Regional group seeks community success stories

WENATCHEE — The Initiative for Rural Innovation and Stewardship (IRIS) is looking for success stories to feature at its Nov. 8 gathering in Chelan, “Pristine Lake, Passionate People — Where Beauty Runs Deep.”

“We’re thrilled to be working with the City of Chelan and the greater community to host the summit this year,” said Nancy Warner, IRIS Program Coordinator.

So, the initiative is gathering other success stories from across the region that contribute to the kind of community we want to live in – one that maintains diverse, healthy ecosystems, fosters a high quality of life for all, and bridges cultural and political divides.

According to an initiative news release, some of the success stories that will be highlighted at the summit include the citizen-science initiative, “Keep it Blue Lake Chelan,” and the Chelan Roundtable, an informal leadership group that tapped the community spirit of the valley and helped generate a variety of successes in the Chelan Valley over the past decade.

And initiative members are looking for similar kinds of success stories from Grant, Douglas, Okanogan, and Chelan counties. For more information on how to submit a success story, visit the group’s website www.irisncw.org or the initiative’s Facebook page.

The initiative expects about 160 people to attend its Nov. 8 event, scheduled for the Chelan Community Gym, that will include presentations of success stories, a locally catered lunch, live music, and displays from sponsors.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.