|
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT is
Mason Matters?
We are a non-profit
organization working for and in Mason
County. We bring focus to emerging health
and social issues that affect the
quality of life of our Mason County
neighbors and friends. Then, we work with
our community to build and enhance our
ability to address these issues. Working
together, as a community, we strive to
bring "Mason County" solutions to Mason
County issues. Mason Matters can support
the efforts of current community services
and providers through a number of ways,
including:
- Provide technical assistance
- Collect and disseminate data and information
- Inform the community to increase awareness of local issues
- Promote and coordinate new partnerships among existing service providers
- Establish and support collaborations and coalitions
- Secure funding for priority community initiatives
- Help build the capacity of existing community resources
- Seed new programs and/or service providers to fill existing gaps in service
- Carry the needs and voices of Mason County to larger regional discussions.
We are a healthy communities initiative that was convened in 1998 through the support of Mason General Hospital and Mason County Health Department. Under the visionary leadership of Steve Kutz, Director of Mason County Health, and Bob Appel, CEO of Mason General Hospital, community leaders came together to provide the leadership and carry out the vision of Mason Matters. Board members represent the business, service, educational, local government, and citizen stakeholders in Mason County.
WHY was
Mason Matters created?
In 1991, a group of
citizens and health care providers
concerned with health-related issues in
Mason County began to meet informally.
Unfortunately, their efforts were never
placed within the context of an overall
community health plan. In 1995, a
community-based health planning council
was established. In March 1998, with the
assistance of a Department of Health
grant, this group was formally established
as Mason Matters. Mason Matters believes
that the best solutions to local community
issues are developed by the local
community, for the local community. We
also believe that community-based
solutions are more sustainable and better
able to meet local challenges and
situations
WHO is Mason
Matters?
We are community
members, like you, who:
- believe that
Mason County does matter.
- share our time,
skills and resources as we work
together to create a healthier
community.
- believe that
through community mobilization and
community action, we can improve the
quality of life of ourselves and our
neighbors.
Every member of the
Mason County community is encouraged to
join our efforts. Many of your neighbors,
co-workers, and friends have shared their
passion for Mason County through Mason
Matters.
HOW do we
work?
You, a member of
this community, can help us achieve our
vision of a healthier community. By
working together, we capitalize on our
community's strengths to tackle problems,
take advantage of opportunities and
celebrate our successes.
- We begin by
understanding the current status of
health and social issues that impact
the quality of our lives.
- We then identify
those issues that demand immediate
attention and can be improved through
community action.
- Once issues are
identified, we bring together more
community members who are interested in
and committed to developing long-term,
sustainable, community-owned solutions
to priority issues.
WHEN do we
meet?
Mason Matters’ Board of Directors meet every other month on the fourth Thursday of the month from 8:45 – 10:00 a.m. in the library at Olympic College in Shelton. The regularly scheduled meetings are in January, March, May, July, September, and November. The community initiative work groups meet on a less predictable schedule, depending the project. If you want to learn more about our active initiatives, please contact Kim Klint at 427-9670 ext 543
kak@co.mason.wa.us
WHO are our
community partners?
Our community
partners are people like you: we are your
neighbors, your co-workers, your friends.
Any member of the Mason County community
is welcome to join Mason Matters as a
Community Partner. Since we believe that
the best solutions to our social and
health challenges are created through
community action, we also believe all
community members have something to
contribute. You can share your commitment
to Mason County, your passion for the
issue, your interest in a segment of the
population, your time, or your expertise.
Mason Matters does not require a full time
commitment, you can share as you are able.
Over the course of our journey, many
community members have contributed to the
efforts of Mason Matters.
HOW can I
become a community
partner?
You can contact our
Executive Director, Kimberley Klint to
confirm the next meeting time and place,
and to learn more about our current
activities. She can be reached at
kak@co.mason.wa.us
or 427-9670 ex 543 (you can leave a
message on voice mail, should she miss
your call.) Our meetings are scheduled a
year in advance, but sometimes changes are
made.
|
