Hello All,

I am writing to let you in on some of the goings on directly affecting Fort Nisqually.  This past week, Peggy Barchi, our volunteer/event coordinator turned in her resignation, it is effective Dec. 14th.  Her reasons are many, but the highlights are: in 2011 Metro Parks said her position was going to be classified as “career part time” which means that she can work 30 hours a week, get a number of days of paid leave per year and a stipend each month for health related expenses. That promise never materialized even though it was in the Fort’s budget and listed in the Fort’s business plan.  Because Peggy knew the Fort budget was tight she let the matter go. In recent weeks, the administration for Metro Parks handed down additional cuts to the Fort’s budget citing a budget shortfall for the end of 2012.  Peggy’s hours were going to be reduced as well as the hours of the other part time interpreters. She was left with no other real alternative. The many responsibilities of Peggy’s job require every bit of her 30 hours a week. It is just not doable with less time.

At this point, there will only be one paid, part-time interpreter at the Fort on weekends for the remainder of the year. Mike and Lane will have to fill in the gap of hours on top of their current responsibilities.  During the week Mike, Lane and Bill will be responsible for all interpreting plus having someone on site Monday – Friday to oversee the use of the Fort by the SAMI students. Understand, that we normally have 2 paid interpreters on the weekends and during the busier summer months their hours are extended to cover all open hours.  This allows the other staff to keep up with camps, classes and other general business for the Fort.

The cuts to Fort Nisqually’s budget have been steadily increasing as the year has progressed and, at this time, there appear to be more cuts planned  for 2013-2014. The proposed 2013-2014 Metro Parks budget  does not indicate any specific dollar amount for the Fort; with that not spelled out there is genuine concern for the future operations of Fort Nisqually.

I know the economy is terrible and everyone is experiencing cut backs. However, cutting the foundation of your organization is not how you save your business. Getting rid of the frontline people who are in constant contact with the public that funds you is not going to endear you to the community nor make you money by attracting more visitors to your programs, etc.  This is essentially what appears to be happening. The foundation (front line) people are being cut while the administration and middle management doesn’t appear to be experiencing cutbacks.

The Metro Park Commissioners are meeting with MPT administration on November 19th (no public comment allowed at this meeting) to make decisions on the parks budget.  Before that meeting, we need to let them know that Fort Nisqually matters. The budget process is no secret and they welcome the public’s comments. 

What do you do? 

1. Spread the word – pass this storu on to other volunteers, friends and family. There are many, many more people who need to know and get involved.

2. Write or call the Commissioners.

A few talking points:

• How are you involved or are associated with the Fort and how long. Some of you have been around for many years, it matters.
• Tell them what the Fort means to you and your family.
• Express your concerns over staffing and what that does to the overall operation.
• Fort Nisqually is a model for other living history museums all over the world, how is it possible to keep up that caliber of operation with 3 full-time staff people (Mike, Lane and Jill) and very limited part-time staff?
• What are their plans and intentions for the future of Fort Nisqually?

To be effective, no matter how upset or impassioned you may feel, please be respectful. We need to win them over, not run them down. This is critical. I fully understand the desire to storm the doors but it will not impart how important the Fort is to a lot of people for a variety of reasons. Have your kids, family and friends do the same. Metro Parks is about community and children so let’s show them what this community and their children think is important.

Here is a link to the MPT website with the Commissioners names, phone numbers and e-mails; there is even an option to e-mail all of them at once. Please use this to contact them.

3. Show up at the public meeting onNovember 26th, 6pmat the Metro Parks main office on 19th Street.  This is where you can make public comments. Also, them seeing the many supporters of Fort Nisqually will make it very difficult for them to ignore us.

Dana Repp