Host families needed!

If you love learning about different cultures and making new friends, then consider hosting two of Bates' ESL Language and Cultural Academy exchange students.

Barbara Kuhn, international education coordinator, reports that 17 Chinese students and teachers will participate in this year's academy from July 15 to August 14.  "The students are coming from thousands of miles away," says Barbara. "We want to be ready for them when they arrive."

Homestay families provide international students with an introduction to American culture and family life. "Opening your home to students from a different country provides your family with a unique opportunity to meet new friends and help promote understanding," Kuhn says.

Host families should:
• Be willing to take two students into the home and enjoy meeting and helping people.
• Be open to sharing everyday experiences with a foreign student, and all members of the family agree it's a good idea to host foreign students.
• Have two bedrooms with one bed in each or one bedroom with two beds.
• Transport the students Monday-Friday to Bates' South Campus by 8 a.m. during the days designated for their morning English class and afternoon excursions and cultural experiences. A bus will return the students to their homestay in the evenings.
• Be willing to include the students on family outings and any special events.
• Give international students the opportunity to experience American family life.

Host families will:
• Recieve $1,050 in compensation for hosting two students for the month.
• Learn about another culture.
• Have the unique opportunity to share their culture with others.

Host family responsibilities:
• Provide a private furnished bedroom: access to laundry facilities and other shared household amenities.
• Provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. (Bates provides lunch Monday-Friday.)
• Make time to build relationships and make students feel comfortable and welcome.
• Agree to respect the culture and values of the student.
• Speak English to communicate with the students.
• Deliver and pick students up at the college's South Campus Monday-Friday.
• Include the students in family outings, shopping trips, etc.
• Provide access to the Internet, if available, at host family home

In return, students are expected to abide by host family routines and rules. If you would like to be a host, please contact Barbara at 253.680.7183.

Bates is Friday Night Fireworks sponsor for Rainiers game

Hurry and get your tickets for the Bates Day at the Rainiers game this Friday! Your $15 ticket includes admission, BBQ dinner and a Bates-sponsored fireworks show—all on a private party deck. Bring your friends and family!

Call 253.680.7160 to purchase your tickets!

News from Pierce County

Community kickoff provides details about U.S. Amateur and more

The public can learn more about the upcoming U.S. Amateur Championship at Chambers Bay as well as other amenities around the site at a Community Kickoff on June 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Environmental Services Building, 9850 64th St. W, University Place.

The U.S. Amateur, the nation’s oldest golf championship, will be held Aug. 23-29. Visitors to the June 10 kickoff can learn about plans involving traffic and parking, buy tickets, talk to United States Golf Association representatives and find out when the course and trails will be closed for championship operations.

The kickoff, held in the style of an open house, also will include information about other amenities at the Pierce County-owned Chambers Creek Properties, including the Sept. 2 opening of the Bridge to the Beach as well as private fundraising for the Playground By the Sound and the off-leash dog area. Visitors can also have a little fun with a putting contest.

Driving Directions: Take Exit 130 (South 56th Street) off Interstate 5 and follow South 56th Street West. At the intersection with Orchard Street, the road’s name changes to Cirque Drive. Follow Cirque Drive to Grandview and then go south (left) on Grandview to the Environmental Services Building.

Fish friendly car wash kits available
Warm weather is on its way, and fundraising car wash season is about to be in full swing. To keep car washes fish-friendly, Pierce County Public Works and Utilities lends out free car wash kits designed to keep soapy water out of storm drains and away from fish.

The kits come with the supplies you need to have a fish-friendly car wash including: a catch basin insert, submersible pump, garden hose, extension cord, instructions, and a large sign identifying the car wash as fish-friendly.

"We encourage residents to watch for these signs and make a point of patronizing car wash fundraisers that use the fish-friendly kit," said Dan Wrye, water quality manager for Surface Water Management. "Another good option is to use a commercial car wash where the water is recycled and then sent to a wastewater treatment facility."

"Car washes are an easy and popular way for groups to raise money, so we're pleased to offer a solution that allows car washes without sacrificing fish," Wrye added.

There is no charge to borrow the kits. To reserve one, contact the Surface Water Management Division at 253.798.2725. For more information go to www.piercecountywa.org/carwash.

Time to renew boat decals
Summer boating is right around the corner, and so is the deadline for renewing Washington state boat and watercraft registration decals. All boat registrations expire on June 30, 2010.

The Washington State Department of Licensing is responsible for all state licensing services. However, the 39 Washington counties act as sub-agents for the department.

The Pierce County Auditor's Office wants its customers to know about the looming deadline, especially since the state did not mail renewal notices.

"To avoid long lines, renew online at www.dol.wa.gov," Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson said. "If you want to renew in person, visit the Auditor's Office. Mid-week mornings offer shorter wait times."

Boat owners should bring the vessel's registration number when they renew.

The Auditor's Office plans to call many boat owners this week to remind them of the approaching deadline.

Boat registrations can be renewed online and in person at the Auditor's Office or at any vehicle licensing sub-agency. Visit the Auditor's website - www.piercecountywa.org/auditor - for locations and hours.

The Pierce County Auditor's Office is responsible for elections, licensing services, public records and animal control.

Students organize basketball tournament

Get ready to dribble, dunk and drive to the basket at the inaugural Technical College Basketball Tournament Saturday, June 12, at Wilson High School. Tip-off is at noon.

Rally around Bates Technical College, the only Pierce County technical college in the tournament, as the team competes with Bellingham Technical College and Lake Washington Technical College.

Centell Jackson, the Associated Student Government’s event coordinator, organized the event with the help of the Bates Associated Student Government executive board. Lynn Strickland, Bates’ associate dean of continuing education/apprenticeship, serves as coach for the team, with Jackson as the assistant coach.

“Four-year colleges and community colleges have sports teams, and I thought this was a great way for technical colleges to get involved in the sports community,” said Jackson, who is also a student in Bates’ marketing and business management program.

As the coordinator of the event, Jackson was able to practice the skills he is learning in his program. “Working with these three colleges really helped me to hone my networking and communications skills,” he said. “It was definitely a team effort to get the tournament organized, and I’m glad I was able to work on it from concept to creation.”

The organizers garnered sponsorships from Subway, Papa John’s Pizza, the Pepsi Bottling Group, Cenken Entertainment and the college’s Associated Student Government.

Admission is $3 with a student identification and $5 for the general public. For more information, contact LeMont Lucas, diversity center/Associated Student Government assistant, at 253.680.7113.

Library Corner

Explore these sample topics to continue learning the ABC's of recommended websites:

Exercise: exercise video and photo demonstrations of various types of exercise from Arthritis Today.
Fashion construction & design: Fashion-era.com contains fashion history, costume history, clothing, styles and social history.
Government: Follow the Money tracks political donations in all 50 states.
Health and medicine: Net Wellness contains consumer health information.
Information literacy: Library Smart: What you really need to know contains helpful information and links to other web sites about how to evaluate information.

Student Outreach and Recruitment Events

Tuesday, June 8
Hunt Middle School, Career Day, Tacoma, 8:30-11 a.m.

Wednesday, June 9
Tour, eighth grade students, DT, 11:30-1:30 p.m.
Tour after High School Orientation, DT, 2 p.m.

Thursday, June 10
Tour after High School Orientation, SC, 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, June 12
CollegeBound Conference, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, 9-11:30 a.m.

What's happening at Bates the week of June 7

Monday, June 7
Tobacco 101, 8:30 a.m., SC Auditorium
Fundraising and Auction Workshop (H & FL), 9 a.m., SC Auditorium
KBTC Managers Meeting, 10 a.m., MC Conference Room

Tuesday, June 8
Class Rep Coop Preschool Workshop, 9 a.m., SC Auditorium

Wednesday, June 9
Auto Body Advisory Meeting, 7 a.m., SC Auditorium
High School Info Session, 10:30 a.m., SC A100
High School Orientation, 2 p.m., DT Auditorium

Thursday, June 10
Facilities Maintenance Engineering Advisory, 7 a.m., SC Auditorium
Instruction Team, 9 a.m., DT Clyde Hupp
Officer Workshop “Risk Management”, 9 a.m., SC Auditorium
Deans Meeting, 11 a.m., DT Clyde Hupp
Scholarship Workshop, 11 a.m., DT Auditorium
High School Orientation, 3 p.m., DT Auditorium
TEA Banquet, 4 p.m., SC Cafeteria and Staff Dining Room

Friday, June 11
Early Learning Consortium Meeting, 1 p.m., MC Conference Room
Candulor Course, 7:30 a.m., DT Clyde Hupp
Fire Service Recruit Academy Graduation, 7 p.m., SC Auditorium

Saturday, June 12
Toastmasters Conference/Leadership Training, 7 a.m., DT Auditorium
Breastfeeding ABC’s, 7 a.m., SC Auditorium
Candulor Course, 7:30 a.m., DT Clyde Hupp

Coyote protects Mohler Campus

Audio/Sound Technology student Jessica Pease was just outside instructor Willie Kelley's office at Mohler Campus on Wednesday, May 26 when she noticed something unusual: a coyote. She quickly snapped the photo below.