The September 12, 2005 Kirkland Rotary meeting was called to order by President Joanne Primavera promptly at 6:30 PM. Carl Edlund led the pledge. Joanne Primavera gave the Inspirational Moment. She wanted to remind us all what a giving group of people we are, which includes all those who came out to First Harvest on Saturday - so many that they finished in two hours! Alyssa, Al Barer's granddaughter even came out on her birthday to help!
Visiting Rotarians & Guests: Apologies all around. Due to technical difficulties the guest list was missed.
Announcements:
1) Dee Dee reminded us to sign up for the official welcoming party for our foreign exchange student, Vlad, at a potluck at Bob Auslander's home on Sept 25 at 2pm
2) Bob Norman thanked everyone for a smooth and well-executed Salmon Bake..
3) Patti Smith asked us all the sign up to help at the Kirkland Triathalon on Sunday the 17th from 6am - 10am - as always we need to have a certain quota of volunteers to help before the City will allow us to run the event.
4) Linda Julien asked us to sign up for SOM interviews at Juanita H.S. to take place on Sept. 28th at 1pm
5) Gayle Cudworth mentioned that this is the BEST Business Week - an opportunity for H.S. students to have a better understanding of various occupations. If you would like to help, please contact Gayle - judges needed for Friday.
6) Bob Webb & Joanne Primavera are encouraging us all to sign up for Rotary Academy - a self-study course that introduces you to all the cool projects and endeavors Rotarians can be involved with around the world and in our backyard!
7) Steve Shinstrom reminded us all that the John Woodbery Honorary Bunko night will occur at the Shinstrom's on October 15th.
8) Joanne Primavera read a card from Sharon Cavell and passed it around. She also reminded us that the Board will convene at 5pm at the Windermere Yarrow Bay conference room courtesy of GG Getz.
9) Bob Webb besieged us all to encourage the Rotary Foundation to get involved in the Katrina relief efforts - though this is not an area of expertise or something that Rotary usually does, Bob feels this should be an exception.
10) Michelle Neal gave us a sad update on her family home in Slidell and community. She responded to our interest to help and hence has come up with a plan recommended by her family and the Slidell Rotary. Kirkland Rotarians may donate money to the Kirkland Rotary Foundation and it will be sent to Community Christian Concern, a non-profit organization in Slidell which provides emergency food, housing, heating fuel, furniture, clothing etc. for underprivileged children, medical needs, and other needs for the residents of St. Tammany Parish and for transients in the community. They had just built a new building and lost everything including 5 freezers full of meat! CCC also runs both a women and men's shelter. CCC is run by Eugene Wellington, who is the only full-time employee. Kirkland Rotary Foundation will send the money to the Slidell Rotary who will distribute it to Eugene and CCC.
Thereafter, Chancellor, Steve Brown, made one of the quietest rounds through the room remembered in his tenure, and collected $14,870 for Katrina victims!