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WASHINGTON STATE Open Thread
This is a community series giving our Washington Kossacks a virtual meeting place to discuss issues of concern to our state and share what's happening in our lives. Share your activist efforts, plug for your favorite candidate, share a LTE you've gotten published or educate us on the issues you are passionate about. Tell us an interesting or funny story, ask for advice from the community or share a recipe. Tell us anything that has happened out there. Nothing is off topic. Let's connect, unite and act!
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Welcome to the first installment in this ongoing open thread series sponsored by Seattle & Puget Sound Kos. This will be a weekly series posting at 3:30PDT every Sunday. We will post meaningful content of interest to Washington State residents encompassing a full range of topics including not only political issues of concern in our state but also articles that share the passions, special interests and unique experiences of some of our fellow Kossacks.
The series will serve as a wonderful way for us all to virtually meet up and better connect, unite and act! Eventually, with enough consistent participation from Washington Kossacks and beyond we're aiming to attract our local leaders to post and then chat afterwards with us in comments.
I ask you to look for a moment at the logo chosen for the Washington State Open Thread. It shows the color of our state as being light blue. That color was chosen for a reason. Right now our state is light blue. Because although nationally we vote democratic, we have a Democratic Governor and a Democratic House, we also have a Senate in the control of the Republicans. We need to change that. And that is just one of the many pressing issues in our state.
By connecting, uniting and acting, Washington State Kossacks can be a positive force toward positive change.
Remember: This is an open thread so feel free to bring up anything on your mind in comments. Nothing is off topic.
Why am I the first one posting in this series? Well, a while back I volunteered to take on the Daily Kos community building efforts within our State.
Why did I volunteer to take this on? It's simple really. I put a lot of faith in the Kos community, have respect for the Kossacks I've come to know and believe fervently that Daily Kos provides each and every one of us unique tools to amplify our voice and effect positive change in our communities.
So, as your community builder, if you want help doing any of the following please send me a message at johncrapper51@gmail.com.
1. Want to post a diary in this open thread. I'll send you easy to follow instructions.
2. Have someone interested in joining Daily Kos and becoming a part of our community. I'll send you a slide show to share with them.
3. Want to start your own local Connect! Unite! Act! group. I'll help you every step of the way.
Eagle of Freedom was the founder of Seattle & Puget Sound Kos. He motivated me to get involved with Daily Kos community building efforts.
EagleOfFreedom
I love this quote from him.
If you’ve been on the fence about coming out to a Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks meetup, or probably any Kossacks meetup around the country, I encourage you to set aside your apprehension and go to the meetup closest to you. And if there isn’t one, send a Kosmail to Navajo and ask her if she knows of one. That was what I did, and look where it got me? It got me something I’ll be happy I was part of making happen and people I was happy to meet forever. And in a world that has a lot of bad things in it that we are all fighting to change, sometimes just having your Kossack Komrades to commiserate with is just the thing you need to recharge and reenergize for the next fight.
That pretty much says it all.
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Today, I'd like to start on a light note. It only seems appropriate that we begin with why we each love Washington State. Let me share a few things I love.
As most people in Washington, I'm not a native. I was born, as was my wife, in Kansas City, Missouri. We were flatlanders. I first got interested in Washington State while stationed in Vietnam. My friend was always talking about the wonders of the state especially his home city of Seattle. I was intrigued.
When my wife and I began searching for a university to attend we decided to put the University of Washington on the list. The rest is history. We both became Washington State Huskies and have made Seattle our home ever since.
So what do I love about Washington? A lot but I'll just mention a few.
First off, I love the natural beauty of the state. I especially like spending time in the mountains.
Follow below the orange Daily Kos cloud for more!
My wife and I have been lucky in life and have been able to do a fair amount of traveling around the world. Although many places equal, nothing surpasses the natural scenes on display in our state.
My favorite scenic drive in the world is traveling down the North Cascades Highway.
Views of Snow-capped mountains for miles.
Lakes that have water you would swear was color enhanced.
It has become a tradition in our family to make this trip once each summer and stay outside of Winthrop, Washington in a secluded cabin. In the field in front of the deck I've counted 23 deer grazing in the field.
Winthrop, WA
The cabin - No, I won't tell you where this is. It's our secret!
This is our luxury camp site. The rest of the summer we strive to tent camp as much as possible.
I love the flowers. The climate in the Puget Sound area serves to promote natural growth and color. There is nothing better than driving about 1 1/2 hours North of Seattle to the Skagit Valley to the tulip festival which takes place every April.
Fields and fields of daffodils and tulips in all colors.
Of course, Seattle, the city in which we live, is near and dear to our hearts.
And I couldn't be a Seatleite without being a huge fan of the Seahawks! Go Hawks!
I could go on and on listing more of what I love about this place but I'll only mention one more. I love spending time in my back yard. It is where I imagine us living in harmony with our environment.
Now it's time to turn things over to you. What do you love about our great state of Washington tucked into the Northwest corner of this great country?
4:27 PM PT: I'm really thrilled to see all the great comments from fellow Kossacks residing both within WA State and beyond. Thanks so much for popping in and exceeding my expectations with this first post! It's a great community!