November 8, 2010 Spokesman

Stephanie King, our student of the month from Juanita High School, gave us a summary of a ‘typical’ week in her life.  She has played a trumpet since she was 8 years old and now plays in student band and honor band.  Homecoming was a big thrill this past week because Juanita beat Lake Washington pretty bad!  Stephanie compared our meetings with Girl Scout Meetings she attended growing up.  It mainly comes down to we know how to have fun and there is always food available! We wish her well in the future.

Presentation

Don Dicks presented a Paul Harris Fellow award to Makaylaa Powers.  Club members stood and recognized Makaylaa for her contribution to the Rotary International Foundation.

Announcements

1. Dan Bartel announced that two families will be helped with Thanksgiving baskets this year.  A list of items to purchase was passed around the room.  Contact Dan if you want to contribute.  Bring the food, gift certificates, etc., to the November 22 meeting.
2. Patti Smith told everyone about the Alcohol Awareness program that will presented by Chief Eric Olsen and the Kirkland Police Department at the meeting on November 22.  Two of our members, a man and a woman, will be drinking shots of alcohol on empty stomachs.  They will be given breathalyzer tests and checks of coordination so that we can all evaluate the affects of alcohol on our systems.  Don’t miss this important program!
3. Debbie Gregorek thanked the Rotarians who attended the recent breakfast put on to help support the Lake Washington Technical College.  Over $73,000 was raised at the function.
4. President Pat Dye proposed Gary Bruner as our Club’s nominee for District Governor of District 5030.  Pat said the Board has approved the nomination and she asked Gary to say a few words.  Gary told us a little about his history with Rotary (it’s long and includes almost every position in the Club except Treasurer and Song Leader!), what the job of District Governor entails, and how important the position is to all the Clubs in our District and to Rotary International.  Dan Bartel made a motion to nominate Gary and Bill Taylor seconded the motion.  The vote on the motion was unanimous with no abstentions.  President Pat will now forward the paper work to District.  Congratulations, Gary!

Program

Don Dicks showed us a large yellow chart of the Club’s progress toward our Rotary International Foundation goal this year.  The goal for the Club’s 2010-2011 year is $10,000 and $4,200 has already been contributed. The donation goal is “Every Rotarian every year” and Don will keep us abreast of our progress toward these goals.

Don then introduced Mike Montgomery, Past District Governor, from the Edmonds Daybreak Club.  Mike’s presentation was on how the Rotary International Foundation works for us, but instead of beginning his speech Mike introduced Yuka Inoue, a Rotary Ambassador Scholar from Japan.

Yuka is attending Seattle Pacific University during her year here as an ambassador scholar.  She thanked the many Rotarians who have made her feel welcome during her first four months here.  Her studies revolve around English as a second language and she would like to work for the National Department of Education in Japan.  She contrasted our culture with Japan’s and provided an example of how Americans volunteer personal opinions informally at parties even at first meeting.  Japanese people don’t do this.  She wants to learn how to express her ideas and to feel more comfortable doing so.  Yuka expressed her deep appreciation for Rotarians all over the World and ended her short speech by presenting a flag from her Club in Japan to President Pat.

Mike thanked Yuka and then said that he is always being asked “What is Rotary?”  In the past he tried to answer by explaining that for 35 years Rotary has been wiping out Polio around the world, then he would go on to talk about youth exchange, matching grants, etc.  But the answer is really in Rotary’s mission:  “To advance world understanding and peace.”  Clubs in our District do many things to raise funds and many have their own foundations.  The Club foundations are accessible only by each Club, but the Rotary Foundation is accessible by all 55 Clubs in the District.  Mike explained how a water system for Rabour Village in Kenya was funded by accumulating money from various Clubs and then matched with dollars from the Rotary Foundation.  Mike concluded with the message that we have to sustain the Rotary Foundation and to remember the good it does.  Thanks, Mike, for an enlightening program on the Rotary Foundation.

President Pat reminded members that a point is awarded for every dollar donated to the Rotary Foundation during November and December.  Kirkland Rotary has 32,000 points to award, so for example a $100 donation receives an additional 100 points towards a Paul Harris Fellow.  Every dollar donated goes to projects, not overhead, and not every non-profit can say this.  Please be generous!

Joker Pool

Jim Going asked Yuka to draw a ticket and Rick Walter’s number was drawn.  Unfortunately Rick drew the six of diamonds, so now there are 42 cards left and a pot that will grow beyond $438.

President Pat adjourned the meeting at 7:25 PM.

Submitted by,

Michael Hunter

Scribe