The Rotary Club of Kirkland held a virtual meeting on June 12, 2023 using the Zoom platform.
President-elect Gary Cohn called the meeting to order at 6:18 p.m.
Gary led us in the pledge.
Attending were Pete Anderson, Bob Auslander, Scott Becker, Gary Cohn, Terry Cole, David DeBois, Jocelyn Ellison, Doug Evanson, James Feek, Monica Fratita, Rashmi Garimella, Margie Glenn, Isabelle Kalisa, Jim Meniketti, Amy Mutal, Rick Ostrander, Joanne Primavera, Patti Smith, John Storbeck, and Alice Volpe.
Guests:
This evening the club’s guest was the program presenter, Jan Martinka from the Rotary Club of Kirkland Downtown.
Greeters:
President-elect Gary greeted members.
Announcements, Club Business, Committee Reports:
Gary provided an update on the implementation of the Membership Success module on ClubRunner. Note there is now a link on the home page for members to refer potential members.
Upon joining the meeting, President Amy reminded members about the annual Leadership Transition Dinner that will be held on Tuesday, June 20, from 6 to 9 p.m., at The Bravern in a private room. As a result of several members still wanting to register, the event registration was re-opened until midnight.
Doug Evanson presented his classification talk this evening. Presently, Doug works for John L. Scott on the Eastside, but sells in Seattle as well. Doug grew up on a small town where civic involvement was crucial. His family was involved in putting on major community-wide events; Mom made costumes, Dad worked on the stage, Doug helped. Doug taught school for a while, and then went into the restaurant business. He spent 35 years in restaurant general management, and left in 2008 when the economy took a plunge. He has been in real estate for about two years, and business is finally growing. Doug was involved for eight years in Rotary in the south end. For Doug, everything about Rotary fit the way he was brought up, so he feels like he belongs. Doug fielded questions about his business experience, and what his teaching and singing career was like.
Program:
President Amy introduced Rotary Club of Kirkland Downtown past president Jan Martinka to speak about her experience with a global grant in Antigua. Both the Kirkland Downtown and Bellevue Breakfast clubs collaborated on the grant. It’s the 15th grant in which the club’s been involved. Jan confessed that her husband John actually writes the grants.
One part of the current project is improving education through technology, which started with the Bellevue club. It is intended to support Antigua sudents to learn about technology. The two Rotary clubs take about 15 Newport High School students who are deeply involved in their high school’s technology courses on the trip to Antigua. The students wire up the classrooms and help with the technology set-up.
One of the key elements of the grant is teacher training, especially with respect to the use of technology. Rotary International wants grantees to “teach people how to fish” so they are self-sufficient in the area of training.
Jan was personally involved in the sewing program component of the grant. The grant paid for setting up a sewing center where the locals can learn to sew. A lot of the fabric and sewing machines were donated to make the center possible. Jan trains at least one of the students to be the teacher, and RI provides a stipend to support the person’s work after the Rotary team has departed.
Jan answered Rotarians’ questions about the grant, the work, and her role in the grant, especially the sewing center.
Happy Bucks:
There were no happy bucks collected this evening.
Program:
Dave DeBois mentioned that several club members are meeting with the chamber’s marketing director tomorrow, Tuesday, who has led a community rummage sale in the past. Dave is inviting people to show up for the meeting with her.
The rummage sale yard signs are in Dave’s Banner Bank office. Clients and others are picking up signs, and members are welcome to drop by Banner Bank to collect and go place yard signs in the community. There are many left. We need to get them posted in the rights of way where political signs are placed.
Dave had 100 posters printed, and he’s ordering 50 more. They will be available at the bank.
Supplies are arriving, and Rick Ostrander has provided a landing place for the shipments.
The marketing team needs to get the postings out on social media and Dave is working on other sites.
Rotarians are going to be the supervisors. Alice has volunteered to be the manager of the staffing matrix.
Pete Anderson sent a message to the Downtown club asking for people who want to volunteer. Pete is awaiting answer, and Jan will follow up in the meeting she has with the Downtown club tomorrow.
The email and poster developed for members was sent around the club already. It is essential that club members send that to their friends and neighbors this week.
Waste Management is providing two recycling, two yard waste, and two garbage containers. Scott is working on getting a couple more garbage containers.
There was extended discussion on the availability of pick-up service and the quality of merchandise.
Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Gary Cohn, Secretary