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.
A perfect TEN. The volunteers, nine Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians, and a guest, who beat back blackberry, laid gravel, and whacked where whacking was needed, on Village Green Trails in Kingston. The Rotarians were Ross Patton, Stan and Jane Mack, Stan Amas, Walt Elliott, Bobbie Moore, Keith Beebe, Brian Stenejhem, Chris Gilbreath, and Mark Libby. The guest was Mary Gleysteen. Here Ross, Stan A, and Mary in action.
That party was Saturday, Oct 23. Another broke out the following Monday, Oct 25, at Western Red Brewing in Poulsbo. The combined Kitsap County Rotary Clubs Pints for Polio event, to fun and fund-raise for Rotary's Pints for Polio project. A dollar from each pint and a percent of food sales will be donated to the cause. Here Rotary District 5020 Governor Lorna Curtis, in mask, is surrounded by well-wishers and party-goers.
At their Oct 27 noon meeting, Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians received a presentation from Jon Rose, President of Olympic Property Group. In a wide-ranging discussion Rose told the history of Port Gamble as a mill town, beginning in 1853. When the mill was shuttered in 1995, then-owner Pope & Talbot, later Pope Resources, began looking at the future of its massive land and property holdings in North Kitsap. Its goal was to get as much of its property into public conservatorship as possible. While retaining 2783 acres and tree harvest rights, Pope enabled 4500 of its acres to become owned by Kitsap County, leading to a network of land and water trails and open space to the public benefit. Rose told Rotarians Port Gamble's industrial days are behind it. The future lies in recreation, tourism, and agri-tourism. The current state of Port Gamble is not sustainable, as the company loses $250-$350k per year there. 225 new homes will be built in Port Gamble consistent with the historic New England look of its present- day homes. Olympic Property Group recently sold its 360 acres in the Arborwood development adjacent to White Horse, to two nationally-known home building companies. Commenting on growth in Kitsap County, Rose said some growth is good for the county, however, "it will be like we have never seen before. It is not going to happen like we have seen in the past." As a result of the State Growth Management Act in 1990, growth is more controlled, with more folks living in smaller areas.
It was a busy affair, the joint evening meeting of Kingston North Kitsap’s Noon Rotary Club and Kingston North Kitsap’s Satellite Club, Wed, Oct 20, at Village Green Community Center.True to the Board’s recent decision to hold one joint evening meeting monthly, this one was rife with updates, presentations, social time, fun and food. The room was full. One could not possibly come away from the get together without being impressed by all the projects and activities this Club has going on. How it cares for its community.
At the top of the agenda was presentation of Paul Harris Fellow Awards to Dr. Brad Anderson and his wife, Theresa “for going above and beyond, doing good in our community during the Covid pandemic.” Here Rotarians De’ MacKinnon and Doug Hallock present the awards.
Harris and three of his associates founded Rotary in Chicago in 1905.
Activities and projects. President Chris Gilbreath reported Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club will be joining other Kitsap Rotary Clubs to work with Olympic College on internships. Satellite Club President David Winn reminded Rotarians of the online Fall Food Drive, on behalf of ShareNet, Oct 19-31. Go to: charityauction.bid/sharenetfundraiser. Winn also noted the Satellite Club has set a goal to triple the number of holiday cards it delivers to elderly and emergency youth services homes this holiday season. In 2020, the Club delivered 1300 cards. President Chris reminded members of the Pints for Polio event at Western Red Brewery in Poulsbo, Mon, Oct 25, 5p—8p. And he commented on Broadway Night at Kingston’s Firehouse Theater, a food drive and fun-raiser in partnership with Kiwanis and the Kingston Chamber.
Alice Amas updated members on the Club’s Kitsap-Olympic Ale Trail activities in October, where the primary emphasis will on Trail Partners (establishments).
Finally, Kris Libby noted Christmas wreaths will be going up in Kingston Nov 27.
The Power of Nutrition partners with Rotary, other organizations for new malnutrition program in EthiopiaLondon, 1 November 2021: The Power of Nutrition
The 30-minute program, “Delivering on our Promise of a Polio-Free World,” provided encouraging information about the progress and remaining challenges in the fight to end polio.
Kiwanis, Lions, Optimist, Rotary, join for week of service to Celebrate CommunityEVANSTON, ILL.: October 7, 2021 – Celebrate Community, a joint initiative of the four major volunteer service organizations, will launch
Join us for Rotary’s World Polio Day Online Global Update Rotary International14-October-2019 Mark your calendar to join us on 24 October 2019, for Rotary’s World Polio Day
Port Gamble's industrial days are behind it. The future lies in recreation, tourism, and agri-tourism. The current state of Port Gamble is not sustainable, as the company loses $250-$350k per year there. 225 new homes will be built in Port Gamble consistent with the historic New England look of its present- day homes. Olympic Property Group recently sold its 360 acres in the Arborwood development adjacent to White Horse, to two nationally-known home building companies. Commenting on growth in Kitsap County, Rose said some growth is good for the county, however, "it will be like we have never seen before. It is not going to happen like we have seen in the past." As a result of the State Growth Management Act in 1990, growth is more controlled, with more folks living in smaller areas. 
