The Rotary Club of Kirkland held an in-person meeting on August 21, 2023 at the Madison House Independent and Assisted Living Community in Kirkland’s Totem Lake. Members gathered beforehand to socialize and enjoy refreshments.  Some members attended via Zoom.

Rick Walter greeted members.

President Gary Cohn called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., the start time delayed by 15 minutes due to food service delivery.

John Storbeck led us in the pledge.

Attending were Pete Anderson, David Aubry, Bob Auslander*, Scott Becker, Gary Cohn, David DeBois, Donald Dicks*, Sandi Ekins* (Honorary), Jocelyn Ellison, Rashmi Garimella, Margie Glenn*, Jim Meniketti, Amy Mutal, Kristin Olson, Rick Ostrander, Joanne Primavera, John Pruitt, John Storbeck, and Rick Walter. *Attended via Zoom.

The club’s guests, introduced by Rick Walter, were Zac Baker, a banker in Kirkland with First Financial Northwest, and here for his fourth meeting; and Peter Peaquin, a health care judge who has met the qualifications for membership in the club.  Also present were the speakers, Dr. Eric Murray, president of Cascadia College, Brittany Caldwell, executive director of the Cascadia College Foundation.

The Rotary Club of Kirkland will continue holding in-person meetings at the Madison House facility in Totem Lake. Club members attending this week's meeting voted nearly three to one to stay at Madison House near term. The meeting venue provides more members the ability socialize, to hear speakers, and to hear one another a bit better. Club leadership will work with the management on menu selections, and to store some of the club's meeting supplies onsite. At the moment, the dinner price will remain at $35 to accommodate beverages. Club leadership will work on an inexpensive method for gathering members' opinions on the fare and programs in time for the next in-person meeting, September 18.

September brings cooler weather and the return to school for our community's children. It also signals a shift from the dangers of heat to the dangers of cold for the unsheltered in the Kirkland community. In September, the club will hear from city and county leaders directly involved in the design and delivery of services to the homeless. On September 11, Mallory Van Abbema of the King County Homeless Authority will introduce Rotarians to the Authority's efforts in East King County. On September 18, Jen Boone of the city of Kirkland's Human Services Division will introduce Rotarians to the city's homelessness outreach and support offerings. The two presentations are designed to illuminate for club members the various layers and coordination of activities and services provided through county and city governments.

Most club members responded to a survey volunteering for both club committees and rummage sale teams. A few more responded to committee chairs who followed up with members to build committees. Nine committees, not including the board, are active in the club. The listings below show how 29 of our 33 members have made 74 service commitment to our avenues of service and club operations committees, as well as to five rummage sale teams. Only four members have yet to complete the committee selection process. The club committees are listed in order of the number of member commitments, which are in parentheses. More volunteers and a chair are needed for programs and speakers.