Rotarians worldwide know the five-letter word, p-o-l-i-o.  For many years it has been Rotary International’s mission to totally eradicate polio.  Except for a few cases, that mission has been accomplished.  Bill Feldt, of the Federal Way Rotary Club, is hopeful Rotary International will shift focus to a seven-letter word, m-a-l-a-r-i-a.  Feldt was the noontime speaker at Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club’s Dec 16 meeting.  He is an active member of Malaria Partners International.  Feldt says malaria is the greatest killer ever.  In 2018, 228-million cases were reported, primarily in areas around the equator, resulting in 405,000 deaths.  Grants from Rotary Foundation, the Gates Foundation, and World Vision support the work Malaria Partners International is doing in sub-Saharan Africa, primarily Uganda and Zambia.  Their efforts are three-pronged:  education and information, spraying, and medical care.  Rotary is on site helping train community health workers, equipping them with Rotary-logo’d hats and bicycles, and helping with transportation and housing.  

    Everyone needs a party. Who better to turn to than Kingston North Kitsap Rotarian Nancy Martin for help.  Martin planned the Club’s annual holiday party, which was not to be knocked down by something like a world virus.  Champagne.  Check.  Holiday meal.  Got it.  White elephant gift grab.  Yup.  Last year, innocent us, partied at the Kingston Cove Yacht Club.  This year, we partied all over Kingston North Kitsap Friday, Dec 18.  From our homes.  On the web.  Thanks to Zoom.  The holidays we toasted.  The chicken was roasted.  Thanks to Nancy Martin, who hosted.  Rotarians celebrate a four-way test:  1) is it the truth  2) is it fair to all concerned   3) will it build goodwill and better friendships and 4) will it be beneficial to all concerned.  Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians add a fifth measure to the four-way test:  will it be fun?  It was fun. 

What began three years ago as an idea to take on homelessness in Kitsap County, is now “home” to 103-formerly housing-insecure seniors, those with disabilities, college students, veterans, and mothers with kids.  That was the report Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians heard from Rae Holt, Communications Director for Kitsap Homes of Compassion, at their Dec 2 meeting.  Homes of Compassion, whose mission is to “eliminate homelessness in Kitsap County one shared home at a time,” currently operates twenty-one shared homes across the county.  Speaking for the third time to the Club, Holt reminded members that KHOC rents homes with four or more bedrooms in communities, near transit and services, at market rates, then offers those in homelessness  their own bedroom, at an affordable fee, about $700.  Residents of the homes are able to feel a sense of community, dignity, and responsibility as a result.  The home in Kingston, for men, has four residents, with capacity for five.  Seventy-five percent of KHOC residents remain in the program, or move to long-term housing.  More info at: kitsaphoc.org.  

    All Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians are reminded by Satellite Club President David Winn about the Satellite Club’s Holiday Card writing project.  The goal is to prepare 120 holiday cards with greetings of good will and friendship for residents of Martha and Mary.  The Club is also preparing small gifts for needy elderly to be distributed by ShareNet.  More info is available in a Dec 1 email from Winn to all Club members.

It took a series of slides and about forty minutes for Rotary District 5020 Community Grants Coordinator Bob Zawilski to explain the process of applying for - and receiving - a grant for local Rotary Club community and international projects at the November 18 meeting of the Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club.  It is reasonably complex and tightly controlled, but funds are available.  There are ninety-two Rotary Clubs in District 5020 competing for the almost $200k grant money allocated by the District each year.  Each grant must be matched by the local Club, meaning, for example, a $7k project would be half-funded by the District Grant. Zawilski explained it is a two year process with preparation in year 1 and execution in year 2.  Member training is involved.  Memorandums-of-understanding are involved.  Club Presidents for each of the years are required to be trained.  After project completion, receipts and proof-of-completion (photographs) are required to get the money.  Zawilski explained some Clubs in District 5020 are very skilled at this.  Thanks to Mark Libby, Kingston’s Club is gearing up to compete.