Members of the Issaquah Valley Senior Center began a petition during the center’s pizza lunch on Friday to send all remaining IVS funds to the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank after the center dissolves on Dec. 30.

According to a settlement reached between the IVS Board and senior center member David Kappler on Dec. 21, any funds left after IVS has paid its liabilities and debts will go to a nonprofit. However, the board has said that it will choose which nonprofit receives the money.

Senior center member David Waggoner said that it is important for the money to go to an Issaquah nonprofit.

“The Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank serves the seniors of this community,” he stated.

Waggoner said on Dec. 23 that the petition had received about 25 signatures so far, and he hoped to see many more the following week.

“I’m happy about this because I think by Tuesday [Dec. 27] we’ll double it and by Friday [Dec. 30] we’ll triple it,” he said.

Seniors have been asking the board to comply with RCW 24.03.230, which states that before dissolution, voting members of an organization must approve a plan of distribution of assets.

However, the board said during the Dec. 21 meeting of the general membership that IVS members do not have voting rights, and therefore do not need to approve such a plan.

Seniors maintain that they do have voting rights because they elect the board members. The seniors’ petition begins with the words “We the voting members of the Issaquah Valley Senior Center.”

“What’s important to see is the wording — we the voting members,” Waggoner said.

Soda at the IVS pizza party on Friday was provided by supporters of the late Regina Poirier, who had been trespassed from the senior center by former Executive Director Courtney Jaren. This no-trespass order was overturned in November. Nicole Jennings/staff photo