Surveys the past few years indicate that there are about 1800 homeless folks in Pierce County.  We saw a drop a couple years back, then it jumps back up.  Now they are counting again and expect to see numbers up.  There are inherent problems in counting this population considering many people who are homeless aren’t hanging out under bridges waiting for folks to count them, yet I believe this is a good effort to get at least a snapshot.  It almost certainly doesn’t capture homeless families though.  They are much more difficult to track due to the fact they can stay with relatives, friends, etc. more easily.   Click Here to read today’s News Tribune article on the subject, and Here to see the photo gallery.  DC

The Norcliffe Foundation out of Seattle has awarded $100,000 to the Adams Square Family Center project of the Tacoma Rescue Mission.  The Family Center will consist of 36 apartments and supportive services for homeless families.  These services include drug rehabilitation, life skills, education, parenting and much more.  With this gift we are over $6 million dollars.  Thanks to all our friends at Norcliffe. check out this link for info about Adams Sq. : http://trm.org/adamsSquare.php

Tracy and Elis Taylor, Director of Tyler Sq. had a healthy baby boy last friday.  Congratulations Elis and Tracy.  I’m atttaching his email to the TRM family.  DC Hello friends and family! We are thrilled to announce that Aiden Paul Taylor joined our family on Friday, January 23 at 7:03 p.m. He was 7 lb, 8oz.. He did a spectacular job entering this world. He is a healthy, beautiful baby and was so excited to see the outside that he came almost 3 weeks earlier than expected. His 19-month old brother Isaac thinks he’s pretty cool – actually he thinks that the hat he wears is cool. We are not getting much sleep and are beginning to realize what we got ourselves into with 2 kids under the age of two, but we’re ready for it – bring it on!  We are blessed and thankful to the Lord for every good thing!Much love,Elis, Tracy, Isaac and Aiden

there are a  bunch of social network websites out there now like Facebook and Twitter.  Although I’ve been on Facebook for about a year, I’m not up on how many people are using these sites and how they use them.  I’m interested to find out if any of you are using these sites and how you use them.  DC

I have a couple of questions for those of you who are attached to your mobile device:  Have you ever txt’d a program like American Idol?  Have you ever given or donated by txt?  If you were given the opportunity to give by txt would you be interested?  Its probably obvious where I’m going with this but I’ve long been interested in finding a way to allow donors to support the Mission by texting.  There is some technology that is out there to help with this, but I just don’t know if there is an interest in it from the public.  Let’s just do a little informal survey to se how we at TRM use texting and what we think of the idea.  Let me know. DC 

Reminder to all staff, we have a mandatory Quarterly Staff Meeting today at New Life Sq.  Please come for lunch at 12:30, the meeting starts at 1pm.  This is a great time to get to meet other members of the Mission team that you don’t see everyday, be informed of upcoming Mission wide issues, ask questions, and be inspired.  We appreciate all that you do and hope everyone will make an effort to come.   DC 

Happy Monday TRM Managers!  I read a great leadership quote this morning. The quote is from Charlie Jones. He says,” leadership is not personality, title or endowment. Leadership is a price. We all pay the price: either the price of leadership or the price of failure. Someone must set the pace and pave the way.” This week ask yourself the question: am I willing to pay the price of leadership to set the pace for my area of responsibility here at TRM?The truth is that a job is as sacred as a marriage in God’s eyes. The person who doesn’t love, honor and cherish their work will not receive the rewards that come to those who love their work. Make a decision that in 2009 you will go about leading here at TRM as unto the Lord. You will find the passion and vision to inspire those you lead.  Many blessings, Alvin

Our friend and board member Kevin Phelps was named Deputy County Executive this week by County Executive Pat McCarthy.  Kevin had been working at the State Auditors office.  This will be a great job for Kevin and he’ll do well at it, his expertise in budgets and managing people will come in handy.  I first met Kevin when he was on the Tacoma City Council and have been really happy to have him on the board of the Mission.  Congratulations Kevin.  News Tribune blog link:  http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics/2009/01/07/p35999#more35999dc