The Rotary Club of Kirkland held a meeting on March 14, 2022 at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel.
President Dave DeBois rang the bell at 6:14 p.m., calling the club meeting to order.
Steve Shinstrom led the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attending were George Anderson, David Aubry, Bob Auslander, Rich Bergdahl, Gary Cohn*, David DeBois, Monica Fratita*, Margie Glenn, Brandon Honcoop, Jim Meniketti, Joanne Primavera, John Pruitt, Steve Shinstrom, Patti Smith*, John Storbeck, Brian Tucker, and Rick Walter. *Attended the meeting online.
Guests:
Dr. Saadia Pekkaman of the University of Washington, our speaker this evening, was our guest, as were Lyndsey Tews of the Rotary Club of Lake Chelan, who is interested in our Rotary club, Doug Evanson, who is also interested in joining the club and was back for another visit, the parents of our student of the month, Lisa Auslander and Scott Densmore, and Lizzie’s best friend, Andi Raubacher. There were numerous guests on Zoom, starting with our special program guest Ben Sterciuc coming to the meeting from Romania, where it was 3:15 a.m. on Tuesday. In addition, there were a number of guest Rotarians and guests of Rotarians, including friends from the Rotary Club of Kirkland Downtown and the Rotary Club of Lynnwood: Catherine Burness, Annette Grimm, Linda Harris, Natalya Harris, Nancy Pasternak, Derick Pasternak, and Phil Smiley, and Debbie Bodal who also represents Rotary District 5030.
Greeter:
Our greeter this evening was Margie Glenn, and Jim Meniketti manned the front desk.
Special Program:
Due to the time difference, we first heard Ben Sterciuc give us a report on what he is witnessing in Rumania as Ukrainian refugees flee the Russia invasion. He told us how he had originally been assisted as an immigrant from Romania and so wants to do the same for other refugees in the same part of the world. He has been observing in Romania since early March. People are fleeing in cars in winter, running the cars to stay warm and then abandoning them when they run out of fuel, and then are continuing on foot. They are being welcomed and assisted in the neighboring countries but must be moved to places where they can be further helped. Vehicles are needed to do this and also vehicles are needed to move supplies and aid workers to where they are needed. Priority is being given to the elderly and to mothers with children. Ukrainian men are being conscripted to defend their country against the Russian invaders.
Seeing refugees in person is much more affecting than seeing them on visual media. About 6 million people have fled so far to neighboring countries – about one million of these to Romania.
Donations to assist in this crisis can be made at Banner Bank in Kirkland, through Vital Solutions, a Kirkland-based non-governmental agency [or via this club's website using the DONATE page and selecting "Ukraine Refugee Aid" for your designation]. Check Rotary International for other donation opportunities.
Announcements & Club Business:
We then heard from some of our guests: Lyndsey Tews is looking at our Rotary Club, as well as other local clubs. She just moved from the Seattle area to the eastside. [News Flash – she has submitted an application to the Rotary Club of Kirkland! Side note – our Student of the Month, from whom we heard more later, stated that we are by far the ‘coolest club’ she has visited. Evidently, Ms. Tews took note!]
Doug Evanson, a former member of Rotary Club of Tukwila, reminded us of his past business and personal history, as he is back for another visit in consideration of membership.
Steve Shinstrom reminded us that Bunco sign-ups are on the tables [and available on ClubRunner]. Food sign-ups will come via email later.
Happy Bucks:
There were no Happy Bucks this evening.
Student of the Month:
We then heard from our Rotary Student of the Month, Lizzie Densmore who began by introducing her parents and a friend who accompanied her. Lizzie is a senior at Lake Washington High School and is involved in LW’s broadcast station, the only such student-run organization around. She is also focused on assisting incoming students to successfully integrate into LWHS. She has an immune system condition that makes her susceptible to infection – yet she was amazingly well-spoken, confident, and self-assured.
She has applied to and been accepted by several colleges and universities across the country, with an apparent preference for schools on the beach, witness University of Miami and University of California at Santa Barbara.
Program:
Dave DeBois introduced our speaker for the evening, Dr. Saadia Pekkaman, a Professor of International Relations and Cyber Security at UW’s Henry Jackson School of Political Science – Global Business Law Institute. She founded the Space Law, Data, and Policy Program, as well as others at UW. She spoke about international alliances regarding security and space.
She described the building blocks of the academic program, that include course work, outreach, public dialog, an annual symposium, etc. Technology and international security are part of the core. They are looking at such disparate issues as orbital debris and its issues. There is much focus on raising public awareness. An upcoming program with prominent speakers will be open to the public.
There were several questions from Rotarians regarding how to get nations to buy into some of these concepts and obligations legally, in a way that can be enforced. The professor granted that the great powers can behave how they wish, but this is a step towards engaging citizens world-wide in understanding and acknowledging the scope of the issue. The focus is to protect the acceptable behaviors and infrastructures in space and on earth.
She encouraged all of us to come hear the speakers at the upcoming symposia. We can access information through the UW's Global Business Law Institute.
She sees the problem as currently opposing alliances that have been forming and re-forming but need caution going forward in this bi-polar system of secure access to space.
She noted Japan is becoming a player in space. There are many opportunities for collaboration between nations and interest groups. There is some concern among U.S. allies and partners as to the U.S.’s political stance going forward. How reliable are we?
Joker Pool:
There was not a Joker Pool this evening.
Adjournment:
President Dave rang the bell at 7:32 p.m. to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully Submitted
Dave Aubry – Acting Scribe