2023 Community Grants to Be Awarded May 17
12 Noon at the Majestic
Live action as Skip and the Tango crew depart Cap Sante last week (click on picture to see video).  As of May 20th they reached Alaska's Inside Passage. Check their current progress → here
Anacortes Rotary Club Information
Anacortes

"Big wheel keep on turning!  Rotary keep on burning!"

We meet In Person
Wednesdays at 12:00 PM
Majestic Inn & Spa
419 Commercial Ave
PO Box 94
Anacortes, WA 98221
United States of America
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Venue Map
Community Service Grants in Action
Posted on Apr 27, 2023

Spring is here and Community Service Chair, Tim Garrison, has proudly announced club grants to 8 organizations that help make our community a great place to grow up. Thank you to all the donors and and members that make this possible.

  1. Seahawk Anacortes Boosters:   summer football scholarships
  2. Boys & Girls Club:  early learning center equipment
  3. Anacortes Community Disc Golfers:  golf course construction materials
  4. Fidalgo Elementary: books and STEM games
  5. Friends of the Forest: summer camp and hiking program
  6. Mt Erie Elementary: school T-shirts for Phys Ed
  7. Northwest Schooner Society: scout group transport to Burrows lighthouse
  8. Anacortes Middle School:  Camp Orkila scholarships and gear
Another Anthony's Fantastic Fundraiser
Posted on Apr 17, 2023
 
One hundred and sixty three tickets sold and a butt in every seat, that was Anthony's on Wednesday. The service was flawless and so was the meal: fresh and bbq'd oysters on the half shell, coconut prawn skewers, ahi nacho bites, roasted red pepper bruschetta for starters, followed by dungeness crab salad, alder plank wild Alaskan King and blackberry cobbler ala mode to finish. Each course was paired with a different wine from their list.  We marveled at chef Mike Ludeman's ability to get everything out in such a timely and efficient way and also at GM and fellow Rotarian Kasey Baker's cool demeanor throughout. If there were any glitches it never showed, and that's the mark of true professionals.
 
The club awarded Anthony's President, Amy Burns, an honorary Paul Harris award.  Amazingly,  Anthony's donates ALL food and labor (not to mention giving up the entire restaurant all evening) for the annual event, which in turn allows Rotary to donate ALL proceeds from ticket sales to worthy community causes.  Over $27,000 was raised, plus additional donations from attendees for gratuities to thank the 50+ Anthony's staff that made the night so memorable. Many of this year's Rotary Grants recipients will fall into the category of "No Camper Left Behind" providing scholarships and enrichment activities to many organizations in our community.
“Look Who’s Coming to Dinner”:  International Edition
Posted on Mar 16, 2023

Last weekend members participated in one our favorite fellowship events.  5 groups of Rotarians descended upon the homes of hosts representing Italy, Spain, Russia, Mexico, and Ireland with side dishes and aperitifs in hand for an evening of fun, conversation, and music. Fellowship Chair Sondra Peters organized things and hosted the Spain contingent where Rotarian husband, Skip, entertained with his piano playing and stories of his upcoming sailing expedition through the Northwest Passage.

Heated debate ensued at the following Wednesday meeting about which country had the MOST fun but proved inconclusive despite compelling evidence from each.  It was determined the only way to resolve is to do it again!

"Go Bags" for the Family Center
Posted on Mar 06, 2023
       
 
Under the leadership of Jack Curtis and Melissa Turnage, members donated toiletries and filled 60 "go bags" for the Anacortes Family Center. Executive Director Dustin Johnson updated the club on recent Family Center activities and described how the bags provide much needed supplies for individuals and families who find themselves in need. 
Winning the "New School" Way
Posted on Jan 21, 2023
 
Sports teams--especially winning ones--tend to generate strong community followings. Anacortes High School Head Football Coach, Justin Portz, joined us on Wednesday to share his team's remarkable journey that goes far beyond wins on the field (of which there were many). Since arriving in the "not a football town" of Anacortes, as he was told by a local parent in 2018 shortly before the varsity team disbanded, Coach Portz has planted and grown his philosophy about leading with love and being inclusive.  At AHS, if a kid of any skill level approaches him he'll find a role for that student either on the field or somewhere else--no one is cut. And if someone is in the program, it's his goal to make sure that kid feels safe and valued on the field and off.  The football family plays together, supports each other all year round, and the players work together in the summer to run a skills camp for youngsters.
 
Maybe that's why they finished 8 and 1 in the regular season including a 21-2 victory over mighty Archbishop Murphy! Maybe that's why recruiters from both WSU and the UW sat down with him to talk about his talented players.  We Rotarians would like to believe it was the club's 2019 grant towards new uniforms that helped put 'em over the top ;-)
 
Football is a tough sport and fewer parents want their kids playing because of the potential for injuries. But Coach Portz pointed out that because of the tackling techniques they teach, the team didn't have a single significant injury all season. Wow! Echoing Superintendent Justin Irish's comments, we are so lucky to have him here. Heck, Anacortes might just be a football town after all!
Viewpoint Trail Signs Installed
Posted on Dec 21, 2022
 
 
Recent improvements to the Rotary Viewpoint Trail at Cap Sante Park take you easily from the water’s edge to the Cap Sante summit in a short 1⁄2 mile walk. Now, seven new interpretive signs have been added to trail kiosks, telling local stories and making the path even more enjoyable for park visitors. The signs, installed in the park Friday (Dec 16), are a cooperative effort of the Anacortes Rotary Club, the Samish Indian Nation and the City of Anacortes.
 
Anacortes Rotary is providing the money for the park improvements from three sources, club charitable resources, a separate grant from the Rotary International regional district and a City of Anacortes Lodging Tax grant to the club. Rotary Volunteers built the kiosks earlier this year. The 4-foot square panels are placed at four trailside locations in the park, where they give park users background on the history, culture and natural surroundings of Anacortes.

Team members responsible for the design and installation of the interpretive panels are Bret Lunsford and Adam Farnsworth, Anacortes History Museum; Jackie Ferry, Samish Tribal Historic Preservation Officer; Brian Tottenham. Sky Guthrie and Bob Vaux, Anacortes Parks and Recreation; and Jack Darnton, Anacortes Rotary.

Cap Sante offers one of the best panoramas on Fidalgo Island, with sweeping mountain, water, island, valley and forest views. The park is enjoyed by hikers, dog walkers, boat watchers and casual strollers, all drawn to the park’s variety and its summit’s splendid scenery. Looking toward the future with the City of Anacortes, Anacortes Rotary is examining design options for a new summit viewpoint looking east toward Mt. Baker. that will include easy ADA access at parking lot level, seating, more interpretive signs and multiple view locations. Final design and engineering work will follow, guided by further community input and approvals from the city.
 
See All 7 Kiosks
 
Read the Article
 
 
 
Chain of 100 Wishes
Posted on Dec 12, 2022
 
 
Everyone knows wishes are more powerful when linked together!  Kids of all ages stopped by the Rotary tent at Winter Wonderland Friday & Saturday night to enjoy candy canes, glow sticks, and snap bracelets while writing down their ultimate wish for the season.  iPads, Elsa "Frozen" toys, happiness and world peace were the most requested, with snow, puppies, and kittens (a pink one!) making strong showings.  Parents and Rotarians alike loved seeing the smiles and earnest faces of the kids as they built their part of the chain,  which will be prominently displayed at City Hall as part of the club's 100 year celebration on December 22nd.
 
 
 
Ringing in the Holidays--Rotary Style!
Posted on Nov 30, 2022
Thank you to the 32 Rotarians and supporters who greeted shoppers at BOTH Safeway doors, braving a blustery late November Saturday in Anacortes.   The Rotary bell-ringers collected donations of more than $1500 ($1553 to be precise) for the Salvation Army.  With the proceeds from sales of the “must have this season” Rotary Santa hats we'll be able to donate another $200 toward the effort.
 

Salvation Army Lieutenant Shane Ingram reached out to project lead Jack Curtis to express how grateful he and his team are for the club's support.  He said the $1500 haul is the largest he could remember for an opening weekend!  If you think about how little it costs the Salvation Army to fill one of the food boxes our club packed a few weeks ago, you can see how far these funds can go!

If you’d still like to contribute, bell ringing continues throughout the holiday season and the Salvation Army now has its “Virtual Red Kettle” where you can learn more and donate online.

A-Town "Boxing Day"
Posted on Nov 28, 2022
 
 
The Club kicked off the holiday season in classic fashion with one of its most venerable "Centennial Community Partners".  Lt Shane Ingram hosted a full house at the Salvation Army Center for Worship & Service,  enthusiastically describing upcoming programs and his vision for the center and community. Anacortes Rotary Club Historian, Duane Clark, then shared more than 50 years worth of photos from both groups' collective work. 
 
     
Phil Madden, Mike Matheson, and John Carabba packing boxes in the early '90s
 
 
After the lunch meeting concluded,  nearly Rotarians headed downstairs to help Food Bank Director, Paula John, prepare Thanksgiving Dinner food boxes for Anacortes families.  The dedicated crew packed 124 boxes in 37 minutes!
 
The holiday season continues, with Bell Ringing at Safeway scheduled for Sunday Nov 26.
Site Pages
Upcoming Speakers
 
May 3- Mark Lascelles & Duane Clark share stories of their recent visit to Copan, Honduras
 
May 10- Fidalgo Chaplaincy, Pastor Rusty Van Deusen
 
May 17- Anacortes Rotary Grants Presentation, hosted by Jack Darnton
 
May 24- Skagit Community Foundation, Executive Director Maddy McKenzie
 
June7- Troy Kunz shares tales from his scuba diving trip to Antarctica
 
June 14- Jordan Hay, Executive Director of Downtown Anacortes Alliance 
 
June 21- Learn how club committees work at fireside headed up by Krista Oicles

June 28- Installation of new club officers and board members
 
Club Executives & Directors
President
Rick Star
President Elect
Lindy Reno
Vice President
Marta McClintock
Past President
Dan Worra
Treasurer
Therese Rudzis
Assistant Treasurer
Dan Worra
Secretary
Peggy Flynn
Centennial Project
Tom Decker
Centennial Celebration
Duane Clark
Club Historian
Duane Clark
Club Service Chair
Jim MacDonald
Club Workforce Chair
James Poitras
Community Service Chair
Tim Garrison
Fellowship Co-Chair
Sondra Peters
Fellowship Co-Chair
Skip Peters
FInance Committee Chair
Therese Rudzis
Grants Chair
Jack Darnton
International Service Co-Chair
Mark Lascelles
International Service Co-Chair
Vicki Stasch
Membership Chair
Krista Oicles
Public Relations Chair
Jim Renfro
Rotary Foundation Chair
Ron Litzinger
Vocational Service Chair
Mark Lione
Fundraising Chair
Lindy Reno

Member Spotlight 

 
 
Master-of-Ceremonies Jack Darnton inducts TWO new members, Yvonne Catala and Erin Hoskins.
 
Yvonne Catala moved to Anacortes (from Houston) in July 2020 (a pandemic move when her husband Len got permission to work remotely forever).  They have been married for 25 years and have two children who are almost 21 and 18.  Yvonne's work history is in career counseling and then software - not coding, but pretty much everything else.  She still does a bit of consulting, but very part time.  Traveling and seeing new places is her biggest hobby, but she likes to walk / hike, kayak and bike in her leisure time.   She says she is very ready to "take root" here in Anacortes, get more involved with the community and also meet people.  Currently she volunteers with A Simple Gesture at the food bank stocking events but is very ready to add more to her volunteer plate!
 
Erin Hoskins is a Whidbey Island native and an only-child to entrepreneur parents that opened their first business when she was one year of age. Decades later, her parents still own and operate Earthenworks Gallery and Hotel Planter. It was only natural for her to start a couple of businesses of her own while living in Southern California and raising a family. In 2014, she returned to her hometown and invested herself into the professional landscape of Island and Skagit counties. She has held the position of Sales & Marketing Manager for a couple of local hotels. Through this work, she has connected with associations and non-profit organizations. She served on the Board of Directors for the Oak Harbor Chamber, and is currently on the Board for the Anacortes Chamber, and recently accepted a job with Regency Coupeville Rehabilitation & Nursing Center as the Community Marketing Director.  She and her husband enjoy traveling, visiting their adult children, and walking the beach with their Australian Shepherd.
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