President Scott Rethke called the October 7, 2103 Kirkland Rotary meeting to order at 6:28pm and graciously thanked the scribe, John Pruitt and the greeter, Ernie Norehad for their service.

Rich Bergdahl lead the Pledge of Allegiance and Ernie Norehad gave a fine inspirational minute that wasn’t about a happy dwarf.

Guests included visiting Rotarians Christine Rose, BBRC and Jennifer Jarman, BRC.  Kaij Stern, our student of the month from Juanita High, was introduced by Elizabeth Rusnak.  Other special guests included Stephanie Walker [guest of our illustrious Treasurer, Rick Walter]; Shannon Botch [guest of Shellie Gehring]; and Angela Marks [guest of Bill Woods].

 

Announcements:

·         Gary Bruner announced the Saturday Rotary First Harvest Work Party will be help on October 12, 2013.  Please RSVP to Dan Bartel.  We will meet at the South Kirkland park-and-ride at 8:00a to carpool to the Kent Warehouse.

·         Scott Rethke announced the Harvest Hoedown on October 17, 2013 between 6:30p and 9:30p.  The Hoedown is a fundraiser for Rotary First Harvest.  More information is available at http://firstharvest.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/FINAL-HOEDOWN-Ad_electronic_pdf.pdf  

·         Bunco is coming!!!  Steve Shinstrom reminded us that Bunco is October 19, 2013 @ 6:00p.  Be sure and wear your country club duds [whatever they may be].  Heavy appetizers, snacks and dessert.

·         Pat Swensen announced that we are recruiting Rotarians for Reading Buddies and Math Buddies.  The program will start the first week of November and will run into mid-December.  Elizabeth Rusnak testified that it was a very rewarding program and that we all should give it a try.  Contact Pat for more information or to sign up.  pat@1brg.com is her email.

·         Pat Dye announced that the Warm Coats program with John Muir Elementary is on October 18, 2013 at 9:00a.  Pat indicated that we need Rotarians to help with the program.  Please contact Pat for more information and to sign up.

·         SAVE THE DATE:  Scott Becker announced that the Rotary Holiday Party will be either on December 1st or 8th, and will be on an Argosy boat.  The dinner and cruise will be $79.

·         Bill Woods announced that the Kirkland Art Center Auction was very successful.  Bill also invited Rotarians to attend the Kirkland Performance Center Auction on October 19th.  Please contact Bill for more information. 

      

Program:  Jason Overleese introduced Larry Garrett, a partner in the firm Holman Cahill Garrett Ives Oliver & Anderson Attorneys.  Mr. Garrett stressed the importance of having a properly executed and up-to-date Will.  He also highlighted the Federal and State death related taxes and presented ideas for how to minimize the tax bite.

There was no Joker Pool!  Because Alice Volpe won the Joker Pool last week, there was no replacement deck of cards on hand.  Next week will start the new pool with a minimum pot of $200.  

Adjournment:  President Scott Rethke adjourned the meeting at 7:29p. 

Submitted by scribe for the night, John Pruitt 

 

READING BUDDIES PROGRAM     

And Math Buddies Tutors

JOHN MUIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Location:  14012 132nd Avenue N.E., Kirkland, WA   98034

Meet with your group in the Library (next to the Office)

Purpose:  Reading Buddies: To create enthusiasm for reading among 3rd and 4th  graders.  To develop a life-long interest and love of reading.  Math Tutors:  To assist students with math.

How the programs work:

Reading Buddies:

John Muir Elementary has selected the books that are used in our program.  (Our Rotary provided the funds for these books.)  There are five to six copies of each title.  You and your students read the same book.

The teachers and Tim Platt (the Librarian)  have selected  the students that will participate in the Reading Buddies program.  These students know how to read and have good study habits. 

You and your students select the same book that will be read.   These are “chapter” books at the appropriate level of reading for the students.  You assign the number of chapters that need to be read each week.   Each group will have 4 students and one Leader (You).

Each group will meet once a week for ½ hour during the students’ lunch break.  The students will bring their lunch with them to the group, along with their book.  Lunch times for this year for our age group is 12:00 to 12:30.  You select the day of the week that you wish to lead a group.  (You keep the same day and  time each week.    If you need to change your day of the week, you make those arrangements for the alternative day with your students and notify Tim Platt, the Librarian.

Tim Platt can be reached at:  tplatt@lwsd.org   

You and your students decide how many chapters  will be read each week.  These chapters will be discussed the following week.  The Leader reads the same chapters that have been assigned to the students each week.   You can decide to stop leading a group at the end of every book.  This allows a Volunteer to try out the program and not be committed for an entire school year.   The first groups for Reading Buddies begin the first full week of November and end at the holiday break in mid-December.  The next book/group begins in the second week of January, 2014.

Math Tutors:

You will meet once a week for ½ hour during the students lunch hour.  This program is designed to help students improve their math skills.  Small groups of students meet with each Leader and use math  games to help the students learn.  You can try this program for 6 weeks and stop at the end of each school term.  You meet in the Library and Tim Platt is your contact.  tplatt@lwsd.org