The Walla Walla Valley Disability Network hosted our Annual Meeting at Veterans Memorial Pool on Friday, August 8th, 2025. The event started at 7:00 pm, and guests enjoyed an hour to swim, relax, use the slides, visit the concession stand, and connect with each other. Arts & crafts made by our summer camp participants were on display for everyone to admire. SOAR Director Tash volunteered as the night's emcee for the main presentation which started around 8:00 pm.
Folks gathered as Tash began presenting awards to outgoing board members Shannon Bergevin, Tyler Zimmerman, and Mike Spiess. Each of these board members has dedicated six years of their time to serve on the WWVDN Board of Directors, and have served our community with enthusiasm. They will be greatly missed. Unfortunately, they weren’t the only ones we bid farewell to. WWVDN staff surprised outgoing Parent to Parent Coordinator Angie Witt with an appreciation video, thanking her for the 18 years of support, wisdom, and passion she brought to the Parent to Parent program. We appreciate Shannon, Tyler, Mike, and Angie for the work they have done, and wish them best of luck wherever their journey takes them next.
We also welcomed Megan Gaines, Erika Mitchell, and Brad Baumann as the newest members of our Board of Directors. Geneva Arevalo introduced herself as WWVDN’s new Parent to Parent Coordinator. Geneva is passionate about advocacy, awareness, and equity for individuals with disabilities, and we’re lucky to have her on the team. We look forward to working with Megan, Erika, Brad, and Geneva to continue advocating for and supporting our community together.
The evening concluded with the premiere of our WWVDN 2025 Talent Show video. Performers showcased their talents, which included cooking, dancing, singing, making music, art, and sports. They had the option to enter their own videos or have them recorded during Summer Camp. The talent show video even included a surprise ending from Angie! It was a successful finale to another successful year at WWVDN.
