February 2, 2009 Spokesman

Posted by Rachel Knight 
 

The February 2nd, 2009 Kirkland Rotary meeting was called to order by President Bob Webb at 6:30pm.  Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag:  Mike Hunter Inspirational Moment:  David Hunnicutt read from the book Letters to my Son.  Thanks to Roy Selvidge for greeting, and Dave Aubry and Carl Boruck on the front desk. 

 

Guests included: Janet Pruitt, wife of member John Pruitt; Gabby Patelea, Student of the Month from Juanita High School; Stefan Cohen from Redmond noon club; Janine, Pascal's host mother, Carl Meyers, Student of the Month from Lk. Wash High School; and Dave DuBois, Manager at Banner Bank.

Announcements:

-          Pascal reported a fairly boring week at school last week but thoroughly enjoyed skiing with the Shinstroms at Stevens Pass and was duly inducted into the American way of enjoying the SuperBowl, complete with the $20 for having the correct square a SuperBowl Pool while at a party with Shinstroms ( is that legal for our exchange student.?!)

-          President Bob announced birthdays and membership anniversaries (let's just get rid of that induc**** word....)

-          Pres. Bob thanked Rick and Peggy Ostrander for opening their home last Saturday for Game Night, and Alice Volpe for her organization and zealous present giving.

-          Many Rotarians turned out to say Farewell to long time Rotarian, Chuck Morgan, who will be moving to Wenatchee to be closer to his son and other family members. The party was held at the Heritage Hall and was the Who's Who of Kirkland and the Eastside.

-          Please sign up for Valentines Day dinner at Calabria on.yes, Saturday February 14th, from 5 to 8pm and is $40 per person. See Tom Gant for more info.

-          District Events: February 21st 5:30pm; Lucy's Legacy special Rotarian showing (oldest archeological find of Ethiopian woman) and February 25th 5:30pm: Rotary after hours: more info, access www.rotary5030.org

-          District Conference is in Vancouver this year and they have discounted the registration to $275 - hop on the above district website and sign up today!!

-          Merrill Gardens is having an open house of their new facility this Thursday the 5th at 4pm, located at 201 Kirkland Avenue/ tel: 425-828-2570. Joanne will be there trolling for new members and suggests we all go and if anyone gets more members signed up than her, they will get a Joanne-made peach pie..and while there we could check out Rotarian residential group discounts .(just planning ahead!)

 

Slate of Officers was unanimously (and quickly) passed:

President: Jim FeekPres-Elect: Pat Dye                  Vice Pres: Patti Smith

Secretary: Elizabeth Rusnak                                    Treasurer: Carl Boruck

 

Service Chairs:

Community: Mary-Alyce Burleigh                           International: Felicity Burdick

Club: John Overleese                                              Vocational: Brandon Honcoop

 

Other celebrities:

PR: David Aubry                Membership: Pat Dye               Programs: Patti Smith

Webmaster: Steve Shinstrom                      Foundation: Rich Bergdahl

Chief Roamers: Chuck Brockway; Don Dicks; Dan Bartel; Francois Daumard; Roy Selvidge; Eric Olsen; and  Pat "I'm a what?" Swenson;

 

PROGRAM: Dan Goldman, Chartered Financial Analyst

Dan gave us an overview of investing in the stock market and the approach an investor should take concerning risk tolerance, tax strategies, and time investment horizons. When analyzing investments be aware of the fees, standard deviation, beta, return over the long term, and the track record of a mutual fund manager. Diversify and re-balance your portfolio every year according to your personal financial objectives. Don't get near-sighted and let panic undermine your nest egg - if you pull out of the market, think twice about how you will fund your retirement in 10 and 20 years.money markets don't stay ahead of inflation or taxes.

 

Mekonen Giorgis once again had the lucky ticket but #3 was not the lucky ducky - thanks for playing!!

 

Respectfully submitted by Rachel Knight

 

 

New Members Induction:

Makonnen Giorgis, Stress Analyst/Engineer, sponsored by Chuck Brockway and Jim Styner, Mechanical Engineer, sponsored by Patti Smith, received their red badges.  Welcome Makonnen and Jim! 

 

Speaker:

Monty Reed from Shoreline Rotary Club and Executive Director of "They Shall Walk" was introduced by Patti Smith.  He is a Mary Gates Scholar and NASA Space Grant Scholar.  His goal is to develop a robotic exoskeleton suit that will enable paralytics to walk.  A parachute accident with the Army Rangers left him paralyzed.  During his hospitalization he became interested in developing a robotic suit (inspired by Heinlein's "Starship Troopers").  Luckily, he had a miraculous recovery and didn't need the "Lifesuit" but decided to move forward with development and founded "They Shall Walk".  By 2001, he had developed the first prototype.  One of the first prototypes was entered in the Saint Patrick's Day Dash and completed the "walk" in 90 minutes.  Since then, they have won Gold and Silver Medals at the Robot Olympics for weight lifting.  They continue to have medical trials at the VA Hospital and in Vellore, India (where they are being developed for polio victims who didn't get the Rotary-sponsored polio vaccines in time).  His goal is to develop prototype 16, get it into the VA Hospitals for trials and "Give the gift of Walking" to those less fortunate.

 

Respectfully submitted by Scribe and Greeter - Donald Dicks