Today is Giving Tuesday.  We know about the consumer frenzy associated with Black Friday and Cyber Monday so an idea to encourage giving back was initiated in 2012 by Henry Timms at the 92^nd Street YMCA in New York City.  Since then, Giving Tuesday has become a worldwide “event” for local organizations that promote giving back to their communities. It shows what one person with a good idea can accomplish.  Paul Harris would be proud.

 

President Kelli Thode led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and into her/our 23^rd meeting of the year and our 5,623^rd meeting of the Rotary Club of Everett. There were 22 Rotarians in attendance and 2 ZOOMERS.

 

Past President John Olson found a booklet in our clubs’ archives (storage unit) showing information related to our program today, which is about Public Image.  When Past President John flipped through the booklet, he noticed that this club has done a lot in past Decembers.  On December 8, 1916, a group of Everett businessmen met at the downtown

tobacco shop to discuss forming a Rotary club.  A week later, on December 15^th they had their first Rotary meeting and soon after we were charted as the 272^nd Rotary club.  From the very beginning of our Rotary club and with all the generations since then, we have strived to be practicing Service above Self, help make a Positive Difference in the World and have fun too.

 

There were no Rotarians or guests visiting today.

 

President Kelli made the following announcements:

Janice Ellis passed out blank Christmas cards for us to fill out with our best wishes for the Holidays to our exchange student Hakumi. Janice will collect these cards at the next two meetings.  Hakumi shared with Janice his bucket list of experiences he would like to have while studying in our country.  Here are some of the things he’d like to see and experience:

Past President Greg Tisdale has been involved in organizing our strategic planning meeting which will take place on January 21^st.  Past District Governor Linda Murray and District Governor Nominee Shawn O’Donnell, among others, will lead the planning process. Prior to the meeting date a preparation survey will be sent out to our members.  The meeting will run from 4:00 - 8:00 PM.

 

Krissy Davis was happy to be celebrating her 1^st year anniversary at Puget Sound Kidney Centers.  She was also happy to have participated in boxing up 1,100 Christmas wreaths this morning with the proceeds from the sale of the wreaths benefiting the Kidney Auxiliary of Puget Sound (KAPS).  To top off her morning, she was also happy for her daughter’s 27^th birthday today.

 

Paul Stoot’s last few weeks have been heartbreaking as he lost two friends, Lenny Wilkin and Kenny Easley. He announced he just lost another, Charles Bigger was Kenny Easley’s best friend, a great supporter of Rise Up Academy, and the one who was helping Paul plan Kenny’s services in Virginia and in Seattle.  Charles passed away on Sunday night.

 

Betsy Baker-Bold was thankful to all that have donated to her father’s scholarship fund.

 

Kari Quaas was thankful for the help she received from fellow Rotarians during the Wintertide tree lighting and kickoff celebration.  It sounded like a wonderful time and Janice spoke up as she was especially excited to share her joyful interactions with the kids and their families.

 

Past President John announced that his daughter is engaged and will be the first offspring in their family to be getting married.  He was also thankful for the tradition of the groom’s family paying for the wedding expense. With that said Past President John realized he was wrong and he had to pay the costs. FYI John, according to the internet the groom’s family does pay for the wedding if you live in China, Indonesia, Mexico, Hong Kong, or the Czech Republic.

 

Ashley Bolden drew the following winning tickets:

 

Winner number 1 - Past President Steve Juntwait selected the bottle of white wine and the “sleeping mask”.

 

Winner number 2 - Bruce Timm selected the Chess Set and a box of Toblerone Chocolates.

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Winner number 3 - Past President Steve Miller got the remaining prize which was a decanter with a dry mix that one adds “alcohol” too.  It isn’t as simple as that, so I asked ChatGPT, and this is what they had to “say”.

 

Identify what the dry mix is. It’s usually a blend of dried fruit, spices, herbs, or sugar meant to infuse alcohol.  Check the label on the decanter to see:

Choose your alcohol. Most mixes pair well with one of these:

Add alcohol to decanter.

Infuse. Seal the decanter and let it sit:

Strain (Optional)

Serve. Straight or on ice. Mixed with soda, water, tonic, or juice. In cocktails.

 

President Kelli introduced Vice President Ryan Willis who is also the Public Image Director for District 5050 and the Program Chair of our club.

 

Over the last 20 years Rotary has lost over 100,000 members in the United States which is a trend in most developed countries (except for German speaking countries). Contrary to this is that there is growth in many developing countries, particularly India.

I believe our Strategic Planning committee will be addressing these topics that Ryan outlined in his presentation today.

 

Students of the Month.

 

President Kelli adjourned the meeting at 1:05 PM

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Photography Submitted by.