Ed married his high school sweetheart 67 years ago this month. And Communities In Schools is strengthening students, upping graduation rates.
Notes from the June 1 meeting of
The Rotary Club of Clover Park
recorded by Tom McClellan
President Teresa Nye continued her perfect track record for on-time meeting starts. And she wisely started by thanking her set up crew: Mike Killen, David Cotant, and Tom Faubion. Jeannie Hill got us in the right mood, with these inspirational thoughts:
1. When you start seeing your own worth, you'll find it harder to stay around people who don't. - - - Nicholas Sparks
2. Have you ever wondered which hurts most - saying something and wishing you hadn't, or saying nothing and wishing you had? - - - Paulo Coelho
3. Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. - - - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Scott Adams led us all in reciting the pledge of allegiance, and Alan Billingsley led us in the 4-Way Test. We welcomed Fred Willis’ wife Ingrid to the meeting.
Sunshine Report
Jeannie Hill shared the sad news that Mary Lou Sclair has passed away, after several years of Alzheimer’s Disease. She was the wife of one of our club’s founding members, David Sclair, and was herself a past-president of the Lakewood Rotary Club, where she led the decision to install the big play park at Fort Steilacoom Park. A memorial service will be held June 24, 1 PM, at Christ Lutheran Church, 8211 112th Street SW.
Mary Lou Sclair was also the mother of Ben Sclair, editor of The Suburban Times. He penned a tribute to his mother at https://thesubtimes.com/2022/06/01/letter-thank-you-and-godspeed-mom/.
Future Programs
June 8 Sarah McGhinnis, Associated Ministries Youth Host Home Program
June 15 Installation Banquet, no noon meeting
June 22 Justice G. Helen Whitener, WA State Supreme Court
Announcements
President Teresa thanked Past President Jim Hairston for filling in as the presiding official last week, and on zero notice.
The Installation Banquet is June 15, starting with a 6 PM Social Hour, and then supper served at 6:30 PM. If you have not registered yet, please contact Georgene Mellom at gmellom@icloud.com.
Joyce Oubré asked everyone to get ready to recruit golfers and sponsors for the Aug. 6 golf tournament. Sponsors get prominent advertising displays on the course, and at the post-tournament ceremonies.
Bob Lawrence was absent, but asked that we spread the word about the upcoming Crime Stoppers theater fundraiser. It will be held Thursday, June 23, at 6:30 PM at the Lakewood Playhouse, and will feature a performance the musical “Ragtime”. The cost is $30, which includes a dinner buffet and 1 free drink from Carr’s Restaurant, plus a no host bar and raffles. Tickets can be purchased from Judy or Bob Lawrence, (253) 973-7712 via cash or check to Crime Stoppers. If you want to use a credit card, go to the event link below: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lakewood-playhouse-presents-ragtime-proceeds-benefit-crime-stoppers-tickets-338398788887. You will receive a digital ticket when using this method.
Fun And Fines
Ed Trobaugh noted that June is a new month, and all Rotarians with a June birthday or anniversary (or both, Tho Kraus) should get their commemorative donations in. These include Paul Webb, who stood up to proclaim how proud he is to have been married to his wife Mary for so many wonderful years, but he is also miffed that the actual anniversary date often coincides with the club’s Installation Banquet, thereby robbing Paul of the opportunity for contemporaneous celebration with club members every year. Ed pointed out that Paul still gets the privilege of paying just the same, and Paul said that this year it was worth $100. Must be a good year!
Randy Black held a virtual Lakewood Water District open house, but was unfortunately absent from the club meeting, and thus escaped interrogation about it (for the moment, anyway).
Kerri Pedrick paid a hefty fine, because she and her husband decided to take their daughters, Parker and Penny (4 & 7) to Disneyland. They spent 5 full days inside the park, riding every ride. Plus her birthday was in May.
Hallie McCurdy spent 4 days at a statewide conference for fire chiefs.
Scott Adams and his wife Stephanie took a wine-tasting trip to some apparently unpronounceable place in Canada. Brought back 3 cases of wine, and somehow managed to escape having to pay duties on it when crossing back into the U.S. Ed Trobaugh was happy to correct for that oversight by the Customs and Border Patrol Service.
Alan Billingsley celebrated a second hand anniversary last week. Alan’s parents have been married for 70 years. No fine.
Ed closed with word that his wife Pam took a small tumble at home, and ended up with a slightly fractured pelvis, but she is still able to get around with a walker.
This Week’s Program
Our own Kerri Pedrick took to the lectern this week, telling us about her duties at Communities In Schools (CIS). She is a PLU graduate with a degree in social work, and got a master’s degree in social enterprise administration from Columbia University in New York. Prior to coming to CIS, she was director of the Service Team at the Peace Community Center in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood. And then she served as Executive Director at Washington Trafficking Prevention.
Kerri first spoke to us 3 years ago, when she was new at CIS. Now she has her feet on the ground, and knows more about what she is doing. She grew up in a small town near Okanogan. Despite having a BA in social work and a MA, she still finds parenting hard. She falls back on her greater community of teachers, relatives, and friends.
CIS serves as a community for kids who need that. Kerri shared a quote from the founder of CIS:
“Programs don’t change children. Relationships do.” - - - Bill Milliken
CIS operates sites at four schools: Tillicum Elementary, Four Heroes Elementary, Lochburn Middle, and Clover Park High School. These sites support 2200+ students, with 194 receiving one-on-one case management. 232 students receive weekly food support.
One measure of the success that CIS is having is that all 42 of their seniors are graduating on time. But attendance at all of the schools has been a struggle this year, the first post-Covid in-person attendance year. Students and teachers are feeling really burned out.
The school district still does not allow community members to come onto school grounds as volunteers, so that has stopped CIS from doing its tutoring and mentoring programs. But on Friday, June 10, there will be an exception. Tillicum Elementary School is having its Field Day, and volunteers are wanted. Let Kerri know if you can help.
Starting in Fall 2022, CIS is hoping to restart its Lunch Pals and Reading Buddies programs, involving 30-60 minutes, once a week. Contact Kerri if you would like to participate. There are some screening and training requirements.
CIS has an annual budget of ~$500k, 80% of which is privately funded. Their big fundraiser is the Champions For Youth Breakfast each spring. Next year, they hope to get back to having it in person.
Raffle
Katelyn Billingsley had to leave the meeting early, but her ticket was drawn, leaving father-in-law Alan Billingsley with the unenviable task of trying to draw the last ace of the deck out of 26 cards, to win the $278 pot.
And Finally…
Having special parking spaces can be important, especially when providing support for the disabled. But what kind of disability is this?
