We’re getting buried. As of high-noon today, Jan.21, in this 96th day of a 105-day contest, we are a record-high 1,466 votes behind Ohio [UPDATE: Columbus lead extended to 2,372 as of 7:30 am, Sunday]. As you know you can vote every 24 hours at http://www.ahschallenge.com/Participants.aspx. With only until 9 p.m. on Jan.31, 2011 our time is running out. The $25,000 first prize ($15,000 for second) would have been used had we won (note the past-tense as this is indeed a tense issue) not to build one of the 12 Habitat for Humanity homes planned for the Tillicum Community (after all $25,000 doesn’t go very far when you’re goal is that big) but rather for something special for the entire community as a whole.
Indeed, American Poet John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) was right when he wrote, “For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been!’”
There still might be time to change that however since there are 777 of you receiving this. And likely each of you knows somebody that for just 9 days would be willing to vote at the above link for Tacoma/Pierce County’s Habitat project in Tillicum. Would you vote and send this link to those you think might also vote?
We need all 777 of you to vote each of these last nine days and to forward this on to encourage others you know to vote each day as well. (My aunt in Texas emailed this morning that she had sent this to 93 of her friends across the country.)
· The Clover Park School District has been contacted with an urgent appeal (thanks Jim Taylor!).
· We are asking those of you with connections to the State legislature to have Gov. Gregoire symbolically gavel from the floor the passage of an urgent bill to declare this an official Washington vs. Ohio contest.
· All 100-plus Lakewood Human Service collaborators have been alerted (thanks Kim Dodds!). And Kim has suggested a press release to those of you who know anyone in the media. (See attached)
· The Pierce County Council has been apprised (thank you Leslie Swalley and Dick Muri)!
· Kathleen Merryman in the Tacoma News Tribune picked up the story.
Thank you for your help!
I have tried to vote several times but even though I have not voted that day, it will come back that they won’t take that vote because I can only vote once a day, even though I have not voted that day. It has happened several times
I too have been watching and working behind the scenes to get this for Tillicum. My son and I more or less adopted the cause. We both called King 5 friday, I think they listened, when he introduced himself as a lakewood firefighter, as the cause was on King 5 news Sunday and hopefully will air again today. I did notice a spike in votes for a couple of hours. I have contacted Clover Park HS and the Principal Mr Seaton – is going to involve the students, I think Churches would be another good avenue. Lakes High School, all Pierce County HS as well-Junior HS Does anyone know the Community relations officer on JBLS? The email I found on line bounced.
Tha LETS not LET Columbus Ohio win, after so many local folks have worked so hard, for the cause. I know we can do it!
Pay it forward…random acts of kindness…I do believe this counts!
Cindy D
Remind people with multiple e-mail addresses that they can vote from each of those addresses.
Thanks, Cindy..and all the others who vote! Mary Ball Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is voting daily…as are many other DAR members statewide as it was put out on our State News line. In addition my DAR friends in Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Mary;and, North Carolina,Georgia and Florida as well as Texas, Oregon, and California are voting every day.
For those who complain about the one vote in 24 hr notice…just write down the TIME you vote and the next day vote five minutes later! Bev B
Debbie LeBeau, Superintendent of the Clover Park School District, has been contacted to see if this is not a matter of community enagagement and improvement in which students can be involved. With 3,745 middle-and-high-school students in the district (2008) that would certainly have a tremendous impact.
Pat – Actually you can vote “once every 24 hours”. This means that you you need to wait until after the time you vote the day before.
What do you mean “…..not to build one of the 12 Habitat for Humanity homes planned for the Tillicum Community (after all $25,000 doesn’t go very far when you’re goal is that big) but rather for something special for the entire community as a whole”. ….?????
It seems we could still do something wonderful for Tillicum with the $15,000. What does “something special for the entire community as a whole” mean?
Responding to Bev,
Gomer Roseman, Site Development Director for Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity, stated at our Tillicum Action Committee meeting a week-ago-Monday that the money awarded in this race was being considered for use in one of Habitat’s related projects in Tillicum – rehab of existing homes or Spring dumpster clean-up.