On May 1st of this year we will
open for our 25th season with Hostelling International. It has
not been an easy road, but it has fulfilled a dream. In 1980,
I had recurring dreams about huts and people in my pasture.
Little did I realize that my first hostel adventure with my
two sons, Dirk and Jake would develop into a world famous hostel
in my own backyard: that the dream huts would become
Indian Teepees and the people in my pasture would number
in the thousands.
Many
who have stayed at the hostel or read my story realize this
is a hostel with a heart. Many hands have helped make it a
reality. Hostellers have come for a day, stayed a week, and
ended the summer with us. They have been willing to do anything
from cleaning toilets to repairing bikes just to be part of
the Vashon triangle. There seems to be some force that
holds people here, maybe it’s Vashon, or the people of
the island, hopefully it is the presence of the hostel and
its inner peace that draws and holds them.
I
have always called myself a facilitator. I provided the time
and place and the magic happened. People fell in love with
Vashon, bought houses and stayed. People fell in love with
each other, and we had weddings, friendships were kindled
and pen pals made. I built it, and you came, hopefully enjoying
Vashon and the hostel, possibly becoming better citizens of
the world and stewards of the earth.
Most
of the money earned from overnights has been added back to
improve our facility. What was once a home hostel with 83
overnights has grown to over 8000 overnights in 2001. We are
ranked in the top percentage for overnights in the AYH system,
and I have many Hostellers to thank for the growth.
However,
the growth has not been appreciated by all. As you know,
the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and King County tried to
make the hostel fit new codes. The basic problem being that
an ordinance was written for the hostel in 1982 but never
voted into law. I guess the county thought this European concept
would never last.
We persevered and after 8 hectic years we are now able to
use our new facility. A special thanks to all our loyal
hostellers who helped with donations and support.
We are now focusing on our Hostel Adventure Scholarship which
we have been trying to develop for several years. We
have filed a 501 C 3 for our Music in the Meadow program,
but unfortunately a neighbor has successfully shut it down.
We still plan to offer a travel scholarship to a Vashon
graduating Senior. We are not sure how we will fund
it, but have several ideas brewing. It is not necessary that
they be college bound since the purpose of the scholarship
is to encourage youth to learn about the world through getting
to know their earthly neighbors. A trip to a foreign
country can be an educating experience for any age.
Happy Trails,
|
