December 11, 2006 Spokesman

Guests:

Dr. Jean Hernandez, guest of Sharon Chambers, is the Executive Vice President for Student Learning of Cascadia Community College.

Lisa DeGoede, our JuanitaHigh school Student of the Month, was joined by her father John DeGoede, a Microsoft Test Engineer.  Lisa also takes classes at Cascadia, and was a volunteer last summer in the Dominican Republic.  Her goals in life are to have a strong family, to travel, and pursue language studies.  She's already got a start on Japanese, Spanish and some Korean.

Jim Feek and Rich Bergdahl introduced recent contributors to the Rotary Foundation: Steve Brown, Rick Ostrander, Jack Bloodworth, Cheryl Bloodworth, Ernie Norehad, Gary Bruner, Sinclair Jones, and George McAfee.  Thanks to all for your support.  The money is well used, as shown by our next guest, Siri Hulbert from ShorelineHigh School.  Siri was an RI Foundation Teaching Scholar in Mexico last year.  She teaches Spanish at SHS, and taught teachers and students in Mexico how to be better at each.  While a frustrating experience due to limited resources and different learning and teaching motivations, she found the ability to open a window between SHS and her Mexican colleagues to be an incredible opportunity.  All due to the RI Foundation!

Announcements:

Pres. Steve announced that we should all watch KIRO TV 7 on 12/19 @ 9:30pm because Penny Legate's work in Ethiopia will be featured.

No board meeting this week, but all Board members are asked to come early to next week's Monday club meeting for a quick, urgent discussion.

No meetings on 12/25 or 1/1/07.

Ev Cox mentioned that Chuck Morgan is featured on the front page of today's King County Journal as he reprises his cameo role in Kirkland's International Ballet Theatre's Nutcracker.  (Scribe embellishment: See it at Meydenbauer Center Theatre next weekend, 12/15-17, and the next also, 12/21-23.  Tickets 425-284-0444 or www.ticketwindowonline.com)

Katherine Kehrli recounted our Community Services so far this Rotary year: Residence XII cleanup, Operation Warm Coat, District Grant to John Muir Elementary, Thanksgiving baskets to 3 families at JME)

Mike Hunter outlined our current Christmas project, which is to fund the Kirkland Rotary Foundation so it can buy baby food for needy families at Northwest Harvest.  The Club donated $1,353 just tonight, and your donation is needed too, so please send one to Mike Hunter or Barb Seaton, with checks made out to the Kirkland Rotary Foundation.

Pat Swenson thanked GG Getz and Vernell Sutherland for a great Holiday Party last week.  GG and Vernell were still recovering apparently as they weren't here to take a bow.

Pat also reminded us that our January 15, 2007 meeting is Kids' Night, and Friday January 26 is Ski Night.  More details to follow in the coming weeks.

President Steve also reminded us that the RI Foundation wants to know of any former alumni of exchanges, Interact, or Rotaract who are now Rotarians.  Let Bill Taylor or Steve know if you are or know of someone who is.

AND.the Woodmark welcomes us to take leftovers from our buffet after meetings, because otherwise it goes to waste.

Patty Smith introduced Marilynn Beard, the Kirkland Assistant City Manager, and Sarah Brandt, a consultant with Enviro Issues.  They spoke to us about the possibly pending annexations of Kingsgate, North Juanita, and Finn Hill into Kirkland.  The issues, timing, and complexity are being studied by the City and Council with both Kirkland residents and residents of the three areas to be annexed.  For more information, please go to www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/annexation.  We've had lots of annexations in our 101 year history, but this one projects a $4.8M deficit for the city each year.  Recent WA state funding options can cut that to about $800K for a ten year period, but we have to annex by 2010 to get it.  A four phase approach is being taken, and lots of input is coming in.  The Council will start considering if, when and how to go forward starting this month.  Many questions were taken from the Club, and they were noted for compilation into a master list already started for use by the Council as they deliberate.

Patty Sims had the lucky Honey Pot ticket, but drew a 2nd chance marble.

President Steve adjourned us at 7:52pm.

Brian Tucker, Scribe for a night.