For the first time in years, Real Change vendors, board members and staff took over Madrona Park for the Real Change Vendor Picnic, an afternoon of food, games and prizes with a view of Lake Washington. The crew stoked coals to grill up Louisiana hot links, hot dogs and vegan options topped with relish, mustard, ketchup and a surprising amount of sauerkraut. Sides of potato and macaroni salads were demolished, and we turned up the sweet with cookies and donuts.
Groups broke off for activities and conversation, unleashing our competitive sides with a game of spades (and a healthy amount of good-natured ribbing). Five lucky vendors walked away with free papers from the raffle at the end.
The Vendor Picnic is all about getting out of the office and bringing the Real Change community together outside of the usual business context. This year, however, it was also a bittersweet day: a chance to say goodbye to longtime Vendor Program Director Rebecca Marriott, who officially departed the organization the day before.
Ashley Archibald is the editor of Real Change News.
Read more of the Sept. 21-27, 2022 issue.