The June 18, 2012 Kirkland Rotary meeting opened by President Brandon Honcoop at 6:30 PM for his last regular meeting of his year. Bob Auslaner led the club and guests with the Pledge of Allegiance to our great nation. Our greeter tonight was Duck Chair Megan Nakanishi. Don Dicks gave the "inspiration" that you can't believe popular sayings attributed to Mark Twain, that paragon of moral virtue in American folklore. He heard on TV at the US Open that it was "the coldest winter this summer in Seattle" The saying was attributed to Mark Twain. It ain't true boys and girls. The closest anybody could trace such an expression to Mr. Clements was an 1879 letter that had nothing whatever to do with Seattle. Don guesses that he must have spent that summer in Paris. The moral of the story is "nothing is original". I am inspired to spend more time in Seattle immediatly after July the Fourth when the weather is predictable;

Guests: Chief Eric introduced Jerri Harris, a Monroe Rotarian and his deputy Chief in the Kirkland Police Department. Jason Overlease was in attendance. Dr. Mark Schulman, President of Saybrook University in San Francisco was visiting the area and a guest. "Chuckles" Brockway introduced Vikki Connelly as a guest.

Announcements: Megan Nakanishi, Duck Chair, reported venue assignments and urged us to sell, sell, sell. Saturday 9-11 at QFC is an open venue and Rotarians quickly volunteered. Chief Eric had a good selling day at the Wednesday Market venue. Rich Bergdahl announced the last new member social at Hector's Restaurant in Kirkland on 6/28 from 5-7:30 PM $5.00 a head is the cost. Don Dicks announced that we are now at 75% in member participation for the International Rotary Foundation compared to 58% for last year. Chuck Brockway introduced Vikki Connelly again to tell her story of bringing her daughter Christy to Miracle league. He had all the participants stand and the best number was four times in attendance by Joanne Primavera. He commended Patty Sims for her organizational efforts this year.
Presentation: Barb Seaton presented a $7,000 check to Chief Eric Olsen for 2 agent alarm systems. An equal amount was sent to Northwest Harvest for its Baby Day program. $10,000 was raised at this year's auction but the board made up the difference from existing funds. Proud grandpa Bill Woods announced that Megan has been accepted to the Foster Graduate School of Business but will continue as a Rotarian.

Happy Dollars: Chuck Brockway raised a fist full of happy dollars to free Brandon Honcoop from jail for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He was last seen headed somewhere for an "accounting". Don't worry the "Four Way Test" banner was still flying and covering us all.

Program: Chris Morgan, Program Chair introduced Leonard Garfield from the Museum of Histry and Industry (MOHAI) to show and tell about the relocation of the museum from its long stay at Montlake to the US Naval Reserve facility on the sourth shore of lake Union. The Montlake facility was taken by the 520 Bridge approach project. It will open for viewing on December 29, 2012 as scheduled. Many exhibits will be shown including the first Boeing airplane (the first B-1), and Slow Motion 4 of unlimited hydroplane fame. The former gymnasium that is four stories high will have a 750 person capacity with multilevel exhibits all over the place, up, around and among the viewers. A 360 degree periscope will show Seattle all around, as they say. An outside cafe will serve the guests and the public and the very top floor will house exhibits showing the maritime history of the region. One unique exhibit from McCaw Cellular is one of the first portable phones which was the size of a small suitcase, hardly an iPhone pocket piece as seen on almost everyone today, or is it Android? One of the very first sandwich boards from Starbucks Coffee Company is on display symbolizing an early sample of social gathering as a marketing tool.. He gave a quotation by Jim Ellis from 1966 which typifies the creative attitude of Seattleites and Kirklanders, " We have the means and the talent to create the city we want within our own time." The $90 million project is $85 million funded. That shows the potential of this marvelous area.

Joker Pool: There was a true pooling of sorts as D.V. Hurst had more tickets from all sources than we have had hot dinners and got the right to a collective drawing but Terry Cole, who he chose to draw because he was buried in tickets and couldn't get up was close but got "no cigar".. He took the $10.00 consolation prize back to DV and tore it into many pieces to spread it among the "poolers".

Meeting adjourned, your humble scribe John Woodbery!