We begin every meeting of the noon Club with a flag salute. Yes, an old-fashioned pledge of allegiance. It is the alpha of the agenda. The omega, Rotary’s four-way test, is pledged 60 minutes later. In between, committee reports are rendered, members donate “happy bucks” on occasion of their “happiness,” reminders of upcoming meetings and events are given, and a speaker updates members on what’s happening in their area of business or community expertise.
Sep 29, a woman who leads a NGO in Afghanistan told of her group’s work there on behalf of women and children, and of how she departed the country just ahead of the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul. Oct 6, Commissioner Debra Lester, Telecom Director Angela Bennink, and Water/Wastewater Director Dave Epperson of Kitsap PUD, told members about the ongoing PUD business of delivering water and broadband to Kitsap communities. Rotary members heard recently from the superintendent of North Kitsap Schools, the development director of Coffee Oasis, the Rotary District Governor, Kitsap County’s Interim - now permanent - Sheriff, and the director of a group working to improve water and sanitation conditions in rural Bolivia. On the agenda coming up, speakers include Latitude 48, with tips on leveraging Linkedin, and the hidden costs of aging, the President of Rayonier/Pope Resources on Port Gamble Development plans, and the Port of Kingston Executive Director with updates on happenings down at the Port.
You get the idea. Each meeting is packed with information about what is going on in our community. Packed with information about what is going on with the various committees of the Club - Membership, Ale Trail, Order Bombing, Community Services, International Services, Youth Services, Communication, and the like. Packed with fellowship and conversation. And since meeting in person has become possible again, wrapped in a delicious buffet, often with a Mexican touch, from our local caterer, Anita Moore’s Mi Sueno.
All meetings end in Rotary’s important four-way test, used by Rotarians around the world as a moral code for personal and business relationships: Of the things we think, say and do 1) is it the TRUTH, 2) is it FAIR to all concerned, 3) will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS 4) will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned. Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians add a fifth to the four-way test: AND WILL IT BE FUN?
Your Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club welcomes visitors. You may visit the noon Club, which meets Wednesdays at Village Green Community Center, or the Satellite Club, which meets once monthly evenings at various locations in the community. Rotary is really about contributing. And being informed, “what’s going on around here.” If you are interested in visiting one of our meetings, kindly contact Julie Fox: julesafox@gmail.com.