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As President Kathy put on her bikini to bask under the Hawaiian sun, President Elect Nick Johnson donned a fetching woolen scarf to open the Rotary meeting on this chilly Poulsbo morning. If you were there, you would have noted he also wore other appropriate cold weather clothing.
In the absence of Craig Adams, Nick continued the dog and pony show by giving the thought for the day, "True friends say good things behind your back and bad things to your face." We trust Craig's patients are recovering. Woof.
Ardis made us laugh again. She also modeled a fancy pair of knee-high socks that looked like old-fashioned laced up shoes, which she found in her drawer. Don’t you wonder who put them there?
Announcements:
- John Pavey, the announcer of good tidings, told us there are items for sale, left over from the auction bar. (What doesn’t sell this week will be brought back next week.)
- 11/9 Fall clean up work party at Poulsbo Cemetery. Keeping the graves clean and the cemetery cleared of debris reduces the potential for vandalism, and honors those buried there.
- 11/9 Salmon Watch at Fish Park. Help is needed to man the booth and to act as guides.
- Nick announced North Kitsap School students are trying to fill a bus, before the Holidays, with non-perishable foods to benefit Fishline.
Our club's Rotary Exchange students, Leo and Duda, teamed up to give the Doodah Report. The highlight of their week occurred on Home Coming night. They nearly froze to death as they waited in line to get into some place. Was it Leo who risked pneumonia to give Duda his coat? Duda had heard of the concept of cold, but until that night, our Brazilian exchange student never experienced it. Welcome to the great Northwest, young friends. And it’s not even winter yet. Another memorable occasion for both of them was going Trick or Treating for the first time.
Kitsap Superior Court Judge Michelle Adams briefly talked about Kitsap Drug Court. This is a strict, support program to encourage addicts to get clean and sober rather than go to jail. Those enrolled in the program have to follow Court requirements, and if they can stay in the program their progress is celebrated with graduation, which occurs quarterly. The public is invited to attend.
Kitsap Strong
by Kody Russell
Our own Superior Court Judge Jennifer Forbes, introduced the featured speaker, Kody Russell, head of Kitsap Strong, a community initiative to improve the health and well-being of all children, families, and adults in Kitsap. He gave a fascinating presentation on what he called a network of organizations geared to be supportive of families to bring out the best in every child. He asked how we learned to tie our shoes. The answer is we were taught.
Some adversity is unavoidable. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic, caused by abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction, which can negatively impact health throughout the lifespan. Needy youth can be helped by an informed, caring community. The first years are formative. Children who are not getting parental interaction and guidance, need role models, people to love and teach them in order to flourish. There are many groups to help at risk youth, including Boys and Girls Club.
Children and teens need adults to care about them and value them. Young persons don’t have the resources to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.” When fear is overwhelming, learned coping methods flee, and young people need to learn calming skills from an adult who can teach them.
Mr. Russell talked about the trees in forests helping each other, even different kinds of trees, through their root systems. Trees need other trees. If it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a forest. The talk was complete with pictures, slides and a short film. When Mr. Russell was finished, he asked for questions. There weren’t any. Maybe most people were reflecting on how they could have been better parents, as was this writer.
Fines
When the Fine Master asked if someone knew about the Seahawks, about half the attendees looked to Dan Weedin. He quickly answered challenging, obscure questions, garnering thunderous applause.
There were many happy bucks, and one, a tribute by Tim Nichols, was a sad note as he remembered his mother, who recently died. We offer our condolences to Tim and his family.
Minutes, written with editorialese, may be inaccurate, subject to interpretation, and possibly, misleading. Or not.
By Pat Ryan for Todd Tidball
Minutes, written with editorialese, may be inaccurate, subject to interpretation, and possibly, misleading. Or not.
By Pat Ryan for Todd Tidball
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