President Kelli Thode started the 26^th meeting of the year and the 5,626^th meeting of the Rotary Club of Everett with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

John Olson, PP, presented the history of Everett Rotary Youth Foundation (ERYF) which was established in 1952. Under the umbrella of ERYF, the club established charitable trust funds to allow us to do our charitable work of mostly funding scholarships. Due to the generosity of club members and others over the years and the investment stewardship of a group of members led by the late Fred Sjoholm, the trust fund total is now over $7,000,000. This is after our club awarded over $390,000 in scholarships last year and has been awarded nearly $6 million in scholarships in its history. A group of trustees consisting of four past presidents and four at-large members along with a few ex officio members manage the ERYF. There are two at-large positions vacant for the Everett Rotary Youth Foundation Board of Trustees. When someone asks you to serve, please consider it.

 

Mark Valintine introduced Loren Dewitt who is from Mark’s home state of West Virginia. Loren is a fellow Rotarian who works in behavioral health care and is here to help expand access for treatment of substance abuse at a new clinic in Arlington.

 

Mark Valintine also introduced his wife, Michelle.

 

Walt Greenwood introduced Phil Mitchell who is a longtime bass player and vintage motorcycle rider.

 

Steve Juntwait introduced Judy Drake and Shara Brower from the Everett Assistance League.

 

President Kelli Thode introduced Marci Volmer who is the President and CEO of the Snohomish Boys and Girls Club and soon to be our newest member.

 

Bob Bavasi presented a moving memorial resolution honoring Roy Yates, long time club member and a leader in the Everett Community. Roy was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was a Past President of the Everett Rotary Club during the 2007-2008 Rotary year. He was a member of the Everett School Board and the Everett Community College Board of Trustees, and provided invaluable leadership to organizations such as the YMCA, Children’s Museum, First Presbyterian Church and the Howarth Trust. His life’s story is one of community, commitment, and quiet leadership, and Everett is better for it.

 

President Kelli reminded the membership about the Strategic Planning Committee meeting schedule Wednesday, January 21^st from 4:00 to 8PM at Coastal Community Bank, Evergreen Office. Please RSVP to the Club Runner invite so they can plan accordingly. Everyone is encouraged to participate in shaping our five-year plan for 2026-2030. Be there!

 

President Kelli Thode had the following announcements:

 

Tammy Dunn, PP, is looking for a member to fill the vacant ERYF Board of Trustees position. Current members of the board are Past Presidents Michael Kvistad, Neil Angst, Greg Lineberry and Tammy Dunn. At-large members are Anna Marie Laurence and Brian Evans. Ex officio members Kelli Thode, Heather Barnhart and Kari Quaas. John Olson has been nominated as an at-large member and will be voted on by the membership next week. Tammy is also looking for a member to fill the Treasurer’s position for next year as well. Please consider filling one of these positions.

 

Heather Barnhart presented a check for $1,500 to Judy Drake and Shara Brower from the Assistance League of Everett to help fund Operation School Bell. Operation School Bell provides brand new school clothes and coats for in-need school kids in preschool, elementary school, and middle school to 15 school districts throughout Snohomish County. In partnership with local Fred Meter stores, qualified high school students are provided with vouchers to shop for appropriate school attire.

 

Ashley Bolden had a bell ringer to celebrate her birthday.

 

Mark Valintine had bittersweet dollars to report his wife, Michelle, had a lumpectomy and they discovered stage one breast cancer which has a very good chance for a cure.

 

Krissy Davis had bittersweet dollars as well for having the opportunity to spend time with her mother who is diagnosed with Dementia.

 

Kari Quaas also had bittersweet dollars for her mother-in-law who unfortunately, after 11 years with Parkinson’s, passed away.

 

Tammy Dunn was $42 happy for the Montana State Bobcats football team who won the NCAA’s Division One Football Championship Subdivision game. The last time they won was when Tammy was a Bobcat student in 1984.

 

Paul Stoot is $45 dollars happy to be honored to plan the memorial services for Hall of Fame football player Kenny Easley’s celebration of life in Chesapeake, Virgina, and here in Seattle (After they win the Superbowl). He also has bittersweet dollars for his mother who has Lewy Body Dementia. He has also been selected to take part in the Celebration of Life of Jackie Bezos who is the mother of Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos.

 

Betsy Baker is happy to report Greg Tisdel and Dick Schlosser are working to create an endowment for a Rotary Scholarship in Marc Baker’s name. To create an endowment, we need to raise $25,000. Marc was the heart and soul of the Everett Rotary Club for many years. Please consider donating to the ERYF in his name.

 

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

 

Winner Number 1 – Shara Brower selected Paine field swag and Cacao Puro powder which is derived from cacao beans. It can be used to make hot cocoa, smoothies, or enhance baked goods. Cacao has significant nutritional benefits and a deeper flavor profile compared to processed cocoa or sugary hot chocolate mixes. Thanks, ChatGPT!

 

Winner Number 2 – Judy Drake selected Firefly Ridge Wine and a beautiful bouquet of yarn flowers.

 

Winner Number 3 – Jim Schrader selected Paine Field swag and caramels.

 

 

Ryan Willis introduced Susan Gustafson, M. Ed from the United Way of Snohomish County. Susan shared how a Local Impact grant from the Rotary Club of Everett helped bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to life here in Snohomish County.

 

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five, through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local community partners in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Republic of Ireland.

 

Through this incredible program, children ages 5 and under receive a free book every month, building early literacy, confidence, and a lifelong love of reading. In Snohomish County, since 2023, there are 12,752 students who are actively receiving books monthly.  Over 300,000 books have been mailed to date. The books are available in English, Spanish, and Brail for visually impaired.

 

You can sponsor a child for just $26 a year covering the cost of a free monthly book. For $130 you can ensure that the child receives books every month until their 5^th birthday. They are also looking for program sponsors. If you are interested, please visit their website at:  www.imaginationlibrary.com.

 

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Photography Submitted,