The Rotary Club of Kirkland held a meeting both online and at The Woodmark Hotel on June 7, 2021!
Attendance was recorded as before the shift to the all-online meeting format – by members signing in.
President James Nevers rang the bell at 6:30 p.m.
Rick Walter led us in the Pledge.
President James thanked our front desk volunteers Rick Walter and Jim Meniketti.
Guests:
Quite a few guests: Bill Taylor introduced his wife Sandy; Mike Hunter introduced his wife Sharon; Dave Aubry introduced his wife Anna; District Governor-Elect Howard Cohen was introduced; and former club member Angela Marks was introduced. In addition, two-time Kirkland Rotary Step Scholarship winner Karla Pastrana, who announced she made the Dean’s List at UW|Tacoma, was introduced.
Announcements:
Amy Mutal announced that the City staff has apparently reversed themselves and there will be an Oktoberfest the weekend of September 25-26. Branding will again be at Lee Johnson’s Auto Family site on September 20. We will start selling tickets in July. Scott Becker announced that we will have familiar venues at which to sell tickets: QFC, the Wednesday Market, etc. He appealed for more sponsorships very soon as the tickets go to the printers this week. Rick Walter announced the Club now has a new online version of its accounting system.
Happy Dollars:
There were quite a number of Happy Rotarians. Many are happy because we are back together again and can actually shake hands. People were also happy about the job President James has done this past year keeping us all together.
Program:
The District Governor-Elect Cohen gave a short talk about his Rotary journey – about joining a Club and becoming a Rotarian – two different things. He encouraged everyone to come to the District Conference in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Each Club will have a table so they can share what each Club does. He wants to break down the silo walls between Clubs so there is some communication and coordination between Clubs doing similar things.
Our speaker tonight was Ian Goodhew of Google. He has been a lobbyist with the King County Prosecutor’s Office and with UW Medicine. He was recruited by Google and started with them January 2020. Mostly due to the pandemic, he has yet to work in a Google office. He expects to be there by June 20. Google has decided that it is important that employees come together and interact in person.
Google is starting to populate their offices at Kirkland Urban. He gave a rundown on plans for future growth. They are in negotiations to purchase the Lee Johnson Auto Family site if the City will zone the area to fit their needs. With that site, the building under construction on 6th Street South, and the office building on 6th Street near the Post Office, the number of employees will grow substantially.
He gave a short talk on lobbying and how it is most effective when done face-to-face.
Apparently, the state is going to require long-term care insurance and will levy a tax on those who do not have it starting January 1, 2022. It is designed to reduce pressure on Medicaid and will be funded by a 0.58% tax on wages as reported on a W-2. You will have ONE opportunity to opt out, by having a long-term care policy in place by November 1, 2021. Retired folks and those who have not paid into the program for at least 10 years will not be eligible for coverage.
Rich Bergdahl presented a Paul Harris Plus 4 pin to Mike Hunter and a Paul Harris Plus 5 pin to Dave Aubry.
The Transition Dinner will be June 28.
President James rang the bell at 7:46 p.m. and we adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted
David Aubry - Acting Scribe