Who is the Griffin Neighborhood Association?

The Griffin Neighborhood Association (GNA) is registered with the State of Washington as a non-profit organization. We are a nonpartisan group of neighbors living within the boundaries of the Griffin School District, Thurston County, Washington.

Any person owning property, a business, or residing in the Griffin area is eligible to become a member and participate fully in the Association. Membership is also open to community groups and students of the Griffin School District. If you live or work in the Griffin neighborhood or Steamboat Peninsula, the Griffin Neighborhood Association is you.

Originally organized as the Oyster Bay Neighborhood Association in 1990, we were registered with the State of Washington as the nonprofit Griffin Neighborhood Association in December, 1995.

Our Mission

The mission of the Griffin Neighborhood Association is to help build community consensus on major issues confronting the Griffin area, including growth, land issues, habitat, water quality, transportation and school planning. When appropriate, we research issues as honest brokers of information, provide forums for debate, attempt to arrive at community consensus and issue resolution, and present this consensus to appropriate decision makers.

The Griffin Neighborhood Association also undertakes and supports projects that benefit our community, help to build a sense of community, and educate the community on topics of interest.

Our Board and Officers

Our Board is comprised of current members of the Association, elected by members of the Association present at the Annual Meeting. Officers are elected from Board membership by members of the Board.

The Board typically sets an annual schedule of regular meetings. Tentative meeting dates, times and locations are posted on our Facebook Page and on Nextdoor.

In “The Friendly People,” local author Steve Lundin delivers a history of the Steamboat Peninsula and Griffin area

Over the years, we’ve been lucky to be able to publish numerous articles written by Steve Lundin. Ten or more years ago, Lundin wrote the book Griffin Area Schools, a history of the many schools that existed on our peninsula. Lundin donated much of the proceeds for the sale of that book to the Griffin Neighborhood Association. After 44 years on the Peninsula, Lundin and his wife Linda Bondurant moved away from our neighborhood, but with his latest book, The Friendly People, we can see he has not actually left this part of the world. Not really. In The Friendly People, Lundin writes a history “of the Griffin/Steamboat area, from early native peoples to modern times.”

The Sawamish/T’Peeksin lived on Totten Inlet. The Squi’Aitl lived on Eld Inlet, which Peter Puget called “the Friendly Inlet.” This region saw the Hudson’s Bay Company and Puget Sound Agricultural Company. The book describes the Lushootseed Peoples, their culture, and traditions. In the book, you will also read about John Slocum and the Indian Shaker Movement. Recently, the Squaxin Island Tribe has flourished with a cultural Renaissance and economic rejuvenation.

Author Steve Lundin

The Griffin/Steamboat community has grown from a rural area to a vibrant suburban community. Read about the Mud Bay Logging Company, country inns, a local moonshine still, Effie LeRoy’s infamous establishment, and local dance halls. Griffin School has grown into one of the premier schools in the county. Prosperity Grange remains an important institution.

William McLane, William Puffer, Benjamin Franklin Cross, Kettle Labatum, Mud Bay Louie Yowaluck, James Tobin, Konrad Schneider, and Swan Solbeck are just a few of the individuals who contributed to the history of this area and whose stories are recounted here.

Copies of this book can be purchased from Browsers Bookshop, Orca Books, and at the Panorama Gift Shop, for $20. Proceeds from the sale of this book will be given to the Olympia Tumwater Foundation.

It’s also possible that Steve Lundin will hold a book signing on the Steamboat Peninsula sometime soon. When that happens, you’ll be able to learn about it here and on social media.

Don’t Miss This Year’s Community Picnic, June 24th

This Saturday, June 24th, the Griffin Neighborhood Association invites you to join us and your neighbors at our annual Community Picnic. There will be food, music, entertainment for the whole family, raffle prizes, local vendors, and representatives from community groups, local businesses, and first responders.

Community Picnic
Saturday, June 24
12 noon to 4 PM
Prosperity Grange and Tin Cup Golf Driving Range

This year’s picnic will be at the Prosperity Grange and Tin Cup Golf Driving range, from 12 noon to 4 PM. Come and join us for lunch with burgers, hot dogs, and Kona Ice. Larry and Sandy Corbin, of the Lighthouse Alpaca Ranch, will bring some of their herd (did you know alpacas are a member of the camel family?). Magician John London will entertain and musical guests are The Possible Solutions and Cliff Rice.

Admission is free for current and new members of the Griffin Neighborhood Association, and their children. Non-members are $5 per adult/$10 per family. Admission includes picnic lunch.

We will be raffling off more than 30 different gift baskets! Raffle tickets are only $1 or six tickets for $5. A silent auction will feature beautiful hand-turned wooden bowls and a vase, a karaoke party hosted by Twilight Karaoke, and a puppy starter kit.

Stroll the grounds and visit with representatives of local businesses such as Our Community Credit Union, The Nerdy Nana, Lux n’ Lather Soap Company, Endorian Guitarworks, and lots more. Learn more about public safety from the Griffin Fire Department, Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, and Washington State Patrol.

Could you give us a hand at this year’s picnic? We could use help from 9 AM till the cleanup at the end – any amount of time you can offer is appreciated! Click here to send us an email with your contact information and someone will be back to you, very quickly. Thank you so much, to all who have already volunteered!

Many thanks to some special sponsors of this year’s event. Local residents Bill and Karen Hurley donated a banner to help promote our community picnic. The Steamboat Trading Post made a generous donation of hot dogs and all the fixings. Thank you, too, to Bay Shore Construction for underwriting the cost of the comfort and washing stations.

We hope to see you at this year’s community picnic!

Annual Meeting January 25 to Focus on “Steamboat Safety”

This year’s Annual Meeting of the Griffin Neighborhood Association will feature two keynote speakers. Newly-elected Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders and Griffin Fire Department Chief Corey Rux will speak on the topic of safety in our community.

The Annual Meeting is also when members of the Griffin Neighborhood Association nominate and vote on Board members. If you are not yet a member or if your membership has lapsed, you may join us online by clicking this link. You may also join at the meeting.

Doors open at 6 PM and light refreshments will be available.

Board elections are at 6:30 PM.

The presentation by Sheriff Sanders and Chief Rux begins at 7 PM.

Annual Meeting
January 25, 6 PM
Griffin Fire Department Headquarters
3707 Steamboat Loop NW, Olympia, WA 98502

Everyone is welcome!

We have vacant positions on our Board. If you or someone you know is interested in serving on the Board of the Griffin Neighborhood Association, this Board Member FAQ may answer some questions about what it means to serve on the Board. Any person owning property or residing within the Griffin area is eligible to become a member of the Griffin Neighborhood Association. During the Annual Meeting we will take nominations and elect members to our Board.

At the Annual Meeting, the GNA will be collecting the following items for the St. Christopher’s satellite food bank:
• Toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, napkins
• Laundry detergent
• Toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss
• Soap, shampoo
• Diapers, baby wipes
• Feminine care products
• Deodorant, lip balm

Please consider a generous contribution to our local satellite of the Thurston County Food Bank.

Do you represent a non-profit organization operating in the Griffin area? If you would like to set up an informational table at our Annual Meeting, contact Becky Reavis at furacres@gmail.com.

For more information about the Griffin Fire Department, see their website at www.griffinfd.org

For more information about the Thurston County Sheriff’s Department, see their website at thurstoncountywa.gov/sheriff

The Home Share Program Seeks to Offer a Flexible and Affordable Housing Arrangement

The Home Share Program brings together those who have available housing with those seeking affordable housing in exchange for assistance with household chores, transportation, and increased quality of life. It’s a way for elderly residents to maintain some independence and remain in their homes. If you are an elderly resident who has an extra room or a guest house available, and you could benefit from someone to assist you in your home, the Home Share Program could match you with someone seeking an affordable living arrangement.

The Home Share Program is offered by Senior Services for South Sound. Both home providers – those who have a home – and home seekers are interviewed for compatibility of lifestyles. References and a thorough criminal background check is conducted. Program Managers will then match Home Providers with Home Seekers. Providers and Seekers who have been matched will spend time getting to know each other and confirm or deny their compatibility.

The Home Share Program web page has more information and downloadable applications. Contact Rebecca Hutchinson, Home Share Program Manager at (360) 586-6181 ext. 111 or Emme Williamson, Home Share Program Assistant at ext. 136. Their email address is homeshare@southsoundseniors.org. Also, click here to view a two-page flyer with more information.

The Home Share Program is funded by the City of Lacey, the City of Olympia, the City of Tumwater, and The Regional Housing Council.

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The opinions expressed on the GriffinNeighbors blog, on Twitter, Instagram, and on Facebook are in no way intended to represent the opinions of the Griffin Neighborhood Association, its members, or Board.

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