Member Profile: Fekerte Ketema

This January, Fekerte Ketema is going to fulfill a promise to her older sister. She is going to visit her sister in Ethiopia so they can enjoy time together while they are still young. 

Fekerte is the second youngest in a family of five children. She said her parents raised them in Addis Ababa “with dignity and love.” And, on summer trips to her Grandma’s farm, she grew to love nature and dreamed of marrying a farmer. 

As a “big shot” of the  Ethiopian government, Fekerte’s father worked closely with the late Emperor Haile Selassie. When she was young, her cousins teased her for saying that she hoped to not outlast the aging emperor, but it was in part due to a fear for her Dad’s safety in an unsettled political climate. 

At 19, Ferkerte moved to Kansas City to earn her Associate’s Degree. Although she is always a proud Ethiopian, she has loved building her adult life as an American. In the 1970’s, she moved to California and met her former husband, “a cowboy”??? from Montana, while working at an insurance company. Fekerte gave birth to their two children and trained to be a Montessori preschool teacher before moving to the Pacific Northwest. 

She loved the children and recalled how they seemed to find comfort in tracing the freckles on her face. But her memories of one little girl still brings tears to Ferkerte’s eyes. She said the parents were professionals who did not have time for their child and she lamented, “All the material things, you can’t even take care of your blood and flesh?”  

Ferkerte and her husband separated, and as a single mother, she enrolled in Washington State’s Pullman campus and credits her professors’ wives and her children’s grandmother for helping to balance her responsibilities. Earning a degree in Sociology, Ferkerte later became a counselor and supervised a nonprofit for young mothers. One of her team’s biggest successes was one of the clients that most perplexed her. Ferkerte was surprised that one of the women, an accomplished person who had  earned a law degree, was afraid of the outside world. She is still proud that they were able to help the woman to move beyond her struggles. 

“No matter what mother nature throws at you, you keep going,” Ferkerte said. So, even with the challenges of aging, Ferkerte relishes her independence and appreciates how the Northwest Neighbors Network helps her to maintain it with transport to appointments and light cleaning in her home. And, she is grateful for the volunteer who is assisting her with the arrangements for her trip to Ethiopia. 

It is a challenge to accept help for herself, but she does so with dignity by finding ways to contribute to the community.

Social Spotlight: on YOU!

Do you ever wonder if someone else is interested in doing what you like to do? Would you’d like to have someone join you when you want to go to a museum, see a play, go to a casino, watch or attend a ball game, enjoy a movie, listen to a concert, or just go out for a walk? YOU can be the catalyst to create that opportunity! The NNN Social Committee can help identify other members and volunteers who share similar interests and help you connect with them. 

Here’s an example of how easy it is to get the ball rolling:  Volunteer Mary M. let us know she’s planning to go to the Tulalip Casino on December 15th to watch the Seahawks play the 49ers. She was curious if we knew of others who may want to go with her, whether to watch the game together or to have some fun at the casino while Mary enjoyed the game. She has room in her car for up to 3 others. We checked the member/volunteer interest database and sent out Mary’s offer to those who expressed interest in casino trips. Sure enough, at least one member said yes! So now, Mary has company on an outing she was planning, and our member has a ride and company to go to an outing she’s interested in attending! Easy Peasy!  What a great way for NNN community members to get to know each other.

Don’t wait for NNN to come up with an event if there’s something you know you want to do. Let us know and we’ll get the word out! If you need a driver to go to the event, follow the normal NNN Services Request process. If you are able to drive, and are willing to drive another to the activity, let us know that too (mind you, drivers for NNN need to be vetted before they can drive other members on behalf of NNN). 

NNN Volunteers in the OK Chorale

OK Chorale, which sings even better than OK, will be singing at the Greenwood Senior Center this coming Sunday.  Please join us as we listen to a performance by three of our NNN volunteers (EileenC, AnneG, and GailL) and the rest of the Chorale.  You can get all the information about the performance by going to the NNN Events Calendar and clicking on Dec. 4 at 1:00.  This is a fundraiser for the Memory Loss Programs at Greenwood Center, 525 N.85th Street Seattle, WA 98103.

DECEMBER NNN EVENTS AND GATHERINGS

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

We welcome you to join us at any of our activities. It’s a great way to learn more about NNN and listen to others who enjoy the connections they make while attending an event. All activities are posted to our Northwest Neighbors Network web page. We encourage you to check our Events page for any changes or new opportunities that may pop up! And remember, NNN Members may request transportation to an event by signing into the website, calling or texting Services at 253-237-2848, or by emailing Services@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org.

NNN Walks: 

Get out and stretch your legs while visiting with other NNN neighbors! Walks take place rain or shine (unless driving conditions are bad). All are welcome. We’d LOVE to see more walkers at any or all of these locations! 

• Lake Forest Park, Horizon View Park, Mondays at 10:30

• Mountlake Terrace, Terrace Creek Park, Tuesdays at 11:00

• Shoreline, Hamlin Park, Meet in the first parking lot on the left, Thursdays at 1:00

• Edmonds, Meet on Sunset between Bell & Edmonds St, Sundays at 12:15

NNN Talks: Every Monday

Monday afternoon Zoom Chats with Jerry. The group picks a fun theme as a conversation topic each week. Call in to listen or share. Your choice! Great way to stay connected with your NNN community neighbors. 

• Mondays, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Click Zoom link below or call: 253 215-8782

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2532372848?pwd=RmlBTUlCQWI1ZHpzZ2ExQ25ramRFUT09

NNN Chats over Coffee:

Meet us at a local coffee shop for an hour of casual conversation over your favorite cup of coffee. We hope you’ll join us!

• December 9 at Diva Expresso, Kenmore. 2:00-3:00

• December 23 at Cafe Aroma, Shoreline. 2:00-3:00

NNN Plays Games Together:

Join us for Games with Sharon at Third Place Commons. All are welcome. Just play for fun! Lots of choices and no cut throat competition. Upper level, look for our NNN table sign.

• December 7 and December 21 from 1:00-3:00. 

Mahjong group meets on Fridays. The table is full, but let us know if you want to add your name to the waitlist. We’re happy to add another table if we get 4 additional players. 

NNN Reads:

Join host Eileen C. and others as they share their thoughts about a book selected by the group each month. 

• December19, by Zoom, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Click Zoom link below or call: 253 215-8782

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2532372848?pwd=RmlBTUlCQWI1ZHpzZ2ExQ25ramRFUT09

NNN Eats:

Boy do we like to eat! And talk! And eat some more! AND we get a BONUS lunch in December thanks to the fact we have 3 available alternating Fridays. Lunches are open to all! We ask that you let us know if you’re coming so we can let the restaurant know how many to anticipate. Contact Social@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org or call/text 253-237-2848. December's  lunch locations:

• December 2, Jersey’s Great Food & Spirits, Shoreline.  1:00-300

• December 16, Spiro’s Pizza, Shoreline. 1:00-3:00

• December 30, Issaya Thai, Shoreline. 1:00-3:00

NNN Artists and Crafters Gather Together: Every Tuesday

Whether you like to paint, draw, knit, crochet, make cards or have other special artistic talents, we welcome all to spend time and company with others who also enjoy creating in the company of others. Bring your own supplies and meet under the skylights at Third Place Commons in Lake Forest Park. Volunteer artist Marty B. and her friend Sylvia P. look forward to seeing you there! 

• Tables will be set up every Tuesday from 10:30-3:30. Come for all of part of the time.Third Place Commons, upper level, Lake Forest Park.

Birthdays in December

Join us in wishing our NNN members and volunteers born in December a very happy birthday month! We hope each of you finds something that makes you smile, as we smile with you. 

Happy Birthday to: 

Danie B., Bette B., Connie B., Linda B., Eileen C., Brian H., Ellen K., Andrea K., Jim M., Gretchen M., Kathy N., Vince O., Maggie P., Winifred P., Mark R., Virginia S., Bev S., Kim S., Kathy S., Barbara V.

Where Can I Find the Activities hosted by NNN, and Where Can I meet other NNN Members or Volunteers? 

Visit the Northwest Neighbors Events page!

This is what our Events page looks like (but it’s much bigger and easier to see) when you visit our website and click on the “Events” tab. Here’s the link:  https://www.northwestneighborsnetwork.org/content.aspx?page_id=4001&club_id=571198

Here’s a quick ‘at a glance’ calendar for planned events in December as of the time of this writing.

Inclement Weather Policy Reminder

• When area schools are closed due to weather, NNN is also closed. Please monitor your local radio, news or school websites to determine if schools are open. 

• Some parts of our service area can be more adversely affected than others.  So If a volunteer or member believes that it is not safe to travel, the service needs to be rescheduled.

• Volunteers and members are encouraged to contact one another whenever they are concerned about the weather forecast and make contingency plans.

• If no plan is in place, volunteers and members should contact one another as soon as they learn that they are not able to get out.

We have had the same beautiful photos decorating the halls and corners of our Virtual NNN Neighborhood but the season is changing and it seems it's time to redecorate. 

Northwest Neighbors Network uses photos to help with community engagement and the recruitment of new volunteers and members to our community.

The next time you find yourself in the company of another member or volunteer, why not take a Selfie together and show off how much you enjoy the company?

Please send any photos to services@northwestneighborsnetwork.org and together we will demonstrate our growth and engagement.