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AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO THE MCOW COMMUNITY & OUR FRIENDS
ABOUT THE 2021 – 2022 PROGRAM YEAR:

Out of an abundance of caution and in line with our guiding principle of Safety First in all we do, the MCOW Board of Directors has decided to cancel the 2021-2022 exchange. Last week we were notified that the James Hargest College Board of Trustees canceled the trip for the New Zealand students and adults scheduled to arrive in September 2021. This week the MCOW Board voted to not have a group of Student Ambassadors, Teacher Leaders, and Parent Chaperones travel to New Zealand in February 2022. This decision was not made lightly and is the result of a great deal of careful consideration, given its significance in the history of the MCOW program. For 31 continuous years, we have taken students to New Zealand each February, until a year ago when the pandemic forced us to cancel this year’s trip. While frustrating and difficult, the Board believes that canceling the February 2022 trip is the best course of action given the circumstances. Since its inception in 1989, the program has changed lives because of the connections made and the discoveries encountered around every corner. Sending our Student Ambassadors on this Kiwi adventure has become a familiar and safe experience for us, and it will be again in 2022-2023. But for now, we still find ourselves in the midst of a very unusual time, given the Coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having around the world. For most of us, life has changed in profound ways, and the only thing that seems certain is uncertainty, still. The simple fact is we don’t know what to expect or how this will continue to impact our daily lives in the coming weeks and months. While this message is somber, the MCOW Board of Directors is committed to make the most of this unique year and we invite you to join us. In disappointment there is often resilience, discovery, and growth.
 
Was your student planning to be an Ambassador or planning to host a Kiwi? CLICK HERE to let us know so we can consider fun, new ways of connecting these students during the next year. (Note that the Board has decided to allow students who will be in the eighth grade to apply to participate in the February 2023 trip.)
 
Are you interested in helping with the annual Meeker Holiday Bazaar in November?  CLICK HERE to let us know that we can add you and/or your student to the list of volunteers needed for the Holiday Bazaar team.
 
Do you love attending the MCOW Gala Dinner & Auction?  While we won't have a traditional auction event this year, we are considering how to bring together our amazing MCOW Community in a gratitude event. CLICK HERE if you want to help us create an unforgettable evening in celebration of the MCOW program.

 Support
Do you shop at Fred Meyer or Amazon?  Please consider signing up with Kroger Rewards and Amazon Smile to help support MCOW. Once you do, your shopping dollars will be added with others and will turn into a donation to MCOW from these companies. These funds will help us to cover the expenses (for regulatory, technical, and business requirements) that we will continue to have this year to operate the program.
 
While we have decided to forego the exchange trip in February 2022, we fully intend to make our 2021-2022 program year count. We plan to make this year central to the core foundation of this program -- connections with other people. Let's stay connected. Let's stay safe. Let's make the most of the year ahead and work together to keep the MCOW program strong and vibrant for all the years to come.
 
Thank you for being a part of the MCOW community! Mihi Koe.
 
Allison, Amy, Annette, Charles, Louann, and Stephan
MCOW Board of Directors for 2021-2022
www.meekernz.org

Normally, the team of Teachers, Chaperones and Ambassadors jumps into action upon our return to the US at the end of February. Ambassadors share stories at each of the local elementary schools and the Information Night for prospective applicants & their families. The Teachers & Chaperones assemble notes and feedback to the Board and help set up the next team of teachers for success right away with a new program year starting March & April. However, March 2020 had different ideas in store. With the shut down due to the pandemic we moved into a wait and see mode for our Spring activities, and instead of seeing teammates in the hallways we had virtual meet-ups here and there.

It's hard to believe it's almost been a year since our trip in February 2020! Tonight, we got together for our official Reunion virtually. Our team received care packages on their doorstep this afternoon; perhaps with a little nostalgia for pizza takeout in Wellington and Queenstown? The candy & drinks packed in were our favorites here, but we wish we could have been having our favorite New Zealand crunchies, L&P, and more. In honor of our field trip panning for gold in New Zealand, we worked through a Gold Rush Adventure with The Escape Game Remote Adventures company... luckily both teams made it out! A fun reminder of just how valuable every member of this team was back on our trip. It takes all different strengths & personalities to travel as a team. Not only did we all bring value, but we all grew in different ways from this experience too. Afterward, we gathered virtually to reminisce and catch up. We remembered funny little moments, hugging cows on Farm Day, food we tried, overcoming fears on zip lines and planes, and so much more. Since our return, some of us have moved or remodeled! Some of us got new pets, hobbies or hair styles! Some of us look forward to returning to classrooms, going to concerts, and sports; of course, many of us miss traveling! 

THANK YOU to our families and community members who supported our fundraising, the MCOW Board's leadership and guidance, the incredible people of James Hargest, and... most of all our host families in Invercargill. We miss you all!

Our February 2020 exchange trip was a memory we will never forget! 
Meeker Citizens of the World 2019-2020 Ambassador Team 
Mrs. Eklof & Mrs. Hausman - Teachers 
Liz Sawyer & Pam Kikillus - Chaperones
Ashley, Aspen, Ava, Audra, Ben, Julia, Lavinia, Owen, Ray, Ryder - Ambassadors 

Northeast Tacoma Healthy Kids Coalition started as one woman’s desire to feed the children at Browns Point Elementary who were hungry on weekends. Now, Jewel Ocariz is one of an incredible team of individuals who lead this not for profit organization bursting with activity! What once only served 6 children at one school is now a partnership among the Northeast Tacoma three elementary schools (Browns Point Elementary, Northeast Tacoma Elementary, and Crescent Heights Elementary) and the middle school (Meeker Middle School). 

Each year, our MCOW Student Ambassadors complete a service project as a team within our local community supporting various organizations in Northeast Tacoma. Several times our service projects have included hours packing food with the Coalition. With Covid impacting our community, Meeker Citizens of the World does not have Student Ambassadors completing service projects and a need for donations ourselves has diminished temporarily. At the December MCOW Board meeting, we unanimously agreed to take this opportunity to give back. First, in honor of the ongoing support of MCOW by the Meeker Middle School music program to all those welcome assemblies over the years, we provided tubs of essential food and household items through the program coordinated by the music department for years serving the Hilltop Community. Second, we reached out to the Coalition for their most urgent needs and how we could best support them. 

The MCOW Board delivered these urgently needed items today so they can round out the full kits they will start distributing again this week. We learned the Northeast Tacoma Healthy Kids Coalition has seen their need substantially increase both during Covid and with the closure of the local NE Tacoma food bank. They are now serving 273 students. (That number does not include those students siblings. Though, due to generosity of the community they were able to serve students and their siblings through the recent holiday gift distribution.) We are sharing their hope for an extension to come for the incredible farm to table refrigerated truck distribution they were able to provide in part of 2020. This bi-weekly drive-thru service to these families went beyond the usual non-perishable goods distributed. Regardless if the farm to table portion of the program comes through again, they will continue providing upwards of $3500 worth of nonperishable food to the students of Northeast Tacoma every month. They do this entirely through donations. 

• DONATE FOOD: They have worked to identify a specific list of goods best utilized.  Their wishlist identifies these on Amazon but many of these are available at local Costco, Winco, Walmart or other local grocery stores.
• VOLUNTEER TIME: An efficient, highly organized system exists to their storage, packing and distribution needs. Often these opportunities are simply an hour of your time, and times/days vary. Given Covid restrictions, sign ups are limited and restricted for health and safety of volunteers and families receiving the items. Contact the Coalition through their email if you have questions or want to help, nethealthykidscoalition@gmail.com 
• LEARN MORE & CONNECT:  Sign up for email updates at visit their website or visit them on FaceBook.

We honor the tremendous value and critical pivoting with Covid restrictions this organization has demonstrated in 2020. We look forward to returning to the days of coordinating our Student Ambassadors service projects with organizations like the Northeast Tacoma Healthy Kids Coalition! Our next MCOW program year begins soon; please stay tuned for more announcements and updates. 

This year has been a unique one for Meeker Citizens of the World and for our world at large! 

For over 30 years, this program has centered on the rich growth that comes from a cultural exchange - listening, exploring and embracing many different concepts and perspectives. It hasn’t been unusual over the past years for the program to adjust with the times during economic challenges or unexpected hiccups, although dealing with a global pandemic is definitely a first. Just as the teachers we partner with are missing the face to face hellos with students in the hallways and classrooms, we too are missing our connection with the core mission of the program - the kids! 
 
While this photo is from past sunnier days, we have met as the MCOW Board of Directors each and every month to adjust, consider new possibilities, and strategize on program elements for the exchange program. Earlier this month we gathered via Zoom to reflect on this year; we’ve shared with one another many laughs, difficult decisions, and choked-up moments during the year. And, we’ve started looking ahead as we turn the page into 2021! Our program year starts each April so there are dreams, contingencies and practicalities already being discussed for the return of the program. This group of adults serving as the Board each has their own ties to the program. Despite our small NE Tacoma community, some of us never knew each other until MCOW brought us together. Each of us brings different talents, but we all share a love of kids and this program. 

Whether you are a community partner, teacher, former Ambassador, former Host, or family member with ties to MCOW, we send our heartfelt hugs and warm wishes this holiday season. To our New Zealand friends, we send joyous greetings for you all with the hope you are enjoying your summer, the holidays, and the conclusion of your New Zealand school year! 

2020 Meeker Holiday Bazaar - Virtual Style! 

A tradition bringing together Meeker Citizens of the World, Meeker Middle School and our NE Tacoma community! Each year in the chill of Saturday morning early in November, our vendors pull into Meeker Middle School with their "sleighs" filled to the brim! A team of Santa's elves greet with excited smiles & strong arms to unload and transport their products to their booths. Familiar holiday carols pipe into the background as last minute festive touches are hung around the school's common areas. The bake table emits yummy scents & the raffle baskets are trimmed up with shiny bows wondering who the lucky winner will be. A constant hum of our community shop, chat, and take in the atmosphere of the hint of the holidays just around the corner. A few adults always stop to tell their past exchange program stories and ask the elves (the Ambassadors) about what they are most eagerly anticipating for their trip to New Zealand. And as the parents, students, and often helpful board members and past program friends rub their feet at the end of the long day, they realize the hardest work is done and the countdown begins towards an experience of a lifetime!

So in honor of what would have been on this Saturday, thank you to each and every vendor who has participated in years past to this important tradition! Thank you to our generous and loyal NE Tacoma community who has supported not just our vendors at the bazaar but provided broader support to this program for over 30+ years. We may not be together in person wandering & catching up in 2020, but we are all together in spirit.

We invite you to join us in supporting these local businesses & artists by shopping virtually today or any day this holiday season! Or perhaps leave a comment of your favorite memories from years past. Check our social media posts at Meeker Holiday Bazaar or visit a full gallery of vendors - https://www.meekernz.org/annual-holiday-bazaar.html
#shoplocal #tacoma #holidaybazaar #uniquegifts #communitylove

The Meeker Holiday Bazaar, held annually every November before Thanksgiving at Meeker Middle School in Northeast Tacoma, will be canceled this year due to the situation with COVID-19. 

In the spirit of community and tradition, Meeker Citizens of the World would like to present an alternative to the Holiday Bazaar by using the power of social media. Though we are unable to enjoy this event in person this year, we can do our holiday shopping online while continuing to support some of our favorite artisans and vendors! 

MCOW invites vendors and artisans to submit a Vendor Connection form to the Holiday Bazaar committee for potential inclusion. We will be highlighting vendors for a period of time through our MCOW website/FaceBook and Holiday Bazaar FaceBook page. This is a free opportunity. The form is only available digitally on our website by clicking the link above or by typing in http://www.meekernz.org/vendor-connection.html 

This valued tradition for Meeker Middle School, MCOW and our Northeast Tacoma community is one we, as the MCOW Board of Directors, eagerly hoped we would be hosting this year. We are all saddened by the current timing and restrictions preventing us from moving forward in person. 

Louann de Leon
Holiday Bazaar Chair

To celebrate our Kiwi friends and Kiwi connections, MCOW Ambassador alums Kailey Baxter (2018), Sofia Jorgenson (2018) and Morgan Taubenheim (2019) made Lolly Cake today! It was delicious! Special thanks to Jane Mika for the malt biscuits and Eskimo lollies. 

In honor of what would have been the warm welcome of our New Zealand friends to Sea-Tac airport today, we encourage our former MCOW Ambassadors, hosts, teachers and families to stop & think of your favorite memory or connection you made in your experience. Feel free to leave a memory or comment on the blog post on the website or social media, or perhaps reach out with a quick hello to a Kiwi you know! 

HOSTING / AMBASSADORS 
As we announced earlier, both sides of the program have been canceled this year. We are in the process of evaluating a possible virtual reunion option for the 2020 Ambassadors. Further, we are working to creatively prepare for a 2021-2022 launch for next Spring. 

HOLIDAY BAZAAR 
The Board carefully discussed factors impacting the feasibility of the Holiday Bazaar in November 2020. We will make a final decision and update our community by early September via the website, email and social media. Thank you to those vendors who have reached out with inquiries! 

ANNUAL GALA AUCTION 
Previously, we hinted to the fact we are enthusiastically planning a variation on this event for early next year. We look forward to announcing more in the coming months. 

​Lastly, we wish all our school partners and NE Tacoma families the best as we prepare for a new type of back to school in the coming weeks! We are thinking of all the families, sponsorship businesses and various community partners impacted during this time.

​Stay safe and enjoy the end of summer, 
MCOW Board