April 28,2020 meeting:  5,346^th Club meeting, President Steve Miller’s 41^st meeting and 7^th Virtual meeting. President Steve opened our Virtual meeting at noon, with Sean George leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Stephen Bighaus offered the Thought of the Day with a quote from President John F. Kennedy - “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try”.  

 

 

No Virtual Visitors

 

Larry O’Donnell update:  Larry is doing very well, and Hospice is not in his life right now.  Great News!

 

Amy Norman, PP, shared her Membership Moment.  When she began her practice, she wrote in her business plan “join Rotary”.  The bank reviewed her plan and commented on Rotary, which she thinks helped get her loan.  She also shared that Ron Jacobs, former Rotarian, told her many years ago that many join Rotary for different reasons, but you stay in Rotary for the friendship and fellowship.  True!

 

Russ Kimball:  Scholarship Committee – interviews are Saturday, May 2

Kelly Shepherd:  Virtual Happy Hour is May 7^th on Zoom from 5:30-6:30 

President Steve:  support small/local businesses – Vintage Café, Bargreen’s Coffee, Everett Office Furniture, Electronic Business Machines

President Steve:  Food Bank and Blood Drive still happening, make ups granted

 

 

Judi Edwards:  Russ Hermes revised her will.

Steve Miller:  Lake Stevens High School’s Jacob Eason heading to the Baltimore Colts

Mike Holcomb:  $250 bell ringer for a 54^th anniversary and wife’s improved health!!!

Kelly Shepherd:  $100 bell ringer for Sequoia’s achievements & honors

Randy Hansen:  $100 bell ringer for Amy’s emotions and remembering Mic Efrem’s passing

Will McMahan:  Thanked Kelly Thode for giving him a protective mask

 

Randy Hansen, PP, introduced our program “WSU Everett Update” presented by Paul Pitre

 

 

 

 

The college building is 95,000 square feet and houses all classrooms, laboratories, faculty, seminar rooms, etc.  They are currently closed for the Covid virus, with students studying in online classes.  The college has accommodated students with computer loaners and expanded internet.  They consider WSW Together a motto and offer student support for Zoom meetings to help with resume and mock interviews, have a food pantry and mental health visits.  They focus on a connection back to students.

 

An area of focus is to grow student population.  Their vision is to aspire to be one of the State’s leading public baccalaureate institutions, promoting stem education and other in-demand programs, innovation, research and application.  As a preferred University partner of choice, they will gain distinction as a forward learning education facility.  The college is an upper division school for the junior and senior years.  It draws from a wide range of area community colleges:  Everett, Edmonds, Cascadia, Bellevue, Lake Washington, Seattle Central, Seattle North, Seattle South, Shoreline, Skagit Valley and Whatcom. 

 

Paul shared highlights of several students.  He also cited WSU/Everett’s giving opportunities.  The Chancellor’s Excellence Fund grants 4 scholarships.  Applications for summer and fall 2020 are currently being accepted at everett.wsu.edu.

 

Paul concluded the excellent presentation with the promise we would be able to visit campus when social distancing is behind us and opened the floor for questions.

 

President Steve thanked Paul and all contributors. Rotary Connects the World

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Photography submitted,

 

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