The Rotary Club of Kirkland held an in-person meeting on April 15, 2024, at Madison House in Kirkland. Past President Rich Bergdahl presided and called the meeting to order at 6:20 p.m.
Members attending were: Cody Baker, Rich Bergdahl, Michelle Cazeau, Gary Cohn*, Sue Cohn*, Terry Cole, Donald Dicks, Jocelyn Ellison, Monica Fratita*, Rashmi Garimella*, Isabelle Kalisa*, Jim Meniketti, Rick Ostrander, Peter Peaquin, Joanne Primavera, Daniel Sada Caraveo, Steve Shinstrom, John Storbeck, and Rick Walter*. *Attended via Zoom.
Rick Ostrander and Michelle Cazeau served as greeters for the evening.
John Pruitt led us in the pledge.
Guests:
Our guests for this evening were our speaker, Jeff Lockhart of the Kirkland Performance Center, and David Lynx, the executive director of the Kirkland Arts Center, who is attending his second in-person meeting.
Rotary Minute:
Rich Bergdahl described his recent experiences with the Rotary Club of Anacortes, which he visits during his stays in the city. He described the similarities in the good work done by that club and likened it to the fellowship and the service he has enjoyed in Kirkland.
Announcements:
The next rummage sale meeting is scheduled on May 2 t 5:30 p.m., and will be held at Brezza Condominium.
The next club meeting is May 6 and it is an in-person meeting. We’ll have our final student of the month, and Gary is scheduled to be back in Kirkland to preside.
Bunco is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, at Steve Shinstrom’s home, as usual. Steve described preparations for the fun.
Rummage Sale Steering Committee Report: While there wasn’t a steering committee report, Jocelyn reported she is leading the effort to recruit volunteers from area Rotary clubs, listed those to be visited, noted members who’ve volunteered, and asked for additional volunteers. As a result, the visit list is currently:
- Kirkland Downtown - Rich B.
- Bellevue Sunrise - Rick O.
- Bellevue – Daniel S.
- Bellevue Breakfast - Joanne P. and Rashmi G.
- Mercer Island - Rich B.
- Redmond – Cody B.
- Woodinville-Rick Walter
- Bellevue Eastside-Jocelyn
Daniel Sada described the marketing and technology team’s work on promotional materials, especially the Valpak insert on which the team is working. Daniel collected some comments from members.
Happy Bucks:
Terry Cole and his wife visited the Spokane area, noting Michelle and he have three sons there at Liberty Lake, Idaho. While visiting, he ran into Dave DeBois there. He donated Happy Bucks for getting to see Dave. Steve Shinstrom gave some Happy Bucks in honor of Patty Shinstrom’s rapid recovery from ACL surgery.
Program:
Our speaker was Jeff Lockhart, who just celebrated his ten-year anniversary with KPC. He recalled his first show was a compilation of rock performers, which didn’t work out so well. Nevertheless, Don and Merrily Dicks approached him afterward with compliments, which was a great relief. He described how music (playing drums) and business came together for him in his youth.
Jeff explained that what’s really powerful about KPC is music and business coming together to change lives. It’s a central tenet of KPC. He pointed out that the mission of KPC is to provide a gathering place where people come together to express themselves creatively, exchange ideas, share culture, and connect with one another.
He noted that the vision is For KPC to be a community where people of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds are uplifted, inspired, and connected to one another through performances and shared experiences.
He described how the KPC values (accessible for all ages and incomes, provides a breadth of performance; music, dance, theater, film, lectures etc., reflects the diversity of the community) impact the work of the team and the way they go about their activities building arts in the community.
KPC is celebrating 25 years in business. It started as a grass roots operation primarily through a group of citizens led by Bill Woods and Chuck Morgan, who began the effort. The campaign to build Kirkland Performance Center was the work of hundreds of volunteers and visionary leaders who, over a ten-year period, raised $5,800,000 from nearly one thousand donors, including government agencies, corporations, foundations, and individuals. All of these contributors were motivated to bring the highest quality, professional music, theater and dance to the Eastside. By early 1997 the capital campaign was completed and, in partnership with the city of Kirkland, construction began.
Jeff said the low point has been the pandemic, which nearly did in the operation. KPC has to let go everyone except four staff. Then they started a weekly music program streaming online. He and the team gathered hot bands to perform. He wrote grants and that sustained the operation. KPC actually became one of the top three live stream operations in Seattle helping other non-profits. When the pandemic died out, that business went away. He says the team learned how healing the arts are for people.
About 40 shows each year are KPC produced, with KPC making all the arrangements and taking on the risk. About 200 events are shows where local artists rent the theater. Jeff provided a list of the well-known artists who’ve performed at KPC.
KPC is a 501(c)(3) that exists by ticket sales, rentals, and donations. The next big fundraiser is May 3 with two great bands playing wonderful new and old music. All the musicians are donating their time. Jeff hopes to raise $25,000 to support the operation.
He described how the KPC team launched a music lesson project, and the numerous “camps” developed for people to learn or improve music and performance skills. One of the most important things that people can do is pass on their skills and creativity through artistic expression, and KPC wants to be the conduit for that transmission of culture.
Jeff showed photos of the new studio near the Brown Bear Car Wash, located in the old veterinary building. The building has been loaned to KPC for 10 years rent-free. Ten contractors donated time and talent to turn it into a recording studio with classes and other support spaces. Check out kpcstudios.org.
Several Rotarians asked questions, including experience with artists, membership benefits, the new performance venue in Bellevue (Jeff looks forward to collaborative projects with the new Bellevue facility), KPC events, and the new season and how the audiences are coming back. The roller coaster after the pandemic is smoothing out and the growth is re-emerging. KPC is not yet out of the pandemic downturn. As part of several responses, Jeff explained that the old Kirk Club is gone. The new club is the 350 Club (taken from the center’s address).
The meeting was adjourned at 7:09 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted
Gary Cohn
Acting, Acting Scribe