May 9, 2011 Spokesman

Posted by Barbara Hagstrom 
on May 9, 2011
 

President Pat started the May 9, 2011 Kirkland Rotary Meeting at 6:30 pm.  The pledge was led by Doug Carter and she thanked Diana Lanspa for greeting and Barbara Hagstrom for scribing.  Visitors included Chris Rusnak, Jim Wood & Vickie Cooley.  Scholarship recipient Elabeth Claypool was in attendance with her parents Terri & Jeff.  She missed the scholarship meeting so we wanted her to have her time at the club.

 Club Announcements:

·        A  Rotary First Harvest Gift Card was given to John Overleese for all his work on Scholarships.

·        Rick Ostrander short announcement about the Duck Dash and asked everyone to sign up to sell tickets.

·        Patti Smith still has some Kirkland Rotary shirts left over and anyone who want s one should contact her.

·        Brandon Honcoop asked everyone to fill out a survey if they haven’t done so yet.

·        Chuck Brockway has some spaces left for the Miracle League Baseball game which will be held at Perrigo Park in Redmond this Saturday.  Contact Chuck if you are available for this event.

 

Special Announcements:  Presentation of the Scholarship to Elizabeth Claypoole from Lake Washington High School.  Elizabeth said she will be attending Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego California.  She will be studying Kinesiology, the study of the human body and the way it moves, especially as it relates to health, athletic ability, fitness, and overall well-being.

Happy Dollars:

·        Chucks Brockway's 100+- pound daughter just gave birth to an 8 lb. baby boy.  She was in labor for over 24 hrs...  Yikes.  All are doing well as is the proud Grandpa.

·        Chuck Brockway and Bill Taylor are celebrating their 25th Rotary Anniversary.

·        Pat Dye’s son is now resting comfortably after being rushed to the hospital with chest pains.

·        John Woodbery saved a friend after finding him on the floor in his friends apartment.  John listened to his wife after she told him to look in on him.. .John’s wife said, “I’m often wrong BUT never uncertain”.  How true.

                                                                                                     Proposed New Member 

     Chris Rusnak has been proposed for membership:       Sponsor is Dan Bartel:     Classification will be Photography.

 

Program Speaker: Slade Gorton (R) Past Washington State Senator.  Slade Gorton was a U.S. Senator from 1981 to 1987, and again from 1989 to 2001.

Program Topic:  The 10th Congressional Seat for Washington State.  The congressional reapportionment process, which is done after the census every 10 years, means some pretty significant changes in Washington State.   Washington State will have to figure out where to put the 10th District.

The state will not only be picking up a new 10th congressional district, but its share of federal funding should also increase.   Our state has been one of the fastest growing in the country over the past 10 years.  The new congressional seat will give the state added clout on Capitol Hill.

In the 2000 census, Washington ranked 15th among all states in terms of population. With the 2010 census, it now ranks 13th. 

Every congressional district in the state will be affected by the redistricting. Most of the speculation is the new 10th district will be centered in Olympia and could have major affects on the existing 3rd, 6th, 8th and 9th congressional districts. Pierce County could be divided into four different congressional districts under this reapportionment.

An independent redistricting commission will draw up the new congressional and legislative boundaries. Washington is one of seven states in which redistricting has been taken out of the hands of the Legislature.  The commission who will decide the new boundaries has two Democrats, two Republicans and a non-voting chairman. It will take three of the four commissioners to adopt new boundaries for the congressional and legislative districts but the Legislature could make some minor adjustments.  The new boundaries will effect the 2012 election.  Slade believes that Washington State is the best model for state reapportionment in the U.S. and more states will be following our lead.

Senator Gorton was given a Gift Card from Rotary First Harvest. 

Lucky Ticket Drawing led by Jim Going.  Senator Gorton picked the winning ticket holder….. D.V. Hurst but he did not win the Jack Pot.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30

Submitted by

Barbara Hagstrom, Scribe