The Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County
Learn powerful skills for practical peace-making in every day life! Improve relationships and learn to help people solve their conflicts in healthy ways. Consider becoming a mediator. In addition to serving the community by offering information and problem solving over the phone, and through our confidential mediation sessions and group facilitation services, the Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County also offers a variety of experiential and highly interactive trainings in conflict resolution, mediation and group process skills.
Please join us for one of our upcoming trainings. For more information, or to register for a course, please call Marijke @ 360-956-1155 or e-mail her at mvanroojen@mediatethurston.org. You can also visit our website at www.mediatethurston.org for a full listing of our current programs and offerings.
What
started as a one man operation in March of 1998 has become an on-going Olympia
based opportunity for folks to donate money, bikes or time to help those in
need of basic transportation.
During the past 10 years a couple of thousand donated bikes, plus an occassional unicycle, tandem bicycle, trailer, trike (and even a Phillipine bicycle rickshaw) have passed through the hands of BAB volunteers to children and adults in Thurston county and around the world.
Thanks to all who have contributed.
Other items of interest to the community
South Sound Clean Clothes Campaign
The South Sound Clean Clothes Campaign is a coalition of Olympia, Tumwater, and Lacey students, union members, people of faith, and concerned citizens raising awareness about the sweatshop industry, and challenging individuals as well as public and private institutions to create positive change by altering their purchasing practices. Visit their website at www.southSoundCleanClothes.org. Meetings are held at Traditions the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm.
Thurston County - Santo Tomás, Nicaragua Sister City
The Thurston Santo Tomás sister county association was founded in 1988. It has for ten years fostered personal relationships between the two with exchanges of peoples and programs that have supported self-determination and self-sufficiency for the Nicaraguan people. A quarterly newsletter is published and contact can be made through TSTSCA Newsletter, 2032 Aqua Ct. NW, Olympia, WA 98502 (360) 357-8323.
Sound Exchange
Olympia's Alternative Currency is Sound HOURS. Traditions is the bank for Sound Exchange. A volunteer sets up in the cafe every Monday from 2 pm to 6 PM to answer questions and sign-up people to be a part of this alternative currency. “South Sound Hour Town” listing goods and services available for Hours exchange is published 6 times a year. Pick it up at Traditions, the Co-op, the Library, and other locations around town. Sound Exchange can be contacted at PO Box 1381, Olympia, Wa. 98507 (360) 709-0704
Putting Sustainablility into Practice
Sponsored by the Sustainable Community Roundtable, holds twice monthly conversations at Traditions. The Roundtable publishes annual community indicator updates. Contact them at (360) 786-0237 or click here.
Green Pages
A monthly journal of environmental news and commentary. Published by SPEECH, which holds forums and their annual meetings at Traditions.
Community Sustaining Fund
The Community Sustaining Fund is a local organization formed in 1987 which provides grant support for progressive, community-oriented projects in Thurston County. Funds are raised through businesses, individuals, and a raffle and twice a year grants are awarded to those who fit criteria. Traditions provides business support and is usually the site of the raffle drawing at the spring ArtWalk. The organization’s address is 2103 Harrison NW, Suite 2715, Olympia, Wa. 98502. For more information, click here.