Project Leader Tom Griffin rallies the troops around a really big pile of leaves accumulated at the Anacortes Senior Activity Center cleanup.
Rotary: Making a Difference
We meet Wednesdays at 12:00 PM
Majestic Inn & Spa
Majestic Inn & Spa
419 Commercial Ave
Anacortes, WA 98221
United States of America
Anacortes, WA 98221
United States of America
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Nearly a dozen Rotarians and family turned out with rakes and blowers to spruce up the Anacortes Museum grounds. Amber Walker coordinated the cleanup with the City as part of ongoing efforts to support community services and help offset COVID budget cuts. Next stop is the Senior Center on Saturday December 12th at 10AM. Come join us!
Don Richards was recognized as an honorary Paul Harris Fellow for his 22 years of community service as Director of Marketing at Island Hospital, for his 30 years as a member of the Anacortes Kiwanis Club, and for his leadership as Chairman of the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce. Rotarian Virginia Smiley conferred the honor along with President Stephanie Hamilton. Congratulations Don, and THANK YOU!
Wednesday’s meeting, attended by more than 30 Zoom-savvy Rotarians, celebrated the conclusion of Stephanie Hamilton’s presidency and the start of Tim Garrison’s. Assembled members applauded Stephanie for her inspired leadership during some of the most unusual circumstances in the Club’s 98 year history. Assistant District Governor Connie Milliken officially installed Tim as Anacortes Rotary’s 2020-21 President, and Tim described how he and his new board and committee chiefs are already building upon Stephanie’s amazing work this past year.
Special Paul Harris recognitions were made, on behalf of Virginia Smiley, to recognize community leaders who have contributed so greatly to Anacortes:
Dick Nelson- Dakota Creek Industries
Dennis Richards- Island Hospital (and Kiwanian)
Shirley Yap- Shell Puget Sound Refinery
Nels Strandberg- Strandberg Construction
Club member Kevin Meenaghan was also honored as a new Paul Harris Fellow. Paul Harris said: “He who tries to find the good in others will be rewarded, for others will surely find the good in him. Of all the earth’s sad and lonesome creatures, the most helpless is he who loves not his fellowmen.”
The new leadership team and all members look forward enthusiastically to the re-opening of our community and new opportunities for “Service Above Self.”
Anacortes Rotarians helped deliver the final forty-plus packages of games, puzzles, books, and art supplies for low income students to enjoy over the summer. On April 27, our club presented a $2,500 check to the Anacortes Schools Foundation to fund the great work Carrie Worra and others are doing through this new program - School To Go. The club’s $1,250 contribution was generously matched by District 5050, which is providing matching grants to clubs around the region to help combat the effects of the coronavirus. To learn more, check out https://www.anacortesschoolsfoundation.org/
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Anacortes Rotary has stepped up in a big way to help students stay safe, healthy and learning this spring — and lessen the impact the coronavirus is having on students’ regular schooling since they can’t be in their classrooms.
On April 27, our club presented a $2,500 check to the Anacortes Schools Foundation to fund the great work Carrie Worra and others are doing through a new program - School To Go. The club’s $1,250 contribution was generously matched by District 5050, which is providing matching grants to clubs around the region to help combat the effects of the coronavirus.
“Thank you so much Rotary for advocating for our most financially insecure families,” Carrie said. “I am beyond thrilled to be able to supply these students with a little extra support during this difficult time.”
“We have struggled to raise funds quickly for this project, so Rotary is truly saving the day,” Carrie said.
School To Go is funded entirely through new, targeted contributions to the Anacortes Schools Foundation. Rotary’s support ensures it will continue into June.
The Schools Foundation began the School To Go Program to provide educational support, including school, craft and basic household supplies, to families currently enrolled in the Food to Go weekend food program. It targets the most food insecure families in the school district who are at the same time the ones most likely to be most adversely affected by the school closures.
Bags contain an inviting mix of school and craft supplies - items like colored pencils, science experiment books, math learning cards, Word Find pads, modeling clay, sketch pads and sudoku puzzle books. The bags are individually packed with materials appropriate to students’ age and grade level.
The first delivery was March 30. The most recent monthly delivery was April 27, when pre-bagged supplies bags went out to about 55 students in 35 homes.
Assisting with delivery in April were Rotarians Maddy MacKenzie, Marta McClintock and Dan Worra. The next and final delivery is May 25.
It's not easy for an organization used to meeting face-to-face for 115 years to suddenly adapt to the age of Zoom. President Stephanie Hamilton set up and led Anacortes Rotary's first ever video meeting. It was cathartic for all, as we shared stories of how our families are adapting to COVID-19. We also discussed how members can contribute to two programs supporting our local restaurants and frontline workers. All readers are encouraged to take a look at the "Buoy Anacortes" and "Anacortes Strong" websites below, and help if you can!
On March 11th the Anacortes Rotary held it’s first-ever New Member Fireside as a lunch meeting! New members from the past year were introduced, and each table received a 5-min “speed date” from each of the club’s committee chairs.
This event was a hit, stay tuned for the next one!
The Club joined the Library Foundation this weekend to transform the entire Library into a miniature golf course to help raise funds for a variety of library activities. Last year the Anacortes Rotary Construction Gang (Jim MacDonald, Mark Lascelles, Tom Kuhn and Duane Clark) built a hole highlighting Rotary's core "4-way Test" values, which they updated and enhanced for this year's event.
Skip and Sondra Peters, Rotarians from Kingston, WA recently moved to Anacortes and joined our club! Sponsor Jim Anderson & "Master of Ceremonies" Jack Darnton are seen performing the always colorful induction honors.
Island Hospital and the Anacortes School District work together to provide mental health services to youths who might otherwise be unable to receive care. Rotary's contribution helped expand mental health services in the schools from two to four days per week, with services also being available throughout the summer. Pictured below (left to right) are Club President-Elect Tim Garrison, Island Hospital CEO Charles Hall, Anacortes Schools Superintendent Mark Wenzel, Club Treasurer Therese Rudzis, and Island Hospital Foundation Director Jeannette Papadakis. Additional information can be found at: islandhospitalfoundation.org/someone-to-talk-to
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