September. 9th month of the year, and first in the reminder, "30 days has September, April, June, and November." With those 30-days Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians were busy.
What goes up, must come down. Or, in this case the 110 - give or take - flower baskets of spring found their way to the Kingston ground under the direction of Rotarian and basket organizer, Kris Libby. Note in the photo, older Rotarians remained on that ground, while youngsters were sent to the top of the ladder.
One full-member blue badge was awarded to Jon Sunderland in September, while newest member Ross Patton, an investment advisor at Edward Jones, was awarded his red badge, signifying Ross' initial qualification to become a Club member. Here member Stan Mack awards the red badge.
Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians celebrated the September conclusion of another successful, though shortened, concerts-in-the-park-beer/wine-tent operation. What remained of the beer and wine supplies was served at a joint social event sponsored by KNK Rotary, Kingston Kiwanis, Kingston Chamber of Commerce, and Port of Kingston. After sufficient skill-building bubbly was served, Rotarians Breane Martinez and Julie Fox conducted a hard-fought trivia contest.
The final meeting of the noon KNK Rotary Club on Sep 29 featured a presentation by Marnie Gustavson, Executive Director of Parma, a non-profit NGO operating in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan. Currently in Port Orchard, Gustavson escaped Afghanistan only days before Kabul fell to the Taliban. She had been there seventeen years overseeing the work of Parsa, an organization that operates a small farm, works with women, and re-established a Scout program after the Russians left the country. Youth leadership, economic empowerment, and social protection are the principle focus of Parsa (more info at www.afghanistan-parsa.org). When the Taliban returned, Gustavson said protecting NGO's was one of their highest priorities. They need the NGO's, which are experiencing, currently, a lot of cooperation because the Taliban was not prepared for such a fast takeover.
Gustavson was introduced to the Club by member Alice Amas, who grew up with and attended school with Gustavson's husband, in Mount Vernon, WA.
“It was the hardest year of my life; hardest year of my career.” So stated Dr. Laurynn Evans, North Kitsap Schools Superintendent, about her experience when Covid closed schools Mar 13, 2020. She rendered her annual NK Schools update at the Sep 22 noon meeting of the Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club. Notably, she said one-third of school superintendents resigned or retired due to Covid.
Dr. Evans thanked Rotarians and other service clubs that immediately asked “what can we do to help?,” when the crisis hit. She said “we had great community and tribal support.” Among the most helpful was getting devices and hotspots in the hands of every child in the district. Now kids are back in school all-day, every-day. The district’s online academy is open for remote learning if parents desire.
One of the challenges this fall, still yet to be determined, is where the kids are in learning. To help transition to new school environments, kindergarten, 6th and 9th-grade students were in their new buildings a week early to get acquainted with their new surroundings, such that when school officially started, they were not lost.
Leadership in the district and in the ten schools in NK District are focusing intensely on the mental health, social, and emotional wellness of students who were abruptly thrown out of their school environment and now must re-enter that environment after being away eighteen months. Sleep patterns were mentioned, to laughter.
Covid was a gift in some regards. Thanks to the passage of a Capital levy measure in 2018, the NK District had authorization to tackle $90m in deferred maintenance. They were able to accelerate those projects when schools were closed by Covid. Such matters as roof repairs, HVAC maintenance, security cameras, re-configuring drop-off zones were on the list. Also in the levy was funding for technology updates across the district, which if that had not been accomplished before Covid, the district would have been unable to provide online learning during Covid.
A busy meeting it was. That of the Kingston North Kitsap Noon Rotary Club, Wednesday, Sep 15. In addition to special guests who received Paul Harris Fellow Awards, Rotarians were greeted by a presentation from District Governor Lorna Curtis, who “Zoomed” in from Victoria, B.C. As Governor of District 5020, which spans Vancouver Island to southwest Washington west of Puget Sound (one of the largest districts in the world with 91 clubs and 4700 Rotarians), Lorna leads, inspires, and visits each Club in the District during her one-year term.
The District Governor’s message included a challenge, “do you want to be a Rotarian or a club member?” Really dig into Rotary or just attend meetings? She expressed a hope that “we don’t go back” after Covid, that there will be more diversity, and equal access to serve club needs. She encouraged support of the Rotary Foundation, and its ongoing work to rid the world of polio. She reminded members we have been 7-months without a case of polio in the world. She encouraged members to introduce one new person to Rotary, to participate in one club fundraiser, one club project, and one club social event.
Paul Harris Fellows (a Rotary award that recognizes significant contributions to Rotary Foundation, and recognition of exceptional service) were awarded to community members who have worked tirelessly to assist our community respond to and recover from Covid. They included Jolene Sullivan, Port Gamble S’Kallam Tribe’s Health Services Director, for assisting Tribal staff and Tribal community members with testing and vaccines. Assistant District Governor, and Club Member, Breane Martinez and Club Rotary Foundation chair Doug Hallock present the award to Jolene Sullivan.
Dr. Barbara Hoffman, of the Suquamish Tribe was also presented a Paul Harris award, for her role as the Tribe's Public Health Officer in protecting the Tribal community, and the community at large, including first responders, senior citizens, schoolteachers, and children.
Another meeting highlight was the awarding of a Blue Badge to Jon Sunderland, signifying his accomplishment of requirements to become a full-fledged member in good standing. Jon's Blue Badge was presented by Club President Chris Gilbreath.
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of the Kingston North Kitsap Noon Rotary Club, Wednesday, Sep 15. In addition to special guests who received Paul Harris Fellow Awards, Rotarians were greeted by a presentation from District Governor Lorna Curtis, who “Zoomed” in from Victoria, B.C. As Governor of District 5020, which spans Vancouver Island to southwest Washington west of Puget Sound (one of the largest districts in the world with 91 clubs and 4700 Rotarians), Lorna leads, inspires, and visits each Club in the District during her one-year term. 
Rotary award that recognizes significant contributions to Rotary Foundation, and recognition of exceptional service) were awarded to community members who have worked tirelessly to assist our community respond to and recover from Covid. They included Jolene Sullivan, Port Gamble S’Kallam Tribe’s Health Services Director, for assisting Tribal staff and Tribal community members with testing and vaccines. Assistant District Governor, and Club Member, Breane Martinez and Club Rotary Foundation chair Doug Hallock present the award to Jolene Sullivan.
he Suquamish Tribe was also presented a Paul Harris award, for her role as the Tribe's Public Health Officer in protecting the Tribal community, and the community at large, including first responders, senior citizens, schoolteachers, and children.
light was the awarding of a Blue Badge to Jon Sunderland, signifying his accomplishment of requirements to become a full-fledged member in good standing. Jon's Blue Badge was presented by Club President Chris Gilbreath.
