The Rotary Club of Kirkland held a meeting on May 20, 2024 at the St. John’s Episcopal Church in downtown Kirkland.

President Gary Cohn called the meeting to order at 6:20 p.m.

Jocelyn Ellison recited the Four-Way Test.

Attending were Bob Auslander, Cody Baker, Rich Bergdahl, Gary Cohn, Donald Dicks, Sandy Ekins (Honorary), Jocelyn Ellison, Rashmi Garimella, Margie Glenn, Brandon Honcoop, Isabelle Kalisa, Chris Kelly-Storbeck, Kate Koslosky, Jim Meniketti, Kristin Olson, Rick Ostrander, Joanne Primavera, Daniel Sada Caraveo, John Storbeck, Alice Volpe, and Rick Walter.

Our greeters this evening were John Storbeck and Kate Koslosky.

Visiting Rotarians:

There were no visiting Rotarians at this meeting.

Guests:

This evening the club hosted its annual Outstanding Educator Awards. Guests of the club were Kamiakin Middle School Outstanding Educator Sherri Pflager, her guest, husband Daniel Pflager, and Principal Tim Patterson; Rose Hill Middle School Outstanding Educator Marion Mays, her daughter, and Associate Principal Alicia Mendez; Kirkland Middle School Outstanding Educator Cameron Stedman, his guest, fiancée Jessy Hosken, and Principal Nikki Cassaro; Lake Washington High School Outstanding Educator chef Mary Clarke, her guest, brother Mike Clarke, and former club member Principal Christine Bell.

In addition to the educators and their guests, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene and her office’s community liaison, Shelby Kremenich were guests this evening, as were Peggy Ostrander, spouse of Rick Ostrander, and Alan Hoviland, former club member and spouse of Alice Volpe, and Beth Honcoop, daughter of Brandon Honcoop.

 

Anne Hess, publisher of Greet Kirkland, provided the club ad space in the June edition of the publication. This in-kind contribution to the Great Kirkland Rotary Rummage Sale qualifies the publication as an event sponsor. The Rummage Sale Marketing & Technology Team has considered other advertisers as well, and obtained a reduced rate from the Valpak coupon distribution firm to include an insert in June for two Kirkland zones in the vicinity of the sale. This will permit the team to test the effectiveness of the promotional channel. In addition to Facebook, Nextdoor, and X/Twitter accounts, the team has established Instagram and LinkedIn accounts and continues to consider additional channels for this second year of operation.

Several club members have been actively searching for a meeting location in or near downtown Kirkland, where the club has traditionally met for most of its nearly 87 year history. Dave DeBois has investigated the Fraternal Order of Eagles (258 Central Way • menu), which has a meeting room and kitchen capable of serving a variety of food for a club meeting. The Kirkland Kiwanis meets there during the lunch hour.

 

Jocelyn Ellison has investigated RockCreek Seafood and Spirits (89 Kirkland Ave. • menu), which has a small meeting room, and L’Experience Paris (1002 Lake Street S. • menu), which is not regularly open for dinner but suggested menu options based on the Bellevue location fare, and received proposals from both restaurants.

 

Rashmi Garimella has investigated Sparrow (9736 NE 120th Place • menu), which at this point in the research appears to have the best combination of meeting space, parking, and location—Juanita Bay.

 

Six club members plan to dine at Sparrow on May 27. If the venue can accommodate Monday meetings on a regular basis, can offer a reasonably priced menu for club meetings, and can offer adequate parking at the site, the board has agreed to hold a special meeting for a decision on moving the club's meetings. Directors discussed the value of an order-as-you-go process to simplify the dinner cost arrangements, and generally prefer that option for the sake of simplicity and variety of choice.

District 5030 Governor Kaj Pedersen announced that the former Seahawk player and community leader Doug Baldwin, Jr. will be the keynote speaker at the District 5030 Celebration on the 24th of June! This will spur clubs and individual Rotarians to be a part of what will be a memorable District 5030 Celebration at the end of this Rotary year. To learn more about the event, look at the club's calendar or click here to view the District site. To join the club members who are attending, contact Rick Walter for a seat at the table.

 

Doug Baldwin is known for his amazing skills on the football field, for being a part of a Super Bowl championship team, and for remaining an active member of our community and spearheaded the development of the Family First Community Center in Renton, a project that the Rotary Club of Renton has been a partner in supporting.  Doug is a leading voice for change in his community through service and represents a strong partner with Rotary in his belief of Service above Self!

Do not delay; tables will be sold quickly! DG Pedersen thanks you for your support of what will be an extraordinary opportunity in which Rotarians will participate and celebrate the accomplishments for 5030, and witness the transition from DG Kaj Pedersen to DGE Rachele Bouchand.

Due to a number of pressing matters within his business, John Storbeck is stepping down from the treasurer position at the conclusion of this Rotary year, June 30. In accordance with Article 3 of the club's bylaws, the board appointed assistant treasurer Michelle Cazeau to fill the vacancy effective July 1. As a result, Michelle will not assume the vocational service committee chair position, which is vacant.

 

In order to stay involved in leadership during the coming year, John volunteered for and was appointed by the board to fill the program and speaker chair role.