allows us to protect fragile ecosystems and marine character while we work to make a managed retreat by moving our buildings and septic systems away from rising tides.