To all Rotarians and friends of Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians. This message is to alert you to an announcement from Kitsap County regarding a Covid-19 vaccine clinic opening Tuesday, Jan 26, at the former Harrison hospital in East Bremerton. Registration begins tomorrow, Monday, Jan 25.
To take on many of the effects of Covid-19, funding is required. To that end, Kingston North Kitsap Rotary invites you to the Club’s Winter Auction. On line. With funds raised, the Club will begin to implement it’s Covid-19 Action Plan. In one twist on auction item procurement, instead of soliciting some of the auction items from local merchants, the Club will buy some of the auction items with funds raised by the auction. Successful bidders win, and a measure of business insecurity is addressed. Here are the details on how you can participate in the auction, and support Covid-19 relief efforts right here in Kingston North Kitsap. The online auction begins Thursday, Feb 4, at 5:30 p.m.; it closes Friday, Feb 5, at 5:30 p.m. The live auction is set for Friday, Feb 5, 5:30-7:00 p.m. with Program and Raise the Paddle 7:00-7:30 p.m. For more information, and to participate, go to: charityauction.bid/kingstonrotary2021. Mark your calendar now. Feb 4, 5:30 p.m., and Feb 5, 5:30 p.m.
Here is a thought. Many have recently received a $600 check from our federal government. Could that be your seed money for the auction? Or would you consider sending $600 to ShareNet, Fish Line, or Kitsap Homes of Compassion, and skipping the auction. Either way, you help address needs resulting from Covid-19 impacts here in Kingston North Kitsap. That’s a good thing. And your local Rotarians thank you.
The reality of Rotary: find a need and fill it. Rotary Clubs around the world, from the smallest with a few members to the largest with hundreds, are incessantly in search of the need, whether it is a project or an initiative, in their communities. Then they go to work to take leadership, bring together other groups, and develop resources to fill the need. That is what your Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club is about as we begin 2021.
Innocent us. A year ago at this time, we were reading something about a virus that hit a care home in Kirkland. As the month of February, 2020 developed, so did information about the virus. Worst of all fears were realized. We were dealing with a pandemic. Italy got it bad. Then Spain. The rest of Europe. And here in the U.S. Here in Kitsap. Here in Kingston. Covid-19 was a red light flashing NEED, NEED, NEED. It took many months to know masks were good. That it was not necessary to sanitize your groceries after a trip to Albertson’s. It was better to be outdoors than in. Social distance. Stay in your pod. That’s what we learned. And thanks to “Warp Speed,” amazingly, vaccines were on the way.
As vaccines begin to take us to herd immunity, out of the Covid-19 pandemic, a group of Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians, led by the Club’s President-elect, Chris Gilbreath, began researching how best to meet needs created by Covid in our community. In face-to-face meetings, and digitally, Gilbreath met with dozens of community organizations and businesses. To hear about “the need.” Food insecurity is a need. So too, housing insecurity. There is a need for vaccination support, and vaccination knowledge. What about the student learning gap? Homeless youth. And local business insecurity. Other needs uncovered were mental health effects of Covid, rental and eviction insecurity, child care, and the safe behaviors of all.
A recent survey of active Kingston Rotarians weighed their sense of most important needs here. Not surprisingly, food insecurity was the most cited need, followed by local vaccination support and knowledge, and business insecurity. The recently completed survey will form the foundation of the Club’s action steps to take a leadership role in Kingston North Kitsap to meet the needs. Some of the needs, vaccination and information, are short-term. Some, like food and housing insecurity, are long-term. As the plan is developed in the next few weeks, like minded groups and organizations will be invited to join the Rotary initiative. What Rotary does. Take a leadership role, organize, and take action.
Note to Rotarians and others receiving this Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club Newsletter. Most of us have received $600 recently from the U.S. Government. Many of us don’t need the money. However, our community does.
To meet Covid-19 induced needs in North Kitsap - food insecurity, housing insecurity, business insecurity, student learning gaps, and others - Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club’s Winter Auction will be staged online Feb 4 and Feb 5. That $600 many don’t need? What great “seed money” for aggressive auction bidding. Mark your calendars. Check out, and sign-up on the auction website (www.auctria.com/auction/kingstonrotary2021). Put your Covid-19 relief funds to work in our community. Have fun. All good.
Patron Program Helps Kingston North Kitsap Small Businesses
At their Jan 20 meeting, Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians learned about a “patron” program to help small businesses struggling with Covid-19 related business downturns. The brainchild of Nancy Knode and Kat Klint Simmons, the idea is to help struggling small businesses in our area. It is modeled after arts patron programs, where “patrons” pledge their financial support in one-time, monthly, or other increments. Knode told Rotarians the program is organized through a Facebook group: kingstonsmallbizpatronmagic. Would-be patrons are urged to join the Facebook group, read how to support, choose one business (or more), contact the owner and pledge support. Businesses signed up thus far include All About Sewing, Harbor Hair Design, d’Vine Wines, Over the Moon Coffee, Paisley Whale, Kingston Ale House, and Sweet Life Cakery.