The Rotary Club of Kirkland held its regular weekly meeting online on August 24, 2020.
Attending were James Nevers, Dave Aubry, Darcia Tudor, Gary Cohn, Dan Bartel, Joanne Primavera, John Woodbery, Terry Cole, Amy Mutal, Rich Bergdahl, Rick Walter, John Pruitt, Rick Ostrander, Margie Glenn,George Anderson, Brandon Honcoop, Monica Fratita, Kristin Olson, Patti Smith, Steve Shinstrom, Scott Becker, and Bill Taylor. Let me know if I missed anyone.
The month of August is nearly done, and as of the 28th of the month, 41 of the club’s 52 active members, or 78.8%, have paid their annual dues. Rotarians may pay using the new online Dues & Billing System link in their emailed statements, which requires a credit or debit card, or by check through the U.S. Mail. For those Rotarians who’ve announced Happy Bucks contributions at a meeting, payments are best made through the Donations page before the meeting, or by responding to the ClubRunner invoice using the embedded payment link (or sending a check) after the meeting during which the Happy Bucks commitment was announced.
News and social media sites continue to carry a heavy volume of content about opening schools and colleges as politicians, parents, students, and educators express preferences and concerns about resuming classes in the COVID environment. Three local education leaders will address the club during September. On September 14, the club’s special guest will be the interim president of Bellevue College, former governor and former ambassador to China, Gary Locke. In addition to former Gov. Locke, that day Rotarians will hear a short, additional program presented by Carol Ryan, the development director for Attain Housing in Kirkland, which kicks off its Week of Giving event on September 18. On September 21, the special guest will be Dr. Jon Holmen, superintendent of the Lake Washington School District. On September 28, the club’s special guest will be Dr. Amy Morrison, president of the Lake Washington Institute of Technology. The CEOs will discuss news and plans in their organizations, and touch on how their teams of professionals are dealing with the impact of the novel coronavirus. Rotarians can find topic and speaker background on the club's website using the Speakers tab.
The national and local economic outlook and the current business climate are primary topics on news and social media sites. How businesses are faring, how many have survived, and what the future portends in the post-pandemic environment are major questions on peoples’ minds today. During the month of October, the speaker theme centers on the perspectives of local women business leaders. Several have agreed to address the club on their experiences in their respective businesses, and their views on future prospects as locally-anchored concerns. Tentative commitments for October’s Monday nights include Chapman Fina of Via Lago on Lake Street, Melissa Acton-Buzard of Chameleon Technologies, and Kate Vitasek of Vested Outsourcing. Many thanks to Dave DeBois for his leadership in assembling this speaker series, on which he continues to work. Rotarians can find topic and speaker background on the club's website using the Speakers tab.