The Rotary Club of Kirkland held an in-person meeting on December 2, 2024 at the Kirkland Eagles Club facility. Vice President Kate Koslosky presided at this meeting and called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.
Jim Meniketti led us in the Pledge; John Pruitt led us in the 4-Way Test; our greeter was John Storbeck.
Members Attending: David Aubry, Bob Auslander*, Gary Cohn*, Sue Cohn*, Sandy Ekins (Honorary)*, Jocelyn Ellison, Doug Evanson, Rashmi Garimella, Margie Glenn*, Isabelle Kalisa, Chris Kelly-Storbeck, Kate Koslosky, Jim Meniketti, Rick Ostrander, Rémy Pairault, Joanne Primavera, Angela Pritchett, John Pruitt, Daniel Sada Caraveo, and John Storbeck. *Attended via Zoom.
Guests:
Our guests this evening were our speaker, Katrina Scarlett, of Mary's Place, and our Rotary Student of the Month, Rosie Ying, and Rosie's parents Kristine Schaffer and Kevin Ying.
Rotary Moment:
Ms. Koslosky gave us a Rotary Moment – Sir Edmund Hillary said it is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves. We are putting a goal before ourselves.
Announcements:
We have managed to match Terry and Michelle Cole’s $2,500 challenge goal, thereby increasing the amount we can use to buy holiday gifts for John Muir Elementary families.
The holiday gift shopping will occur beginning at 8 a.m. on December 14 at Fred Meyer; we still need a few more shoppers. Sign up on the Club’s website.
We need many more folks to sign up for the gift-wrapping session followed by the Holiday Gala December 16 – again sign up on the Club’s website.
The Valentine’s Day dinner will be February 10 – sign up on the website.
Committee reports:
The holiday gift shopping will occur beginning at 8 a.m. on December 14 at Fred Meyer; we still need a few more shoppers. Sign up on the Club’s website.
We need many more folks to sign up for the gift-wrapping session followed by the Holiday Gala December 16 – again sign up on the Club’s website.
The Valentine’s Day dinner will be February 10 – sign up on the website.
Committee reports:
John Pruitt delivered the Thanksgiving gift cards to the various John Muir families.
Ms. Koslosky conducted a round of Happy Dollars – there were several happy Rotarians and guests.
Joanne Primavera introduced our Rotary Student of the Month, Rosie Ying from Lake Washington High School. Ms. Ying’s parents, Kristine Schaffer and Kevin Ying, were also in attendance.
Ms. Ying told us a bit about her activities at Lake Washington, including helping new students get integrated into school life. She is also active in Women in Sports, a group she started. The group promotes and raises the profile of women in sports.
She has also helped students stay involved in school life and would like to assist women in STEM courses. For college, she is currently looking at California and East Coast schools, where she hopes to study applied mathematics.
Program:
Our speaker for the evening was Katrina Scarlett from Mary’s Place, an organization that began locally in 1999. This organization helps children in precarious situations to have a more normal life. She has spent seven years working for Mary’s Place.
Mary’s Place believes no child should live unsheltered. Children need safety and stability.
She showed us a short film about some of the people Mary’s Place has assisted. Single women with children are especially vulnerable due to the complications of raising children, managing financial issues, and trying to work a job.
The organization has a mobile outreach program to reach the people in need. Trying to prevent people from becoming homeless is a big focus. The goal is to get families into stable, safe situations.
Many clients have jobs, but often the low level of income does not allow them to lead stable lives. Affordable housing is a big problem. About 60% of their clients are under 18 years of age. Mary’s Place offers a number of services to differing groups of people, from infants on up.
- Women’s Day-Center
- Kids’ Club
- Popsicle Place [for medically needy kids]
- Baby’s Best Start [for pregnant women]
It costs about $68 per night per child for full services. Mary’s Place partners with many individuals, corporations, clubs, etc. They also refer people to other resources, such as the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, etc.
There were a number of questions from Rotarians, the subjects of which are discussed immediately above.
Ms. Koslosky reminded everyone to sign up to take on roles during meetings, such as Rotary Moments, Happy Dollars, etc.
Rick Ostrander will preside at our next meeting, which will be online, December 9.
Joanne Primavera will be presiding December 16 during the wrapping party and gala.
Our first meeting of 2025 will be January 6.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:02 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
David Aubry – Acting Scribe