March 11, 2013 Spokesman

Posted by Brian Tucker 
on Mar 11, 2013
 

Dan Bartel started off the evening showing a new video of Rotary First Harvest’s work. Thanks, Dan!

President Patti then began the meeting by thanking Barb Seaton for being our Greeter, and asking John Pruitt to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. He said “yes!”, and did so.

Visitors and guests included Jim Going, back from an absence, Tom Smith, and his spouse Sharon. Tom is the Pres-Elect for the First Harvest Board, as well as a member of the Bellevue Breakfast Club.

Tom thanked our Club for our support of First Harvest and walked us through its many good deeds and benefits. Dave DeBois then presented him with our Club’s $1,250 donation to further our support.

Announcements, announcements, announcements (sounds like a camp song..):

  • Jim Going thanked us for the get well wishes of late, and then announced he’ll be glad to lead a group of 3 other members to get the Joker Pool going again. Let him know if you can help.
  • Yours truly reminded all that the Kirkland Downtown Association’s Shamrock Run is this coming Saturday at 9am, and KDA needs volunteers to help. Go to http://www.volunteerkirkland.com/ and click on the Shamrock Run for details.
  • President Patti reminded all who signed up to clean the Cross Kirkland Trail to show up this coming Saturday afternoon from 1-2:30. Meet at 108th Ave NE where the railroad tracks cross, just up the street from the South Kirkland Park & Ride. Rain or shine! (Unless it’s dumping rain at noon). Adult conversation and reflection will follow at Hector’s for the participants.
  • Patti also asks all Members to go the secure part of the Club’s website and update your personal contact information, as well as your month and day of birthday so she can celebrate you! The year is always optional. J
  • Patty Smith added on with a reminder to upload a snazzy photo of you on the website also!
  • If you don’t know how to do any of that, get in touch with Steve Shinstrom.
  • Scott Becker announced more Duck Dash sponsorships, one from Evergreen Healthcare for $5,000 and another from Conover Insurance for $1,500. Thank you!!! We’re up to $12,000 and counting on more, so keep working your network to help out!
  • He also announced Chris Rusnak will be updating the Duck Dash Facebook page, and will include YOUR vacation photos if you take along a flock of duckies. Who knew rubber ducks could survive in Antarctica?? 

Chris Morgan introduced our speaker for the evening, Ethan Casey.

Ethan is an author and journalist with a special interest in Haiti and Pakistan due to his teenage and adult experiences as he’s traveled to both countries. His goal has been to get out into the less-traveled parts of both and get to know people in their own circumstances, and then share those in his writings. He spoke of Rotary’s work in both countries, with Polio Plus in Pakistan and Partners in Health in Haiti. 

He then spoke of his latest project to take the same approach in the USA by traveling to our many states and meeting everyday people. He showed and described many slides from his trip last Fall through WA, MT, SD, MN, WI, IL, OH, MI, PA, MA, CT, SC, GA, FL, MS, LA, TX, CO, NM, AZ, CA, OR and back to Seattle. Whew! 18,000 miles later, he’s getting started on the new book. 

Thank you sharing it with us, Ethan. 

President Patti adjourned the meeting at 7:53pm. 

YIR,

Brian Tucker