The Rotary Club of Kirkland held a meeting on May 20, 2024 at the St. John’s Episcopal Church in downtown Kirkland.
President Gary Cohn called the meeting to order at 6:20 p.m.
Jocelyn Ellison recited the Four-Way Test.
Attending were Bob Auslander, Cody Baker, Rich Bergdahl, Gary Cohn, Donald Dicks, Sandy Ekins (Honorary), Jocelyn Ellison, Rashmi Garimella, Margie Glenn, Brandon Honcoop, Isabelle Kalisa, Chris Kelly-Storbeck, Kate Koslosky, Jim Meniketti, Kristin Olson, Rick Ostrander, Joanne Primavera, Daniel Sada Caraveo, John Storbeck, Alice Volpe, and Rick Walter.
Our greeters this evening were John Storbeck and Kate Koslosky.
Visiting Rotarians:
There were no visiting Rotarians at this meeting.
Guests:
This evening the club hosted its annual Outstanding Educator Awards. Guests of the club were Kamiakin Middle School Outstanding Educator Sherri Pflager, her guest, husband Daniel Pflager, and Principal Tim Patterson; Rose Hill Middle School Outstanding Educator Marion Mays, her daughter, and Associate Principal Alicia Mendez; Kirkland Middle School Outstanding Educator Cameron Stedman, his guest, fiancée Jessy Hosken, and Principal Nikki Cassaro; Lake Washington High School Outstanding Educator chef Mary Clarke, her guest, brother Mike Clarke, and former club member Principal Christine Bell.
In addition to the educators and their guests, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene and her office’s community liaison, Shelby Kremenich were guests this evening, as were Peggy Ostrander, spouse of Rick Ostrander, and Alan Hoviland, former club member and spouse of Alice Volpe, and Beth Honcoop, daughter of Brandon Honcoop.
Rotary Minute:
Membership chair Rick Walter presented a Rotary Minute to the members and guests.
New Rotarian Induction:
Membership chair Rick Walter conducted an induction formally adding Chris Kelly-Storbeck to the club’s membership. Chris is the spouse of Rotarian John Storbeck, and is the second active member to join the club in the spouse/partner category.
Paul Harris Awards:
Rotary International Foundation liaison Rich Bergdahl conferred new Paul Harris Awards on two club members. Rotarian Jim Meniketti was awarded a lapel pin signifying attainment of the PHF+3 level, and Rotarian Brandon Honcoop was awarded a lapel pin signifying attainment of the PHF+7 level. Congratulations to Jim and Brandon, and thank you for your ongoing generosity and support of the ideals of Rotary.
Announcements:
President Gary shared several announcements. The next in-person club meeting is June 3, and is the club’s Rotary Scholars Award dinner and ceremony at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Eight scholarships will be awarded to seven Lake Washington High School students, who have been invited along with their parents and the high school’s principal and career specialist. Registration was set by the board at $50, and fee and dinner choice are due by Wednesday, May 29 at noon. Please sign up for set-up and clean-up tasks; the volunteer buttons are on the website. (Note that the next two meetings are at St. John’s Episcopal Church in downtown Kirkland.)
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 has assembled a half a table of club members to attend, and there is room at the table for five more. Contact Rick to arrange to attend.
The club’s Leadership Transition Dinner will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church on June 17. Registration was set by the board at $60, and fee and dinner choice are due by Wednesday, June 12 at noon. Please sign up for set-up and clean-up tasks; the volunteer buttons are on the website.
Program:
President Gary introduced the principals or associate principal of each of the Outstanding Educator Award recipients’ schools and their nominees. Each administrator spoke for a few moments about their educator, introducing them and their work to the club and other guests, and U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene presented each their award plaque and a small bouquet of flowers in honor of their selection. Each of the awardees introduced their guest for the evening. Rotarians may read about each of the Outstanding Educators on the club’s website.
President Gary introduced U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene (1st District), who spoke to the club about the priorities facing the Congress, the contention in the House of Representatives, efforts to get bipartisan legislation through both chambers, and a number of other current topics. Rotarians asked questions about the solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund, working across the aisle, why Rep. DelBene chose to run for office, the Farm Bill, and other topics of interest to them.
Following her talk, President Gary thanked Rep. DelBene and noted the club makes a donation to Harvest Against Hunger in honor of her presentation this evening, and the congresswoman remained in the meeting hall talking with members and guests.
In concluding the meeting, President Gary thanked the educators and their guests who support them in their work, the school administrators, our keynote speaker, Rep. DelBene and her staff member, greeters for the evening John Storbeck and Kate Koslosky, Alice Volpe and Alan Hoviland for the very nice table decorations, Rick and Peggy Ostrander for signing up for clean up duty, Rick Walter for presenting a Rotary minutes and conducting an induction ceremony, Rich Bergdahl for presenting the Paul Harris Awards (and also thank you to Rich for remaining to help with clean up), Jim Meniketti and Brandon Honcoop for their generosity to the RI Foundation, in his absence Dave Aubry for sponsoring our church meeting room accommodations, and The Catering Company for the wonderful food.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted
Gary Cohn
Acting, Acting Scribe for Dave Aubry, Acting Scribe