Whidbey Island: a Year in the Life

Published 5:00 am Saturday, June 1, 2002

When South Whidbey resident Debbie Short moved to the island a few years ago, she looked around for a Whidbey Island calendar. And she couldn’t find one.

“I realized there never has been a calendar with photographs exclusively of Whidbey,” Short said.

After becoming a member of Soroptimist International of South Whidbey, Short joined others in the group in suggesting fund-raising ideas.

“The Ways and Means Committee always brainstorms ideas to come up with ways to fund our projects,” said fellow Soroptimist Sheila White. The goal of Soroptimist is to enhance the quality of life on South Whidbey, through charitable projects and programs supporting and encouraging women and families and the community at large.

Short’s idea of producing a calendar was considered a winner, and the group began to bring the ambitious project to fruition.

“It was the biggest project we’d ever done, in terms of capital outlay,” White said.

A major aspect, of course, was selecting photographs.

“We wanted photos that gave an overall sense of Whidbey,” Short said. “I think what we have shows what a magical island this is.”

The photographs include scenes from the Southend of Whidbey to Oak Harbor. Some of the subjects are familiar and dear to the hearts of residents and visitors: The 1904 barn at Greenbank Farm, a ferry coming into Clinton, the Admiralty Head Lighthouse and sunset on Deception Pass.

The photographers are a mix of professional and amateur. Nine of the photos were taken by Dan Karvasek, a prominent Island photographer whose work is reproduced in prints and on note cards, and who recently won a prestigious Nikon award, one of only three American winners in the international contest.

Al Berni, who shot the photo of the lighthouse at Admiralty Head, has been a professional photographer since the 1940s, with many of his works on exhibit in art galleries.

Ron Norman is also a noted professional, represented in the calendar with photos of the Useless Bay Golf and Country Club in autumn dress, and Race Week in Oak Harbor against the background of a snowcapped Mount Rainier.

Richard White is the amateur in the group, but his photograph of springtime cherry blossoms in Langley is part of the cherished collective memory of Southend residents.

“The names here represent the wealth of talent on the island,” Short said.

“Isle see you…on Whidbey Island” has already sold 800 of the 2,500 copies printed.

“Many people are buying in quantity,” White said. “Businesses are planning to send them as holiday gifts to clients, both on and off island.”

Bouyed by the success of this fledgling venture, the Soroptimists are already at work preparing for the 2004 Whidbey Island calendar.

“This time we want more community involvement,” White said. They are encouraging people — including young photographers — to submit photos for consideration.

Photographers interested in submitting photos should contact Soroptimist at P.O. Box 633, Freeland, WA. 98249. The deadline is Oct. 1.

“But it will be challenge in future years to improve on this first one,” White said.