New Year’s Eve gets all the attention, at least when it comes to calendars. It’s the end of one year and the beginning of another, after all, and deserves equal parts reflection and celebration. But it still wouldn’t be a bad idea if we could envision the year as a game or a play or some sort of pageant (and it is surely all of these and more), and take a quick look at where we stand at the halfway mark.

It’s hard to believe that 2020’s glass is half-empty already. Or half-full, if you’re more of an optimist, although this year has got to be testing even the sunniest of dispositions. At the Ikkatsu Project, it’s been a year of cancellations, postponements and reconsiderations… probably not that different from a lot of other organizations, large and small. For the past few years, most programs have been based around in-person contact: K-12 classroom instruction, seminars, presentations, beach cleanups and surveys as well as advocacy adventures in Olympia and Washington DC. With the way this year has gone so far, the regular methods of getting things done are not among the current options.

So it’s been an exercise in adapting. Work is ongoing toward making the classroom programs a combination of lesson plans, instructional videos and virtual learning. Plans are also underway for doing the Tacoma Shoreline Survey while staying safe, social but still distant. The 2-Minute Meetings have been a lot of fun to put together and from how I’m reading the hit counter, they seem to be getting watched. They typically come out on Mondays, and if you miss an installment, they are all archived on the site and you can watch anytime. Feedback and suggestions are always welcome.

And now, without further ado, welcome to July.