Dave Shields talked TRASH! Dave reminded us that polyethylene (plastic films and overwrap, produce bags, bubble wrap) is one of the worst pollutants in our landfills and beyond. Bainbridge’s Sakai HS is collecting PE bags or “films” for a competition to win a bench made of 10.000 recycled plastic bottles. Help by bringing your CLEAN (no dirtbags!) plastic films to Kimi “The Bag Lady” at the Friday Rotary Meetings.
Devyn Newcombe and her daughter Natalie gave the Viking Spirit Award to Cindy Tveit for writing (and writing...and writing...and writing) up these Highlights! Well done Cindy!
Important Announcements
• Chris Carthum (Outbound Youth Exchange) looking for odd jobs to earn $$$
• Feb 24: Chilly Hilly booth
• Feb 24: Eli Statue reveal
• Feb 24: Chilly Hilly booth
• Feb 24: Eli Statue reveal
• Dan Weedin shared that Mc is on an excursion with other Youth Exchange Students. We need one more host family for Mc for the final stretch (needs to be in the NKSD attendance area). See Dan to invite Mc to a dinner or fun event soon!
Classification Talk - Harlan Harris
Each new member to our club gives a "classification talk" to tell other members something about his or her life and work. Harlan Harris gave his New Member Talk. He defines his life in 5 distinguishing features:
1. Leader
2. Bridge
3. Violinist
4. Overcomer
Harlan’s parents divorced when he was young, and lived with his mother and sisters. He pursued violin (like his father), Scouts, football, orchestra, tennis, theater and dance. He gave college and junior college a try but it didn’t go well. He discovered he still wanted to be in music, but not a music teacher. He then discovered a deep relationship with God and Jesus and transferred his love of music to a love of ministry. And he met and married Cheryl!
He moved from California to the PNW and loves it. After trying many jobs, he took some programming classes, became a father, and began to work in Internal Tech Support at Microsoft. He now works in the cloud! Through it, he discovered those first 4 defining qualities. But what is #5?
5. Rotarian: Harlan is a committed Rotarian enjoying active participation on the Professional Services committee to help guide the future of work and lifelong learning.
5. Rotarian: Harlan is a committed Rotarian enjoying active participation on the Professional Services committee to help guide the future of work and lifelong learning.
Classification Talk - Joe Bettridge
Joe Bettridge gave his New Member Talk also, but he’s not new to Rotary! Joe has been a Rotarian for 35 years, and he noted that this club is very positive and happy. His first club was in Wasilla, Alaska, and his “classification” was “Clergy.” He relates more to the titles of pastor, preacher, or minister. He does “not know how to clerge.” Joe went to UW, starting in business before changing his major. He was a frat boy in the 60s, which he said was definitely a story for another time. Then he attended a Presbyterian church service and heard his calling. He went to seminary school, got married in 1972, and moved to Alaska. In grad school he wrote a dissertation on the tribal culture of the Tlingit people. He also had the pleasure to have performed a wedding for the first female musher in the Iditarod.
Joe says he learned the most about himself during periods or problems, struggles and failures. He faced his alcoholism head on and wrote heartfelt letters to 2000 people. He was treated with encouragement and compassion, and he got a second chance with life and ministry, which he now shares with others as he offers help. He believes in the words of the Rolling Stones: “You can't always get what you want, but if you try, sometime you find you get what you need.”
He also finds comfort in the Serenity Prayer.
That’s Joe’s story — and he’s sticking to it!
That’s Joe’s story — and he’s sticking to it!
Don Russell - Photos from Brazil
Don Russell shared spectacular photos from his trip to Brazil, where he “shot” jaguars (with his camera!). Don’s trip took him to the Pantanal wetlands — 350 square miles — the largest in the world. His group drove 150 miles, only half of which was paved, stopping every 15 minutes to photograph birds. They traveled over 25 bridges, some of which were not in good shape. He went in 3 boats, on two rivers and three streams, and saw jaguars in the natural setting, from 100-200 feet away. Some were identified well enough through unique patterns on their forehead spots, that they had been named: Jaju, Medrosa, Juru, Patricia (what a coincidence!). Don was surprised to find that jaguars are very comfortable in the water. They look for fish or caiman, and even kill crocodiles by grabbing behind their heads and smothering them. Jaguars are 250-350 pounds when grown.Each day, Don typically shot for an hour in one spot to see if the jaguar would do anything, then they moved to a new spot when the sighted another jaguar. He took 7000 photos in temperatures that go up to 95 or 100 in the afternoon (and this was the middle of their winter!).
Don was open to talking specifics about cameras after his presentation. He used 20 megapixel Olympus cameras, taking 80% of his shots with his 90-400 zoom, and his 600mm lens the other 20% of the time.
Classification Talk - Kim McCoy
Kim gave this classification talk at a club meeting last October.
Kim’s life began prematurely, due to a car accident, to a single parent in The Bronx. But despite her early arrival and her low birth weight of just 2 pounds and 2 ounces, she entered the world determined to thrive, despite all odds. She began her life as the proof that miracles can, and do, happen. Kim’s story illustrates who is and how it ties to Rotary’s 4-Way Test. It showed that Service Above Self is simply in her DNA.
From very early on, Kim’s mom showed her the value of giving to those in need, by serving and supporting others in the most selfless ways, such as helping people with drug additions, by giving them the spare bedroom in their home to help dry out and get clean. Or making hundreds of sandwiches and desserts for the school's field trips so every kid was nourished. There were many examples of her mother’s beautiful giving nature.
Kim’s dad was a military man who eventually married her mother. One of the first of many lessons he taught Kim was, "Do the right thing.” The family lived in Alaska during a period of civil and racial unrest in the US, where they were surrounded by great diversity and a loving community that shielded them from the terrible happenings in our country at that time.
From very early on, Kim’s mom showed her the value of giving to those in need, by serving and supporting others in the most selfless ways, such as helping people with drug additions, by giving them the spare bedroom in their home to help dry out and get clean. Or making hundreds of sandwiches and desserts for the school's field trips so every kid was nourished. There were many examples of her mother’s beautiful giving nature.
Kim’s dad was a military man who eventually married her mother. One of the first of many lessons he taught Kim was, "Do the right thing.” The family lived in Alaska during a period of civil and racial unrest in the US, where they were surrounded by great diversity and a loving community that shielded them from the terrible happenings in our country at that time.
Her dad was one of 17 children born into a sharecropping family working the fields for others in North Carolina. The military drafted him and gave him his own tee shirts and underwear. He claimed he would never get out of Army because of that! He excelled in the Army, and by the time of his retirement he beat out over 1,200 applicants for a top job at IBM working with very diverse colleagues--Just miles from where as a child he and his family worked the land for others for scraps of food and a shack to live in.
Her dad, just like her mom, always reached out to help others. He once found a homeless man while the family was camping and fishing in Anchorage. They took him home, nicknamed him Sarge, and cleaned him up. And nearly 48 years later Sarge attended her dad's funeral. The lesson Kim learned was: “The impact we have on others in need may not always be known, but the impact can be extraordinarily profound.”
Once, when Kim was 9, while the family was traversing a dirt road leading out of the woods from a fishing excursion, Kim tossed some litter out of the car window. Her dad adjusted his rear-view mirror to stare at her, slowed down, but kept his eyes on her. He finally pulled over and said, "Go get 8t". The lesson here was far more than, "Don't Litter." There was a much larger lesson: Although her dad has passed on, Kim believes he still has her in his focus --eyes locked on her via his rear-view mirror. And now, metaphorically, she has her own rear-view mirror, and she fully understands that all that she needs to do in life is reflected in it.
Once, when Kim was 9, while the family was traversing a dirt road leading out of the woods from a fishing excursion, Kim tossed some litter out of the car window. Her dad adjusted his rear-view mirror to stare at her, slowed down, but kept his eyes on her. He finally pulled over and said, "Go get 8t". The lesson here was far more than, "Don't Litter." There was a much larger lesson: Although her dad has passed on, Kim believes he still has her in his focus --eyes locked on her via his rear-view mirror. And now, metaphorically, she has her own rear-view mirror, and she fully understands that all that she needs to do in life is reflected in it.
Here are some of Kim’s gems:
As she does things in her genuine manner with integrity and love: TRUTH will emerge.
When she works with others to help level the playing field for those in need: FAIRNESS will prevail.
When she works with others to help level the playing field for those in need: FAIRNESS will prevail.
When she connects people to other people, places, things, and even puppies: FRIENDSHIPS are formed and GOODWILL is done.
When she maintains integrity and reaches out and/or steps aside at times to make room for others: It will be BENEFICIAL to all concerned.
She has both Service Above Self, and the living 4-Way test woven into her being – in her DNA.
When she maintains integrity and reaches out and/or steps aside at times to make room for others: It will be BENEFICIAL to all concerned.
She has both Service Above Self, and the living 4-Way test woven into her being – in her DNA.
Kim thanked Karen Timken for sponsoring her into the club. She also shared that she is a germaphobe, so although she’s happy to shake hands or even hug at times, she does not do so just before or during meals. She explained that she will happily be at any Rotary indoor event or cold weather event, but no hot weather sunny day events due to an autoimmune disease called discoid lupus, where the sun lesions her skin. She gave her sincerely commitment to the club and offered her true dedication to our work.
Kim is proud to be a Rotarian. She brings all that embodies Rotary to our club, along with her extensive 37year journey of working with nonprofits. Her most recent work has been with Girl Scouts, where she currently serves as the Regional Director, Peninsula Region, Girl Scouts of Western Washington. She has coordinated the panel that will be our featured presenters at our Friday meeting tomorrow, February 15, 2019: GIRL SCOUTS: Building Girls of Courage, Confidence, and Character, Who Make The World a Better Place.
Thank you, Kim!
Kim is proud to be a Rotarian. She brings all that embodies Rotary to our club, along with her extensive 37year journey of working with nonprofits. Her most recent work has been with Girl Scouts, where she currently serves as the Regional Director, Peninsula Region, Girl Scouts of Western Washington. She has coordinated the panel that will be our featured presenters at our Friday meeting tomorrow, February 15, 2019: GIRL SCOUTS: Building Girls of Courage, Confidence, and Character, Who Make The World a Better Place.
Thank you, Kim!
Each new member to our club gives a "classification talk" to tell other members something about his or her life and work. Mary Gorman gave a very rousing New Member Talk! Suffice it to say there is NOT enough room here to to it justice! She grew up in Brownsville, but has travelled extensively, and has eaten an impressive array of crazy foods (horse, porcupine, road kill— twice— and snake!) She graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Mathmatics and Economics and has taught across the world. She earned a Doctorate in Education, and is now a Real Estate Agent with John L. Scott. Her daughter is a nurse, and her son is in the Construction Management program at WSU, and she’s been married to Joe Hulsey for 13 years. 
It turns out that in addition to Service Above Self and Rotary’s 4-way Test, there’s one more key element in Kim McKoy’s DNA: THE GIRL SCOUT PROMISE (On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law), and it makes for the perfect mix. Kim began her Girl Scout journey 36 years ago in Seattle, and returned as the Regional Director of the Peninsula Region, Girl Scouts of Western Washington. This region serves 2500 girls, across a wide expanse of our state: Bainbridge to Neah Bay, and Gig Harbor to Westport. Over the past 107 years, Girl Scouts have become famous for their cookies, camping, and crafts — but the are keeping with the times and excelling in STEM programs, winning national championships in robotics, and producing piliots as young as twelve! Rest assured, cookie sales are coming soon, but there is much more to Girl Scouts than cookies! 
Liz Brown shared her journey Girls Scouts. First her daughter hit kindergarten and brought home a flyer, but nothing came of it. Then her daughter brought a flyer home from first grade, and the stars seemed to align. As a mother of a son with autism, Girl Scouting gave her something special to do with her daughter, and it allowed her to meet other moms who had children with medical needs. She now co-leads a troop of over 40 girls, and they keep busy. Liz has a mad passion for people who are at risk to “become a statistic,” and she strives to help empower at-risk girls and help bring balance to their lives. Liz currently serves the region’s membership committee as a Community Engagement Manager (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). In particular, she looks for kids who are under-represented; cost does not need to be a barrier, because girls from low income families qualify for free membership. 
Yodsapon Boonrat (aka Mc), our inbound exchange student from Thailand, started with his weekly update: He went to a cabin near Stevens Pass and had a good time taking pictures and snow shoeing. He said he tried sledding, but had “no luck.” It sounds like he got a face full of snow. 
January 12, 2019 was magical. On a most glorious day, John Pyles, Ardis J. Morrow, D Rand Hillier & I (Ann Pyles) headed to Two Ravens Studio - a full service art foundry in Tacoma. There we met up with artist, Jeff Oens, Sue Oens, his partner, David, Gale Kirsopp and her partner, John, Brian & Susan Patton. We all came to witness the bronze pouring of the Eli Sculpture. 
Emily shared thoughtful commentary and stunning pictures from her time in Croatia last school year. She had two host families, which she loved and misses. She spoke fondly of vineyards in the middle of the city and beautiful cemeteries and churches. She described going to the market voted “The Best Christmas market in Europe”, which had many colors and lights, plus food and trinkets.
During the Q & A portion, she elaborated on the Christmas Markets, which are part of Advent, with shops, trinkets, food, and lights throughout December and the start of January. 
President Tim Nichols gave Emily a well-earned Be the Inspiration pin. Thank you, Emily! 
PK Maclean was awarded her Paul Harris Fellow plus 6 (ruby), and a beautiful Legacy Award and medallion. These awards, given in the name of Rotary Founder Paul Harris, are for Rotarians who donate a total of $1000 to the Rotary Foundation, the charitable non-profit of Rotary International. PK shared how easy legacy giving is. By including Rotary in her estate plans, she will continue to do good in the world beyond her lifetime. 
Brenda Wall shared that the inspiration for this fundraiser came from Ardis about three years ago, when she asked what Rotary was doing to help girls across the world who miss school due to menstruation. Wendell Verduin had been doing projects through Side by Side South Africa, and their Game-Changer for girls proposal included microloans for women, health classes for girls and training sewists to make washable, reusable menstruation kits so girls could stay in school. Our International Services Committee held their fundraiser at My Girl in Kingston, and although their goal was to raise $5,000, they raised over $53,000 They turned the money over to a Side by Side staff member in South Africa. The sewists are now making 800 kits per month, the mothers and grandmothers often attend the health trainings, and Coca Cola is now ordering from Side by Side in S. Africa, to distribute the kits. In 2019 the International Service Committee wants to secure a global grant, find a donor willing to match funds, and ask to do the highly successful fundraiser again! 
Wendy Hinman, author of 
Dr. DeCamp is a vascular surgeon who strives to provide competent state of the art surgical techniques, He grew up in a small, economically depressed Texas town, far from any population center. He worked on the farm, played sports, and served as a volunteer 911 paramedic. His county had no hospital, nor did the surrounding counties. He was in EMT school and was one of the youngest paramedics in Texas. He carried a dispatch radio all the time and responded to emergency calls, sometimes driving patients 90 minutes in the back of his pickup to a hospital or clinic.
Each new member to our club gives a "classification talk" to tell other members something about his or her life and work. John grew up in a small eastern Oregon town and attended Oregon State. He became a teacher, and his 1st job was in NK schools. He’s been here 28 years: 14 as an agriculture teacher then 8 as assistant principal. He recently became Assistant Director of Assistive Technology (and other duties as assigned). His oldest son, Trevor, is a CKHS grad now working as a game warden. His younger son Evan is in the environmental program at WWU. His wife Christy is a pharmacist at Central Market. 
Donna Pledger presented Dr. Paul Kremer with a check for $2,000 from the International Committee. Dr. Kremer is a corneal surgeon in Silverdale who has worked at a medical clinic in the Dominican Republic performing surgery and providing medical care for immigrants, the poor, and adults and children in need of care. The check from Rotary will go toward the purchase of spectacles to give to children. 
Greg Wheeler retired from the U.S. Navy after 34 years as a boiler technician, saying he had skills he felt like he was responsible for sharing with his community. Since 2010, he has served on the Bremerton City Council, and in 2018 he was elected Mayor of Bremerton. “Everyone just wants an opportunity,” he explained regarding the housing crisis in Bremerton. Mayor Wheeler is ready to change his community by explaining that his position on affordable housing is “moving from [a] political issue, to a moral one.” He presented his many plans for Bremerton now and in the future. He plans to take on a rental assistance program for the underprivileged, incentives for those undergoing displacement, and analyzing the “lost opportunity” of the Wheaton Way corridor. Working with the Department of Community Development (DCD), he hopes to change accessory dwelling unit codes to create more habitable spaces on existing properties, and he hopes to give “more authority to [the] Director for on-sight decisions.” He has also spoken to the DCD about reducing setbacks and the ability to analyze zoning for more living-space opportunites. Along with the housing crisis, Mayor Wheeler plans to implement a program on the Harrison Hospital Campus and the existng site to help the economy by acknowledging the new healthcare and research field emerging in the city. Further informaton can be found on the City of Bremerton Web site at 
Mary Jones has spent her life caring for babies born to alcohol and drug-addicted mothers, most suffering from the effects of withdrawal from birth. Caring for ailing newborns while they survived this withdrawal is the difficult mission that Mary has embraced, and many of these children have stayed in touch as they went on to live healthy, strong lives. But it was a call in 2003, when a social worker told her that one little girl Mary was fostering might have HIV, that propelled her onto her next challenge, where she would go on to change laws and, in her way, change our world. She remembers whispering in this sweet child’s ear, “I will be your voice, and I’m going to do everything I can do correct this wrong.” And that is precisely what she went on to do.
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