THIS IS

EXCEPTIONAL FORESTERS America’s First Community Sponsored Habilitation Program for the Mentally Handicapped

By James H. Lindley

By James H. Lindley

This Is

EXCEPTIONAL FORESTERS

America’s First Community Sponsored Habilitation Program for the Mentally Handicapped

DEDICATION

To Bob Kimbel and Warren Richards

Co-Founders of Exceptional Foresters

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To all the people who have contributed valuable details and

remembrances: Lorraine Berube, Ken and Phyllis Briedenstein, Jean

Eliot, Marl Jensen, Bob and Louise Kimbel and Marcella Morgus.

Thanks also to Lorraine Berube and my wife Deborah;

Without your help this manuscript would be a hopeless word salad.

“These are the thoughts of al l men in all ages

and lands, they are not original with me.

I f they are not yours as much as mine they are

nothing or next to nothing.”

Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass

INTRODUCTION

Programs for the mentally handicapped have clearly

entered an era of limits. Growing doubts about the

effectiveness of government sponsored services and

accompanying budgetary cutbacks offer bleak

prospects to facilities which are totally dependent on

Federal and State funding. If services for the mentally

handicapped are to survive the historic passing of The

Great Society, alternatives must be considered.

Exceptional Foresters, Inc. offers a unique

approach to the problem of how to best serve the

needs of developmentally disabled people in a cost

effective manner. As a community-based, work-

oriented program, Exceptional Foresters, Inc. is able

to present opportunities for training and employment

to its clients without becoming completely dependent

on government funding. Exceptional Foresters, Inc.

has consistently generated 20-25 % of its annual

income through an aggressive work-oriented

philosophy. The goal is to have all participants in the

program eventually "pay their own way" while

performing productive work in general forestry,

workshop or crafts, and other socially useful

activities.

This concept has proven to be beneficial both to

the client and his community. By engaging in

meaningful productive work, the mentally

handicapped person is able to maintain a high level of

self-esteem and dignity which is a natural human

right. The public benefits because the individual finds

a useful place within society. At the same time, the

immediate community is economically stimulated by

having a unique industry in its midst. By teaching the

client a socially useful skill and by providing him

with security and recognition, Exceptional Foresters,

Inc. offers a needed human service at minimum cost

to the taxpayer.

Since its inception in 1957, Exceptional Foresters,

Inc. has been guided by the philosophy that

developmentally disabled people have the same

rights and responsibilities as other citizens. Among

these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of

happiness plus the responsibility not to infringe upon

the rights of others.

As a non-profit organization, Exceptional

Foresters maintains the facilities needed by its

clientele to achieve maximum independence within

the Shelton community. All training and support

services complement, not replace, normal community

services and family support systems. Together, these

systems form an extended family for the client and

are a key to his or her life fulfillment.

Residents of Exceptional Foresters, Inc. must be at

least eighteen years of age, ambulatory, independent

in most dressing and grooming skills, and able to

participate in a vocational or educational day training

program. As a community-based organization,

admission preference is given to residents of Mason

County and central western Washington but is not

limited to this population. Exceptional Foresters, Inc.

seeks to serve the needs of all Washington state's

special citizens.

As we approach our 25th year of service to the

mentally handicapped, Exceptional Foresters wishes

to extend its deepest appreciation to the citizens of

Mason County. This small book cannot possibly

acknowledge the many instances of love and support

that have been extended to Exceptional Foresters over

the years. To all, our heartfelt thanks!

PROLOGUE

The rural city of Shelton is located in Mason County

at the foot of Washington's Olympic Peninsula.

Bordered to the north by Hood Canal and the pristine

Olympic Mountains, it is an area of great natural

beauty. It is also the hub of a unique industry based

upon a variety of little known forest products. Timber

production has generally overshadowed the

importance these products play in the economic life of

Mason County. Currently, millions of dollars are

earned, annually through the farming and harvesting

of these natural resources.

Christmas trees represent the key product in

this industry, both in income and in numbers of

persons employed. Other products derived from the

evergreen forest are swordfern, salal, and huckleberry

brush. All are used extensively in floral arrangements

and are shipped from Mason County to various

points in the world. Also, the entire world supply of

cascara bark (from which the drug cascara and its

derivatives are obtained) is found therein.

All of these natural products, and the methods

developed to harvest them, have been cataloged

under the term silviculture. Through the vehicle of

silviculture, the original board members of

Exceptional Foresters, Inc. initiated a vocational

training program for mentally retarded men. This is

the story of their program….

Looking North from Shelton toward the Olympic Mountains.

A Christmas tree farm lies in the foreground.

Beginnings 1954-1963

A New Approach to an Age Old Problem

Before the birth of Exceptional Foresters in 1957,

Mason County residents with mentally retarded

children were presented with two stark and depressing

choices: they could place their children in a state

institution or continue to provide care at home. Both

options had major deficiencies and posed an intolerable

dilemma for many families.

Institutions were overcrowded, understaffed, and

lacking in the ability to provide meaningful lives for

their residents. Backlogs in admission were large with

waiting periods extending seven to ten years. Once

institutionalized, the child was effectively isolated from

family and community. This made any prospect of

readaptation or reintegration into community life

unlikely the longer the client remained within the

institution.

If the child remained at home, his need for special

attention often placed great strains on the family

structure. Individual families were forced to bear the

dual responsibilities of raising and educating their

handicapped children alone. Tragically, this resulted in

an immeasurable amount of heartache, guilt, and not

infrequently, divorce.

Opportunities for special education were still in the

initial stages of development. On March 17, 1953,

legislation was passed enabling school districts to have

the option of offering special education. Until that time

it had been the duty of the individual families to

educate their children. By 1955 only a few of the larger

cities had any form of education for mentally retarded

children and the lack of educational opportunities was

especially noticeable in rural areas of the state.

Against this bleak background, Bob and Louise

Kimbel were touring the country, hoping to find a

suitable program in which to educate their two young

mentally retarded sons. Back at home, they finally

learned of an obscure branch within the Department of

Public Institutions called Education for the

Handicapped. It was staffed by three people who

occupied a small cramped office in Olympia. The

Director told the Kimbels that if they wanted special

education and a work program within Mason County

they would have to do it themselves. He then scrawled

out his guidelines for such a venture on two small

sheets of memo paper. From such humble beginnings

arose Exceptional Foresters and Rogers School. Rogers

School for the mentally handicapped was named after

Roy Rogers, a long time activist in efforts to aid the

mentally handicapped. Rogers School was the

forerunner of Exceptional Foresters, Inc. and a rallying

point for the aroused residents of Mason County who

were concerned with the well-being of their special

citizens.

The Staff Director’s note…and the foundation of Rogers

School and Exceptional Foresters.

Rogers School

In April, 1955, the Kimbels and fourteen other

people organized the Mason County Chapter of the

Washington Association for Retarded Children

(W.A.R.C.). Their primary objective was to fill the

void in Mason County's academic training of its

mentally handicapped children by establishing a

facility within the school district that would address

their special needs.

When the members of W.A.R.C, approached the

school board with a proposal for developing a

scholastic program within the District 309 school

system, they were turned down due to a lack of

funds. Undeterred, the scrappy charter members of

W.A.R.C. decided to go ahead with their plans by

building and staffing the school themselves.

Through the cooperation of the National Guard,

W.A.R.C. leased the old Navy mess hail located at

Sanderson Air Field. This same building would later

become a wood workshop for the Exceptional

Foresters, but in 1955 it was a dilapidated relic from

World War II.

Long hours were spent refurbishing the facility,

installing plumbing and heating, and building

classrooms. With volunteer help and private

donations of money, a two-room Rogers School for

the mentally handicapped became a reality in

October, 1955. Upon completion, W.A.R.C. turned

over their realized dream to the Mason County school

system.

The first class opened to a group of ten pupils

taught by Mrs. Mary Trexler. These students came

from families located in various parts of Mason

County. Although they were now part of the school

district, no means of public transportation was

available to them. Therefore, as a mother with the

means and the necessity, Louise Kimbel became

official chauffeur for the ten aspiring students of the

class of "55." Each morning, the Kimbel's old Chrysler

could be seen bringing in a carload of kids from

Matlock and other outlying areas of the county. She

continued making her appointed rounds until the

school district allowed the Rogers students to be

bussed in 1956. Relatively few problems were

Rogers School

associated with this historic change and soon the

presence of retarded children on the buses was all but

taken for granted.

For the next sixteen years, Rogers School

provided academic instruction for the mentally

retarded children of Mason County. With the passage

of time, however, the facility became outmoded and

badly in need of extensive remodeling. A bond issue

was placed before the voters of Mason County in 1969

to provide for the cost of constructing a new facility

adjacent to Mt. View School. The bond issue was

successful and upon completion of the Mt. View

Annex in 1971, Rogers School closed and passed into

county history.

A Committee of Two

As Rogers School was getting underway, the

parents began to develop a work program because

there were virtually no opportunities for further

A group of Rogers students.

achievement available to mentally retarded children

after their academic schooling was completed. Either

they would return to their family home and live lives

of total dependence or they would be absorbed by an

institution, becoming wards of the state

Unwilling to accept these limitations Warren

Richards and Bob Kimbel formed a "committee of

two' with Richards serving as Committee Chairman.

The fruit of their efforts was Exceptional Foresters

Inc., the first community sponsored and financed

habilitation center for the mentally handicapped in

the United States.

The name "Exceptional Foresters" came from the

planned primary activity of the men: the commercial

production of forest resources. A vocational training

program was developed through which a client

would participate in all stages of tree farming and

Limber harvesting. The principal function of this

training would be to bring the mentally handicapped

person into self employment and avoid, as far as

possible, custodial or hospital care.

The philosophy that guided Kimbel and Richards

was simple: people should make do for themselves.

Mentally handicapped people should receive training

to become self-supporting, so as not to remain

dependent upon the charity of relatives or the public.

This idea seemed as natural as the forests from which

the Exceptional Foresters would make their living.

At that time, reforestation was not widely

implemented following timber harvest. The logging

companies had left thousands of acres of state and

county land lying fallow and rank. Why not put this

land to use again as a source of income and vocational

training for the Exceptional Foresters? It was apparent

that a program developed around general forestry

would have a number of selling points. With all the

surrounding forest lands there would always be a

readily accessible supply of wood products.

Silvicultural work is relatively simple and the details

are easily understood. Being out of doors, engaging in

purposeful physical activity, helps create a robust

body and is a natural aid to coordination and control.

Learning work habits through the vehicle of

silviculture strengthens the client's sense of self

esteem, and the resultant physical labor in a group

atmosphere fosters a spirit of cooperativeness.

Kimbel and Richards developed an idea of leasing

unused county and state lands as a place to grow

Christmas frees, cut firewood, and gather other forest

products such as ferns, huck, and salal. Immediately

upon incorporation on December 23, 1957,

Exceptional Foresters approached the County Port

Commission with an offer to lease 1,020 acres of

County land at Sanderson Fir Field, On February 6,

1958 this task was successfully completed; they then

turned their attention toward the State level.

The newly organized Board of Directors

approached the Department of Natural Resources

(DNR) which was directed at that time by Bert Cole.

Since DNR had never leased its unused land before,

the Foresters worked closely with them in

establishing a policy for this new concept. They were

assured by DNR that they would be granted a lease

for 1,000 acres of State land after a period of time had

passed. During this time, DNR developed a formula

of contract leasing to the highest bidder. So, when the

first land was ready to be leased, it was bid on from

the County Courthouse steps in downtown Shelton.

A few of the local Christmas tree companies outbid

the Exceptional Foresters and gained access to the

unused State lands. The Foresters were disappointed

but their resolve remained strong. With luck and hard

work something else would turn up.

"Do It Yourself!"

After this episode, Exceptional Foresters entered a

period in which every possible private resource in the

community was tapped in order to secure a firm

financial base. Between the years 19584963 the Board

of Directors and the people at W.A.R.C. volunteered

thousands of hours trying to raise the funds necessary

for entry into the silviculture business. This led to an

endless stream of bake sales, auctions, bingo games,

and door to door pledges of $1.00 or more. Donations

were actively sought from private industry and

various social groups.

The program was designed to provide twenty-

four-hour care, 365 days of the year, so good housing

was required. In April, 1958, Warren Richards began

the task of reconstructing the two barracks which had

been leased from the Shelton Port Commission. One

of these structures was slated for use as Ian

administrative center and the other as a live-in unit.

Together, they were to serve as the heart of an

organization dedicated to improving the lives of

Mason County's mentally handicapped citizens.

A Fledgling Organization

The test, I say again and again

Of any civilization is the measure of

Consideration and care which it gives

To the weakest members

Pearl S. Buck The Companion

The First Foresters

The period of time between 1958-1963 was

marked by slow but steady efforts to build the

financial base of Exceptional Foresters. The

difficulties encountered and the slow pace of progress

of those years stemmed from a desire to build the

organization without the aid of government funding.

To bring the dream of a community-financed care

facility to fruition, the Board members and supporters

of Exceptional Foresters, Inc. postponed accepting

clients until enough privately raised capital had been

accumulated. True to their principles, the Foresters

preferred time and effort to the haste and hassle that

often accompanies government aid.

By 1963, however, the Board and membership

were becoming restive. A point had been reached

where the Foresters would either have to fish or cut

bait. Much time and effort had been expended in

laying the groundwork for the organization and there

was a growing sentiment to get at least a small part of

the program underway. It was at this point that

Exceptional Foresters found its first supervisor.

Al Wagner had been very active in the program

and was strongly committed to its success. So, when it

became obvious that something had to be done, he

brought forward a generous proposal. Begin-fling in

July, 1963, Wagner would request a one year leave of

absence from his teaching profession at Rogers School

and commence the first training program for clients of

Exceptional Foresters, at no charge to the

organization. During his sabbatical he would train

five men in various work projects: sweeping lots,

janitorial service, or working in the trees. The

important point was that they would do something.

The first five Foresters were a productive lot and

readily took to the chores offered by the program. The

training, as such, was simple and unassuming, but in

consequence, of a profound and immeasurable

nature. The humble task of sweeping the dust and

debris from the sidewalks of a small rural city

represented nothing less than a revolution in the care

of mentally handicapped people. Instead of

segregation

and isolation, the retarded individual was now

involved in community life, filling a needed, albeit

modest, role in society. Without the development of

the Exceptional Forester concept of vocational

training, it is difficult to imagine how the lives of

these men could have grown beyond complete

dependency. As a result of their training at

Exceptional Foresters, two of the five original clients

are now employed in the private sector. One of them

works for the Simpson Timber Co. on its railroad

crew and the other has worked for years in the Mason

County Christmas tree industry. Both men are fully

integrated into society, living useful productive lives.

The original Foresters: (l to r) Norman Dillon, Bobby

Knunkle, Ken Kimbel, Bob Kimbel, Randy Chapman.

Ed Kroh in is the rear.

"A Humdinger of an Auction"

The first few years saw strictly day care service

provided as the staff and Board members geared up

for full operation. Fund raising efforts continued

unabated. Money was needed to cover operating

expenses, and for tools and equipment required by

the

fledgling organization. Numerous applications were

pouring in from the families of prospective clients as

word spread about the new organization. Everyone

was eager to see it succeed and expand as rapidly as

possible.

One of the Foresters' most successful efforts at

raising funds was a mammoth auction sale in which

donated goods were auctioned. Not only did it help

build the corporation's kitty, it also served notice that

Exceptional Foresters, Inc. was an operational reality.

In a sense, it was Exceptional Foresters' coming out

party. And what a party it was!

The chairman of the project, Al Wagner, did much

of the legwork necessary to sponsor this

extraordinary event. The main building at the Mason

County Fairgrounds was utilized to store the goods;

and by auction time it was literally overflowing.

Antique fanciers and collectors of every kind from

western Washington have not seen anything like it

before or since. Among the items auctioned were a

railroad steam logging engine (a reloader) donated by

the Simpson Timber Co. and a palomino pony. There

were guns, jewelry, chainsaws, an antique apple cider

press, and a baby grand piano offered by Mrs.

Kneeland. At least four automobiles, in various stages

of repair, fell to the auctioneer's gavel in that autumn

of 1963.

The auction was such a huge success it became an

annual event for a number of years thereafter, though

the spectacle of a 30-ton steam engine log reloader

was never again equaled!

Captain Ed Kroh, U.S. Army (Ret.)

As Al Wagner's year-long sabbatical drew to a

close, the Board members began searching for

someone to replace him, The program was ready to

shift into its second phase of operation: providing 24-

hour care during the summer and early fall of the

year. The barracks at Sanderson Field had been

cleaned and readied for some time Fresh paint and

new plumbing had restored the old buildings to com-

The Foresters cutting wood…

fortable if not cozy standards. All that was missing

was the smell of homemade soup and the pitter-palter

of caulk-soled logging boots on the barracks' old pine

floors.

Enter Ed Kroh. He and his wife Erma were

instrumental in getting the Foresters' program off the

ground and ready to,, go. As a retired Army captain,

he was a born leader, able to achieve and maintain

high levels of morale and a sense of esprit de corps. He

was also popular with the clients and earned the

affectionate title of "Mr. Ed."

During the day the crew worked hard felling the

second growth timber at Sanderson Field to clear the

way for a developing Christmas tree operation. Kroh

supervised the young men, showing them how to

operate the equipment safely and how to' trim young

trees so they would develop a proper Christmas tree

shape.

Like most of the Christmas tree land around

Mason County, the acreage at Sanderson Field was

covered with saleable second growth timber. The soil

…and planting trees.

was too poor to produce a commercial supply of

lumber but was just right for Christmas tree farming

because the slow growth produces a bushier tree. The

crew also cut firewood from the dead and downed

cull logs on the property. After clearing the land, they

planted Douglas Fir seedlings for Christmas tree

production. There was always plenty of work to do

and Ed Kroh was a hearty task master.

At night the men returned to the barracks where

Erma, Exceptional Foresters' first house mother,

would serve dinner family style. With Ed and Erma

and five young men sharing living quarters, the

atmosphere was a close simile to an extended family

group. At bedtime, they racked out on old Army

bunks and sleeping bags, with their chain saws and

other equipment stored just down the hail. When

morning came they would get up and hit it again;

heading out to the field in a beat up station wagon, a

pick up truck, and an old farming tractor. Such is the

stuff of daily life.

In March, 1966, four new men were added to

the Foresters' crew, swelling the ranks to a grand total

of nine men. The original clique, accepting the

newcomers in every manner, helped them to adjust to

the rigors of country living and hard work.

During the winter months of 1966, Ed Kroh and his

crew planted 1600 seedling trees which were donated

to them by the Department of Natural Resources.

They also cleared a second glide path for the airport

and sold the logs for a much needed boost in the

corporation's income.

As summer rolled around, the crew began a

venture that knocked a hole in the airport forest and

aided the development and growth of all the trainees.

For two months, the Foresters and nine trainees from

Morningside in Olympia cleared land around

Sanderson Field, By September, the group had

opened up over 70 acres and started two new tree

farms. The success of this training period was above

and beyond all expectations. It was especially

gratifying to witness the changes in the Olympia crew

as the summer passed. Men that were backward

became aggressive, men that were physically limited

became productive, men that were anti-social became

friendly and cooperative. Teamwork was the order of

the day.

These changes were not gained through hard

work and silviculture alone. The well-rounded

training program included softball, horseshoe

tournaments, and a weekly scheduled "buck night" at

the local drive-in theatre. Information and education

classes, plus camp life in general, contributed greatly

to the overall success of the program.

By summer's end the training program had

firmly established a sense of accomplishment and

camaraderie in the group. A graduation ceremony

marked the end of the happy period and the Foresters

had one more clear memory of a job well done.

Through the remainder of 1966 and into 1968,

Ed Kroh continued to provide his competent

leadership. Thousands of seedlings were planted,

hundreds of acres were cleared, and numerous lives

were affected for the better by this man. In 1967-1968

alone, over fifty clients were assisted by him and

Exceptional Foresters, Inc. Through Kroh's efforts, six

men were placed in local Christmas tree companies as

regular employees; a still larger number were referred

to Orion Industries as tree planters and forestry

workers.

During the first part of Kroh's tenure as

Director, the sponsorship of Exceptional Foresters

was drawn largely from the community. Silviculture

served as the program's sole means of vocational

training. By selling Christmas trees and firewood, the

organization had been able to operate on a budget

equal to nearly one-half that which would be spent

keeping the same number of men in state institutions.

It was a record to be proud of but it was not enough.

More money was needed.

After only a short time of actual operation,

Exceptional Foresters was faced with a hard economic

choice. If the organization was to continue expanding,

offering more services to more people, it simply had

to have outside funding. Given the new pressures of

President Johnson's Great Society programs and the

clamor for admittance by prospective clients, the

direction was painful but clear. Exceptional Foresters

must draw water from the government well.

Involvement of the organization with the

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (D.V.R.) and the

Department of Public Assistance was entered into

with much trepidation. Even so, the connection with

state funding became more complete as the program

continued to grow. This trend toward a greater

reliance on state funding has continued unabated and

has left a deep rift in how Exceptional Foresters

perceives itself and its relationship to the State. The

conflict between a philosophy of self determination

and the economic necessity of government funding

has been a major factor shaping Exceptional Foresters,

Inc. development. From a historical perspective,

however, this conflict has been but a brief chapter in

the age-old problem of mental retardation.

John Schreiber directs a crew of Foresters.

The Schreiber Years

The will come seven years of great plenty throughout

All the land of Egypt, but after the will arise

Seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be

Forgotten in the land of Egypt

Genesis 25: 28-29

A New Director

The year 1968 was marked by a change in the

Directorship of the corporation. After painful con-

sultation with Exceptional Foresters' Board members,

Ed Kroh resigned due to health problems. His name

had become synonymous with the Foresters so there

was some poignancy when he and his wife Erma said

goodbye. As Kroh departed in August, a door closed

on a brief but important period in the organization's

history. But for every door that closes, another is

opened.

The Board turned to one of its own members

to fill the vacancy left by Kroh's exit. John A.

Schreiber agreed to come aboard as temporary

Director until a supervisor could be found. His

position was to last two months; it lasted almost nine

years. Under his supervision, Exceptional Foresters

experienced truly exceptional growth.

John Schreiber was a determined, iron-willed

individual who had recently retired from a lucrative

position with Associated Grocers in Tacoma. He

moved to Mason County with his wife, Becky, and

their mentally retarded son and became active with

Members of the Arts and Crafts program

Making artificial flowers.

the program as a Board member. Although he was

not very knowledgeable about the minutiae of

silviculture, he was adept at making money. With an

aplomb gathered over a lifetime of business

experience, Schreiber single-mindedly focused his

attention on expanding the facilities and financial

base of Exceptional Foresters. Under his directorship,

the Foresters enlarged its program beyond the areas

of general forestry. Silviculture continued to be of

great importance to the organization, but it ceased to

be the sole source of vocational training and income.

More traditional training for the mentally retarded

was introduced, including: an arts and crafts program

which produced artificial flowers, ceramics, rugs, and

quilts and a large woodworking and fence building

operation. Some have proven to be profitable to the

organization and all have been an excellent resource

for vocational training and rehabilitation. During his

tenure, the Foresters slowly acquired additional real

estate and associated physical structures. These

accumulations firmed up the financial base of

Exceptional Foresters and allowed for increased par-

ticipation in the program by greater numbers of

clients.

Growing Pains

When Exceptional Foresters made the decision to

move from the original concept of complete economic

self reliance into a contract with the Department of

Vocational Rehabilitation, it began a process of

inevitable expansion. Within a few years, the program

had jumped from serving five men to sixteen men.

This growth, however, did not occur in a vacuum.

The era following World War II, and especially the

mid-sixties period, was a time of rapid expansion

within the whole economy. Keeping pace with this

growth was the rise of Big Government and the Great

Society programs. The large amounts of federal

money and the pressures of expansion helped create

an atmosphere conducive to experimentation with

new concepts of serving the needs of the

developmentally disabled.

In 1969 Exceptional Foresters received an

opportunity to lease the old State Patrol Academy. A

The ceramics workshop located in the old steel

barracks building. A woodwork shop was located in

the back.

Public Assistance representative had approached

Schreiber with a proposal to fund any people the

Foresters took in from the larger institutions. At this

time, the movement to shift people from the over-

crowded larger institutions into smaller facilities was

just beginning. Not only was this an affirmation of the

Foresters' original concept of maintaining smaller

regional centers, it was also an opportunity to

improve the living quarters for the clients. Until the

Foresters leased the State Patrol Academy, the level of

housing had been less than satisfactory. In the early

days of the program, the old Navy barracks had

served purposes well enough, but as the numbers

increased, so did the need for a larger, more

permanent facility. The original five Foresters and a

handful of others lived in the Navy barracks until

April, 1969, when they moved into two steel-insulated

buildings. Until these buildings were constructed,

there simply wasn't room for the extra people who

were coming in from other areas of the state. The

overflow had to be housed in boarding rooms in

town.

Marcella Morgus was secretary and book-

keeper during this period. Part of her job was to drive

the Shelton-Olympia-Aberdeen route every Monday

morning to pick up the extended shelter clients for the

program. On Friday afternoon she would take them

home again. During the week, these "commuters"

lived in boarding houses located at Mt. View and on

Railroad Ave. because of a lack of space in the

barracks.

The boarding rooms were depressingly

inadequate so Schreiber was eager to establish larger

living facilities at the base. The Foresters had no

control over the boarding houses because clients

living there were receiving funds from a Public

Assistance grant.

This unhappy situation was finally resolved

when, with the aid of hundreds of volunteer hours,

the two steel-insulated buildings were completed.

Although conditions were not ideal, the clients were

now living together under one roof. One of the

buildings served as a kitchen/recreation room while

the other provided sleeping quarters, dormitory style.

As of May 7, 1969, a total of 24 clients were enrolled

on a 24-hour, seven-day basis with a staff of nine

members. It was quite a menagerie when the whole

crew got together in the evening! Obviously, the

Foresters would have to expand again.

Schreiber Hall

The steel buildings provided only a brief

respite from the growing pains Exceptional Foresters

were experiencing under their new Director. Even

before the steel buildings were completed, Schreiber

was turning his attention to acquiring the old State

Patrol Academy. By November, 1969, all phases of

negotiations with the Patrol were resolved and the

necessary arrangements concluded. Exceptional

Foresters had a new home; one which finally suited

their purposes.

Under new state certification, Exceptional

Foresters, Inc. became an Intermediate Care Facility

(in 1974 it was reclassified as a Congregate Care

Facility) funded primarily through the Department of

Public Assistance. Additional staffing for the new

home was provided by money from the Department

of Institutions Funding.

This new facility provided the answer to

many pressing problems: privacy for sleeping (only

two to a room), recreation space, a private office for

members of staff, and an apartment for the

housemother.

The Dedication Ceremony for Schreiber Hall (L to R) Bob

Kimbel, John Schreiber, Bob Lettbetter, Rep Paul Conner.

Soon, more clients were coming in from Rainier

School at Buckley and Lakeland Village in Spokane.

Between the time the Foresters entered the new

quarters in January, 1970 and March of the same year,

the addition of ten residents had increased the

clientele to 34, During this short period of time many

of the pains associated with displacement and

renewal were experienced. Offsetting this was a

heady sense of hope and optimism for the future.

In March, Exceptional Foresters held an "open

house" and dedication ceremony for the new facility.

The program featured the residents' choir, directed by

Mrs. June Wright, and an old timers' woodchopping

and sawing exhibition. It was a unique ceremony and

a fitting celebration of the Foresters' new beginning.

The Exceptional Forester Choir

The dedication ceremony acknowledged the

hard work that John Schreiber had done in attaining

this milestone for Exceptional Foresters, The April,

1970 issue of the W.A.R.C. newsletter described the

ceremony: "The program ended with a dedication

ceremony wherein Mr. Paul Conner, Representative

of the 24th District; very ably dedicated the residents'

living quarters 'Schreiber Hall.' This ceremony, we

like to think, came as a complete surprise to John

Schreiber. It was timely and certainly well deserved

because John has given of himself in more ways than

one with a dedicated sense of purpose to the

Exceptional Forester program. I feel I should also

point out that this idea originated with Mr. Martin

Felix, our Public Assistance Representative, who

thought of the idea way back during last December,

1969. He thought of it when noticing the total

commitment of John Schreiber during those hectic

days when we were trying to meet the fire and

health inspection. From a personal standpoint, I

remember calling John at home one evening. How

did he answer the phone? 'Exceptional Foresters.'

Wonder what his last thoughts were about during

those trying times, just before falling asleep?"

Don Rota demonstrates

the art of a woodchopper

at the dedication ceremony

for Schreiber Hall.

The Early 70's

As the clients settled into the new routine at

Schreiber Hall, improvements on the living quarters

continued: The building, erected in 1941, needed

paint and a new roof. A hot water heating system and

a fire alarm and sprinkler system were added to bring

the building up to code.

Food has always been a major interest of both

the clients and staff at Exceptional Foresters. The

records show that the cupboards were packed with

"wild" fare in those days. During the summer of 1970,

the Foresters were receiving one donated "road kill"

deer per week. Other contributions included: one

bear, 180 pounds of oysters, and a large quantity of

salmon. Added to this list of natural delicacies were

the home-grown vegetables produced, in the group's

garden plus eggs and fryers from the Foresters'

"chicken ranch. Kids in the city never ate this well!

Combination dances and picnics were also

held with upwards of 100 people attending. The

Washington Correction Center sponsored a rock and

roll band to play for the dances and the Shelton

Jaycees offered their facility for the monthly dance.

The newly organized Exceptional Foresters'

choir continued making numerous appearances

under the direction of Mrs. June Wright. Her

dedicated work with the voices of the men were but

one indication of the harmony mentally handicapped

people can express when given a chance.

The mentally retarded are the lonesome end

of society. At home, in school, in the community they

are always near the sidelines - watching, Activities

that promote involvement such as choir singing, also

promote self esteem.

Perhaps one of the most effective means for

promoting involvement is competitive sports and in

this area the Foresters decided to get with it. By June,

1971, they were ready to send six men to the Region I

Special Olympics where all put in respectable

showings. Ten years later, their personal

accomplishments in sports still provide them with

fond memories and a sense of self worth.

Exceptional Foresters' clients continue to be

active in the Special Olympics program. The training

and preparation for competition provides the

residents with exercise, social recognition, and a

chance to demonstrate their abilities to a wide variety

of people.

Sports and other social activities offer the

mentally retarded person opportunities to enter the

mainstream of normal life. By engaging in events

which stimulate and widen horizons, the client can

experience greater independence and avoid the

pitfalls of personal withdrawal. A tragic consequence

of mental retardation can be an accompanying social

and behavioral retardation. Programs such as Special

Olympics help deter these problems by keeping the

client focused on the world around him.

Through the client-sponsor program, initiated

in the early 70's, many residents of Exceptional For-

esters have found good friends in the city of Shelton.

The sponsor is a volunteer who provides a link to the

community, accompanying the client to theatres,

sporting events, and other social activities. Often, a

special relationship develops between the client and

sponsor which endures for many years. This rapport

is an important element in the never ending struggle

to promote the client's sense of self worth and social

involvement.

Exceptional Manor

In the early 70's, the State was attempting to

reorganize the various health care facilities,

establishing new guidelines and requirements. Betty

and Lester Krueger had been operating the Shelton

Manor Nursing Home for the Elderly, five miles

south of Shelton on Highway 101. When the nursing

home was reclassified as an Intermediate Care

Facility, not enough elderly clients could be found to

make continued operations economically feasible. The

owners were forced to put the building up for sale

and in May 1972, it became part of Exceptional

Foresters, Inc.

The establishment of Exceptional Manor as a

home for retarded women was a logical and long

planned extension of the existing men's program.

From Exceptional Foresters' inception in 1957, it had

been the intent of the corporation to include women

in the program as soon as funding permitted.

Schreiber had received assurances from the State that

thirty-eight people would be sent from Rainier School

and Lakeland Village, so the time seemed appropriate

to bring the women into the family.

The first busload of ladies arrived from

Rainier School on June 1, and for the next few days,

Excep-tional Manor was in a state of absolute bedlam.

The move from Rainier School to Shelton was an

unprec-edented disruption in the lives of a majority of

the women. Most had spent the better part of their

lives confined to the narrow halls of larger

institutions. They were terrified at being in an

unknown environment for reasons they could not

fully comprehend. One young woman was terribly

upset because she was certain her mother on Mercer

Island would not know where she was.

Compounding the confusion was a shortage

of experienced staff at the manor who were familiar

with mentally retarded people. Most were either

completely new to the job or were people who had

stayed on from the nursing home. The upheavals

continued as the ladies picked their rooms and

roommates, learned where the bathrooms were, and

tried to adjust to the new surroundings. Since neither

the staff nor the clients knew each other, there was

added chaos as identities were sought out.

Eventually, the initial bewilderment subsided

and the women settled into their new home. For the

next three months they continued on as they had at

Rainier in a daily round of meals, TV, and light

activities. In short, they vegetated.

On September 1, Marcella Morgus accepted

the position of Assistant Director. True to the work-

oriented philosophy of Exceptional Foresters, she

immediately initiated a workshop program at the

Manor. There was no money available for staff

training and very little to operate an arts and crafts

program.

Morgus gathered what could be salvaged

from the room and board fund and soon vocational

training for the women had commenced.

A group of the first women to reside at

Exceptional Manor.

For various reasons, difficulties arose in

getting a vocational training program for the ladies

underway. Most of the residents at the Manor had

never taken part in any form of vocational training

other than dishwashing or housework. They were

used to long idle hours, chatting, and watching TV. It

was an arduous task getting them used to a work

training cycle, and almost a year passed before the

ladies had fully adjusted to the change.

Eight or nine of the ladies met each morning

at the old Rogers School building to cooperate in the

construction of quilts. Under the guidance of a

teacher, the women carried out all phases of their

project. The remainder of the women worked in a

separate outbuilding at the Manor making rugs,

pillows, and other forms of stitchery. The ladies

continued the arts and crafts program until

Exceptional Forests opened a retail store at the old

Prepp's Drugstore building in July, 1975. From this

facility, the women continued to create and sell items

which are as beautiful and well made as any. A

second retail store was also in operation at this time

on Highway 101 at Sanderson Field. The "Gate

House" served as a retail outlet for the wood products

and ceramics which were manufactured by the men.

“Gentlemen Callers” pay a visit to Exceptional Manor.

The vocational training for the women

produced impressive and immediate results. Visiting

parents were flabbergasted at the growth in

communication and cooperation among their

children. Under the work program, the ladies had

learned to take great pride in their accomplishments

and the resulting sense of self esteem spilled over into

other areas of their lives.

Program Changes in the 70's

Under John Schreiber's Directorship, there

was a continuing de-emphasis of silviculture. By the

mid-70's, subcontracts for work with the local

Christmas tree farms were dissolved and firewood

production had become the primary source of

income. This trend continued until the late 1970's

when creek cleanup contracts with Simpson Timber

Co. and the U.S. Forest Service became an important

financial resource.

Major changes in program emphasis were

adopted in 1976 in order to meet state guidelines. In

that year, Exceptional Foresters ceased to stress the

work ethic and adopted a model of providing training

for the whole person. The majority of residents began

spending one-half their time in pre-work shops and

the other half in the Adult Living Skills Program.

Here they were instructed in the skills they would

need to reach independent living status.

The mid to late 70's was a period of explosive

growth. In 1975, funding from the state became

available in unprecedented amounts. It was a

thrilling, though disorienting period, as Exceptional

Foresters sought to cope with the massive influx of

Government money. This financial boon was not only

confusing at the administrative level, it was also

confusing to the local townspeople who saw "their"

community-sponsored facility going bigtime. Part of

the concern lay in the real estate purchases which

Exceptional Foresters made during this period.

Dr. Boyd Collier, an old family friend of Bob

and Louise Kimbel and a long-time supporter of

Exceptional Foresters, made an extremely generous

offer to the Board, he would sell his large brick

medical building to the Foresters for $57,000. It was a

give-away. On July 14, 1975, the Board members

passed a resolution to purchase the clinic from Dr.

Collier in order to use it as a training center for the

Adult Living Skills Program.

In response to pressures from the State to pro-

vide facilities for independent living training,

Exceptional Foresters purchased a house at 724 Cota

Street in Shelton in January, 1977. Here, four men and

a part-time housekeeper worked together to establish

a successful program to learn independent living

skills. One year later, in May, 1978, a separate group

home for four women was established at 601

Bellevue; and in December, 1979, a third facility for

men was added at 325 South Fifth Street.

The Death of John Schreiber

John A. Schreiber had been relentlessly

dedicated to Exceptional Foresters ever since he

accepted the role of "temporary" Director in 1968.

Under his leadership the organization had grown by

leaps and bounds, providing human service and

economic stimulation to Mason County. His

accomplishments have been profound and far-

reaching in their effects

on the personal lives of many developmentally dis-

abled people. Let it be known that John Schreiber has

left his little corner of the world in a happier state

than he found it.

On January 10, 1977, Bob Kimbel reported to

the Board that he had received a phone call from

Schreiber's doctor requesting that John be relieved of

all duties due to ill health. The Board complied. Two

years later on February 25, 1979, John A. Schreiber

died of a heart attack following a prolonged illness.

Marcella Morgus

The Board turned to Maracella Morgus to

succeed Schreiber as Executive Director. It became her

primary task to implement the expanded Adult

Living Skills Program which was the new model

proposed by The Division of Developmental

Disabilities (D.D.D.). As part of this program, the

work ethic policy of Exceptional Foresters was to

henceforth include an educational aspect to balance

work and the learning of adult living skills.

Her first action in this area was to purchase

the Cota Street house for use as an independent living

facility. With this purchase, Morgus hoped to

simultaneously improve the living quarters for some

of the clients and also meet state regulations.

As part of the expanded Living Skills

Program, Morgus introduced daily training classes at

the Adult Developmental Clinic. Instructors were

hired to present the material and a certified Special

Education teacher was brought in to evaluate the

clients and monitor the program. As more residents

became pre-pared for independent living, new home

facilities were purchased on Fifth Street and on

Bellevue.

As Exceptional Foresters shifted from its

work-training program emphasis to the State's

concept of total care, Morgus became mediator

between

D.D.D.'s concern for increased documentation and the

difficulty of fulfilling this need for further paper

work. It became her task to hold the organization

together during this difficult period and maintain

staff morale. In this she was successful. Under her

directorship, Exceptional Foresters established

communication with D.D.D. on all levels and

renewed the credibility of Exceptional Foresters'

mission and methods.

Among Morgus' other accomplishments vas

the development of the recycling center at Sanderson

Field. When the Foresters' lease on the 1,020 acres of

county land expired in early 1979, Exceptional

Foresters' firewood production was severely crippled.

This strongly impacted the vocational-training

program and hurt an important source of internally

generated revenue. In order to implement a new work

training program, Morgus directed Mark Jensen to

develop a recycling facility for cardboard, glass, and

metal. This operation has been an important addition

to the Foresters program, providing work training

and income to the clients and organization.

Many of Morgus' contributions to Exceptional

Foresters have been made behind the scenes. During

her many years with the Foresters, she was the person

who attended to the important day to day details

which are at the core of the organization's mission.

She was an able administrator under both Kroh and

Schreiber, insuring the smooth operation of all

Exceptional Foresters', programs. As Executive

Director, Morgus provided Exceptional Foresters with

the style of leadership it desperately needed in the

years between 1977-1980.

On December 31, 1980, Maracella Morgus

retired from Exceptional Foresters, Inc. after

providing 13 years of service both to clients and staff.

She was replaced by Lorraine Berube and Mark

Jensen who served as co-Directors until Berube was

appointed Executive Director in February, 1982.

Growth of the Budget

1965 – 1980

EPILOGUE

Exceptional Foresters, Inc. is a non-profit

corporation designed to exist perpetually.

Until the day genetic counseling and medical

advancements banish mental retardation

from the human race, Exceptional Foresters

will continue to serve the needs of the

developmentally disabled. At that time we

will happily go out of business!

Exceptional Foresters is entering a

period of transition following the boom days

of the 70's. Austere budgets and limited

funding will provide ample challenges to the

corporation for the foreseeable future. From

this seemingly grim picture emerges a ray of

hope: Exceptional Foresters will be on

familiar turf. The organization is no stranger

to austerity; its roots are set deep in the

traditions of hard work and self reliance. The

"years of famine" may prove to be a blessing,

in disguise if they serve to draw the

organization closer to its original concept of

productive work and self reliance. Therein

lies the corporation's strength and purpose.

In the years ahead, work-oriented

programs will become more cost-effective. By

focusing resources on clients with the

potential to produce, Exceptional Foresters

will be able to generate more income through

its vocational training.

There will continue to be a central

work loca-tion at Sanderson Field. Using

Washington State Referendum 37 funds, the

Port of Shelton expects to

begin construction of a new industrial

building in the summer of 1982. Exceptional

Foresters will lease this facility, using it as the

hub of all the corporation's work activities.

Residential facilities for the men and

women will grow smaller. Exceptional

Manor will eventually house 20-25 women

and the Adult Developmental Clinic may

serve as a facility for a similar number of men

after the lease at Schreiber Hall expires in

1989. Smaller group homes may also be

purchased, supplementing the three

financially independent residential facilities

already existing in Shelton.

As a large non-profit corporation

with an out-standing staff, Exceptional

Foresters will weather all economic hard

times and continue providing care for the

mentally handicapped. This is our mission. In

the words of Bob Kimbel, Exceptional

Foresters' co-founder and President of the

Board of Directors:

"There is a strong feeling

among the parents of mentally handicapped

people that is carried within them all the

time: "What's going to happen to Johnny after

I'm gone?' This is the reason we have tried to

establish as sound a financial base for

Exceptional Foresters as we possibly could;

so it would last and be a continuing thing. . .

so that the people who have their children

there can feel a little peace of mind."

Appendix

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

1958-1963

Robert Kimbel ......................................................... President Buck

Armstrong ................................................................. Vice President

S. W. Vanderwegen ......................................... Secretary-Treasurer

B. B. Forman

Bill Goodpaster

Delbert W. Johnson

Bill Dickie

Warren Richard

1964

Robert Kimbel .................................................................. .President

Buck Armstrong ....................................................... Vice President

Toni Gardner.................................................... Secretary-Treasurer

Ray Spilseth

Charles Neth

Vern Morgus

1965

Robert Kimbel ................................................................... .President

Ray Spilseth............................................................... Vice President

Toni Gardner.................................................... Secretary-Treasurer

Buck Armstrong

Charles Neth

Ray Bridenback

Vern Morgus

1967

Robert Kimbel ................................................................... .President

Ray Spilseth............................................................... Vice President

Toni Gardner.................................................... Secretary-Treasurer

Buck Armstrong

Charles Neth

John Schreiber

Ray Breidenback

1968

Robert Kimbel ................................................................... President

Ray Breidenback ....................................................... Vice President

Ray Spilseth..................................................... Secretary-Treasurer

John Schreiber

Charles Neth

Charlie Neff

Bob Puhn

1969-1970

Robert Kimbel .................................................................... President

Ray Breidenback ....................................................... Vice President

Agnes Neth ..................................................... Secretary-Treasurer

Buck Armstrong

Bob Puhn

Bob Ledbetter

Bonnie Sletterdahl

Jean Eliot

Bonnie Dorcey

1971

Robert Kimbel ................................................................... President

Ray Breidenback ....................................................... Vice President

Agnes Neth ...................................................... Secretary-Treasurer

Buck Armstrong

Bob Puhn

Bob Ledbetter

Bonnie Sletterdahi

Jean Eliot

Bonnie Dorcey

Holly Wonner

1974-1975

Robert Kimbel ................................................................... President

Ray Breidenback ...................................................... Vice President

Martin Felix ..................................................... Secretary-Treasurer

Jean Eliot

Ken Breidenstein

Roy Gault

Helen Ogden

1976-1977

Robert Kimbel ................................................................... President

Ken Breidenstein ...................................................... Vice President

Helen Ogden .................................................... Secretary-Treasurer

Adair Neau

Phyllis Bridenback

CoHen Gephert

Roy Gault

1978-1979

Robert Kimbel ................................................................... President

Ken Breidenstein ...................................................... Vice President

Adair Neau ....................................................... Secretary-Treasurer

Craig Chapman

Roy Gault

Hank Williams

Ruth Van DeReit

1980

Robert Kimbel ................................................................... President

Ken Breidenstein ....................................................... Vice President

Adair Neau ...................................................... Secretary-Treasurer

Phil Tolstad

Craig Chapman

Roy Gault

Hank Williams

Ruth Van DeReit

1981

Robert Kimbel ................................................................... President

Ken Breidenstein ....................................................... Vice President

Adair Neau ....................................................... Secretary-Treasurer

Ruth Van DeReit

Phil Swaab

Craig Chapman

Phil Tolstad

Jerry Palmer

Robert Chamberlain

1982-1986

During the four years between 1982 and 1986,

Exceptional Foresters completed a tremendous re-

vitalization of its Vocational and Residential programs

through the construction and renovation of its

vocational and residential facilities, and by

emphasizing progressive and responsive management

procedures.

Vocational changes began with the completion

in September 1982, of the Kimbel Training Center, an

11,000 square foot facility, located at Sanderson Field.

This facility, along with the Recycling Center, has

become the hub of the Foresters work operations. In

January, 1984 managerial and budgetary

decentralization began to produce results in the areas

of management depth, efficiency, productivity and

client services. In January 1985 EFI adopted a

computerized accounting system which further

enhanced the ability of the individual work area

manager to impact on his/her budget.

EFI's Vocational Division was especially

effected by the emphasis on management and

production. Our work program generated new respect

for the consistently high wages paid to clients as a

result of increased production in all areas. The

Forester's emphasis on real work has resulted in our

workers being among the highest paid and best

trained in the nation.

Recycling has developed into a major source of

work and income for the Foresters. It is a rather tech-

nical operation and labor intensive. As such, it is an

excellent vehicle for providing work and training for

disabled workers. Scrap metals, aluminum cans,

bottles and cardboard are recycled at both the center at

Sanderson Field and the satellite shop in Olympia.

The woodshop at Kimbel Training Center

(K.T.C.) is also a going concern producing pallets,

flower baskets and a variety of other wood products

for sale to retail outlets.

During 1985, there was a scaling down of the

woods crew, as equipment costs grew. This has

resulted in a smaller crew, operating at K.T.C., which

cuts firewood and stakes for use on railroad cars.

In October, 1985 the crafts store in downtown

Shelton was closed in order to cut expenses and pro-

vide more meaningful and lucrative work to the crafts

crew. As crafts are being phased out, a new operation

has taken it's place: business services, which includes

microfilming, collating and other professional services.

There were major changes in the residential

program also, beginning with the construction of 3 ten-

bed group homes in Shelton Valley. These homes

emphasize the development of daily living and social

skills in an integrated atmosphere of personal rights

and responsibilities. It has been an effective formula

and client growth has been remarkable.

When Schreiber Hall was closed in January,

1985, 15 of the men went to the Shelton Valley homes

and 11 went to Exceptional Manor, which now has a

total of 32 men and women. Over $25,000 was spent in

1985 renovating the Manor, bringing it up to standard

with the new Shelton Valley homes.

In addition to group home development, our

community homes for independent living were up-

graded and the number of people in community

placements increased from 16 to 20.

The focus on staff and managerial

development was also reflected in residential

programs by improved evaluations from state funding

and licensing agencies, and by increased accountability

for budgetary matters.

A key to all this development has been

Exceptional Foresters Board of Directors who have

become increasingly active in setting the direction for

EFI. This trend setting has been made possible by the

develop-ment and performance of the Board's

Executive, Planning, Financial, Marketing, Foundation,

Client Liaison and Building Committees. EFI's

diversity entails greater and greater sophistication in

the areas of planning, directing and organization, and

the board's committee structure and expertise have

been invaluable in all the achievements of the last four

years.