One step of becoming a Blue-badge member in a Rotary Club is making your Classification Talk. Over the years many local Rotarians have let other Club members know a bit about themselves by sharing info on their lives, occupation, family and hopes and dreams.
Service is often a theme in these talks, as service is the main shared Rotary value. York shared that he grew-up in Kingston and he reminisced about a Kingston that few would now recognize. He made a very serious service commitment at the age of 17 when he joined the Army. He noted that just as Kingston had changed, the all-male Army, when he first joined, has changed dramatically.
His path as an officer was established with ROTC training at Seattle University. His skills and experience not only brought him to being an expert marksman and leader, but also, as an officer, to the level of being a commander.
Since he has retired from the service, he has created a business as a personal safety instructor. He has three different courses he instructs to groups of different sizes and needs. He tailors his instruction depending on the organization. He has instructed here and in Korea.
As an aside, with all the retired Navy and Air Force Kingston Rotarians, he may add a new flavor to our discussions.