Vice-President Ryan Willis started the 11^th meeting of the year and the 5,611^th meeting of the Rotary Club of Everett with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

 

Brian Hollingshead presented a saying from Marcus Aurelius. “Train your mind to see the good in everything. The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.”

 

Walt Greenwood sang “Put a Little Love in Your Heart.” The song was originally performed by Jackie DeShannon in 1969.

 

Ashley Bolden introduced Sharon Gomez—Pascul from Hotel Indigo who stopped by to say hello.

 

Ashley Bolden had the following announcements:

 

Ryan Willis encouraged the club to join the next Blood Drives which are October 24th and December 22nd.

 

Rotary Friendship Exchange is September 23^rd with a tour and fun activities. Janice Ellis is the contact person.

  

November Service Project, November 11^th, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. We are doing a service project at Carl Gipson Center in place of the weekly meeting. Come join us!

 

Ryan Willis. LinkedIn. Asked all members to consider creating a LinkedIn page so other members can more easily follow you.

 

Membership Dues are due so please make sure to keep current.

 

 

Kari Quaas is celebrating her 53rd birthday with a bell ringer. She attended the Nordic Film Festival.

 

Ed Peterson had a 5 times bell ringer for his birthday, 57^th Wedding Anniversary, Housing Hope 38^th anniversary, District grand application acceptance and the Dominican Republic World Community Service project. Thanks Ed!

 

Bruce Timm was a bell ringer for his birthday and to honor Marc Baker.

 

Larry O’Donnell was a double bell ringer. He was happy to join us “between episodes” for his 88^th birthday and for his lifelong friendship with Marc Baker.

 

Meagan Dunn toured the new Lynnwood Neighborhood Center playground that was sponsored by several local Rotary Clubs.

 

Will McMahan had a Bell ringer for his birthday.

 

Greg Tisdel Double Bell ringer for a wonderful Memorial for Marc Baker and for Kelli Shepard for all her help hosting the memorial at the Everett High School Gym. Great Job!

 

There was a reminder to donate more prizes to the Raffle Committee.

Winner Number 1 – Larry O’Donnell selected Reese’s candy and a Country Candle.

Winner Number 2 – Jim Schrader selected white wine and candy.

Winner Number 3 – Bruce Timm selected a Funko Field hat, Kringle Candle and Wiley Wallaby Licorice.

 

 

Liz Stenning gave an informative summary of the Downtown Everett Association. The Downtown Everett Association is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization. They champion our downtown community by supporting economic vitality, stewarding public spaces and historic places, promoting local experiences, and cultivating a strong organizational network. For 25 years, they have collaborated with businesses, residents, governments, community organizations, investors, and developers to create a healthy, vibrant urban core.

 

In 2020, the Downtown Everett Association expanded programming to include a Downtown Flower Program. The City of Everett announced that budget shortfalls forced them to cut its flower program in April 2020. They decided the program was too important to downtown economic development to allow it to end. In May 2020, they launched a pilot flower program. Each spring, community members plant flowers downtown, and volunteers maintain the plants over the summer. Community support is crucial to keeping the Downtown Flower Program growing. Volunteer hours ensure our flowers stay healthy all season long, and financial contributions from donors allow them to purchase plants from a local nursery each year.

 

The Downtown Everett Storefront Enhancement Grant is intended to provide financial support to business and property owners who embark on projects to improve the appearance of their building facades, storefronts, and interiors with the aim of improving the district’s visibility, attractiveness, safety, and shop ability.

 

In November 2020, the Downtown Everett Association, in partnership with Downtown Everett Partners, launched a new holiday lighting program to add some “Merry and Bright” to the community. Eight lighted snowflakes were hung from the quadrangle above Hewitt & Colby, along with four lit wreaths. Another 10 snowflakes were added to the gooseneck streetlights along Colby Ave in 2021. With donations from the community, they hope to continue growing the holiday lighting program each year.

 

Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program is a unique tax credit opportunity for businesses in Washington State. When businesses make a contribution to the Downtown Everett Association, 75% percent of that donation is returned to the business via a credit on their B&O Taxes the following year. Find out more on how you can direct your taxes to Downtown Everett community projects: Main Street Tax Credit.

 

Ed Peterson presented a summary of the World Community Service Projects and the leveraging the committee has used to fund even more projects in the future with the Rotary Club in the Dominican Republic. The funds will be used to complete an Aqueduct system to provide year around water to a community and to build libraries in schools.

 

NEXT PROGRAM: Alex Newman – Executive Director – American Red Cross.