March 28, 2011 Spokesman

Posted by Doug Carter

on Mar 28, 2011

The March 28, 2011 Kirkland Rotary meeting is called to order by President, Pat Dye at 6:30 p.m. The flag salute is led by Tim Kehrli.

Introduction of Visitors

Visiting Rotarians: Steve Stevens - Walla Walla, Del Goehner – Sammamish, Aisha Kabari – Bellevue Breakfast, Carl Behnke – Seattle 4, Kay Taylor.

Exchange Student: Jason Wang

Student of the Month: Nathan Brand

Other Visitors: John Guldsy, Cheryl Gundeson, Jean Darsie, Scott, Seymore

Club Announcements:

· An encouragement card for John Overleese was circulated.

· The Kirkland Rotary Foundation Texas Hold ‘Em fundraiser will be April 16 at Lee Johnson Chevrolet.

· City of Kirkland Annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration, Thursday April 14, 6pm, Peter Kirk Community Center

· April 9^th: Habitat for Humanity build at Issaquah Highlands. Contact Rachel Knight for details.

· Rotarians at Work day: Sort and Pack Books, April 2, 9am, NW Harvest Warehouse, 22220 West Valley Hwy, Kent, WA 98032. Contact Katherine or Tim Kehrli to help or to get books to the warehouse

Happy Dollars: Collected by Chuck Brockway.

Many dollars volunteered by members and guests excited by opportunities to visit family, recent or upcoming trips, dramatic reductions in cholesterol from vegetarian diet and the moving description of 500 cisterns being built in Mexico by Rotary clubs.

Program Speaker: John Ripp, Cindy Cole

Program Topic: Grass roots movement to create the “Washington Investment Trust” (a public bank)

About the program:

The speakers described a grass roots movement in Washington to create a “public bank” modeled on the Bank of North Dakota. Further information can be found at Just Sustainable Economy.

Rep Bob Hasegawa introduced House Bill 1320 to create the Washington Investment Trust (WIT) which would function as a state bank. A summary of the bill can be seen here. The purpose of the bank would be to:

· Support the economic development of Washington by increasing access to capital for businesses and farms within Washington.

· Provide financing for housing development, public works infrastructure, educational infrastructure, student loans, and community quality of life projects.

· Provide stability to the local financial sector.

· Reduce the costs paid by the State of Washington for banking services.

· Lend capital to banks, credit unions, and non-profit community development financial institutions to assist in meeting their goals of increasing access to capital and providing banking services.

· Return earnings, beyond those necessary for continued sound operation of the trust, to theGeneral Fund