It will be a different 4th of July in America this year. Years of traditional celebrations and events will be turned on their ear by Covid-19. That is the case, too, in Kingston with the event that traditionally kicks off Independence Day around here, the 4th of July Fun Run. Co-sponsored by Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club and Kingston High School Boosters Club, the fun run has traditionally featured “runs” of 1k, 5k, 10k and a doggie dash. Not so in 2020. That vision is dashed.
Please meet the Kingston 4th of July Fun Run Virtual Challenge. The Challenge is to commit to “an exercise or activity” (subject to Covid-19 safe distancing limits) between July 4 and July 31. Walk. Run. Swim. Bicycle. Dog Walk. Jump rope. Push-ups. Put a number on it and make the commitment. “I will bicycle a minimum of five miles each day, a total of five days between July 4 and July 31.” “I will walk at least thirty minutes each day, etc.” Then secure pledges of support from family, friends, neighbors, and other acquaintances. “Hey neighbor, I’m doing this 4th of July Fun Run Virtual Challenge. Would you please support me with $5 for each day I ride my bike a minimum of five miles, five times?” Secure the pledges. Do the activity. Collect and send in the funds. Feel good about what you’re doing for yourself and your community.
Registration fee is only $15, including a t-shirt for each participant. To register, go to: Kingstonfunrun.com. Proceeds support the Kingston High Boosters Club and Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club. Participants may designate the High School Club or Team of their choice.
Each year Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club awards college scholarships to Kingston High School seniors. This year’s recipients, as recently announced by a committee of four Rotarians led by De’ MacKinnon, are Justice Correa-West, who will attend University of Washington, Lauren Fox who will be a Western Washington University student, Anastasia Home who plans to go to Colorado School of Mines, and Sean Webb, who will attend University of Alaska. The scholarships were awarded based on financial need, achievement, and how well the applicant could apply Rotary’s Four-Way test to a personal experience. The Four-Way test, cited by Rotarians the world over, goes like this. “Of all the things we think, say, or do:
Is it the truth
Is it fair to all concerned
Will it build goodwill and better friendships
Will it be beneficial to all concerned.”
A recent note of thanks was received by the Club from past scholarship recipient, Nolan Meyer. “Thanks to each and every one of you I will be graduating Magna Cum Laude from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science on June 13, 2020. I am thrilled to be searching for my first position in the “real world.”
Funding scholarships is but a small example of Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club’s “investment” in our community. It’s impact. Covid-19 has thrown the Club into alternative modes of fund raising, meeting activities, interpersonal gatherings and all the rest. It has not thrown the Club off its mission to make a meaningful impact in North Kitsap and beyond. Support from 4th of July Fun Run Virtual Challenge participants is welcomed. It is good for the body. The soul. And the community.
Rotary International is composed of clubs around the world. The most recent Rotarian Magazine had a piece on global etiquette. Did you know, when getting off an elevator in Poland, say “thank you” to your fellow riders. In Brazil, call people by their first name, while in Germany do not address a person who is not a friend or longtime acquaintance by their first name. In Peru, kiss a woman on the cheek when you are introduced to her by a friend. In Korea, don’t pick up rice or soup bowls from the table when eating, but in Japan and China, is is appropriate to do so. Finally, in Japan, bow, don’t hug as a greeting. And don’t talk on the phone on public transportation. It is considered rude.
Snap judgmentsFrom Hong Kong to Hungary, Rotarians captured perfect moments in our annual photo contestThis year, we received more than 600 entries to our photo contest from
Statement from Rotary InternationalAt Rotary, we have no tolerance for racism. Promoting respect, celebrating diversity, demanding ethical leadership, and working tirelessly to advance peace are central tenets of our work.We have