MEETING RECAP
A Pack of Presidents
By Paula T. OlsonSunday, February 19, 2023
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A Pack of Presidents
Paula T. Olson
THE LAKEWOOD KEY
Lakewood Rotary celebrated President’s Day in rare form. The club was awash in Past Presidents. I don’t dare try to name them all as I’m sure I’ll miss one or two, but I counted at least eight. Our current President Jason was away in Texas, watching his daughter blow away the field in a half marathon. All of our other officers were away at PETS or “how to be a Rotary officer” training school. So we were delighted to have our meeting led by one of our favorite PPs – Jim Rooks. And you’d think he’d never left. He started the meeting on time, asked Bob Peterson to lead us in an invocation and Ralph Lockhart to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Let’s enjoy some fun facts about our Presidents. James Madison was the shortest and the lightest at 5’4” tall and 100 pounds. Abe Lincoln and Lyndon Johnson were the tallest at 6’4”.
PP Rooks smoothly sailed over to acknowledging the setup crew: Tom George, James Osundwa, and Rob Erb. As usual John Lowney was there to collect any spare cash lying around, yours truly Paula Olson was taking frantic notes for the bulletin, Bill Allen was at the $2.00 raffle table and Sergeant-at-Arms, while Jim Weinand worked the foundation desk and Walt Richardson was taking photos. No visiting Rotarians were present but we did have a few guests. Mary Moss introduced Kathy Lanning of the Lakewood Multicultural Coalition. Hans Bruun, our Danish exchange student from Aarhus, was in the house. He’s leaving a little early on May 17th so your chances to spend time with him are limited. He’d love a ride in a very fast car or dining at one of our finest food establishments, such as Chick fil A. Eric Warn was not present to give us a health and wellness report but Wendy McGowan reported that Dave Betz was in a bad accident and broke his neck. He’s in the hospital. Send Dave all your well wishes for a speedy recovery.
Announcements.
Mary Moss led the announcement segment of the meeting. She is thrilled to invite us all to the First Annual Dr. Claudia Thomas Community Service Award Gala on March 3, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the McGavick Conference Center. The event is hosted by the Lakewood Multicultural Coalition of which Mary is the CEO. Joyce Taylor from King5 Evening News will emcee. Michael Powers and Josephine Howell will provide live music and entertainment. $75 per person will get you dinner and a fabulous evening including dancing the night away. Gayle Selden is going, so anyone who wants to sit with her is more than welcome. Of course, if you don’t want to sit with Gayle, you can still come and sit somewhere else but we’re hoping for a room full of Rotarians so get your tickets.
Speaking of tickets, Ulysses S. Grant got a speeding ticket for driving his horse and buggy too fast. [Well, at least he did not get a DUI. Ed.]
Above: John Lowney, Treasurer, also takes on World Affairs Conference
John Lowney announced that the World Affairs Seminar is being held at Carroll College in Wisconsin this year from June 24th to June 30th. The theme is Climate Change – Youth Take Action. All expenses paid for two to three high school aged students. Get those applications in by April 1st. Preferences go to children and grandchildren of Rotarians. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for those lucky teens. Mo Sarram said that attending the seminar gave amazing results for the futures of those students.
Bill Potter was absent but wants everyone to know about Habitat for Humanity’s Changing Lives Luncheon. It is Tuesday, March 7th, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at Hotel Murano in Tacoma. Come learn more about the Claudia Thomas project and the impact of Lakewood Rotary’s contribution. For more information, see Bill or Clint Johnson.
Above: Two more Past Presidents-Gayle and Rick Selden
A duo of PPs – Rick Selden and Gayle Selden, who also happen to be father and daughter, then pitched the upcoming auction and Wine and Beer Festival happening on March 24th. They started their spiel by thanking Pres Jason and Pres Elect Mary Horn for jumpstarting fundraising this year by creating two new events, including this one. It will be amazing with lots to taste and see. Sell those raffle tickets to friends and family and give them a chance to win some nice cash for summer vacations. Buy tickets or sponsor a table like Rose Stevens has done. Thanks Rose! So far 21 people have seen the wisdom of selling at least ten tickets (I did!) so there’s only 400 + books of tickets left to be sold. OMG, you people aren’t going to miss this, are you? There will also be an instant wine cellar with everyone bringing a $20 bottle of wine and then buying one. Gayle does need a volunteer coordinator for the event and someone to make table assignments. Think of the power with that job. You could name your price to sit someone in a prime location or alongside that certain favorite person. So what’s this all about, you are wondering? Making lots of money to support the Lakewood community, that’s what. Some early sponsors to the event have donated lots of money: LeMay Enterprises/Waste Connections and Connelly Law are both $5,000 sponsors. Thank you very much! Other early sponsors include Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Multicare, CK Financial, Ed Selden Carpet One, and Diamond Designs. There are many others, along with table sponsors. So come on, everyone, ante up! Sell your raffle tickets, buy your tickets to the event, and buy those auction items.
It’s also an opportunity to shake some hands but you’ll never best Teddy Roosevelt who shook 8,100 hands one day in 1907 in New York at a White House reception.
Aloha Bucks.
Next came the Fines, Generous Giving, and/or Aloha Bucks time of the meeting. Barb Spriggs kicked in $20 to pitch her son’s third book in the Hammerhead series. Hot off the press and available for download. If you do, he’ll send Barb a hard copy to give you gratis. It’s called Hammerhead Insurrection. Jason Bond is touring the Pacific Northwest so you could get it signed as well. Greg Rediske announced the Boy Scout lunch on March 25th. Contact him for more information. Barlow Buescher paid $50 for his birthday and another $50 for Mary Marlin who has the same one. Neither one looks a day over 40 so it was a particularly nice gift. Mary added another $25 for a cool $125. Nice job, you two! Jim Rooks had to confess he sold his tickets to himself instead of giving other people a chance to win, so he paid $20 for his greediness.
The Program
Above: Our Speaker Today-Peter Cameron
Rose Stevens introduced our speaker, Peter Cameron, the director of Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center (MCFHC). Peter grew up in Kennewick, Washington and moved to Tacoma in 2001. He went to the UW and lived in Seattle for about 20 years. He preferred Pierce to King County so he came back to Tacoma. Peter announced the capital campaign for the Cora Whitley Family Center, a segment of the MCFHC and a new facility to house the childcare and family support programs offered by MCFHC. The center started in 1997 with five kids. Now it has 142 early education slots, 90 employees and 38 programs. Even with all those slots for early learning there is a three-year wait list to get your child one of those slots. The benefits to early learning and kindergarten readiness are too many to name but include 70% less likely to be convicted of a violent crime, better math skills, a higher likelihood to be a high-income earner and successful as an adult. Early learners are children between six weeks and five years old. The school program includes students in first through fifth grades, where these children get to start their days with singing, dancing and creating.
President John Tyler had 15 children between two different wives and George H. W. Bush banned broccoli on Air Force One.
In 2020, the MCFHC gave out $26 million in rental and utility assistance. Currently it is one of only two programs that still give rental assistance. The MCFHC is a model for the future, a place that functions like a village but feels like a family. Some of the other resources under one roof include a diaper bank (with often a long line of parents) and a food bank, also well used. The staff speak a total of eight different languages and are culturally responsible at every turn. Housing options at the MCFHC include tiny houses for transition to regular homes and two other homes for women dealing with substance abuse and/or domestic violence.
The MCFHC partners with the Tacoma Recovery Café, a street outreach program, as well as veterans’ programs. They do a diversion program with Associated Ministries, all geared to prevention of future issues. They also have a large network of drug rehabilitation programs and are also connected to the Boys and Girls Club. They are located on the corner of South 19th and Sprague across the street from the DSHS offices. They will move to the new facility at Ferry and South 23rd Streets. Of the $18 million total campaign, 15% will come from individuals and private donations, with the rest coming from various governmental sources. The total number of people assisted is over 6,000 annually and they come from Pierce, King and Thurston Counties. The new facility will have a total of 242 early learning slots. Our own John Korsmo will do the construction and is one of their partners.
Thank you, Peter, for a peek at an amazing facility and resource in our community and your help of those less fortunate.
PP Rooks asked the Puffins to stand up. Although that usually happens at the beginning of the meeting, he wanted to make sure none of them snuck out during the program. None did. Greg Rediske won the raffle after several false starts and drew a white disc. Better luck next time, Greg.
Have a wonderful weekend – it’s a three dayer, because of President’s Day of course.
[Editor’s Note: While we are on presidential trivia, did you know that Jimmy Carter graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946 with a Bachelor of Science degree? He joined the Navy and served on numerous submarines in the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. Admiral Hyman Rickover assigned Jimmy to the nascent nuclear submarine program and he was sent to Schenectady, New York, where he took graduate work at Union College in reactor technology and nuclear physics!
More trivia: One of our least celebrated U.S. presidents, Chester A. Arthur, also graduated from Union College in Schenectady in 1848. A firm believer in the (good old boys) spoils system, Chester Arthur signed the first general federal immigration law in the U.S. but it excluded paupers, criminals and lunatics. After his tenure, America decided a civil servicc system was needed.
Speaking of lunatics, your Editor graduated from Union College in 1967.]
Reminder: Don’t forget John Warner’s Memorial next Friday at 2:00 p.m. at UP Presbyterian
Above: John Warner file photo
Paula T. Olson
THE LAKEWOOD KEY
Lakewood Rotary celebrated President’s Day in rare form. The club was awash in Past Presidents. I don’t dare try to name them all as I’m sure I’ll miss one or two, but I counted at least eight. Our current President Jason was away in Texas, watching his daughter blow away the field in a half marathon. All of our other officers were away at PETS or “how to be a Rotary officer” training school. So we were delighted to have our meeting led by one of our favorite PPs – Jim Rooks. And you’d think he’d never left. He started the meeting on time, asked Bob Peterson to lead us in an invocation and Ralph Lockhart to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Let’s enjoy some fun facts about our Presidents. James Madison was the shortest and the lightest at 5’4” tall and 100 pounds. Abe Lincoln and Lyndon Johnson were the tallest at 6’4”.
PP Rooks smoothly sailed over to acknowledging the setup crew: Tom George, James Osundwa, and Rob Erb. As usual John Lowney was there to collect any spare cash lying around, yours truly Paula Olson was taking frantic notes for the bulletin, Bill Allen was at the $2.00 raffle table and Sergeant-at-Arms, while Jim Weinand worked the foundation desk and Walt Richardson was taking photos. No visiting Rotarians were present but we did have a few guests. Mary Moss introduced Kathy Lanning of the Lakewood Multicultural Coalition. Hans Bruun, our Danish exchange student from Aarhus, was in the house. He’s leaving a little early on May 17th so your chances to spend time with him are limited. He’d love a ride in a very fast car or dining at one of our finest food establishments, such as Chick fil A. Eric Warn was not present to give us a health and wellness report but Wendy McGowan reported that Dave Betz was in a bad accident and broke his neck. He’s in the hospital. Send Dave all your well wishes for a speedy recovery.
Announcements.
Mary Moss led the announcement segment of the meeting. She is thrilled to invite us all to the First Annual Dr. Claudia Thomas Community Service Award Gala on March 3, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the McGavick Conference Center. The event is hosted by the Lakewood Multicultural Coalition of which Mary is the CEO. Joyce Taylor from King5 Evening News will emcee. Michael Powers and Josephine Howell will provide live music and entertainment. $75 per person will get you dinner and a fabulous evening including dancing the night away. Gayle Selden is going, so anyone who wants to sit with her is more than welcome. Of course, if you don’t want to sit with Gayle, you can still come and sit somewhere else but we’re hoping for a room full of Rotarians so get your tickets.
Speaking of tickets, Ulysses S. Grant got a speeding ticket for driving his horse and buggy too fast. [Well, at least he did not get a DUI. Ed.]
Above: John Lowney, Treasurer, also takes on World Affairs Conference
John Lowney announced that the World Affairs Seminar is being held at Carroll College in Wisconsin this year from June 24th to June 30th. The theme is Climate Change – Youth Take Action. All expenses paid for two to three high school aged students. Get those applications in by April 1st. Preferences go to children and grandchildren of Rotarians. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for those lucky teens. Mo Sarram said that attending the seminar gave amazing results for the futures of those students.
Bill Potter was absent but wants everyone to know about Habitat for Humanity’s Changing Lives Luncheon. It is Tuesday, March 7th, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at Hotel Murano in Tacoma. Come learn more about the Claudia Thomas project and the impact of Lakewood Rotary’s contribution. For more information, see Bill or Clint Johnson.
Above: Two more Past Presidents-Gayle and Rick Selden
A duo of PPs – Rick Selden and Gayle Selden, who also happen to be father and daughter, then pitched the upcoming auction and Wine and Beer Festival happening on March 24th. They started their spiel by thanking Pres Jason and Pres Elect Mary Horn for jumpstarting fundraising this year by creating two new events, including this one. It will be amazing with lots to taste and see. Sell those raffle tickets to friends and family and give them a chance to win some nice cash for summer vacations. Buy tickets or sponsor a table like Rose Stevens has done. Thanks Rose! So far 21 people have seen the wisdom of selling at least ten tickets (I did!) so there’s only 400 + books of tickets left to be sold. OMG, you people aren’t going to miss this, are you? There will also be an instant wine cellar with everyone bringing a $20 bottle of wine and then buying one. Gayle does need a volunteer coordinator for the event and someone to make table assignments. Think of the power with that job. You could name your price to sit someone in a prime location or alongside that certain favorite person. So what’s this all about, you are wondering? Making lots of money to support the Lakewood community, that’s what. Some early sponsors to the event have donated lots of money: LeMay Enterprises/Waste Connections and Connelly Law are both $5,000 sponsors. Thank you very much! Other early sponsors include Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Multicare, CK Financial, Ed Selden Carpet One, and Diamond Designs. There are many others, along with table sponsors. So come on, everyone, ante up! Sell your raffle tickets, buy your tickets to the event, and buy those auction items.
It’s also an opportunity to shake some hands but you’ll never best Teddy Roosevelt who shook 8,100 hands one day in 1907 in New York at a White House reception.
Aloha Bucks.
Next came the Fines, Generous Giving, and/or Aloha Bucks time of the meeting. Barb Spriggs kicked in $20 to pitch her son’s third book in the Hammerhead series. Hot off the press and available for download. If you do, he’ll send Barb a hard copy to give you gratis. It’s called Hammerhead Insurrection. Jason Bond is touring the Pacific Northwest so you could get it signed as well. Greg Rediske announced the Boy Scout lunch on March 25th. Contact him for more information. Barlow Buescher paid $50 for his birthday and another $50 for Mary Marlin who has the same one. Neither one looks a day over 40 so it was a particularly nice gift. Mary added another $25 for a cool $125. Nice job, you two! Jim Rooks had to confess he sold his tickets to himself instead of giving other people a chance to win, so he paid $20 for his greediness.
The Program
Above: Our Speaker Today-Peter Cameron
Rose Stevens introduced our speaker, Peter Cameron, the director of Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center (MCFHC). Peter grew up in Kennewick, Washington and moved to Tacoma in 2001. He went to the UW and lived in Seattle for about 20 years. He preferred Pierce to King County so he came back to Tacoma. Peter announced the capital campaign for the Cora Whitley Family Center, a segment of the MCFHC and a new facility to house the childcare and family support programs offered by MCFHC. The center started in 1997 with five kids. Now it has 142 early education slots, 90 employees and 38 programs. Even with all those slots for early learning there is a three-year wait list to get your child one of those slots. The benefits to early learning and kindergarten readiness are too many to name but include 70% less likely to be convicted of a violent crime, better math skills, a higher likelihood to be a high-income earner and successful as an adult. Early learners are children between six weeks and five years old. The school program includes students in first through fifth grades, where these children get to start their days with singing, dancing and creating.
President John Tyler had 15 children between two different wives and George H. W. Bush banned broccoli on Air Force One.
In 2020, the MCFHC gave out $26 million in rental and utility assistance. Currently it is one of only two programs that still give rental assistance. The MCFHC is a model for the future, a place that functions like a village but feels like a family. Some of the other resources under one roof include a diaper bank (with often a long line of parents) and a food bank, also well used. The staff speak a total of eight different languages and are culturally responsible at every turn. Housing options at the MCFHC include tiny houses for transition to regular homes and two other homes for women dealing with substance abuse and/or domestic violence.
The MCFHC partners with the Tacoma Recovery Café, a street outreach program, as well as veterans’ programs. They do a diversion program with Associated Ministries, all geared to prevention of future issues. They also have a large network of drug rehabilitation programs and are also connected to the Boys and Girls Club. They are located on the corner of South 19th and Sprague across the street from the DSHS offices. They will move to the new facility at Ferry and South 23rd Streets. Of the $18 million total campaign, 15% will come from individuals and private donations, with the rest coming from various governmental sources. The total number of people assisted is over 6,000 annually and they come from Pierce, King and Thurston Counties. The new facility will have a total of 242 early learning slots. Our own John Korsmo will do the construction and is one of their partners.
Thank you, Peter, for a peek at an amazing facility and resource in our community and your help of those less fortunate.
PP Rooks asked the Puffins to stand up. Although that usually happens at the beginning of the meeting, he wanted to make sure none of them snuck out during the program. None did. Greg Rediske won the raffle after several false starts and drew a white disc. Better luck next time, Greg.
Have a wonderful weekend – it’s a three dayer, because of President’s Day of course.
[Editor’s Note: While we are on presidential trivia, did you know that Jimmy Carter graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946 with a Bachelor of Science degree? He joined the Navy and served on numerous submarines in the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. Admiral Hyman Rickover assigned Jimmy to the nascent nuclear submarine program and he was sent to Schenectady, New York, where he took graduate work at Union College in reactor technology and nuclear physics!
More trivia: One of our least celebrated U.S. presidents, Chester A. Arthur, also graduated from Union College in Schenectady in 1848. A firm believer in the (good old boys) spoils system, Chester Arthur signed the first general federal immigration law in the U.S. but it excluded paupers, criminals and lunatics. After his tenure, America decided a civil servicc system was needed.
Speaking of lunatics, your Editor graduated from Union College in 1967.]
Reminder: Don’t forget John Warner’s Memorial next Friday at 2:00 p.m. at UP Presbyterian
Above: John Warner file photo
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