“We’re thrilled to have found this photo, once thought to be lost forever,” said Chyna Downthepike, Executive Director. “One of our archivists found it while digging for a lost quarter that fell down some slats in the floor of an abandoned old home near Lake Burien. Before being turned into a Meth Lab, this house was owned by the cartoonist brother of Ollie Atkins, who worked as the official White House Photographer.”

Oddly, the caption in the photo was done differently, making this find even more historic – check it out:

“Serving as the Chamber’s President/CEO for the past 12 years has truly been one of the joys of my life,” Hinthorne said. “I’ve seen the Chamber turn 20 and watched the cities of Burien, SeaTac and Tukwila, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport continue to grow into economic successes.”

The gig includes managing the day-to-day operations of the office/staff, membership development and sales, close communication with Chamber members, business/industry, government and school officials, as well as community members on various issues affecting the economic vitality and quality of life within the Southwest King County (SeaTac, Tukwila, Burien and Des Moines), WA.

The President reports to a Board of Directors, and the gig pays $60,000 per year plus benefits depending on experience.

The deadline to submit a resume is December 15, 2010. Resumes can be submitted to:

Search Committee
Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 58591
Seattle, WA 98138

Or via email to swkcsearch@gmail.com.

Here’s the detailed job description from the chamber’s website (you can also download the job description as a PDF here)

President/CEO – Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce
The Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce is seeking a new President/CEO. The President/CEO is responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating the activities of the Chamber as directed by the Board of Directors. Position requires managing the day-to-day operations of the office/staff, membership development and sales, close communication with Chamber members, business/industry, government and school officials, as well as community members on various issues affecting the economic vitality and quality of life within the Southwest King County (SeaTac, Tukwila, Burien and Des Moines), WA.

Applicants should possess exceptional leadership/communication skills and executive management experience including a strong economic/financial background. Preferred qualifications include Chamber of Commerce experience, graduation from the W.A.C.E. Academy or US Chamber Institute, experience reporting to a board of directors, and sales experience.

Salary: Base $60K + Benefits DOE
Self-motivated individuals with optimism, enthusiasm and a drive to take Southwest King County to the next level should send their resume and salary requirements to: Search Committee, PO Box 58591, Seattle, WA 98138 or e-mail swkcsearch@gmail.com.

Resumes will be accepted through December 15, 2010

• Position Title: President/CEO
• Application Deadline: December 15, 2010
• Position Location: Southwest King County (SeaTac, Tukwila, Burien and Des Moines, WA)
• Area Population: 119,000
• Chamber Members: 375
• Chamber Staff: 3

SWKCC President Nancy Hinthorne will retire in April, 2011.

SOUTHWEST KING COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
14220 Interurban Avenue S., #134
Tukwila, WA

PO Box 58591
Seattle, WA 98138

www.swkcc.org

Position: President/CEO Report to: Board of Directors Exempt position: Full time/Salary position may include some Saturdays, holidays, evenings and/or early mornings. Job Location: The job centers out of the Chamber office, however, the President/CEO participates in many meetings at various locations.

Position Description:
The President is the chief administrative officer of the organization. Duties are subject to the direction of the Board of Directors. The President/CEO serves as the primary staff point of contact for the officers, Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and Elected Officials. The President/CEO manages the property, business affairs and staff of the Chamber. The President/CEO is responsible for initiating, implementing and evaluating all aspects of Chamber activities. Primary responsibilities include:

• Operations Management
• Long-range planning for the organization
• Membership relations
• Policy recommendations to the Board
• Be a visible member of the community

The President/CEO responsibilities include:

1. Planning
   The Chamber President/CEO will work with the officers and directors of the Board on: a) Annual business plan with long term and short term objectives b) A realistic annual budget to achieve objectives
2. Policy
   The Chamber President/CEO will develop, monitor and evaluate: a) Organizational structure to accomplish the objectives. b) Appropriate financial, legal and operational policies and procedures to support effectiveness c) Provide guidance and direction to key stakeholders including the Board of Directors, key volunteers and staff regarding the organization’s purpose, goals, and policy positions.
3. Financial Management
   The Chamber President/CEO will: a) Supervise the preparation and maintenance of all records, reports and legal documents for the Chamber. b) Present an annual budget recommendation that adequately funds the organization needs. c) Supervise all investments and expenditures against the approved budget. d) Present a monthly financial statement to the Board for approval. e) Develop sources of non-dues revenue for the organization. f) Prepare a Year End Report on the organization’s finances and activities.
4. Board Development
   The Chamber President/CEO will: a) Provide orientation support and guidance to the Board on Chamber issues. b) Assist the Board in identifying potential opportunities. c) Assist the Board in developing an annual business plan and objectives d) Provide the Board of Directors with sufficient information to inform them of the financial, operational status of the organization.
5. Membership Development
   The Chamber President/CEO will: a) Develop, monitor and evaluate systems to support membership retention and growth. b) Serve as primary recruiter/salesperson for new Chamber members and member retention. c) Identify and recruit volunteers to assist in shaping organizational directions through the Board, Committees and Task Forces. d) Develop methods of supporting and recognizing volunteers.
6. Staff Development
   The Chamber President/CEO will: a) Employ staff necessary to carry out the work of the organization b) Monitor the terms of employment for all staff, assign duties and supervise work and evaluate employees’ performance.
7. Community Relations
   The Chamber President/CEO will: a) Actively promote the Chamber of Commerce to the community b) Actively promote Southwest King County as a desirable place to live, work, visit and do business. c) Maintain a positive relationship with other organizations in the Southwest King County area d) Build positive image through media communication e) Establish and maintain a satisfactory working relationship with community leaders, public and elected officials, private and public agencies. f) Be actively engaged through service clubs, attending events, and participating in a professional manner in or as part of the community.
8. Special Projects
   The Chamber President/CEO will: a) Coordinate all additional assignments as directed by the Board of Directors b) Assist and provide support to other Chamber staff as needed.

Preferred Requirements:

• Chamber of Commerce experience/knowledge of operations Graduate of W.A.C.E. Academy or US Chamber Institute Experience reporting to a board of directors Sales experience

Performance Standards:

• Any combination of education and experience in business operations of for profit or non-profit organizations equivalent to five years of significant work experience at a senior management level. Experience and knowledge of finance, budgeting, marketing, and analytic skills. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written

Excellent presentation skills Good organizational and people skills Ability to efficiently handle multi-tasked operations Knowledge of Governmental/Political process PC and word-processing experience Ability to be flexible with regard to business hours and accepting new responsibilities Professional appearance

President Obama came to the Seattle area Tuesday to do some fundraising, which of course meant that Air Force One was here to transport him.

Which, as we all know by now, meant restricted air space…and the now-historic resulting double sonic booms (read our coverage here) because of a float plane pilot’s lack of judgment.

Not-so-ironically, the Air Force One that landed at Boeing Field is a Boeing 747-200B, with the tail code 29000. According to The White House website:

Technically, Air Force One is the call sign of any Air Force aircraft carrying the President. In practice, however, Air Force One is used to refer to one of two highly customized Boeing 747-200B series aircraft, which carry the tail codes 28000 and 29000. The Air Force designation for the aircraft is VC-25A.

Air Force One is one of the most recognizable symbols of the presidency, spawning countless references not just in American culture but across the world. Emblazoned with the word “United States of America,” the American flag, and the Seal of the President of the United States, it is an undeniable presence wherever it flies.

Capable of refueling midair, Air Force One has unlimited range and can carry the President wherever he needs to travel. The onboard electronics are hardened to protect against an electromagnetic pulse, and Air Force One is equipped with advanced secure communications equipment, allowing the aircraft to function as a mobile command center in the event of an attack on the United States.

Inside, the President and his travel companions enjoy 4,000 square feet of floor space on three levels, including an extensive suite for the President that features a large office, lavatory, and conference room. Air Force One includes a medical suite that can function as an operating room, and a doctor is permanently on board. The plane’s two food preparation galleys can feed 100 people at a time.

Photographer Francis Zera, himself somewhat of an aviation nut, found a good lookout and shot the following Sound Slideshow of Air Force One (be sure your speakers are turned on):

Click to Play Francis Zera’s Sound Slideshow

An informational meeting regarding Health Care Reform Options is coming Sunday, Sept. 20th, from 2pm – 4pm at the Burien Library.

Sponsored by Heath Care For All -WA, South King County Action Team, it will include:

• Video Presentations
• Commentary
• Q & A’s

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Bob is an Englishman who lives in Burien who traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to attend the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. This is his second of three reports.]

TUES. 1/20/09 – INAUGURATION DAY
Inauguration Day had come. At 4:30am we walked out of the apartment and down to the bike path that runs along the Potomac River. It was quiet and, apart from a few police officers, we saw very few other people. The view across the frozen river to the Mall was spectacular with the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and US Capitol perfectly lit. The Arlington Memorial Bridge was empty and the police didn’t mind us standing in the middle of the road to take photographs. At the end of the Mall, it was still very quiet except for the activity of the security services and the vendors setting up their stalls. At the Washington Monument a large crowd had assembled to take advantage of the elevated position. Then things changed. The closer we got to the Capitol the more chaotic it became.

At 5:40 am we joined the long line at the Silver section entrance and met some great people from all over the country. One girl asked us if we’d like to swap one of our Silver tickets for an even better Blue one, but we’d come together and declined her offer. It was incredibly cold as we were waiting and removing my gloves to take a photograph turned out to be a bad idea. The crowds quickly grew. Flashing lights and police officers were everywhere, many having come from as far away as Philadelphia and, most likely, places beyond.

When the Silver section gate opened at 8 am, the movement of the massive crowd was generally civilized but definitely not something for the claustrophobic. With our new-found friends we were elated just to get into the first part of the Silver section, but it was on the wrong side of Third Street for us. We quickly found a narrow fenced passageway across Third Street and shuffled into the other smaller part of the Silver section behind the Reflecting Pool and nearer the Capitol. The hope of getting our preferred spot by the second speaker stand had long since evaporated but it didn’t matter. We were in and we had plenty of space to adjust our positions. The chaos that we witnessed was prevalent up and down the Mall. It wasn’t long before a barrier fell and people rushed forward. That was fine with us because it left us with lots of open space and a clear view of the Capitol from which we enjoyed the early part of the Inaugural Ceremony. We then decided to move over to the area near the jumbotron on the north east corner of the Reflecting Pool where we stayed for the remainder of the swearing-in ceremony. The line of sight was spectacular with a direct view the podium and the seating areas above and to the sides. Unfortunately, the sound was not very good, but we were there and that’s what counted.

The crowd reaction to some of the official attendees was amusing. George W. Bush’s arrival generated a not-unexpected response. The discontent with Joe Lieberman was clearly heard and there didn’t seem to be much sympathy for Dick Cheney, who arrived in a wheelchair. The official line is that he hurt his back while packing boxes.

We weren’t aware of the mistake with Obama’s taking of the oath until much later in the day and we had to wait until we got home to hear his speech in full. We did hear enough though to appreciate the significance of what he was saying and the historic nature of the occasion. The crowd reacted accordingly and it was amazing.

Many people started to leave not long after President Obama’s speech, but we were keen to stay and former President Bush leave:

His helicopter rose quickly and spectacularly from behind the Capitol, flying almost directly over us and heading westwards. The cheering of the masses below was no match for the sound of such a large aircraft, but the occupants had to be aware of what was going on below them. A few minutes later they came back for another circuit of the Mall before heading off to Andrews Air Force Base and then on to Midland, Texas. That was it. For many, the world was now a much better place. A few minutes later I received a text message saying:

“Barack Obama is now the 44th President of the United States. Please stay and watch the parade on the jumbotrons.”

These guys really know what they’re doing.

After lunch at the National Museum of the Native American, we headed west along the now mostly empty, but trash-covered, Mall and soon came upon the MSNBC facility where presenters including Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow were conducting their live broadcast against a glass backdrop with an enthusiastic crowd doing their best to be seen on television. It was at this moment that the new president and first lady got out of their enormous car and walked along the parade route, driving the crowd into a frenzy. Moving from jumbotron to jumbotron we worked our way west along the mall, stopping at each one to catch more of the unbelievable spectacle that was unfolding only a few blocks to the north.

It was soon time to head home. As expected, the Metro was not an option due to the high demand. Foggy Bottom station was closed so we had no choice but to keep on walking to Roslyn where my friend’s wife met us. Dinner at a great restaurant called Artie’s in Fairfax was the perfect end to an unforgettable historic day.

[TOMORROW: It's Bob's last day in DC, and it's jam packed - he goes to Hillary's confirmation hearing and meets a fellow northwest visitor who failed to even get in to the inauguration - Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.]

Satellite photo by Geo-Eye-One.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Bob is an Englishman who lives in Burien who traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to attend the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. Previously, he filed this report, as well as an eyewitness account of election night. This is the first of three reports we'll be posting, so be sure to check back tomorrow for his entry for Day #2.]

It may have been cold, but the friendly people in line at the Rayburn Building were warm.

MONDAY 1/19/08 – TICKET COLLECTION:
It was time to pick up my Inauguration tickets. With thousands of other lucky recipients arriving to collect them too, the House and Senate office buildings at either side of the Capitol were surrounded by long lines of people waiting to pass through security at the entrances and head up to a Congressman or Senator’s office where the tickets were waiting for them. I joined a line at the Rayburn office building and really didn’t mind that it took a while to get in. The positive atmosphere was highly infectious as people talked to strangers and told each other their stories about what this inauguration meant to them, where they were from, how they came to have tickets, and what they hoped the new president could achieve. Alongside me were a lady from Chicago, a lady from St. Louis, Missouri, a gentleman from Phoenix, Arizona, and a member of the Army on active duty who was so bitter about what had happened in recent years that we all had to do our best to convince him that things looked likely to improve. He didn’t seem too willing to believe us but no one can say we didn’t try to change his mind.

The staff of Congressman Adam Smith’s office were professional and friendly. As I expected, my tickets were for the Silver section, just behind the Capitol Reflecting Pool. After taking in the view of the city and the Mall from outside the Rayburn office building I went on a reconnaissance mission to find the best place for a good view of the main event. Facing the Capitol, the second speaker stand from the left along the Reflecting Pool seemed like a perfect spot with a clear view of the podium and surrounding seated areas and a jumbotron just across the frozen pool to the left. With that taken care of, I wandered over to the area just behind the seated sections immediately below the Capitol for a spectacular close-up view and stayed there for a while to appreciate the scene and take photographs for myself and other people.

A fellow Brit found a way to get to the Inauguration.

Next I headed down Pennsylvania Avenue and over to the official Inauguration Collectibles store on E Street, watching the people and the preparations along the way. “Brits for Obama,” read one man’s badge, so I just had to stop and ask about it. He’d made it himself and wished he’d brought a big bag full of them for all those who wanted one, including me. He was from a part of Yorkshire in the north of England very close to where my family comes from and had extended his contract in Florida so he could stay long enough to see the inauguration. As we were talking, we watched as semi-truck after semi-truck came to deliver crowd barriers and forklift trucks unloaded them.

The scale of the preparation for the event was enormous.

As usual, the Canadian signage was in French as well as English.

Along Pennsylvania Avenue we walked past the Canadian Embassy and saw a huge banner which read “Canada Salutes Obama”. At the Newseum we read the front pages of newspapers from around the world, all of them positive about the change that had come.

The collectibles store was busy and I picked up a few items. It was then time to start heading back to my friends’ place for the evening. On the way to the Foggy Bottom Metro station I saw bright lights over to my left and realized I was very close to the White House. The lights marked the end of the parade route and the position of the spectacular viewing stand. Less than 24 hours later, the President, his wife, and the Vice President and his wife would walk along this route and the crowd would be wild with excitement. People everywhere were taking photographs, including two who asked me to take one of them. One of them, it turned out, was from Bellevue, and the other was from Seattle. Just to prove how small the world is, the one from Seattle knew a friend of mine in West Seattle.

Sometimes the most interesting things are signs you find at your feet.

I could have spent a lot longer watching all the activity in the city but had to get back to prepare for an extremely early start the next day. My friend and I packed our things and headed over to a place in Roslyn, only five miles from my preferred spot by the Reflecting Pool. The plan was to stay there and then walk to the inauguration. The Metro is best avoided when hundreds of thousands of other people want to travel too.

[TOMORROW: Inauguration Day arrives. Bob gets up at 4am and walks five miles to join 1.8 million other people in the freezing cold to witness the most historic inauguration of our lifetimes.]

This is the view Bob had from the Silver Ticket section as Obama was about to be sworn in by the bumbling Supreme Court Justice Roberts.

Look for Bob’s full report soon…

From our initial research, it looks like the only “sure thing” reliable place(s) to watch Tuesday’s historic Inauguration Day ceremonies in person (other than at your home or office) is at the following area Starbucks stores between 7am and 11am:

• Burien 148th SW Plaza: 116 SW 148th Street, Burien
• Normandy Park: 17829 1st Ave South, Normandy Park
• Interurban Ave Tukwila: 13038 Interurban Ave, Tukwila
• Southcenter: 333 Strander Blvd., Tukwila
• Southcenter Barnes & Noble: 300 Andover Place West, Tukwila
• Parkway Supercenter: 17480 Southcenter Parkway, Tukwila
• Des Moines Redondo: 27027 Pacific Hwy South, Des Moines

Here’s what the SBUXers have to say about it:

“Starbucks will be streaming the Inauguration event in select stores in New York, San Francisco and Seattle that have the Now Playing screens.

This is the first time that we’ll air a live broadcast along with audio, so the usual music you’re used to will be replaced with this historic event from 10 – 2 p.m. Eastern and 7 – 11 a.m. Pacific.

If you are looking for a place to view the Inauguration in these cities, visit your neighborhood Starbucks and watch it with us over a great cup of coffee!”

Of course there’s always good ol’ reliable TV, where the usual broadcast outlets will be showing it live.

Or, if you’ll be chained to your desk like us, your options are pretty much limited to watching it online, and here’s a list of links to where you can watch it via the interwebs:

• Joint Congressional Committee On Inaugural Ceremonies
• Presidential Inaugural Committee
• CSPAN’s Inauguration Hub
  
• MSNBC’s Inauguration Feed
• CNN/Facebook Live Feed
• Current & Twitter Live Feed
• USTREAM
  
• CBS News
  
• Washington Post’s Inauguration Central
  
• Joost
• Hulu
  

Here are some live webcams that will probably be overloaded, but might be worth a look:

• http://video.vdat.com/playmedia_embed2.asp?sid=99570&aid=100944
• http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/nacccam/wash.jpg
• Washington Post Webcam

If you do go to a Starbucks to watch, don’t forget that they’re also encouraging customers to come back again the next day (starting Wed. Jan. 21st) to sign up to pledge five hours of volunteerism by offering a free cup of coffee:

To celebrate this national unifying week, between January 21 – 25, we will be asking all Starbucks customers to pledge 5 hours of volunteerism in their local neighborhood and in return we will provide them with a free cup of coffee.  They will be encouraged to find volunteer opportunities and will have access to tools and resources to bring their pledge into action.  Our goal is to collect at least 1 million pledge hours during these four days.

Starbucks is excited about this important moment in time and invites you to be a part of it.  If you’d like to highlight upcoming volunteer opportunities please post them to our Starbucks volunteer network, a place where customers will be encouraged to look for local opportunities.  Thank you for the work you do in your community.

Please see the information below on how to get started:

1. Create a personal profile here.
   
2. Create individual volunteer opportunities to share with others here.

Or at your local Starbucks.

Also, don’t forget that BTB Advertiser The Mark Restaurant & Bar is hosting an Inaugural Party Tuesday evening starting at 5pm:

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 20th, from 5pm to close

WHERE: The Mark Restaurant & Bar, located at 914 SW 152nd in Olde Burien (map below)

SPECIALS: Come in and say “Yes We Can!” and get 1/2 OFF on Bar Menu. They’ll also have specially Inaugural labeled bottles of wine and Champagne on hand.

View Larger Map

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Bob is an Englishman and Burien resident who is currently in Washington, D.C. for the Inauguration of President Obama. This is his second in a series of exclusive reports for The B-Town Blog; his first was filed Sunday morning.]

1/18/09 – THE OBAMA INAUGURAL CELEBRATION
Today was the day of the Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. I arrived on the National Mall at 8:40 am to join a line near the Washington Monument waiting for the gate to the west end of the National Mall to open. Once it did, we all moved in quickly and I rushed along the south side of the reflecting pool to a place not far from front. There I stayed in the freezing weather (it reached a balmy 37 degrees) through to the end of the show at 4:30 pm.

Around 10 am we were treated to some rehearsal activity followed by clips of the performers in the waiting area and various videos. We were fairly certain that the large military helicopter that made a low pass in front of the memorial before the show was the Obama and Biden families checking out the spectacle on their way to the venue.

The show itself started promptly at 2:30 pm. The size of the structure built for the television production and ticket holders meant that it was impossible to see what was actually happening on stage from my position but I did have three large screens not far away and was surrounded by so many enthusiastic people that the atmosphere far outweighed the lack of a clear view of the performers. There were many great moments.

U2 were excellent, as was Renée Fleming singing You’ll Never Walk Alone, and Master Sergeant Caleb Green of the US Army singing the Star-Spangled Banner. He was great during the show but he was even better during the rehearsals. It was a real treat to see Pete Seeger performing more than 45 years after he played at the same location as part of Martin Luther King Jr’s March On Washington. He encouraged the crowd to sing This Land Is Your Land with him and they didn’t let him down. The spoken parts of the show were very well delivered, especially when accompanied by historic scenes.

In many ways, Barack Obama’s speech was not unusual. We’ve come to expect him to provide an incredibly inspiring performance and he did exactly that. The crowd loved it and are unlikely to ever forget it.

All in all this was a very special occasion. I don’t know exactly how many people attended but I could see people as far back as the Washington Monument. Apparently there were also people most of the way back to the Capitol too, which is really quite amazing.

But, that may be nothing compared to the two million or more people expected on Tuesday.

Here’s a photo slideshow of some of the scenes witnessed by Bob Sunday: