Deaf Center News
Greeting.
My name is Terese, and I am the Executive Director of Tilikum. I am responsible for three regions, which are Vancouver, TriCities/Yakima and Spokane. We provide the client services, outreach services, community events, and many more for those who are Deaf, DeafBlind, HOH and individuals with Hearing loss. Those community members did not feel that the name of Tilikum do represent them, and want to change the name. The Executive Board members, Don Redford, Jim West, and Wanda Forcht and I have heard their concerns, so it was agreed to set up the town hall meeting in all three regions where all community members could attend and give inputs. More or less than 30 names for the agency were gathered, and six of them were selected; two from each region. We need your vote which name should we choose to represent three regions. Now you know that those names and inputs were given by the community members who invested their time to show up at the townhall meeting. If you want to share your input, you are encouraged to attend the townhall meetings locally next time. Anyway, the voting will last till January 2, and then on Jan 3, the Executive Board members and I will determine which one has the highest vote and make an announcement to the communities about the new name for the agency. We will process the paperwork to get it approved, which may happen in the summer 2020. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Amanda, our Front Desk, at grs@tilikum.us or 360-334-5740 or you can contact me at ceo@tilikum.us or 360-450-0946.
