The 35th annual ‘Hands Across the Border’ rendezvous brought IYFR fleets from Seattle/Puget Sound, Washington State, and Vancouver/Victoria, British Columbia, for an August weekend of fellowship, capped by the planting of a peace pole in Port Townsend.  Seattle Rotary’s Peacebuilder Committee has planted peace poles in public places, as a symbol of the priority Rotarians throughout the world place on promoting peace.

Located at a picturesque former U.S. Coast Station at Point Hudson, Rotarians gathered for a dockside champagne reception on Thursday to meet, greet and learn about activities from concerts to Victorian home tours and tours of the NW Maritime Center in Port Townsend.   The Marina room at Point Hudson served as the weekend’s venue for hospitality, dinners, and entertainment!   On Saturday, Seattle Rotary Mariners Commodore, Pete DeLaunay, passed the traditional ‘Hands Across the Border’ WHEEL to Vancouver/Victoria fleet Commodore Richard Michaels.

Friday and Saturday evenings featured Chinese cuisine and salmon dinners, each followed by jazz music performances from Port Townsend’s impressive community of musicians. As Seattle Rotarians searched for an appropriate location to plant a peace pole in Port Townsend, several Rotarians were staying at the Commanders House at Point Hudson when the inn’s owners, Gail and John Oldroyd, offered a space in their beautiful garden.  The spot is adjacent to the Rotary Centennial Path which runs along the Point Hudson waterfront.  The Rotary Club of Port Townsend ensures the maintenance of the benches along the path, and now the peace pole - providing spots for people to stop, reflect, and enjoy the magnificent views.

Seattle Rotary Mariners “Hands Across the Border” rendezvous began in 1983 as a goodwill gathering between Seattle Rotary Mariners and the Vancouver Island Fleet.  This tradition has grown to include six fleets and visiting Rotary Mariners from around the world.  The 36th annual rendezvous will be hosted by the Canadian fleets in Victoria Harbour, British Columbia in 2020, where the WHEEL will be handed back to the U.S. fleets.