July 28, 2014 Spokesman
The meeting of the Rotary Club of Kirkland, Washington commenced at 6:30 pm by President John Pruitt. Jim Going led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance.
One guest, Loretta Marks the 90 year old mother of Rich Bergdahl was introduced by her son.
Announcements included: The Kirkland Down Town Rotary Club is holding a blood drive at Park Place July 29th between 9 and 3.
Scott Becker gave a Duck Dash update as follows: Only 5-6 more selling days left with three shifts on Saturday and Sunday this upcoming weekend at QFC. The team competition is going down to the wire with Dr. Norehead's team holding a slight lead of $3,730 to Scott Becker's close second place of $3,650. Next Monday night is the duck branding party at Lee Johnson Chevrolet at 6:00PM Bring all your family help and have fun.
On 9/13 the club will have a beer and wine tasting party at Total Wine in Bellevue from 6-8:00PM. Its a Husky game and a $10.00 per head entry fee will be charged.
The club has supported the KITH organization and their annual fund raiser is coming up on October the 4th, Patti Smith reported to be held at the Mercer Island Event Center. The participation fee is $125.00 and Patti will try to organize a Rotary table for the event. KITH provides housing assistance for the homeless in our community.
Steve Shinstrom announced that the annual Kirkland Rotary Bunko night will be hosted by the Shinstrom's on October 11th.
The annual Kirkland Salmon Bake will be hosted at the Bergdahl home on September 8th. Rich Bergdahl gave a special thanks to Bob Cohen for organizing the Rotary picnic at Everest Park.
The Club Board meeting will be held August 13th and President John Pruit suggested that more people should get involved in committee efforts to get more service out of self.
Rich Bergdahl, a very busy guy tonight, led the new member induction of Ben Premack. In fact, he gave up his sounders tickets and put on a suit coat tonight just for the privilege of inducting Ben.
Ben is an attorney practicing business and estate planning law in Kirkland. He graduated from Penn State University Law School. In his introduction, Rich gave Ben a quick history of Kirkland Rotary. Ben's sponsor, Rick Walter was given a special pin for that effort and Rich Bergdahl was announced as Ben's Mentor. President John Pruitt filled Ben in on his obligations as a Rotarian to get him started right.
Jason Overlease, program chair introduced State Senator Andy Hill our speaker of the evening. Senator Hill is an interesting guy and it became readily apparent that he is in legislative leadership because he is a leader and not for ego or power gaining purposes. He started his community involvement with kids, cut his teeth on community efforts to put the 60 acres of soccer field in Redmond together and ended up in his first four year term as state senator, chairman of the powerful ways and means committee, unheard of for a freshman state senator. Five years (before running for the State Senate) ago he developed lung cancer and never was a smoker. The usual rounds of chemo, radiation and surgery were unsuccessful but rather than give up he found a research project for a new cancer experimental drug therapy, qualified and within six weeks was symptom free and jogging again. His personal motto is to divide his life into thirds: earn, learn and serve. As a 15 year veteran of Micro Soft's world of innovation and technology, he was well equipped to tackle financial aspects of state budgeting, a field that had been dominated by power brokers in the past. With his serve third division of life in work and play in force and an everlasting interest in the welfare of kids, he found a way to get both political parties to find common ground on otherwise unsolvable budget issues. There was a lot of interest from club members on education and the effects of the McCleary decision of the State Supreme Court that in effect made the state legislature report back to the Court, the supposedly equal branch of government, because the Court held that education was being used to finance other areas desired for government when the state constitution requires more from them than the politicians had been willing to give. Constitutional issues of separate but equal branches notwithstanding, the legislature with leaders like Senator Hill is finding a way to comply and still exercise their separate but equal posture. The budget he supported was approved by 96% of the voting members when he and his key colleagues, Republican and Democrats alike found a common interest in the center. The State sure seems to be in good hands if all he presented was true, and we Rotarians will give him the benefit of the doubt for now and hope that it remains the way it sounds right now. When he said we have to look out for the kids, he seemed to mean it.
The club members were interested by their questions in the effects of the McCleary decision, how much power the teacher's unions have and what good results are coming from the renewed emphasis by the state legislature in education, particularly early childhood education programs.
President John Pruit gave a card with 500 pounds of food donated to Rotary First harvest in his name and the club applauded a well received presentation.
The meeting was concluded as usual with Joker Pool, Dave Aubry returning from France just in time to earn his $10.00 for a lucky draw but not the Joker Pool prize. The meeting ended at 7:30 PM
John E. Woodbery
Scribe