Muni News
VOLUME 90, ISSUE 6 -
Fall 2000
Index | Next Article | Previous
Article
New Feature Highlighting Our Partners in King
County
The Alki Foundation: Bridging Local Business with
Municipal Activism
By Sarah Larson
How business friendly is the Seattle City Council candidate you elected?
Which of the current King County Executive candidates is most in touch with
Seattle’s economic needs? For answers to questions like these, look into the
Alki Foundation, affiliate of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Known to many as
“Alki,” this organization has a wealth of information on what our elected
officials are doing to support the Seattle, Bellevue, and King County business
community. Recognizing the importance of a healthy economy to the livability of
any city, Alki was founded in 1983 to ensure that needs of the business
community are met in municipal government.
Alki’s diverse, non-partisan membership base falls just over 80, and is
comprised of businesses ranging from multi-national corporations-such as
Microsoft and Boeing-to the single person owned and operated start-up. Their
common goal is simple: to identify, encourage, and promote the participation of
civic leaders who demonstrate a balanced business perspective on social and
economic issues in the Seattle, Bellevue, and King County area.
Alki is a not-for-profit organization funded entirely by membership dues and
private contributions. The foundation achieves it mission through
Candidate Evaluations: By interviewing and surveying local candidates,
Alki gains valuable insight to a contender’s commitment to the local business
community.
Voting Records: Voting records hold elected officials accountable to
their campaign promises, and are available to members in on-line reports and
printed newsletters.
Special Events: Alki also offers its members valuable access to local
government through its numerous special events. From its Annual Report from the
Mayor to informal, intimate luncheon policy forums, Alki keeps its members in
touch with local politicians and fosters the exchange of ideas on policy
affecting the business community concern, like housing and transportation.
Alki membership is open to both individuals and organizations. For more
information on the Alki Foundation, contact Executive Director Bill McSherry at
206/389-7295 or visit their website at
www2.seattlechamber.com/alkifoundation/
Index | Next Article | Previous
Article
| 
