President Michael Kvistad led us in the Pledge of Allegiance This was meeting #5 of President Michael’s year and the 5,555^th meeting of the Rotary Club of Everett.

 

Kevin Daniels gave the thought of the day. Quote from Vince Lombardi ‘ “Perfection is not attainable but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” Go out into the world – don’t be perfect, just do it!

 

Wally Thomas, Arlington Rotary, was visiting. Guests were Aleph Fackenthall who has been working with the club on the Panama Water Project, Kalei and April from Everett Recovery Café (did not catch their last names).

 

John Olson, PP, announced that the Rotary Youth Foundation Board is seeking another elected member. If anyone is interested, there is a formal process.

 

President Michael reported on the happenings at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

 

We need Raffle Prizes. Consider purchasing items.

 

Several guesses by Anna Marie Laurence, Paul Stoot, Janice Ellis and Kelli Thode. Kelli Thode was the winner as the “Guess Who” Rotarian was Kari Petrasek.

 

Paul Stoot was happy for a great 13^th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament and the Rise Up Academy Silver Anniversary Gala which is coming up on November 1^st.

 

Steve Miller told a story about losing 2 rings while waterskiing. First ring is in an Arizona Lake. The second ring is in Lake Stevens due to a challenge for $100.

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Winner number 1 – Steve Miller, PP, selected the red wine

 

Winner number 2 – Jeff Moore selected the white wine

 

Winner number 3 – Wally Thomas received the chocolates

 

Ed Petersen, PP presented an update on the Dajabon Project. This project has been ongoing for the last nine years. Over the nine years,

The Projects focus on entrepreneurship, literacy, water and education. In year 9, we had two trips, one in October and one in April. These trips were to deliver books and the greenhouse gardens.

 

The project is Community Economic Development. Sixteen commercial greenhouse gardens in nine villages have been built. There are many partners who have been recruited – banking, technical assistance, marketing & sales, coordinators, and seed crisis.

 

Aleph Fackenthall reported on the Panama Water Project. This project started in 2005 and in April 2024 more wells were drilled. This project is about water sanitation and hygiene. The project has completed 65 water well kits this year.

The Chaucey Water Project will serve approximately 500 families in the water district. This project is lead by the Arlington Rotary Club with support by Everett Rotary Club.

 

Kari Petrasek gave an overview of the Literacy Project. In 2022 three schools were involved in receiving books. Then in 2023 four schools rceived books, and in 2024 three schools received books. Dickerson Literacy LLC is the company partnering with us. Several Rotarians traveled to Dajabon over the last 12 months to deliver books to the Dajabon Rotary Club. The focus of the Literacy Project is literacy for the kindergarten to 3^rd grade the fun reading for the 4^th – 6^th grade.

 

Other World Community Service impacts have been delivering 80 wheelchairs to Dajabon and Haiti and audio-visual equipment for the Chaucey School Project.

 

We are continuing to provide books to the schools.

 

Questions were answered.

 

Social Meeting

 

President Michael thanked Kari, Ed and Aleph for presenting and adjourned the meeting.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Photography Submitted by,