The Rotary Club of Kirkland held its regular weekly meeting online on August 31, 2020.
Attending were James Nevers, Dave Aubry, Darcia Tudor, Gary Cohn, Dan Bartel, Joanne Primavera, John Woodbery, Terry Cole, Rich Bergdahl, John Pruitt, Rick Ostrander, Margie Glenn, Mike Hunter, Stefan Landvogt, Don Dicks, James Meneketti, Bella Chaffey, Dave Debois, George Anderson, Brandon Honcoop, Kristin Olson, Patti Smith, and Steve Shinstrom. Let me know if I missed anyone.
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. Commitments for October’s Monday nights include Chapman Fina of Via Lago on Lake Street on October 5, Kate Vitasek of Vested Outsourcing on October 19, and Melissa Acton-Buzard of Chameleon Technologies on October 26. Anne Hess, publisher of Kirkland Living magazine, has been invited. 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.