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Living Your Dreams

An Interview with Lyle Hanson

By: Celine Todd
Published June 24, 2010

The members of Trilogy at Redmond Ridge are doing everything they can to support Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in its mission to provide quality care to all children regardless of ability to pay. They’re baking yummy strata and taking Santa/grandchild photos at the annual “Ho Ho Brunch;” they’re shouting “Bingo” at Bingo Bash fundraisers; they’re raffling quilts for the annual quilt raffle; they’re organizing book fairs; and they’re donning their cowboy hats at the Western barbecue and square dance. Now the members of the Pat Harris Trilogy Guild have even published a book to raise funds for Children’s Hospital. In the following interview, Lyle Hanson describes the process of creating Living Your Dreams: An Activity Guide for Trilogy at Redmond Ridge.

Thanks for taking the time to share this process with us, Lyle! How did the idea first come about to create an Activity Guide for the TRR community?
Living Your Dreams was conceived as a fundraising project for the Pat Harris Guild of Trilogy, with plans for all profits beyond publication costs going to uncompensated medical care for youngsters at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital. It has worked out that way, with approximately 50 cents of every dollar received for book sales going directly to the hospital.

The idea first came about a few years ago, when we were thinking of ways to fundraise for Children’s Hospital Guild. We considered creating a book about the “History of Trilogy at Redmond Ridge," because enormous evergreen forests once covered the entire ridge, and there were lots of amazing logging photos and stories available. The original book was meant to include histories of the clubs and early Trilogy “pioneers.” The plan to create the “History of Trilogy at Redmond Ridge” appeared to pass without a formal approved motion, and a committee was formed.

During the intervening month, some members started having second thoughts. It was pointed out that the project had never been brought to a vote. Following discussion and a vote, the motion was defeated. After stewing over this rejection for a few days, several other members encouraged me to keep on plugging. I came back to the following month’s Children’s Hospital Guild meeting requesting reconsideration. I explained the “Activity Guide” approach, and that passed, unanimously.

How many members have been involved with this project?
We enlisted a committee of Editor/Publisher, plus five, from the start. Along the way, we brought in two other experts. Cathy Creel, a professional formatter from Boeing Co., spent most of her early life in Children’s Hospital, and moved to Trilogy half way through the project. I was delighted to receive her expertise for the final formatting. I was also able to receive help from my daughter, Leanna Hanson, a graphic designer in Los Angeles. She designed the covers, and they are spectacular.

There was another group of Guild members that stepped forward and helped with marketing the book in our Cascade Club – until our roof sprung a leak during a lengthy freeze this winter. This group will help out again later because we have plans for a summer sale, along with our annual “Artisan Boutique” in November.

It was a huge task to gather the stories of so many members, clubs, and organizations in the TRR community. How long did this project take, and how did you go about organizing this task?
It took 23 months from when the motion passed until publication. At the outset, I had a brochure listing all clubs and their administrators, with contact numbers. I also had a variety of class offerings outlined on handouts from our fitness center. Several of our members had previous articles published in MTL’s magazine, and it was just a matter of getting everyone’s permission to reprint the articles. Four other articles and photos had been posted on a bulletin board in the fitness center, so I was able to use those. Then there were many other articles solicited from members that volunteer around the community, or who have survived life-threatening events. My wife, Marie, and I also contributed articles.

To gather additional member stories, we posted bulletins on the MTL website, such as: “If you have volunteered in the outside community, would you share your story for the benefit of underinsured kids needing health care?” For a few of the stories, I had heard about neighbors who had survived severe illnesses, and I was able to get them to write up their experiences.

Can you share a few of the stories that speak to the spirit of the people of the TRR community?
One highlight of this book is “Kevin M. Blowers – An Amazing Success Story.” (p.57) Presently, Kevin is in his mid-40s. Although physically disabled from a head injury that he received when he was struck by a truck at the age of 3 1⁄2, he has kept in great shape. He’s often seen doing some challenging exercises in the gym.

Kevin’s heartwarming story is ongoing. Since the book was published, he has told me several times that people have come up to him and said, “I didn’t know that about you.” Despite horrific odds, Kevin has proven himself as one who sets high goals and then reaches for the sky. On the back cover, Kevin looks “ripped” (in top shape) in his role as Equipment Manager for the Monarch Coed Senior Softball Team.