I've had an uncomfortable realization. In just five more years, Real Change will be hiring new college grads who were in utero at the time of this paper's inception. While this goes against the grain of my decision to stop aging at thirty-three, I've accepted that Real Change is, more for better than worse, a venerable institution.
In the interest of precision, I've looked these words up. Venerable: commanding respect by virtue of age, dignity, character, or position. Institution: an established organization or corporation (as a bank or university) especially of a public character.
Thanks to our supporters, this past year has been a whirlwind of change and success. We've moved to two floors in the venerable New England Building at First and Main. We've chalked up some stunning advocacy wins -- stopping a new municipal jail and defending Seattle's poor and homeless against the latest slide toward criminalization -- that establish us as a force to be reckoned with. We've strengthened our core operations and are solid, powerful, dynamic, and ready for whatever comes.
It's time, again, to celebrate.
This year's annual breakfast will take place Thursday, Sept. 30, 7:30-9 a.m., at Seattle Center's Fisher Pavilion. This year, in addition to presenting our annual Change Agent award to long-time friend and ally Councilmember Nick Licata, we'll celebrate our past, present and future through the unlikely vehicle of a 50th Birthday Roast of that other venerable Seattle institution, me.
Comedienne Nancy Guppy of Seattle Almost Live fame will demonstrate her deep skills as cat herder and time keeper while a host of long-time friends entertain us with their wit, charm, and long memory of the rocky road we've traveled. This year, we will atone for all past sins of insufficient coffee and appalling "omelets" with a first rate breakfast catered by Foodz and endless rivers of caffeine from Caf