The Rotary Club of Kirkland held a meeting – actually a holiday gift-wrapping and holiday party – on December 20, 2021 at the Kirkland Woman’s Club.  We did not have a structured meeting as this event substituted for our traditional gift-wrapping event for one of the club’s community service projects, providing gifts for needy families whose children attend John Muir Elementary School.  We combined the gift – wrapping event with our traditional, annual holiday party.

Attending were David Aubry, Christine Bell, Rich Bergdahl, Bella Chaffey, Terry Cole, David DeBois, Shellie Gehring, Brandon Honcoop, Mike Hunter, Laura Loomis, Jim Meniketti, James Nevers, Rick Ostrander, Joanne Primavera, John Pruitt, Steve Shinstrom, Patti Smith, Bill Taylor, Brian Tucker, and Rick Walter.

Guests:

Guests for this special holiday evening event were Anna Aubry, Nanette Bergdahl, Michelle Cole, Christine DeBois, Sharon Hunter, Nikola Lakic, Charles Loomis, Jackson Nevers, Jessica Nevers, Peggy Ostrander, Janet Pruitt, Patty Shinstrom, Sandy Taylor, Joanne Tucker, Student of the Month Monique Loos and her mother, Katrina Loos, and guests of Terry Cole (and a potential Rotary member).

The new year brings a three-speaker series on Washington’s environment. The North Cascades Institute’s Catherine Endicott will present on connecting people, nature, and community through Pacific Northwest natural and cultural history. The executive director of Save Our wild Salmon, Joseph Bogaard, will describe how a coalition is restoring abundant, self-sustaining fishable populations of salmon and steelhead, and discuss proposed dam removals. Washington State Department of Transportation’s regional lead, Elizabeth McGovern will brief club members on the state’s work to improve fish populations by removing barriers to spawning habitats in the region, including remediation of culverts in the northwest. For more information on Rotary programs, visit the Speakers page.

The Rotary Club of Kirkland Student of the Month program continues in January with two students of the month, one each from Juanita High School and Lake Washington High School. Koumudi Thanda is the January 2022 Rotary Student of the Month from Juanita High School, and will meet the club members on Monday, January 10. Koumudi is an involved community volunteer, as well as a Running Start student. Owen Barry is the January 2022 Rotary Student of the Month from Lake Washington High School, and will meet the club members on Monday, January 24. Owen is an accomplished public safety volunteer, and considers this a likely career.

It’s Angelyiah, one of the Kirkland Rotary Club’s 2021 scholarship recipients. My first quarter at the University of Washington was a blast! I really enjoyed my classes and exploring the honors program. I was able to continue impacting the community by organizing a clothing drive to support a local homeless shelter. Additionally, I am excited to share that I will be working in a lab that studies the neurodegeneration of octopuses and bees next year! Outside of academics, I LOVE living on campus - the people I have met are amazing; I’ve been exercising at the gym conveniently located across the street; and I’ve made many new friends (and kept the old). Whenever I go home, I always long to go back to UW (don’t tell my parents 😃). Thank you, Rotary Club, for supporting this memorable experience!

Hello Rotary,
 
As I wrap up my first semester at Washington State University I thank you all for choosing me as a 2021 scholarship recipient. I am happier than ever and proud to be a Coug, I would not be here today without Rotary’s help! I finished up my first semester and enrolled into the WSU honors college. I have learned so much from my professors. This semester I took chemistry, psychology, and research classes to prepare me for my application into the college of nursing. I have met a tremendous amount of people that will guide me one step closer into my future nursing degree. Thank you all so much for this opportunity and as always GO COUGS!