The Rotary Club of Kirkland held a virtual meeting via Zoom on May 13, 2024.
President Gary Cohn called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.
President Gary led us in the pledge. Jocelyn Ellison recited the Four-Way Test.
Attending were Bob Auslander, Cody Baker, Michelle Cazeau, Gary Cohn, Terry Cole, Sandy Ekins (Honorary), Jocelyn Ellison, Rashmi Garimella, Margie Glenn, Isabelle Kalisa, Kate Koslosky, Jim Meniketti, Rick Ostrander, Peter Peaquin, Steve Shinstrom, Patti Smith, John Storbeck, Alice Volpe, and Rick Walter.
Visiting Rotarians:
Our guest this evening was Mannasey (Manny) Tetteh, a Rotarian from Gana and then England, who moved to Kirkland and is working as a nurse at EvergreenHealth. This is Manny’s second meeting as a candidate for membership in the club.
Guests:
Our online guest this evening was our speaker, Nan Su, a news commentator for SOH International Chinese Radio Network and NTD International TV network. Mr. Su and his wife of more than 30 years and their two daughters reside in San Jose, California.
Announcements:
President Gary shared several announcements. He announced that we have a new Rotarian as of today, Nancy Khoury, who is our first “corporate-secondary” member with Banner Bank, bringing the club’s membership to 42 (37 Active + 1 Honorary + 1 Active - Corporate Primary + 1 Active - Corporate Secondary + 2 Active - Spouse/Partner). Nancy and Chris Kelly-Storbeck are scheduled to be inducted at the May 20 meeting.
The next in-person club meeting is May 20, and is the club’s Outstanding Educator Award dinner and ceremony; nominees were received from Kamiakin, Kirkland, and Rose Hill middle schools, plus a nominee was received from Lake Washington High School and will receive awards that evening. U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene is schedule to attend that meeting and address the club and guests. Registration and dinner fees are due by Wednesday at noon. Please sign up for set-up and clean-up tasks; the volunteer buttons are on the website.
Gary noted that the next three meetings are at St. John’s, and he has gathered the meeting materials from Madison House. He noted that several members are investigating other venues (Dave DeBois led a group to investigate the Fraternal Order of Eagles Hall on Central Way; Jocelyn Ellison convened a group to visit L'Experience Paris, formerly the Queen Bee on Lake Washington Boulevard; Rashmi Garimella is convening a group to sample Sparrow restaurant in Juanita Bay later this month), and there will be a discussion at board meeting this week; members should feel free to send any board member their views on venue (last week the club members elected not to do another survey).
Gary reminded members of the opportunity to attend the District Celebration on Monday, June 24 in Bellevue (it’s a bye week for the club). Rick Walter asked for sign-ups, and Michelle, John, Cody, and Manny responded, making half a table. Rick will make the arrangements with the District, and Gary will send invoices ($110) through ClubRunner.
Scholarship Night is scheduled on June 3 and will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Kirkland. Jocelyn described for members the interviews at Banner Bank, noted that six Rotary scholarships are being awarded, along with one business and accounting scholarship and the Step scholarship (not claimed and held over from last year). Only Kristin Olson and Jocelyn conducted the interviews. Rashmi Garimella and Josephine Shi observed some of them. Thank you to Cody Baker for making the branch office available on a Saturday.
The club’s Leadership Transition Dinner will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church on June 17. Registration information will be coming soon.
Program:
President Gary introduced our speaker, Mr. Nan Su came to the U.S. in 1989 after being raised in China. Mr. Su has been serving as a news commentator for SOH International Chinese Radio Network and NTD International TV network since 2003, and is known for many speeches on China-related topics at public events in the past decade.
Mr. Su provided a review of traditional Chinse culture and religious followings that have survived more than 5,000 years. He described how civilization like China has endured such a long history because of ethical standards and moral values, and related how the Chinese Communist Party has banned those cultural and religious pursuits and values from China’s everyday life. He described the historical beliefs about the relationships between the Tao, and Earth, and mankind, identifying how the beliefs came about and why they have been sustained in China over centuries and numerous dynasties. He displayed images of a great temple in China, and various editions of Chinese coins and explained the meaning of the square whole in the round coins, which is the reverse of the square base on which the round temple sits ... but the relation of the meanings of the shapes and positions is relevant in both instances.
Rotarians asked several questions about the future of China-U.S. relations, the future of Taiwan, the role of Falun Gong and the popular Chinese cultural performing group based in the U.S.
President Gary thanked Mr. Su and noted the club makes a donation to Harvest Against Hunger in honor of his presentation.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Gary Cohn