Re*Imagine Medical Lake picks up steam

It’s been 15 months since Re*Imagine Medical Lake was formed by a group of citizens who wanted to preserve the city’s history, revitalize the downtown area and help the community grow.

The grassroots organization began their meetings at Umpqua Bank with five members in 2015. According to Jan Bailey and Terri Cooper, who are on the organization’s leadership committee, there are 50-60 members on its contact list.

“People are still finding their niche,” Bailey said. “Like everything that is new, you want to test the waters before you jump in.”

In addition to the leadership team, there are committees for video/documentary, communications and marketing and fundraising.

“Things are starting to gel,” Bailey said, adding that the organization submitted its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status application, which she said will help the group apply for grants.

Among the group’s membership is Medical Lake School District Superintendent Tim Ames, who is on the leadership committee. Bailey noted that the school district was on board with Re*Imagine Medical Lake “within the first six months.” The group also met with Medical Lake Mayor John Higgins about collaboration.

“Once he (Higgins) understood our parameters, he was on board,” Bailey said.

“The partnership with the school district and city is great and a key to our success,” Cooper added. “They are great partners to work with.”

The organization has also worked with local scout troops and the high school robotics team.

“The pride in the schools has gone way up, the entire vibe of the town is feeling more different,” Bailey said.

One of the organization’s first projects was to make a documentary, spearheaded by Ben Cabido, community-based economic development director and CMTV14 program developer and marketing director for Community Minded Enterprises, about the history of the city and its historical buildings. Cooper said the documentary has been expanded into a series focusing on different aspects of Medical Lake history.

“One part of the series focuses on the Native Americans who lived in the area and another part will focus on the early settlers,” Cooper said. “We’ll also include Eastern State Hospital. We’re trying to bring that history together and show who we were, and who we are, as well as show that Medical Lake was a destination place and we believe it can be one again.”

In June, the organization helped organize the Founder’s Day Parade and brought back the Trailblazers Triathlon after a three-year absence.

“The triathlon was a big success,” Cooper said. Next year the triathlon will be renamed the “Duffy Ready Triathlon,” in honor of Vincent “Duffy” Ready who passed away during the event. With the departure of Recreation Coordinator Ashlee King, Cooper said Re*Imagine has offered to take Founder’s Day event “under its umbrella.”

The organization is partnering with the school district for its Thoughtexchange conversation, which Cooper and Bailey said will help the group learn some of the concerns and projects ideas that residents have.

“We’ve been working in finding ways to reach out to the community,” Bailey said. “Thoughtexchange will help give us the ideas on where we need to go next.”

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].