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Friday’s meeting was filled with birthday surprises for Ardis Morrow. Members responded to President Michele’s secret request to “bury Ardis with flowers” with lush bouquets and fragrant lilacs. A sweet cake with a trick candle, and a hearty rendition of Happy Birthday, made her birthday celebration complete.
As his year in the US winds down, Jack is feeling the melancholy of his “lasts” he shared that he attended his last exchange student meeting and will miss the many friends he made during his Poulsbo Rotary year. His playful exchanges with Michele are a highlight of our meetings, and Friday’s meeting was no exception. We are sure going to miss you, Jack! 
As featured speaker, colorist Melissa Bolt, explained, color is more than about beauty—there is also a psychological aspect, a tangible reaction that comes about when seeing various colors. For instance, did you know that blue is used in bank branding because it represents stability and dependability? Sharing these examples, along with an update on current color technology and trends and how color is used in professional settings, Melissa captivated our members with her strikingly beautiful slides and deep connection to color. This year’s Pantone color of the year? Ultra Violet! We can all learn more about Melissa’s services by contacting her at melissaboltcolor@gmail.com.With over 36,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide, 886 of which are new this year, Rotary has maintained its global membership of 1.2 million members through efforts like those made by our Membership team. Poulsbo’s membership stayed steady this year maintaining our status as one of the larger clubs in the area.
Geoff Schmidt filled in for Michelle this morning while she is at the 2018 District Conference! Love the tie, Geoff.
Each new member to our club gives a "classification talk" to tell other members something about his or her life and work. Med's dad was in the Navy so he grew up at many Navy bases. Med joined the Marine Corps out of high school. He was slated for OCS but instead headed for the Navy. His assignments include Iraq, Guam, the Pentagon, and a stint in Joint Special Ops. After his twin daughters joined the family he went back to Guam, where as the Logistics lead he was responsible for servicing 115 ships. He is currently assigned as Director of Weapons Systems Support at Keyport. He recently bought a 9 acre property in Seabeck and plans retirement from the Navy in about a year.
Debbie Broughton (sponsored by Margene Smaaladen) was inducted into the club! Welcome, Red Badge Debbie! 
Brenda Wall shared how the ISC spent $22k on worthy causes worldwide, including a hydrotherapy pool in Ethiopia, Guatemala Safe Stoves project, schools in Burkina Faso, Etta projects (dry composting toilets in Bolivia), Disaster Aid Canada, Side by Side, Days for Girls for Syrian Refugees in Jordan, and more! ISC had a very successful fundraiser this year, raising $53k for Side by Side for projects in S. Africa. 
Brenda Wall presented a $4k check to Shirley Wilder for Poulsbo’s Days for Girls to send 400 hygiene kits to Syrian Refugees in Jordan.
Wendell began by thanking the club for ISC’s fundraiser that raised $53K for Side by Side’s Game-changer for Girls program, which provides hygiene kits, education, and micro-enterprise opportunities for women and girls in South Africa. Wendell then introduced Kim, an expert in working with start-ups and micro-enterprises, who went to South Africa with Side by Side earlier in the month. He showed a short video and a power point which showed how they were able to create jobs for eight people — empowering women with sewing kits to make the hygiene kits to sell in country. At this time it remains heavily subsidized, but the goal is for selfinitiating and self-sustaining sewing centers in country that can maintain an income stream by selling the kits to churches, school districts, and non-profits. He stressed how it was important to not impose a Western business model. Days for Girls trained the sewists, and offered product support, while Side by Side offered financial resources, along with a strong education component.
At a time when fossil fuels often get a bad rap, Roger Gallington brought a whole new way of seeing these sources of energy to our Friday meeting. Frequently referring to the book on the subject by Alex Epstein, the proposition is that the use of fossil fuels has improved the quality of life and life expectancy throughout the world. They are cheaper to implement vs. sustainable options due to the reduced capital costs, and their production is more consistent. Wind, for instance, is cyclical and sometimes unpredictable.
Ann Pyles donated 3 Cuban cigars that were auctioned at our Friday meeting for Polio Plus. Thank you, Danny Fritz, for your $125 donation and thank you, Ann, for your donation!
Polio Plus is a special funding category at Rotary International to support Rotary's fight to end polio. Poulsbo Rotary’s commitment to end Polio in our lifetime is succeeding! We gathered more than $5500 – exceeding our pledge goal. But the fight continues, so your donations to this effort are still needed. We are SOOOOOO close that the next reported case of Polio could be the last!!!
The club presented Scarlet Road with a $1500 check. These funds will be used for bus passes and “after care” supplies for the young people seeking sanctuary from the sex trafficking world.
This extremely serious problem was presented to the club by Jacob Maxwell, Brenda Wall, and Dan Weedin. Did you know that the Equifax breach exposed over 100 million records… keep in mind that the US population is estimated to be 326 million. Cybercrimes are on the rise and your business insurance policy MIGHT NOT COVER IT! Here are a few of the ideas shared with us to help keep you safe: Review your credit report and Social Security Earned Income Statement annually, use a miro or cross-cut paper shedder, DO NOT carry your Social Security card, and avoid public Wifi… just to name a few. Need more info or help? Ask Dan, Brenda or Jacob 
For Emily Cartham, Poulsbo Rotary’s Outbound Exchange Student in Croatia this year, the experience has been a broadening experience she will never forget. Emily was a featured guest at Friday’s meeting through the miracle of Skype. Through her many friendships, and thanks to great host families, she has travelled and experienced a culture different from ours but one which Emily has very much enjoyed. “I’m in love with Croatia! I am going to really miss it when it’s time to return to the U.S.!” Her advice for anyone wondering about Youth Exchange? “Definitely do it—it is so beneficial, and brings about really good changes and personal development.” 
Community Services presented a check to the NK Athletic Medicine group to help pay for an upcoming skills symposium, where students will learn important medical treatments.
Nick Johnson updated the Club on the latest Viking Tour news, including a record-setting 129 preregistrations, many more than last year. The preTour registration party the night before at Western Red Brewery looks to be almost as fun as the Tour itself, with beer, music and discounts galore.
Giacomo Battu, affectionately called “Jack” by family and friends, is our Poulsbo Rotary’s incoming Exchange Student this year, bringing cheeky humor and a swag to our Club when he shares his adventures each week. For last Friday’s meeting, he took the podium to tell us more about his native Biella, Italy and the life he lives when he isn’t in the US. He told us about how different high schools are in Italy, where students can choose to attend one of many high school choices based upon the curriculum focus. He shared that classes are different throughout the week, vs. our high schools where schedules are repeated daily. Jack loves sports, especially soccer. His family’s love of travel has taken Jack to many, many countries throughout the world. Each year, they choose a different place to visit that they haven’t visited before. Jack, whose mastery of English is impressive, told us that he has learned English from when he was in elementary school and loves that he can practice all the time while with us. Thank you, Jack, for a fascinating opportunity to learn of your life and your world.
Meredith Green inducted Dominick Ferrara as a new member of Poulsbo Rotary. He is a 21 year submarine veteran and recently purchased the Green Light Diner. Steve Garfein is shown congratulating Dominick. Welcome, Dominick! 
Paul has taken his significant talent for photography and combined it with is compassion for children who are literally fighting for their lives. His message: run TOWARDS these kids and embrace them rather than shy away from them. They have so much love, joy and courage to share with us and this was evident in his passion to tell their stories. The video he shared of one such warrior was of Katie, who lost her life to cancer 3 years ago at the age of 18. It showed that she may have lost her life, but not the fight. Katie was an inspiration and fighter to the end... cancer couldn't take that from her.
There’s a reason why they call it the Chilly Hilly. Like Viking Tour Viking Steve Hogg explained, “it’s really chilly and very hilly.” On Sunday, February 25, hearty bike riders from throughout the region will ride a course on Bainbridge Island, dodging the elements but enjoying the beautiful scenery. Poulsbo Rotary volunteers were enlisted to help promote our Viking Tour in May to a group of bikers always ready for the next ride. Please let Steve know if you want to help out on Sunday.
February 13 is right around the corner, and this election is very important for our kids. NK Schools Superintendent, Dr. Laurynn Evans, shared the importance of 2 levies on this year’s ballot. A new Capital Projects Levy – designed to fix, repair or upgrade buildings, equipment and systems at our schools. This will protect the health, comfort, and security of the students, teachers and staff. The other, the Educational Programs and Operations Levy, is not a new tax! It replaces the Maintenance and Operations Levy that voter approved in 2014. It is used to pay for: Classroom and Program Support to meet student needs; Utilities; Special Education; Student Transportation; Student activities such as athletics, extracurricular activities and clubs and more! Learn more at nkschools.org/levy.
Area students who have demonstrated a commitment to both scholarship and community service become eligible for the Rotary Distinguished Student of Service award. Pictured here are this year’s winners: Geneva Newell; Emma Hicks and Joey Martinette. Each winner received a $100 check that they can use any way they wish – no strings attached!
Talented singer/songwriters from the Bremerton Rotary Club presented an ode on their upcoming “Wild Game Diner”! Tickets are on sale now and the event is Feb 24th. 
For Jace Reeves, the opportunity to be a Rotary Exchange student in the Czech Republic has expanded his world view and yet offered an intimate opportunity to explore another culture and its people. For our Friday meeting, Jace chronicled his time in Prague, explaining how in 1989, the “Velvet Revolution” brought democracy to the Czech Republic. Its new name of Czechia heralded a move from communism, a watershed moment for this country no larger than our state of South Carolina. From there, Jace gave color and depth to our understanding of this beautiful country and its people. He told us about its cuisine, where meat and sauce and bread dumplings abound. For a young man used to lighter, healthier fare, it was an adjustment. He told us about how the people of this country love sports, especially skiing! Jace had a chance to tour in the “Eurotour”, where 70 kids in 2 busses toured Europe for 14 days. He even celebrated his 18th birthday on the last day of the Eurotour, something he will never forget. The benefits of Youth Exchange came alive for us when Jace shared his stories and, as Dan Weedin expressed, Jace was a wonderful ambassador for our country and club. 
Each new member to our club gives a "classification talk" to tell other members something about his or her life and work. Hailing from Massachusetts, Christine’s story is a remarkable example of how even the most challenging difficulties can play a role in finding one’s destiny. Though she had a difficult time in school because she experienced dyslexia, she found that she could decode music by playing the piano by ear. It was a language that was easy for her to understand. This was a special gift that was unusual in a child her age, so finding a teacher to help form and channel this gift was difficult. That did not stop her. Ultimately, she found her way to musical prep school in Boston, along with many talented musicians, where she could hone her skills. She realized that instead of performing, she was a better educator. Eventually, she opened a school for music education, moved to Kitsap and joined our Rotary club. Christine has felt welcome in our club, where her new friendships have “made her heart sing”. Welcome, Christine!
Often the most significant influence of Poulsbo Rotary is in partnership with other organizations within our community. Such has been the case recently with the efforts of the Rotary Club, working with the City of Poulsbo and the Coffee Oasis, using materials donated by Home Depot and the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island, to refurbish, update, and remodel the Nelson farmhouse in Poulsbo's Nelson Park for use as a managed shelter for homeless women. See more details in the article published in the Kitsap Daily News, "New life, and new mission, for Nelson Park farmhouse".
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After fleeing conflict in their own countries, a group of young Rotaractors is healing wounds and bringing cultures together in a Ugandan refugee
Top Rotaract honor goes to club that empowers women who have HIVRotaract clubs around the world earn awards for excellent
