The Rotary Club of Kirkland held a meeting on July 1, 2024 at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Meeting Hall in downtown Kirkland.
Past President Rick Walter acted as president of this meeting and called the meeting to order at 6:17 p.m.
Margie Glenn led us in the flag salute.
Attending were David Aubry, Bob Auslander, Cody Baker, Scott Becker, Michelle Cazeau, Gary Cohn, Sue Cohn, Terry Cole, Donald Dicks, Jocelyn Ellison, Doug Evanson, Monica Fratita*, Rashmi Garimella, Mekonen Giorgis, Margie Glenn, Isabelle Kalisa, Kate Koslosky, Nancy Khoury-Zuanich, Jim Meniketti, Rick Ostrander, Joanne Primavera, John Pruitt, Daniel Sada Caraveo, Alice Volpe, and Rick Walter. *Attended via Zoom.
Our greeter this evening was Michelle Cazeau.
Visiting Rotarians:
There were no visiting Rotarians in attendance.
Guests:
David Aubry introduced his wife Anna, announcing that today was her birthday AND their wedding anniversary. In addition, our speaker Bailey Cavender was a guest of the club.
Announcements:
Acting President Rick informed us that there were cookies on the table from Jocelyn Reiter, in honor of her 27th year as a Rotarian.
Acting President Rick informed us that, among other things, today is National Stamp Day and Bobby Bonila Day. Mr. Bonila is noteworthy because years ago, he negotiated a deal on his baseball contract buyout that has resulted in him getting a significant annual check for many years.
Mr. Walter also told us about the current RI President Stepanie Urchick, one of whose goals is to embrace new meeting styles. [Trying to figure out how to order food and drink at the Eagles Club with a malfunctioning cell phone that will not read the QR code that accesses the menu is a challenge!]
Going forward, the Club will be meeting at a number of other potential meeting venues, including:
- 7/22 – L’Experience Paris on Lake Washington Blvd in Kirkland.
- 7/29 – bye week
- 8/5 – Sparrow in Juanita
- 8/19 – TBD
We need other past presidents to step up to lead meetings until the return of our new club president, Pete Anderson.
On July 8 there will not be a regular meeting. We will start setting up for the Rummage Sale at Kamiakin Middle School, and will pick up some of the donated items. Beginning at 9 a.m., the site is open for donor to bring items for donation to the sale.
Committees:
Rick Walter is chair of the community service committee this year, and is working on developing community work party activities for club members.
New Business:
John Pruitt reported that Michelle Cazeau has found a number of volunteers to help with the Rummage Sale process. Mr. Pruitt will be contacting members to ensure that everyone is involved and contributing.
Rick Ostrander announced that due to covid and other distractions, the Club missed presenting Past President Rick Walter with his recognition plaque. That oversight was fixed tonight.
Happy Bucks:
Daniel Sada Caraveo contributed $20 in Happy Bucks online at this meeting. Thank you to Daniel!
Program:
Our speaker for tonight is Bailey Cavender, the new deputy director of the Gray’s Harbor Historical Seaport. She spoke to us at length about the restoration of the Lady Washington, the GHHS’s tall ship. The original vessel was the first ship to fly the American flag in the Pacific Northwest.
We heard about how Ms. Cavender came to her present position, information about GHHS and its mission, and about the many challenges involved in operating and maintaining a wooden sailing ship. Currently work is progressing on preparations for the complex task of repairing and replacing many integral parts of the ship. Currently, because of her condition, the Coast Guard has restricted her operations to coastal and inland waters. Until work actually begins, the extent of the needed repairs is unclear. Wood decay may be hidden and not be apparent until some disassembly of the ship has begun.
As a side note, the ship has been used in such films as Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Star Trek: Generations.
GHHS is also working to develop a “Seaport Site” in the Gray’s Harbor area; the site needs some environmental cleanup due to past industrial activities.
There were a number of questions from Rotarians about visiting the ship, and the possibility that the ship will visit Lake Washington again [not this year]. There is a need for a floating pier for the vessel to tie up to, in order to minimize damage caused by contact with the pier and the movement of the ship. So – work on the ship is being coordinated with the creation of a permanent berth.
The normal end-of-meeting ticket drawing and raffle is being modified such that members will donate items, three of which will be given away to lucky ticket-holders at the end of each meeting. Bring wine and other attractive prizes to meetings, and buy tickets so you can take some of the items home again. Three folks won tonight; hopefully this will increase interest in the ticket drawings.
Acting President Rick thanked our guests. We were reminded to be at Kamiakin Middle School next Monday at 8:30 a.m. to start setting up and start receiving donated items – not to mention drinking coffee and eating donuts.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:09 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
David Aubry – Acting Scribe