The Rotary Club of Kirkland held an in-person meeting on October 2, 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.

John Storbeck greeted members and collected money for the meal.

President Gary Cohn, called the meeting to order at 6:16 p.m.

Jim Meniketti led us in the pledge.

Attending were David Aubry, Bob Auslander*, Scott Becker, Michelle Cazeau*, Gary Cohn, David DeBois, Don Dicks*, Doug Evanson, Rashmi Garimella, Margie Glenn*, Isabelle Kalisa*, Kate Koslowski, Jim Meniketti, Rick Ostrander, Peter Peaquin, Joanne Primavera, John Pruitt, John Storbeck, and Rick Walter. *Attended via Zoom.

 

Rotarians are reminded that the club's annual board nominating committee, this year comprising the president-elect, Pete Anderson, and past presidents Rick Walter and Joanne Primavera, has begun its work. The committee is responsible under the bylaws for organizing a proposed slate of officers and directors for the forthcoming year. The slate will consist of the president-elect, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and five members of the board of directors who are chairs of the avenues of service committees.

During the 2023-2024 Rotary year, several of the club's past presidents have committed to take on the leadership of in-person club meetings during the absence of the club's president. Members may view each club meeting planned for this year on the club's Calendar. All of the in-person meetings are noted as "(In-Person)" on each of the calendar items. All of the virtual meetings are noted with an asterisk (*) on the calendar item. Each of meeting items on the club website calendar also show which past president will chair the meeting if the president is not scheduled to chair.

All of our Kirkland Rotarians are invited to join Dave Aubry and Rick Walter for the city of Kirkland's ribbon cutting for the latest Rotary Club of Kirkland Legacy Project, the Kirkland Rotary Central Station at Kirkland Ave. and Railroad Ave.  This is a project combining a public multi-use pavilion on the Cross Kirkland Corridor with exhibits illustrating the growth of Kirkland as a vibrant city, linked for more than a century with the heritage of the railroad. See the Rotary Calendar item for directions.

 

Club members have asked the Club Service Committee to plan another Rotary Sweethearts Valentine Dinner to celebrate the Valentine's Day holiday. It's been a couple of years since this event was offered to the membership to enjoy Valentine's Day together. Committee chair Doug Evanson is leading the planning for the event, along with immediate past-president Amy Mutal. Other members of the Club Service Committee are Bob Auslander, Margie Glenn, Brandon Honcoop, Steve Shinstrom, Pat Swenson, and Alice Volpe. If you have suggestions for the organization and venue for the February 14 event, please click on Doug's name above and send him your advice, or contact other committee members. As the planning shapes up and information becomes available, The Spokesman will carry updates and news will be posted to the club's Calendar.

The Programs & Speakers Committee attracted only one member during the club's committee volunteer process this summer. This committee is responsible for planning topics, recruiting quality speakers, gathering promotional information about the topic and speaker, promoting the programs to members, assisting the speakers' prepare for and deliver content to members, and following up to gauge the success of the program. It is essential that a few more Rotarians volunteer to support the program work for the club. Quality programs are critical to ongoing member education and enjoyment of club meetings. If you are willing to invest some time and talent to make the programs shine this year, please contact club president Gary Cohn to volunteer.

The club held three meetings during August 2023. Overall club attendance for the month was 53%, a decrease of 12% over the prior month. Note that July included attendance at the rummage sale and the annual leadership transition dinner. The club's membership in the month of August stood at 33 active (including honorary) members. 

Club members' readership of the bulletin, The Spokesman, in August fell again compared to the past several months. Readership rates for the three editions were 55%, 61%, and 42% for the three editions, and 53% for the month. Overall readership for the calendar year was 73% through August. A bulletin is "read" when the email containing it is opened by the recipient. In August, 33 active members (including our honorary member) received the bulletin.