The Rotary Club of Kirkland held a meeting online on October 25, 2021.
President Dave DeBois rang the bell at 6:14 p.m., calling the club meeting to order.
Margie Glenn led the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attending were George Anderson, Christine Bell, Rich Bergdahl, Bella Chaffey, Gary Cohn, Matthew Colpitts, David DeBois, Monica Fratita, Shellie Gehring, Margie Glenn, Brandon Honcoop, Michael Hunter, Jim Meniketti, James Nevers, Kristin Olson, Rick Ostrander, Joanne Primavera, Bill Taylor, Brian Tucker, and John Woodbery.
Guests:
There were no guests this evening.
Announcements:
Community Service Chair Bella Chaffey updated us on the holiday party and gift wrapping for kids in an email that went out just before the meeting. Bella reports the club has raised $2,218, and the goal is $10,000 by November 15 so the John Muir Elementary School staff knows how many families can be served. All the warm coats supplies should be in by the 15th of November; we should be able to serve 89 students.
Vocational Service Chair Mike Hunter reminded members that the club will have students attending the next two meetings at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel.
President Dave reported on progress returning to in-person meetings. The club meets the next two Mondays at the Courtyard by Marriott for venue trials. Dave needs to know how many are going to show up to the meeting, and sent an email requesting commitments. He has increased the number provided to the hotel from 25 to 30 because at least 25 people seem to be coming at this point.
Vice President Gary Cohn reported that the club Calendar has been updated to include future weekly club meetings and their locations in addition to speakers and special events. He also noted that 27 of the club’s 41 members had responded to the club meeting survey by the start of the meeting.
Happy Bucks:
There were no Happy Bucks this evening.
Program:
President Dave introduced our speaker, Linda Dawson of the University of Washington|Tacoma. Linda Dawson is a former NASA engineer, an author, speaker, and science educator. Linda has over ten years of experience as an engineer in industry, having worked as an aeronautical flight controller on the NASA Space Shuttle Program in Houston, then as a navigation and guidance engineer at the Boeing Space Center in Washington. Linda has taught and developed curriculum for mathematics, physics, statistics, engineering, and space science courses at several colleges in the Puget Sound area including the University of Washington and the University of Puget Sound.
Linda discussed with Rotarians a brief history of human space exploration and its connection to politics, reviewing the friction between the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. in that early history, and Pres. Kennedy’s leadership in the space race.
She described the larger political pressures that resulted in scaling back to focus on the space shuttle program, and the participation of about 15 countries in the space station. People objected to having to depend on Russia for transport to the international space station. Now Spacex is delivering to the space station.
Linda explained that NASA’s goals for space exploration have changed due to a variety of political pressures. The recent changes in elected leadership has caused fluctuation in the nation’s goals. She explained that private companies can hold to a particular focus with less wavering. NASA is now working with those private firms to accomplish longer term goals.
Heading back to the moon to establish an outpost is now a priority. The purpose is less expensive interplanetary launches due to weaker gravity. Mars is an example of a target from the moon.
We’ve been militarizing space since the beginning when Sputnik was launched. Controlling outer space and government infrastructure would be a significant advantage. Several countries have already entered the race to be able to conduct military operations in space. Destroying satellites would be a primary objective of a military action. It’s not easy to conduct war in space due to the very harsh environment, and barriers to access to space. Also, there’s no hiding things out there. For example, we’ve observed Russia approach satellites with vehicles that have electronic weaponry capable of damaging space vehicles. Who owns space will be a major conflict point for some countries. Placing weapons in outer space is considered to be against the international Space Treaty of 1967 that addresses “ownership” and coexistence in space. Policing the treaty adherence is a problem. Some nations have tested anti-satellite weapons by destroying their own satellites, which creates more space debris.
Linda answered a number of great questions from Rotarians. President Dave informed Linda about the Rotary’s gift of 600 pounds of food to Harvest Against Hunger in her honor.
Joker Pool:
There was not a Joker Pool this evening.
Adjournment:
President Dave noted that the next meeting would be in-person at the Courtyard by Marriott in Kirkland, and rang the bell at 7:10 p.m. to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully Submitted
Gary Cohn – Deputy Acting Scribe