About Us

Co-Founder and member Delma Tayer, generously donated her artwork for our website.

Delma’s twenty- five year career at the Yakima Valley College began in 1963. Her career reflected her passion for art as she taught English, Art History and the Humanities, and was the Dean of Arts and Science. Delma retired in 1990 and became a full-time artist. Although her formal training was in abstract expressionism, she has not been confined to that style. Delma has worked and experimented with most mediums including but not limited to oil paint, acrylic, watercolor, and handmade rice paper Delma purchased herself while in Japan with her son to create some of her beautiful collage pieces.

A Welcoming Network

We are a local volunteer-based nonprofit organization that empowers members to continue living at home.

Our Mission

Improve the experience of aging by creating friendships and services that support independence and connection to the communtity.

Our Vision

To build and sustain a community where neighbors engage with and support one another through the transitions of aging.

Our Values

Inclusiveness – We accept members and volunteers regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation, race, financial status, or spiritual beliefs and treat every person with respect, dignity and kindness.

Accountability – We work to provide a safe environment for our members and volunteers. We operate responsibly, recognize the limitations of our mission, and hold ourselves accountable as we carry it out. We work with individuals and organizations in our community to strengthen our Network and reduce duplicated efforts.

Compassion and Connection – We embrace each person, regardless of their current situation or past, knowing that everyone deserves understanding and patience. We believe in building a Network where our members may find meaningful relationships. We consider ourselves a community of giving and receiving and strive to provide ways in which people may contribute and connect.

Openness – We value diverse backgrounds and ideas, and we carefully consider them to find new ways to benefit our members and volunteers.

Appreciation – We are grateful to our community. Without the dedication of our volunteers, members, and supporters, we would not be able to fulfill our mission. We depend on local donors and appreciate their support as a measure of their respect for the Village concept and our work in carrying it out. We appreciate our volunteers, train them well, and listen to their needs and suggestions.

Model

Yakima & Selah Neighbors’ Network is a member of the Village to Village Network, a national organization that helps villages by providing expert guidance, resources, and support. If you live outside the greater Yakima and Selah areas, please visit www.vtnetwork.org to find a village near you.

Board of Directors and Staff

Becky Johnson, Board President

Becky has been a lifelong resident of the Yakima/Selah area. She is married to Ron, a retired City of Yakima Firefighter, and has two adult daughters and two grandsons. She retired from the Washington State Department of Ecology having worked with the superior court judge on the recently completed Yakima Basin Adjudication. Becky served as Board Secretary, 2019-2023.

Barb Heinzen, Board Vice-President

Barb is a retired Physical Therapist with a passion for helping folks achieve their highest level of function. She has been with YSNN since the beginning and is now the Board Vice-President and co-chairs the Membership and Volunteer Committee. Barb strongly believes in the mission and vision of YSNN and that the challenges of aging are best met within a forward-looking supportive community. Barb is married to her husband Joel and has three grown children and four young grandchildren. Her hobbies include hiking, golfing and quilting.

Susie Lattomus, Board Secretary

Susie is a retired (2014) RN, BSN. Her first career is in Natural Resource management, mostly with the US Forest Service. She also spent several years in the fruit industry. She had her mother living with her for 17 years, so she could observe firsthand the needs and decline of an elderly person. For fun, she enjoys hiking and outdoor activities, music concerts, friends, and eating.

Janet Doty, Board Treasurer

Janet was a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for over 25 years with a regional accounting firm in Yakima and was the accountant for her family orchard for several years. Janet is married to Doug and has two grown children. She is a Deacon at Grace of Christ Church. In her spare time, Janet enjoys hiking, golf, jigsaw puzzles, and playing with their two dogs.

Chrissy Schott, Program Manager

Chrissy graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle in the midst of the Seattle area music scene in the early 90’s and experienced an exciting career in the field. Changing gears, Chrissy found serving older adults as one of the most important transitions and joys. After 25 years in Seattle Chrissy came back to Yakima. Chrissy’s father lives with her and her mother lives nearby. Chrissy enjoys her array of pets, 2 dogs and 3 cats. She likes walks, swimming and singing in the Yakima Symphony Choir.

Mary Lou Rozdilsky, Board Member at Large

Mary Lou retired as Dean of Arts and Sciences from Yakima Valley Community College in 2006. She served on the Larson Gallery Guild Board where she organized the Tour of Artists’ Homes and Studios for several years and later was a docent for the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy and helped with butterfly-tagging. She loves her Yakima neighborhood and the Central Washington landscape – as a gardener, hiker and an artist—she appreciates the generous support the community has given our Neighbors’ Network. Mary Lou served as YSNN Board president from 2018-2023.

Jeff Honeycutt, Board Member at Large

Jeff is a retired federal employee, with most of his 32 years spent serving as a community resource manager for several VA medical centers across the country. Originally from Seattle, he and his wife, Rise’, moved to Yakima in late 2020. Jeff found YSNN in search of volunteer opportunities and is excited to have become a new Board member. In addition to his volunteer work, Jeff enjoys hiking, golf, music, and community theater.

Caroline Calvillo, Board Member at Large

Caroline lived a military dependent’s life her first ten years. While it wasn’t easy moving often andstarting over with friends and schools she learned to be resilient, adaptable and about the importance of relationships in close-knit military communities where members looked out for each other. She enjoyed careers in the banking field, as a Certified Medical Assistant in medical clinics and finally retired after many years at the University of Washington in Tacoma as professional staff. In retirement, she began volunteer work after a move to Yakima. She joined Yakima Selah Neighbors’ Network walking group in 2020 during the pandemic and became a volunteer in 2022. Caroline and her husband learned firsthand about the challenges of aging elders while providing care for her parents in their home through long illnesses. Caroline embraces continuous learning and loves to connect her reading about cultures, history and other countries to her travels.

Inga Wiehl, Board Member at Large

Inga passed away with her family by her side in Yakima on June 26, 2024. She will be missed.

Inga received a scholarship from the University of Washington. She left home in Copenhagen and arrived in Seattle where she completed her Master’s degree in the course of a year. With a renewal of her scholarship, she went on to study for her PhD in Comparative Literature and received her doctorate after completing her dissertation. Arriving in this country without her family has taught her to rely on her friends and, she hopes, to be a friend herself. She brings that experience to the Neighbors’ Network.