By Mike Colbrese

 

President Cindy introduced Lacey Stone of St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, who in turn introduced the day's speaker, Caryl Stern, President and CEO of UNICEF USA.

Following welcoming applause, Caryl thanked the club for its work and shared how UNICEF started in 1946 as an effort to help children affected by World War II. With that work, which was to be a temporary mission, came the realization that more children in more places needed help. The motto, Do whatever it takes! guided efforts to assist the most marginalized children around the world.

 

That led to the goal of eradicating polio. Alongside Rotary International and other partners, UNICEF drove the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which is our combined effort to reach every child with the polio vaccine.  Today UNICEF is the world’s largest provider of vaccines, distributing 1.5 billion doses annually. She traced the journey of the vaccine from plane, to jeep, to donkey before it arrives where needed.

 

The organization utilizes “social mobilization,” a method of mobilizing local governments, community and religious groups, and others to gain community acceptance that will be sustainable and provide multi-faceted solutions. She praised the volunteers, a high percentage of whom are women. “The challenges are a mobile societies, cultural differences, parental refusal, as well as insecurity and conflict.”

 

She also explained what UNICEF is doing to ensure that every one of the millions of children uprooted around the world is protected, cared for, and has the necessary support to thrive. “50 million children are on the road,” she explained, “but eradication is possible.”

 

She closed by telling a story about a visit to a village where children were being vaccinated and fed. One child in particular shadowed Caryl and when given a biscuit, broke it in half and gave that half to a younger child.

 

Ms. Stern again thanked the club and returned to her seat while receiving a standing ovation.

 

 

To begin the meeting, President Cindy Runger rang the bell and asked the members to find a new club friend during the Greet-n-Grin, visiting about what attendees had learned from their fathers. She then introduced Linda Rough and the multi-useful Ken Grant to lead and accompany the club members in singing "od Bless America.

Past president Cathy Gibson inspired the attendees with her message about the value of Rotary International's shared values. She explained that since a 1945 meeting in San Francisco when the charter was developed, Rotary has connected the world through service and urged each of us to continue that legacy.

Shell Stone and Paul Heppner introduced guests and all visiting Rotarians.  Then President Runger recognized Andrew Rapp who welcomed the dignitaries, who were in attendance as guests of the club's Diplomacy Task Force, including Yoichiro Yamada, Consul General Japan; Hyung-jong Lee, Consul General Korea; Robert Kerr, Deputy Consul Canada; Charles Liu, Deputy Director General Taiwan; Mark Gantar, Honorary Consul Ethiopia; Teresa Indelak-Davis, Honorary Consul Poland; Mark Schleck, Honorary Consul Denmark; and Roberto Dondisch, Emeritus Consul General Mexico.

New members Liam Li and Jonathon Bosch were introduced respectively by Faith Ireland and Jane Pryor. Liam is a U.S. Citizen born in China. When Liam was six years old he wanted to be a coal miner. His parents sent him to live with the family of a coal miner when he was six months old. He stayed there until age nine. He wanted to be a coal miner because miners doing heavy labor got more food, then a rare thing in China.  Today Liam is a key executive with Himalaya Capital which manages over eleven billion dollars in investments in Asia for U.S. and global institutional investors.

Jonathon, who was born in the Netherlands, spent his growing-up years in school and playing basketball. The sport got him to the U.S.  Jonathan has combined his love of sports and his business education into a career in sports and entertainment with the Utah Jazz and Fox Sports. In his current role, Jonathan is responsible for identifying and cultivating corporate relationships for the Seattle Seahawks. He was joined by wife Kirsten.

Former club president, Nancy Osborne, congratulated those members who are celebrating their anniversaries. She remarked that the 110th anniversary of Seattle 4 goes back to the roots of Rotary in Chicago and San Francisco. She spoke to the club's many accomplishments grounded in three major actions --the fulfillment of Ernie Skeel's statement that "Reciprocity, in the largest sense, means not just getting but also giving;” the spreading of Rotary work by Seattle 4 in forming 55 new clubs over the years; and the expansion of Rotary all over the world. 

 

Club members' anniversaries all the way from one to 33 were recognized.

Seattle Senior Deputy Mayor Michael Fong brought a welcome from the Mayor's office and commended the club for its Diplomacy Day. He explained that Mayor Durkan believes that the diversity of Seattle is a source of strength. Fong stated that the city's technology base is a model for others and that, coupled with the city's capacity for innovation, has positioned Seattle to grow all the while attracting global partners. 

Kari Rallo provided insight into the club's June 19 program, which will be held at the Westin with the discussion around the mental health spectrum moderated by former club president Mark Wright. 

President Runger thanked the sponsors and those who participated in the day's program and left us with her weekly proverb:

“It is not enough to be compassionate, we must act.” ― Dalai Lama