Be Prepared to Feel a Pinch When Renewing Your Tabs

Be prepared to feel the pinch when renewing your vehicle tabs this year. As of March 1st, the Regional Transit Authority tax goes into effect for those living within the Sound Transit District. While Gamblin Motors’ hometown of Enumclaw and Buckley are not positioned within the taxed district, many of our neighbors in King, Pierce, and Snohomish County can expect a higher bill this year. How much higher? The tax will increase from 0.3% to 1.1% resulting in a $110 annual fee for a $10,000 vehicle. While the Sound Transit 3 measure garnered strong support last November, residents are still in for some sticker shock when it comes time for tab renewals.

Taxes collected are slated for a large expansion of light rail in Tacoma, Seattle, and Everett. The Sounder Commuter will also see expansion under the measure. In addition to the rail improvements, park-and-ride and bus-rapid transit are scheduled for further development. Just how much is this investment going to cost you? First, it is important to determine if you live within the taxable district. Sound Transit provides an address locator to see if you fall within the boundary: http://bit.ly/2mECzfm. If you do in fact live within the Sound Transit District, the Department of Licensing has a vehicle tab estimator to give drivers an idea of what to expect when their tag renewal letter arrives in the mail: http://bit.ly/2lOrI51.

Community Coat Drive

When the leaves begin to fall, it’s time to open up the coat closets. It is important to Gamblin Motors that everyone in our community has a nice warm coat to combat the chilly weather. Each fall we host a community coat drive and invite our employees, customers, and community members to go through their closets and donate their gently used coats, clothing, shoes, and socks. This is our fourth year of giving, and we are proud to have collected almost 100 coats for donation to the Enumclaw Clothing Bank.

The Enumclaw Clothing Bank is a non-profit organization that offers donated clothing items free of charge to community members in need. This wonderful organization provides necessities for many Enumclaw families who need a little extra help. A clean set of clothing provides both safety from the winter cold and confidence to face the day in comfort. We thank all those who donated. We thank Works-Sports and Outdoors for hosting one of our donation trucks. If you were unable to donate during the clothing drive, the Enumclaw Clothing Bank is located at JJ Smith School and is open for drop off and pick up on Tuesdays.resized_20161121_150833

Enumclaw Youth and Family Services Celebrity Golf Tournament

enumclaw-youth-and-family

Gamblin Motors is proud to be a sponsor of the Enumclaw Youth and Family Services Celebrity Golf Tournament being held on Monday, October 10th at the Enumclaw Golf Course. The proceeds from this event go directly to helping youth and young adults in our community. This tournament helps to provide important services to the most vulnerable populations in the Plateau area. At Gamblin Motors we believe in caring for and investing in the future of our youth and hometown.

The Enumclaw Youth and Family Services (EYFS) and Auburn Youth Resources (AYR) work together to provide much-needed support to families and young adults in need. Necessary services like early childhood education, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, homeless services and transitional housing are all programs provided by these two charitable and hard working groups. The golf tournament proceeds will specifically be used to provide mental health counseling to the disadvantaged youth and families of Enumclaw. In addition, funds raised will benefit an EYFS partnership with the Foothills Wellness Foundation to provide free dental care, food, hygiene kits, and case management programs for those in crisis on the Plateau.

Gamblin Motors is not the only group invested in supporting the great work done by EYFS. We thank all of the celebrities who are backing this charitable cause. Former NFL players such as Jason Chorak, Robin Earl, Alonzo Mitz, Nesby Glasgow, Jack Thompson, Mkristo Bruce and other celebrities will be in attendance to add their support to help raise funds for these critical community programs. To add your support to this wonderful cause, please join us on the course. To register for a round, please visit https://ayr4kids.ejoinme.org/eyfsgolf.

Louisiana Flood Relief

flooding

When Gamblin Motors employee Mark Maxey headed to New Orleans for a family vacation, he was not prepared for the devastation he would see on the way to their destination. As the plane began its descent into New Orleans, Mark was able to see firsthand the flood waters covering most of the greater Baton Rouge area.  Despite being in the area five days after the waters had crested and started to recede, only outlines of streets were visible and homes were still fighting off water. Mark explained, “There was more water than land, and we were there after the worst of it.” Mark came home determined to share what he had seen and find a way to help. The National Auto Dealers Association was also determined to offer assistance to the flood victims through the NADA National Relief Fund. Gamblin Motors employees were able to raise $1,500 to donate to the fund and help fellow dealership families affected by the flooding.  

The NADA National Relief Fund was established in 1992 and since its inception has donated almost $5 million to more than 8,700 dealership employees in need. The fund provides immediate assistance to dealership families hit hard by natural disasters. With the Louisiana flooding, an estimated 140,000 individuals were displaced due to the flooding, 1,500 of which were dealership families. The majority of the homes affected by the flooding were not located in floodplains and not insured for flood damage; flooding of this magnitude was unprecedented and unthinkable. These people are in desperate need and Gamblin Motors employees were looking to do their part in helping fellow automobile industry families with their recovery.

Gamblin Motors offered to match all employee donations to help the flooding victims. Employees raised $750 and Gamblin Motors matched these funds to bring the total donation to $1,500. NADA called on all dealerships across the country to donate $1,000 to reach their goal of $2 million in aid. Gamblin Motors was determined to do more with their contribution. We continue to think of all those affected by the Louisiana floods and encourage all to determine how they might help flood victims in need. To learn more about the NADA Emergency Relief Fund, go to www.nada.org/EmergencyRelief/.

It’s Rodeo Time

Enumclaw Pro Rodeo

It’s not uncommon to be driving down the roads of Enumclaw only to be stopped by a herd of cows crossing the street. Livestock and farming are an integral part of our community. One way we continue this legacy and celebrate our heritage is through the local 4-H clubs and community events like the Enumclaw Pro Rodeo. At Gamblin Motors we are proud to support our community and 4-H clubs through sponsorship of the Enumclaw Pro Rodeo.Gamblin_SMI_FB_Rodeo

The rodeo has been an Enumclaw event since the 1950’s when it was formerly part of the Naches Trail Days celebration. At one point the rodeo was the largest in the state, but in more recent years, Enumclaw has not been a stop on the rodeo circuit. A group of local business leaders banded together to bring the rodeo back to Enumclaw and created the 15 member Board of Directors of the Enumclaw Pro Rodeo, Inc. This local non-profit group resurrected an important community event and continues to host and organize the newly returned rodeo. The rodeo proceeds help to support local 4-H clubs, and this year’s 2015 Enumclaw Pro Rodeo also donated proceeds to Support Beau and the Twist Firefighter Fund.Gamblin_SMI_FB_Rodeo1

The rodeo’s support of local 4-H clubs and community members is yet another reason why Gamblin Motors continues to sponsor the Enumclaw Pro Rodeo. Gamblin Motors even has its own former bull and bronco riding cowboy, Rick Josie, tirelessly volunteering every year to make sure the rodeo is an Enumclaw tradition that continues for years to come. The rodeo represents the heritage of Enumclaw, and we at Gamblin Motors are proud of our community and our cowboys. If you weren’t able to attend the rodeo this year, be sure to follow Gamblin Motors on Facebook for upcoming information on next year’s rodeo.

Rick Josie the Cowboy

Rick JosieNo one knows a truck better than a cowboy. Just ask Rick Josie, Gamblin Motors’ very own former bull and bronco riding cowboy. Rick has been with Gamblin Motors for twelve years, and when he’s not delivering the best trucks to customers on the Plateau, he’s working behind the scenes organizing the Enumclaw Pro Rodeo.

Rodeos have been a part of Rick’s life since he was young. Before the car business, Rick rode professionally on the rodeo circuit. He and his brother traveled the country riding bulls and broncos. While riding down in Florida, Rick was injured and forced into an early retirement. But not even a serious injury could keep him away from the rodeo. He returned to the Northwest and continued to participate in roping events. It’s this love of rodeos that led Rick to join forces with other Enumclaw residents to bring the rodeo back to town.

Thanks to this group of community members, the Enumclaw Pro Rodeo is once again a highlight of the summer. As a non-profit event, the rodeo relies on volunteers like Rick to work year round to bring this fun filled weekend to our community. The rodeo is able to donate its proceeds to help fund local 4-H clubs due to the tireless efforts of Rick and other volunteers. We are proud to have Rick on the Gamblin Motors team and proud to be a continued sponsor of the Enumclaw Pro Rodeo.

Art Gamblin Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship

This year marks the fourteenth year of the Art Gamblin Memorial Scholarship.  Since its inception, the fund has awarded scholarships to twenty-seven Enumclaw High School scholar athletes. These awards mark a combined total of $27,000 of scholarship funds designated to help students achieve their post-secondary school goals. We are proud to announce this year’s scholarship recipients and their future educational pursuits: Kylie Rademacher, Pacific Lutheran University, and Dylan Miller, Central Washington University.

The Art Gamblin Memorial Scholarship aims to recognize students who excel in academics, leadership and athletics. These qualities and skills were important to Art Gamblin starting at a young age. Academics played a strong role in the Gamblin family. Art learned first hand the importance of education by watching his single mother go to school and become a teacher during the Great Depression. He was literally surrounded by school at all times as the family later lived in the basement of the schoolhouse where his mother taught. His love for learning led him to become a teacher himself. While teaching and coaching high school in Sandpoint, Idaho, he found a new passion and career path during a summer sales job at the local Chevrolet dealership.  Art’s friendly nature and leadership skills made him a successful car man, and this led to Art buying the local Chevrolet dealership in Enumclaw, Washington.  The Gamblins quickly fell in love with Enumclaw and rooted their family in the community. For many years Art could be heard yelling from the stands as he cheered on his Enumclaw Hornet children and grandchildren. It is with this memory in mind that the friends and family of Art Gamblin continue to cheer and recognize the amazing scholar athletes from Enumclaw High School.

Every school year one senior boy and one senior girl are each awarded $500 a year for the course of two years. The money is earmarked for their continued educational aspirations. In the spring we welcome all graduating senior submissions for the Art Gamblin Memorial Scholarship. Teachers and administrators from Enumclaw High School comprise the selection committee and look for students with outstanding efforts in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. Gamblin Motors was Art Gamblin’s legacy, and we are proud to honor outstanding student achievement in his name.

The Drive

Kasey Kahnes Toy Kids Car b

Russell Wilson and Kasey Kahne for the third year are hosting a celebrity golf tournament THE DRIVE to support Children’s Hospital and Strong Against Cancer.  The tournament is held at Suncadia Lodge June 27 & 28th.  The Drive includes a silent and live auction to raise money for Children’s Hospital.  Last year Kahne and Wilson presented a $400,000 check to the hospital.

 Chevrolet’s driven at the Event are supplied by the Northwest Chevy Dealers and Art Gamblin Motors.  This year the Northwest Chevy Dealers donated an officially licensed one of a kind kid’s battery operated version of Kasey Kahne’s Sprint Cup Series car.  This car will be autographed by Nascar driver Kasey Kahne who was born and raised in Enumclaw then auctioned to the highest bidder.  Proceeds will go to Children’s Hospital to fight Cancer.

This unique Kid’s car is the first that will be auctioned off at various events by the Seattle International Auto Show and the Washington State New Car Dealers in support of Children’s Hospital.  The car will be featured along with other Kid cars during the Auto Show November 10-13.

 

2016 EHS Photography Contest

EHS PHOTO CONTEST

Over the past few years, Gamblin Motors has sponsored a photo contest for EHS students. The students are given two weeks to send us their very best photos. These photos are uploaded to our Facebook page. Our Facebook followers are asked to vote for the favorite photo. Students encourage their friends and family to vote for their photo. At the end of the contest, the photo with the most likes and comments wins. The winner receives $250.

Our 2016 contest kicks off this next week. Students can send us their photos beginning June 1. They will be uploaded to our Facebook page the next day. The contest runs from June 1-June 17. The Winner will be announced on June 18. Get ready to vote for your favorite photo.

Here are the instructions for interested EHS students:


Contest Instructions

-Save Photo with your name using this format: First_Last _Grade

-Email Photo to corigamblin@gmail.com Your photo will be uploaded to Gamblin Motor’s Facebook page the next day.

-Spread the word to get the most likes for your photo on Gamblin Motor’s Facebook page.

-The photo with the most likes wins $250 cash.

Helpful Hints

  1. Like Art Gamblin Motors on FB
  2. Get your photo in soon. (If your photo is one of the first posted, it will be up the longest.)
  3. Spread the word on your FB page.
  4. Repost our photo contest posts on your wall.
  5. Have friends and family also post your contest photo on their wall.

The more people who see your photo the more votes you will get.

Thank You For Your Coat Donations

Thank You Coat Drive

Thank you for all your donations during our Annual Coat Drive. We love taking car loads of coats, hats, and gloves to the Enumclaw Clothing Bank. Over the last few years Gamblin Motors has supported the Enumclaw Clothing Bank with generous coat donations from our employees, customers, and community members, and it was another successful year. The Enumclaw Clothing Bank is a non-profit organization that offers clothes, coats, shoes and “new” socks and underwear to children in the district that need a little extra help. One day a week the Enumclaw Clothing Bank welcomes families to pick up needed clothing items for FREE.

If you have other clothing items you wish to donate, feel free to drop these items off on Tuesdays at the Enumclaw Clothing Bank. The clothing bank is located JJ Smith School. Any cash donations are used to buy new underwear and socks. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit their website. http://www.enumclaw.wednet.edu/families/clothingbank.pdf