ROTARY CLUB OF EVERETT
MEETING:
President Michael Kvistad started the 45th meeting of the year and the 5,595th meeting of the Rotary Club of Everett with the Pledge of Allegiance.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
Ashley Bolden presented a quote by Ryan Holiday from Right being right Now. “Nothing frustrates people quite like forgiveness. Nothing befuddles hatred quite like not getting hatred in return. So, build this race as a weapon for ourselves and the world.
Ashley Bolden presented a quote by Ryan Holiday from Right being right Now. “Nothing frustrates people quite like forgiveness. Nothing befuddles hatred quite like not getting hatred in return. So, build this race as a weapon for ourselves and the world.
INTRODUCTION OF VISITING ROTARIANS AND GUESTS:
Virgina McKenzie, daughter of Past President Deborah Wright, Kristine Moreland, our speaker today from The More We Love. Michael Shaler, Virginia McKenzie’s father. Sanford Wright, retired neurosurgeon. Deb Wright, Past President of Everett Rotary Club.
Virgina McKenzie, daughter of Past President Deborah Wright, Kristine Moreland, our speaker today from The More We Love. Michael Shaler, Virginia McKenzie’s father. Sanford Wright, retired neurosurgeon. Deb Wright, Past President of Everett Rotary Club.
Brett Gailey, Mayor of Lake Stevens and member of the Lake Stevens Rotary Club. Ashley Bolden introduced Tammy Anthony who is a mortgage lender and Sterling Snow who is a financial adviser with New York Life. Diane Wright, Retired Everett Herald reporter. Brett Yeadon and Jeff Henderson, representing the Everett Police Department.
ANNOUNCMENTS:
President Elect Kelli Thode had several announcements:
President Elect Kelli Thode had several announcements:
- Blood Drive – Friday, June 27th at the Everett Elks Club.
- District 5050 Epic Day of Service – On May 17th, members of the Everett Rotary Club, Everett Port Gardner Club, South Everett Mukilteo Rotary Club and Roaract of Snohomish County met to help Barb George and the Everett Museum of History at both of their locations. At the Van Valey House, they helped with planting, spreading beauty bard, cleaning and dusting. At the future Museum in Downtown Everett, volunteers helped organize artifacts, repair woodworking, gluing, sealing, staining and putting together benches. Everyone had a great time and with many hands the work was light.
- Everett Farmers Market – This Sunday, Walt Greenwood, will be playing music at the Market.
- Anna Marie Laurence is thankful for all the Rotarians who volunteered to do interviews, present scholarships and help organize tonight’s scholarship presentation. The event is at the Everett Civic Auditorium. John Olson is the Emcee.
- Bob Beal passed away April 26th. There will be a Celebration of Life on June 14th at the Hilton Garden Inn Everett.
- Board meeting on Friday, May 31st.
- Brian Hollingshead would like to see all of us at the Rotary After Hours this Thursday, May 22nd at the Courtyard by Marriott Everett, 5 pm – 6:30 pm.
HAPPY DOLLARS/BIRTHDAY BUCKS:
Janice Ellis was a Bell Ringer happy about tonight’s Scholarship Night, a hiking trip to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, and a trip with our exchange student, Tobi, to Canada to complete one more item on his bucket list.
Barb George was a Bell Ringer happy and thankful for all the help with the clean-up of the two Everett museums this past weekend. Everyone had a wonderful time and with lots of camaraderie. The Everett Museum is a REAL museum now!
Deborah Wright was happy to have her family and friends present at the meeting.
Ralph Quaas was happy that a person came up to him at church and said “Thank You”.
Mary Toews from Mari’s Place for the Arts was happy to see so many members and guests at this meeting.
Mayor Cassie Franklin was happy to be at a Rotary meeting and happy about her daughter being in the Everett High School Musical.
President Michael was happy Sandy was able to give him a review at the office. He also gave us an update on the 5th grade girls basketball team. He is impressed to see how dedicated and hard working the team is. No matter if they are winning or losing, they just keep making great effort.
RAFFLE:
There was a reminder to donate more prizes to the Raffle Committee.
Winner Number 1 – Walt Greenwood selected white wine and milk chocolate candy
Winner Number 2 – Bob Bavasi selected Dove chocolates and various spices.
Winner Number 3 – Henry Newton won delicious Raspberry sticks candy, a Schack Art Center coffee cup and a T-shirt.
PROGRAM:
Kelli Thode introduced our speakers, Kristine Moreland and Virgina McKenzie, from The More We Love.
Kristine Moreland is a survivor. She was trafficked when she was 8 years old by a neighbor who was entrusted to watch her as her mother worked long hours. Her father was a drug addict, homeless and in and out of prison. When she was in her early twenties, she was a mortgage broker. While riding in a car with her colleagues, she saw her father on the side of road. Feeling embarrassed, she did want her colleagues to know it was her father. She was ashamed about how she acted and to make herself feel better she organized large coat drives and volunteered to help sex trafficking survivors and people without homes while working a full job.
After nearly 20 years she decided to let her mortgage license expire and devoted herself full time to the nonprofit she founded. The organization, called The More We Love, provides hotel stays and other immediate emergency services to vulnerable youth and adults, including those trying to exit the sex industry. She operates a 22 bed women’s and children’s shelter to fight against human trafficking. Kristine’s mantra is to "be someone’s constant," a regular source of support. She builds connections with people she has helped.
Virginia McKenzie, an executive recruiter and longtime Rotarian who helped charter the “Rotary Club of the Pacific Northwest Ending Sex Trafficking,” in 2021. The club is among a handful of cause-based Rotary clubs in the U.S. focused on human trafficking.
Currently they are exploring the creation of a public awareness campaign to install anti-trafficking ads on billboards and city transit ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup games hosted by Seattle and more than a dozen other cities in North America.
The Rotary Club of the Pacific Northwest Ending Sex Trafficking is hosting an open house every quarter at The More We Love women’s and children’s facility in Renton, June 14th.
Both Kristine and Virginia are on the cover of the March 2025 issue of Rotary Magazine. The article is eye opening and exposes the dark side of sex trafficking right here in our own backyard.
NEXT PROGRAM: Exchange Student Tobi Echauri – Retrospective of his year here.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jim Schrader
Photographs Submitted,
Walt Greenwood