The City of Yelm has alot of opportunities for area citizens to serve their community, many of which do not require the indvidual to be living within the city limits. Here is a current list of openings:

Elected positions that DO require the person to live within Yelm city limits:
Yelm City Council seats up for election in 2007, each for a 4-year term-
Pos. 1 = Don Miller
Pos. 2 = Joe Baker
Pos. 6 = John Thompson
Pos. 7 = Russ Hendrickson

Positions NOT requiring City of Yelm residency:

Yelm Community Schools all with a 4-year term-
Dist. 2 = Donna Edwards
Dist. 3 = Denise Hendrickson
Dist. 5 = William Hauss

Fire Protection Dist. 17 Bald Hills 6-year term
Pos. 3 = Roger McMaster

Yelm Fire District 6-year term
Pos. 1 = Tim Bruner

Yelm Cemetary District 6-year term
Pos. 1 – Darlene Baker

Yelm Planning Commission
1. seat recently vacated by the resignation of Tami Jenkins

Yelm Timberland Library Advisory Board 5-year term
1. seat recently vacated by the resignation of Tami Jenkins
2. seat recently vacated by the retirement of Pam Walker
Three members must be a resident of the City of Yelm, shall own property inside the city limits or shall have a current City of Yelm business license. The remaining two members shall reside within either the Yelm or Rainier school districts.

Yelm Historic Preservation Commission
Members shall be residents of Yelms designated sphere of influence

Yelm Parks Advisory Committee
Two seats are vacant.
Consists of seven members who are residents of the Yelm area, and are appointed by the Mayor.

Glen Cunningham stopped me at last Monday’s Planning Commission meeting and asked why I commented on his serving on 6 local committees (see Yelm Community Blog entry of February 13, 2007, then scroll down) saying many of these had openings because of lack of community participation & his wealth of knowledge would otherwise go wasted. I told him service to the community is to be acknowledged, however diversity among committee members is what will bring fresh new ideas to the forefront. Does the very same person serving on the Yelm Economic Planning Committee, Yelm Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Yelm Planning Commission encourage diversity and divergent viewpoints, creating a lively discussion about vital issues of the day?

Now is YOUR chance to participate. Those of you living in the county surrounding Yelm can participate in most of these Yelm committees listed above. Now is YOUR chance to have a voice.

What say you?

Will you step up to the plate to serve and fill these committees with your new ideas, new “blood”, new passion, and new vigor to will reshape this town for the future?

To learn more, chekout the City of Yelm site under Citizen Committees.