September 21, 2009 Spokesman

Posted by Chuck Brockway 
 

President Jim opened the meeting September 21, 2009 Kirkland Rotary Meeting at 6:27 PM

Bill Wood volunteered to share an inspirational moment which involved the speeches from a graduating class of 92 students, who were abiding by the court rules to keep religion out of the ceremony.  At the end of the graduation, all 92 students seemingly sneezed at once, to which the speaker offered a very loud "God bless you".

Jim thanked volunteers, Dan Bartel for greeting and Chuck Brockway for scribing.  

John Overleese introduced his guests and neighbors, Marty Jourard, with the musical group novabossa and Robert Mock, who works for a pharmaceutical company.

Patty Sims introduced our exchange student, Selis Atakoy.  Selis has recent returned from exchange student orientation camp, hosted by former Kirkland Rotarian, Gary Schuster at his Lake Wenatchee home.

President Jim welcomed Ezra Turhomme the Assistant Governor for our Kirkland club.

Scott East, visiting Rotarian from Bellevue

Arriving late was Chip Kimball of the Redmond club.

Brandon Honcoop asked for assistance for Barb Seaton with Student of the month interviews, 1 PM on 9-24 (?) at Juanita HS.

It was mentioned that former Kirkland Rotarian, Gary Schuster, has begun the implementation of the Student of the Month program at his new club and also has Wenatchee Rotarians visiting another former Kirkland Rotarian, Chuck Morgan.

Patti Smith announced the results of the 171st annual Rotary Golf Tourney.

  • The winning team was Sturgell, Sturgell, DeBois and Rethke.
  • The closest to the pin were Diana Lanspa and Bob Webb
  • The longest drives were by Rachel Knight and John Davis
  • Bob Webb was also the proud recipient of the lovely Monkey Award

Many thanks to those who provided donations for the prizes:

    • Pat Dye
    • Regence Blue Shield
    • Brian Tucker
    • Evergreen Hospital
    • Bill Woods
    • Banner Bank, who Jim thanked personally, no loans, just a bunch of pins..

President Jim shared a Scandahoovian story about the 4 little pigs

Patti Smith reminded everyone to go to our website and sign up for our meeting on October 5th for "Candidates Night", which we are jointly hosting with the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce - Marina Room

Rachel asked for volunteers for Friday, October 2nd at 5 PM at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church to feed 100 or so Tent city residents.

Pat Dye asked for volunteers on October 2nd from 9 AM to 11 AM at John Muir Elementary School for Operation Warm Coats

Pat Dye also asked for anyone who is interested in the Rotary Academy, to contact her.  This is a formal course to learn more about Rotary.  The orientation is on September 30th and a correspondence course follows, for the rest of the year.  Barb Seaton and Patti Smith are currently signed up and the group plans for several study sessions throughout the year.

Pat also thanked all of the Kirkland Rotarians who have signed up to either be table captains or to attend the Residence XII fund raising luncheon at noon on Thursday, 9-24 at the Hyatt in Bellevue.

A remainder to all that John Woodbery Memorial Bunco Night will be at the Shinstrom's home on 10-17.  Baseball theme. (Fall Classic)

Rachel also reminded all past presidents of the luncheon at Joanne Primavera's also on 10-17.

Brandon Honcoop introduced our speaker, Scott Oki.

    • Scott grew up in the Rainier Valley and attended Franklin HS
    • He attended the University of Washington before going into the Air Force
    • After the Air Force, Scott graduated from the University of Colorado
      • Note, all public schools
    • Scott worked exactly 10 years at Microsoft
    • Scott has been involved with upwards of 34 non-profits groups
    • He founded the Oki Foundation 22 years ago
    • He owns golf courses and part of the Seattle Sounders
    • Scott has authored a book, "Outrageous Learning, an Education Manifesto"
    • Scott says that he is not a golfer, although he has a 12 handicap
    • While he has been on 34 non-profit boards, he has pared that back to about 10, at present.

Scott said that he is now focused on 4 things

    • Scouting - As an Eagle Scout himself, he wants to engage intercity kids in Boy Scouts
    • Microsoft Alumni Foundation - He wants to re-engage and re-connect the 60,000 former employees of Microsoft for the sharing of their time and talents for the betterment of the communities in which we live
    • See your impact - On a micro charity basis, see the results of the beneficiaries of your time treasures and talents
    •  Education - the subject of Scott's presentation

Education

    • When Scott "Binged" (apparently he still owns a few shares of Microsoft) there seem to be an equal number of articles supporting a variety of solutions
      • Scott believes that there is nothing about public education that make much sense
      • Nationally, of those on the payroll in public education, only 43% nationally are teachers.  In Washington State, we are at 48%.
      • In Washington State, we have 179 school districts, 2 of these school district have but 6 students apiece
      • In those countries where public educating is more successful, the teacher to non-teacher ratio is 4 to 1
        • We fix this and we fix the student to teacher ratio
      • Scott believes that tenure doesn't make sense
        • Why should teachers have guaranteed lifetime jobs, does this exist in the private sector?
        • Why are the best teachers paid the same as the worst teachers?
      • Why has it become socially acceptable not to make a student repeat a grade?
        • Why should all students be promoted to the next grade, regardless of their academic achievement?
          • Doesn't this pollute the learning environment?
      • Why aren't principals allowed to be the CEO's of their own schools?
        • The reality is that they only control 5% of their budgets
        • Why can't principals hire their own team?
      • Why is there standardized curriculum when students all learn differently?
      • Why is it that parents have no choice over where their children attend school?

    What are the solutions?  Read the book!

      • Scott believes that we must create a movement to correct the problems in public education
        • We must give our legislators the authority to deal with the problems
        • The unions, which Scott believes only have their "enlightened self interest" in mind, need to stop hurting our kids, by dealing with their own narrow agendas
        • Years ago, before the existence of the vast bureaucracies , and with a de-centralized public education model, public education worked much better than it does today
        • We have unique situations with which to deal
          • In Japan, for instance, 99% of the population is Japanese
          • While India's public school system is awful, their private school system is excellent and it is based on merit and reaches far into the slums
        • The Federal Government should not set the standards for public education.  This should be left up to each state to decide.
          • "No Child Left Behind", Scott believes is a stupid program
        • Teaching Certificates are somewhat meaningless
          • Why must one have a teaching certificate to teach in the Washington State Public Schools?
          • Fewer than 15% of the teachers at the Lakeside School, for example, have teaching certificates.

Scott entertained many questions from the audience.

Makaylaa Powers selected the lucky number 4, which through some shenanigans, turned out to be the winner, although I am not certain that the number selection would pass muster with the Washington State Gambling Commission..

Due to the seriousness of the speaker's topic, President Jim held off on any parting jokes , as did returning Rotarian, Ret. Capt. Jonathan Tuttle.

Chuck Brockway, Scribe for the night