Events

The Peacebuilders Committee Book Club is back! We are reading The River that Made Seattle by BJ Cummings. This is a book about the Duwamish River, a critical resource to the Indigenous people of the area that became a vital utility to aerospace and other industries. The use and abuse of the river shaped the lives of the area’s first people and the white settlers who came later. “Deeply researched and eloquent. Cummings skillfully unfolds the interrelated stories of a much abused river, an ambitious city, and the people whose lives shaped both the river and the city.”

Our book discussion will be held on Wednesday, November 15, at 11:00am before the Seattle Rotary lunch program. We will meet in-person in the Olympic Room on the Mezzanine or 2nd Floor of the Westin Hotel.

The book’s publisher, University of Washington Press, is currently have a Back-to-School sale with 40% off and free shipping through Oct. 31st. https://uwapress.uw.edu/

Seattle Aquarium's Ocean Pavillion: Putting Global Ocean Health at the Heart of Our New Waterfront

Join Seattle Aquarium President and CEO Bob Davidson for an insider’s look at the Aquarium’s historic campus expansion. Join us to “tour” the new Ocean Pavilion—opening in summer 2024—and learn how this project will benefit local communities, downtown Seattle and our shared marine environment.

Come pack “No-Cook Bags” for the Pike Market Food Bank. These bags provide ready-to-eat food to community members who are experiencing homelessness, do not have a kitchen, or are in a situation that prevents or limits their ability to store, cook and prepare food.  Community members can pick up bags daily from the Pike Market Food Bank in addition to the regular grocery distribution program.  The demand is high for these bags with more than 600 bags picked up EACH WEEK!   All of the food items for the bags will be procured in anticipation, we simple need willing hands to back them up and deliver them to the food bank.  We will be using a space right above De Laurenti’s in the Market to pack and we will have a few moments to learn about the network of social services operating in the Market Community.   

If you will be joining us, please RSVP by emailing club member Lillian Sherman at Lillians@pikeplacemarketfoundation.org

Join us for a visual feast of French and Japanese art, followed by a sumptuous Italian dinner!

Gather for a self-guided tour of the Seattle Asian Art Museum, followed by a wonderful Italian dinner at Osteria La Spiga! 

Thursday, November 30th

• 3pm  Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 East Prospect St., Seattle, WA 98112
• 5pm  Osteria La Spiga restaurant, 1429 12th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122

This terrific exhibit can only be seen in Seattle:

What do late 18th- to 19th-century Edo (present-day Tokyo) and late 19th-century Paris have in common? This exhibition uncovers the shared renegade spirit that characterized the graphic arts and social cultures of these two dynamic cities. On view are over 90 Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints and paintings from SAM’s Japanese collection alongside private loans of works by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901).  

Renegade Edo and Paris: Japanese Prints and Toulouse-Lautrec (seattleartmuseum.org)

Ask for discounted Rotary group pricing at SAM

• Adults $12
• Seniors/+65 & Military $10
• Students $7
• SAM Members free

Special thanks to Fedva Dikmen, Doug Seto and the Membership and Arts Committees.  

Please RSVP to jeff.parker@bristleconeadvisors.com to confirm attendance, as we have reserved space at both venues.  

Michael will discuss the state of the arts and culture sector reflecting on data from last year's Community Accelerator Grant, 2019's Nonprofit Recovery Grant, and conversations with industry leadership. The conversation will conclude with a brief discussion of current and future initiatives to strengthen and support the sector.

Please RSVP with items to share HERE and join your fellow Rotarians for this fun annual tradition!

Volunteer Requirements: All volunteers must complete a volunteer application and RSVP to fgreen@wellspringfs.org at least one week in advance of the event date . Masks are required onsite for all volunteer activities. Please let us know if there are young children or people with mobility restrictions in your group so we can plan a volunteer activity for everyone to enjoy.

For more information and additional opportunities, reach out to Faye at fgreen@wellspringfs.org.

Every December, the Wellspring Family Store transforms into a holiday wonderfuland to provide gifts and toys to children in families experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness. Volunteers will write cards to be included in holiday orders, organize toys, or pack toy orders to go directly to families.

Please keep an eye out for a club-wide email with final registration and event information coming soon! Thank you to club members Linda Lowry and Nicole Klein for making this happen!

Join us for our annual holiday party at Queen City Yacht Club! Expect food, drinks, music, and plenty of time to socialize with your fellow Rotarians!

Purchase event tickets by CLICKING HERE today!

The Seattle Boat Show sails into town on February 2^nd. The demographics of boaters are changing rapidly and so is the workforce that is vital for the $8 billion Washington state recreational boating and fishing economy. George will share highlights of Core Plus Maritime, a Washington based high school curriculum in 26 high schools across the state that prepares students for careers in the maritime industry during his short program.

Matt Von Ruden of the Washington State Ferry System will be our featured long program speaker. He will be discussing his work converting our state ferries to an all-electric fleet.

This meeting will follow the club lunch meeting.

Please email Fedva Dikmen to RSVP.

The Rotary Club of Seattle's Education Committee is pleased to bring this film screening and panel discussion to the public on Tuesday, January 23 at 4:00 PM at the Seattle Public Library Main Branch. We hope to see you there! Tickets on sale now and can be purchased by CLICKING HERE

During the event, there will be a screening of an illiteracy documentary followed by a panel discussion from these esteemed educators and policy makers:

David Woodward, Moderator, Founder of David Woodward Associates, recently served as the Senior Advisor for Global Engagement with Seattle University

Dr. Kelly Aramaki, @Bellevue Public Schools Superintendent

Dr. Dwane Chappelle, City of Seattle Director of Education & Early Learning

Dr. Jessica Conte, Principal, Dearborn Park International Elementary School

Mr. Roy Chang, Founder & ED, School Connect WA, non-profit working to close education gaps in Seattle Schools

Spain’s premiere dance group returns after 14 years for a rare Seattle engagement. The company is internationally renowned for its expressively powerful and refined movement style exemplified in three classic works.

Please email jeff.parker@bristleconeadvisors.com to reserve your ticket.

Join us for a special panel presentation about the history of UW Rowing and the epic quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, hosted by UW Rowing historian, Eric Cohen. Cohen was one of Daniel James Brown’s first contacts when researching his 2013 novel, “Boys in the  Boat”.

Hear from Cohen and panelists:

• Kirk Knapp, owner of Conny, the 1936 coaches’ boat
• Melanie Barstow, ASUW Shell House tour founder
• John Tytus, president of Pocock Racing Shells
• Yaz Farooq, Olympian and current UW Women’s Rowing Head Coach

The level of rowing experience and inside knowledge of the “Boys in the Boat” story and movie is unsurpassed with this group. It is the first time all of them will be together for a presentation and will make for a highly entertaining and fascinating inside look at this story.

For tickets and more information, CLICK HERE

State of the Economy: Kris Johnson, president of the Association of Washington Business, will deliver an update on the 2024 legislative session and what it means for employers. Plus, he will share insights from AWB's latest survey of Washington business leaders, and offer a glimpse of how Washington might prepare for a million new residents.

All are invited to observe Rotary's Peace and Conflict Prevention Month at a lunch and presentation by BJ Cummings, author of The River That Made Seattle. Seattle Rotary's Peacebuilder Committee is teaming up with the West Seattle Rotary Peacebuilder Committee, the District 5030 Peacebuilder Committee and the District 5030 DEI Committee to host this Peacebuilding event on Tuesday, February 13th. A $25 buffet lunch is served at 12 noon, the formal meeting begins at 12:30, and an extended book discussion begins at 1:30PM for those who would like to continue the conversation with the author. There will be tables reserved for Seattle #4 Rotarians so please let Peacebuilder Committee Chair Mike Hatzenbeler (mikeh@provail.org) or Cathy Gibson (dggibson2021@gmail.com) know if you are attending and would like to sit at the Seattle #4 table(s).

Join us for our February evening social mixer, hosted by our very own Seattle Rotary Service Foundation. This month we will be at the Rainier Club and the evening will feature presentations from Community Impact Grant finalists. Expect food, drinks, and presentations about some great work happening at our local nonprofits!

Through research, innovation, healthcare and education, the University of Washington serves the people and communities of our state in countless – and sometimes surprising – ways. Now, as we face serious and urgent societal challenges, the UW is focused on how this engine of opportunity and discovery can drive solutions that accelerate progress for the public good. By leveraging our university’s unique strengths and assets in collaboration with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, the UW is advancing a healthier, more sustainable and more equitable Washington and world.

She will be accompanied by our Vice President for External Affairs, Randy Hodgins.

Come learn how to protect our youth from sexual exploitation.  This webinar is FREE to attend and proudly sponsored by Rotary Club of the Pacific Northwest Ending Sex Trafficking.   Thursday, February 22 at 6pmPST.  Feel free to invite your friends and family.  All are welcome! For more information, CLICK HERE

The Rotary Club of Seattle is excited to offer this volunteer opportunity as a Marshall for the 2024 KPMG  Women's PGA Championship! Our club has committed to providing 15 volunteers for Hole 11. The deadline for registration for this event in June is February 26; please see below for registration information:

• CLICK HERE to access the volunteer portal
• Click "Register Here" on the right-hand side of the page
• Select "Adult Volunteer" as your volunteer type
• Create a username and fill out information needed
• When prompted to select a Committee Choice, select "Marshal Hole 11 - Rotary Club of Seattle" from the drop down box, enter the security code RCS2024, and complete the entire registration process

*Using this code ensures that all members of our club volunteering will be assigned to the correct hole*

The Rotary Business Mentors committee, under the co-chairmanship of Barton DeLacy and Paul Tsai, provides Seattle 4 members with an opportunity to coach UW Foster School of Business students as they help businesses in underserved communities to plan for and execute growth strategies.

To hear about the work of the Business Mentors Committee, please join us for the Rotary Day on the UW Campus!

Rotary Day

• Date: Thursday, February 29, 2024
• Time:  12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
• Location: Founders Hall, Peek Forum (5^th Floor) / UW Foster School of Business

Lunch will be provided.

Parking will be provided

Parking instructions will be sent to all attendees by email prior to the event. Please submit your registration so that you receive parking instructions.

Registration/RSVP:

Please send your RSVP by February 21 using the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/Bd5erJ1Zcg

Threats to Local Journalism: the dysfunctional, news business model collides with an ever increasing need for access to objectively true information. The fate of civil discourse -- indeed, democracy -- lies in the balance. A conversation with journalists Joni Balter and Mark Wright.  

Please join us for food and drinks at this happy hour before our 6:30 PM March evening member event with Ciscoe Morris at Wisteria Hall at Washington Park Arboretum. No need to RSVP but we do encourage our YRL members (35 and under) and newer club members to attend!

Members and guests must RSVP for this event by CLICKING HERE. Food and drink will not be offered but members can attend a pre-event happy hour at The Attic. For details on the happy hour, please CLICK HERE.

You're Invited to Bear's Birthday!
 
Saturday, March 16th
11:30-3pm
Puget Sound Maritime
Buffet Luncheon and Program Celebrating the
150th Launching Anniversary of
The USRC Bear
at the Coast Guard Museum Northwest in Seattle

Program: Join us on Saturday, March 16th, at the Seattle USCG Base for a special luncheon to celebrate the 150th Birthday of the famous US Revenue Cutter Bear. We'll be gathering at 11:30AM at the Coast Guard Museum Northwest. Then we'll move upstairs to the Bear Room for a pasta luncheon and program meeting.
 
Following the meeting, we will head downstairs to the exhibits gallery where Captain Gene Davis, Ret., the museum director and curator will give us an exclusive tour concentrating on artifacts from the USRC Bear. As the exhibits tell, she had many heroic stories over her long years including her most challenging, "The Rescue at the Top of the World."
 
Here is a bit of that story...Winter came early to the Arctic in 1899. The frigid temps made pack ice north of Bering Strait as the North American whaling fleet became trapped, stranding 300 men. Three ships escaped southward to sound the alarm about the calamity. 
 
Cutter Bear was just returning to Seattle after a full season patrollingover 20,000 square miles of the Arctic Ocean when a messenger ran up the gangplank with an urgent telegram for Bear's Captain Tuttle.
 
Three of the crew, anxious to return to their familiars soon found themselves headed back to sea, steaming as far north amidst the ice as possible. Then these men debarked and commenced a 1500 mile overland trek, driving 300 reindeer and dog teams carrying supplies for the stranded whalers.
 
Join us Saturday, March 16th!
 
Tickets: Tickets are $30 for Members and Guests, $35 for non-members. Deadline 8pm March 12th for USCG Base security clearance.
Ticket sales link below. Invite a friend!
 
Parking: Free parking is included. Enter through the main gate, check in at the guard booth, and park near the museum at the north end of the base.
 
Government-issued Photo ID required. To enter the US Coast Guard Base you must present government-issued photo ID. This must match the names you provided when you purchase your tickets. 

To purchase tickets, please CLICK HERE.

Rachel Smith, President and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, will make the case for why the stakes are high, and why that’s a good thing; how thinking big, re-embracing regionalism, and being civically relentless will set the Puget Sound region up for success in 2024 and beyond.

Please RSVP by filling out this volunteer form: https://wellspringfs.org/volunteer-form/

More details coming soon!

Effective leadership is the foundation of thriving communities. CLICK HERE TO APPLY for Leadership Tomorrow’s Flagship Program and join a cohort of 80 Puget Sound leaders from the private, nonprofit, and public sectors. Together you will explore the interconnected issues that shape our region, develop and practice strategies and tools to become more effective leaders, and expand your personal and professional networks. Our club has a long-standing relationship with Leadership Tomorrow and many club members are graduates of the program.

Applications are due April 1 before 5 p.m. Check out LT’s website for more information, including upcoming Information Sessions.

Contact Mary Johnstone to learn more and how to get involved. 

Office of the Secretary of the State: Serving Communities Statewide

Hobbs will speak about how the Office of the Secretary of State serves communities statewide through various divisions, specifically making an impact through voter education and outreach and combating election misinformation.

Join us for a highly anticipated visit to our beloved Rotary Boys and Girls Club! This is your opportunity to see what our club does to contribute to this important organization within King County, both now and historically. For more information about the history of our club and the Rotary Boys and Girls Club, please CLICK HERE. More information about this event will be posted once finalized. 

Rotary Boys & Girls Club

Annual Maintenance Day 2024

Join Seattle 4 Rotary members, family, and friends to spruce up the club by cleaning inside and out. Bring your favorite tools and spend three hours of fun and service at your Rotary Boys & Girls Club.

This event is held with the RBGC Advisory Board and is a great opportunity for the Rotarians and board members to get to know each other!

***Date: Saturday, April 13th | 9:00 am-12:00 pm

***Location: Rotary Boys & Girls Club

201 19th Ave. Seattle, WA 98112

***Contact: Jared Grose - jared@jlservicing.com

Take Charge!  Recycle Lithium-Ion batteries responsibly.

Seattle Rotary is teaming with our District 5030 Environmental/Sustainability Committee to collect rechargeable items (= cell phones, laptops, tablets, electric toothbrushes, wireless headphones, and power tool batteries, etc) at donation sites across the Greater Seattle area on April 20th.  

Seattle #4 Rotarians are invited to VOLUNTEER for a two hour shift and/or RECYCLE their rechargable electronics at Goodwill's Donation Center at 1400 South Lane Street in Seattle. 

Contact Mary Johnstone to learn more and how to get involved. 

Join us for this light impact service opportunity packing no-cook food bags for the food insecure in downtown Seattle. This volunteer opportunity is in conjunction with our Community Impact Grant and its recipients, Pike Place Market Foundation.

Plan on joining us near our meeting space at the Westin before the lunch program to participate and help serve others!

Cascade PBS is the premiere regional public media organization offering the best of public broadcasting, local original productions, public interest journalism and community events. Our mission is to inform and inspire the community to make the world a better place. Join us to learn about the latest from PBS; the local programs we produce, such as Mossback’s Northwest, Nick on the Rocks and Out & Back; and the latest in our coverage of local politics and investigative journalism.

To RSVP and pre-pay, please email fedvadikmen@hotmail.com!

What is YPE?

YPE is a Rotary Club program designed for young professionals ages 25 – 35.  The purpose is to build a new generation of Rotarian global leaders with global perspectives and experience.  Another purpose is to build goodwill and peace between nations and clubs by building personal and professional relationships between young professionals in other countries. This leads to mutual understanding of  different cultures on both a business and personal level.   It is an exciting new program for Rotary, relevant and interesting to a younger membership!

How does it work?

For a period of 8 – 10 days, you will be part of a small group of other young professionals and will travel to Japan, where you will be hosted by a Rotary club.  You will stay in a Japanese home of a Rotarian club member who has volunteered to host you.  During your time in Japan, you will take part in various activities as a group (in 2019 and 2023, it was a group of 4).  In 2024 it will, take place in Osaka from either September 13 or 20.   These activities are not only professional but also social/cultural and Rotary based.  You will visit companies selected by the host Rotary Club and have a chance to interact with employees at your peer-level as well as higher level, and experience the Japanese corporate culture, how they make decisions, how they interact together, and what they focus on to make their success.  You will also spend time in Rotary/Rotaract activities and social cultural activities.

Similarly, there is a group of young professionals from Japan who will visit the Seattle area, hosted by 5 Rotary Clubs in the Seattle area who are hosting the same activities. In 2024, that will happen  August 10 - 18.  As part of this program, you will be spending some time together with them here in the Seattle area, during some of the group activities.  In Japan, you will have a chance to meet these same young professionals during your stay in Osaka. The program includes some time for sightseeing and unscheduled blocks of time.

How much does it cost?

While in Osaka, the home-stay is hosted by the Rotary Club there, as are most of the meals.  You will have some expenses for train and subway travel in and around Osaka.  The Rotary subsidy is 50% of the airfare and optional JR Rail Pass, and 100% reimbursement for Travel Insurance (medical). 

Who should participate?

Anybody roughly aged 25-35 who embodies the spirit of Rotary and wants to expand their minds and careers, meet new people both professionally and privately, and be open to learn some of the very different cultures of Japan.  You should also be open to helping us make this program better for future participants by giving feedback, recommendations, ideas and a little of your time.  You might even be asked to help us organize future exchanges as we grow and expand this program to more clubs in more countries!

I’M IN!  Now what next?

Just click on the link below and the application will be sent to you on May 5th, simultaneously with the other applicants. The applications will be open to complete from May 5- May 15th.

Want to know more?  Can’t go this time but want to be involved in some of the YPE activities in Seattle?  Click the link below and fill out contact info.

At the heart of Rotary is a business foundation.  Part of this program is business training, career and skills development. It may be that your employer will feel the same and offer some portion of the time away from work as paid time.  We may be able to play a roll in discussing this with your employer -- feel free to reach out and explore this further.

Here is the link to receive the application when it opens May 5th:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qM0FN0-FcRuFefTw7mv7FD0-Csnoc8anlOGYiPsAQXA/edit?ts=66100e8b

Please reach out with any questions and we are so excited for this to be a successful year with even more fun! Thank you to all of those helping make this program a life changing event for all those participating!

This special meeting is being called to provide club membership with an opportunity to hear about and discuss (in small table-talk sessions) the Future Vision Task Force report. This report is the result of several months of task force work to envision what the Rotary Club of Seattle of the future could look like. We would like to see full member participation! Please make attendance to this event a priority to you! Food and beverage will be offered.

Join us on Monday, May 13th, at Ivar’s Salmon House on Northlake Way for a special dinner presentation by Jason Childs, former NFL player and current President and CEO of Saltchuk Marine, a family of marine transportation logistics companies including Foss Maritime and Tote. To register to attend, please CLICK HERE.