Save the Enumclaw Youth Clubhouse!

The Situation

In just the past year, the Clubhouse has seen a 100% increase in its insurance premiums, and similar increases in the cost of utility services — especially natural gas, which rose 72%. Additionally, the continuing cost of repairs and maintenance of the building have resulted in an overall 95% increase in operating costs compared to the previous year. At the same time, donations to the Clubhouse have declined 73% from the previous year.
The net result is that without your added support, the Clubhouse will quickly exhaust the last of its current operating funds. To have to close the Clubhouse after its long record of service to the community would be a tragedy at any time. The youth groups that use the Clubhouse have few, if any, practical alternative meeting places. But you can help keep the Clubhouse doors open, and ensure it continues to serve youth and the Enumclaw community.

Where the Clubhouse Gets Its Funding

        The Enumclaw Youth Clubhouse building and property were donated to "girls clubs" of Enumclaw, more than 50 years ago. Since then, the Clubhouse has opened its doors to all youth groups and organizations of Enumclaw, including multiple Campfire, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and 4-H groups, among others. Throughout its decades of service, the Clubhouse has been funded through charitable organizations, and donations from private businesses and indvidual contributions. United Way, Kiwanis, and contributions from Boeing employees and workers at companies that also provide matching funds, along with donations and small grants from local Enumclaw businesses have historically been enough to support the Clubhouse — until 2006.
        The spate of disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, and the tepid Northwest economy in general, have combined to reduce overall giving to the Clubhouse from its usual supporters during a time when the operating expenses of the Clubhouse have risen dramatically.
        The Clubhouse has never charged its youth user groups more than a modest annual security deposit and access fee, which is currently only $10; and the Board of Trustees desires strongly to secure adequate funding just as it has throughout decades past, without having to change its founding policy of making the Clubhouse freely available to the youth of Enumclaw.

History

       In 1892, a Dr. Rust purchased the house (he may have been the one to build it; we're not sure) and began practicing medicine on the Plateau.
       In 1909, Dr. Frederick Ulman moved to Enumclaw from Carbonado and took over Dr. Rust's practice, first renting the house and later purchasing it from Dr. Rust.
       In 1925, the house became the Medical-Surgical Clinic for Enumclaw and was operated by Dr. Ulman and Dr. Staley. This was Enumclaw's only hospital. Today, a large painting hangs in the front room honoring Dr. Ulman's contributions to the community. It portrays him seated in a chair on the lawn in front of the house surrounded by children and animals.
       Sadly, in 1942, Dr. Ulman died and the house was sold to the Bridge Clinic of Tacoma, which just 3 years later, in 1945, sold the house/clinic to Dr. Leonard Asmundson and Dr. Gordon Adams.
       In May 1948, Doctors Asmundson and Adams donated the funds for acquisition of land, on which would be built the newly named Enumclaw Memorial Hospital. By April 1949, hospital construction was nearly finished and on June 15, 1949, the 22-bed hospital officially opened. The little hospital in the house was no longer needed and in 1950, Doctors Asmundson and Adams donated the house to the "Girls Clubs" of Enumclaw, which at that time consisted of Campfire Girls and Girl Scouts.
      The house was moved from its location on Cole Street (somehwere around where the Copy Center currently sits) to its current location on Battersby just a few blocks down from the hospital. Local Masons built the new foundation and basement that the house now sits on. The White River Timber Company donated the huge wooden beams that the house still rests on and that are clearly visible in the basement today. And the "Girls Clubs" cleaned and painted and sewed curtains for their new "Clubhouse," which would finally open its doors to Enumclaw's youth in 1953.
      Since that time, the Enumclaw Youth Clubhouse has served Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls & Boys, Cub Scouts, 4-H and other youth organizations like Destination Imagination. Currently, it serves more than 200 youth in more than 20 groups, troops, and dens, including 2 separate Cub Scout Packs. And, in spite of the occasional flooding of the basement, the Clubhouse has never waivered from its duty. During the school year, on any week night, there can be upwards of 50 kids running through that house with many adult leaders and parents breathing a sigh of relief that those same 50 kids are not running through their houses!
      What a blessing it is to have a place like this for these youth groups to meet.

Maintenance and Improvement Projects

These are just some of the capital projects that need to be addressed to ensure the Clubhouse is safe, well-maintained and in compliance with city code:

Basement flood-prevention project (revised estimate, more than $10,000).
Replace electrical wiring of the structure.
Repair ceilings where necessary (water damage).
Replace floor coverings.
Purchase and install a second furnace or damper zoning system to heat the basement.
Build a wheelchair ramp, widen two doorways, and remodel the bathroom on the main floor to make the Clubhouse wheelchair accessible.
Refurbish/remodel kitchen in the basement.
Upgrade interior lighting.
Repaint interior.
Fence the yard (estimated $2,300).

Donation and Sponsorship Opportunities

Donations of any amount are welcome at all times. All donations and contributions are fully tax deductible. You may request your contribution be anonymous, if desired. The Clubhouse extends benefits — including but not limited to, display of the name of the contributor on the front of the property and in the Clubhouse proper as well as publication of the contributor name in a newspaper advertisement as additional thanks on behalf of the Board of Trustees — for sponsors that contribute $100 or more. There are presently five levels of donation/sponsorship:

Friends of the Clubhouse, Under $100
Bronze Sponsorship, $100-$299 level
Silver Sponsorship, $300-$499 level
Gold Sponsorship, $500-$999 level
Platinum Sponsorship, $1,000+ level

Donations may be mailed to:

Enumclaw Youth Clubhouse
PO Box 544
Enumclaw, WA 98022

For additional information about making a donation or becoming a sponsor of the Clubhouse, contact Janet Johnson, President of the Board of Trustees.

Ways You Can Help

Individuals

Lobby City Council members to provide emergency assistance funding to the Clubhouse;
If you are a member of Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Moose Lodge, Lyons, Masons, VFW, or know someone in one or more of these organizations, ask them to make a donation or become a sponsor of the Cluhouse;
Help us by soliciting the support of your employer and other local businesses;
If you are a member of a church, request a special offering for the Clubhouse;
Volunteer an hour of your time once each month to serve on the Board of Trustees to help manage the Clubhouse operations;
Make a personal donation to the Clubhouse — any amount is deeply appreciated, and your contribution is fully deductible.

For more information about volunteering or making a contribution, contact Janet Johnson.

Businesses and Organizations

Donate item(s), a gift basket, or service(s) that can be raffled or auctioned to raise money for the Clubhouse;
Volunteer labor, expertise, and/or materials for property maintenance and improvement projects;
Make a tax deductible contribution to the Clubhouse, or become a sponsor.

To arrange a time and place for pick-up/drop-off of your donated item(s), or for more information about volunteering or making a contribution or becoming a Clubhouse sponsor, contact Janet Johnson.

Youth Clubs, Youth Organizations, and User Groups

Create craft items, gift baskets, or donate other small items that can be raffled or auctioned.
Identify a service project opportunity for maintenance or property improvement and earn recognition from the Clubhouse and your youth organization when it is completed.

For more information about volunteering, or for information about pick-up/drop-off of your donated item(s), contact Janet Johnson.

What Is Already Being Done

On June 26, 2006, Janet Johnson addressed the Enumclaw City Council and appealed for assistance funding with utility costs, to keep the Clubhouse operating. An application for assistance funding from the 2007 city budget will also be submitted.
Public awareness is being raised through news coverage. An article in the July 12th, 2006 edition of the Enumclaw-Courier Herald helped draw attention to the present funding crisis.
The Board of Trustees is making appeals directly to the users of the Clubhouse to contribute all they can in time and fundraising assistance.
New grant applications are in process with Mutual of Enumclaw and Bank of America.
A grant application was submitted to King County specifically for financial assistance with the roofing expenses, and was approved for $20,000. In June, 2007, Johnson Exteriors completed the new roof. Our many thanks go to Regan Dunn for advocacy of the project at King County; and to Johnson Exteriors, for taking on the project and working with us and King County to ensure the project met requirements and was completed within the budgetary contraints of the grant.
Girl Scout Troop #2407 has completed volunteer service projects to clean, restore, and beautify the front exterior of the building and interior meeting rooms.
Applications for permits are in process with the city for permission to make improvements to property sewage and drainage hookups, to help ensure against future flooding.

Our Biggest Needs

Funding for the sewage and drainage project to ensure against future flood damage to the basement. The assistance goal is $10,000 to move forward with this project.