Once again, the three Rotary clubs of Jefferson County opted to join together for their installation dinners. The late June event was not only practical, it further banded together the three local clubs with a common goal — Service Above Self.

Our own past president Milt Morris was the evening's master of ceremonies. He reminded us all that Erik Frederickson is in line to be district governor in 2006.
"If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call him. The man has the answers," Milt said.

Scott Wilson, outgoing president of the Port Townsend Rotary made one fact clear from the start. "Nothing that any of us (outgoing presidents) can boast about is something that we can say we did," Scott said, crediting the many others who routinely volunteer. "So much of what's good about Rotary…are the things that are happening inside the club."

Looking around the room, he noted the clubs' diversity in a county where there's often division. Scott credited our use of the 4-Way Test in our relationships with each other.
"Integrity in personal relationships is the basis of decency in a community," Scott said. (Scott's editorial for that week also had a Rotary spin.)

Scott passed the gavel to Reto Filli, who plans to celebrate Rotary's centennial by building on the successes of the past year. "I think it's important that we work together with our neighboring clubs and create some awareness in the community of what Rotary is about," Reto said.

Joanie Williams, Port Townsend Sunrise Club president, passed the gavel to John Eissinger. But first, she told of the club's fundraising for July 4 fireworks — and how they got soaked trying to sell drinks, as a fundraiser at the Bounty of the Sea.

John Eissinger thanked Chuck Henry, who had been presented a Presidential Citation. (Photo, left.)

Looking back on his own term in office, the RC of East Jefferson County's John Rodrigues said, "You may hold the title of president, but the work is really done by the board and all of the committee leaders."

John said it was a great experience and he's glad he accepted it — but he was more than ready to move into his new role as a "has been." Before doing so, he presented Bud Babcock with a special award. The longtime treasurer is passing his calculator to Fred Weiss.

New President Don Young offered lots of praise and thanks to the many who keep the Rotary wheel moving.

Can't you just read Don Young's mind?
"Ah, J-Rod, you really think your work is done?"

He made a special presentation, of a Mind of the Raven book, to Henry Rogers. "You make our meetings shine with your invocations," Don told him.

Before he became a Rotarian, Don's image of Rotary was brandy snifters and overstuffed leather chairs. At a long-ago Ritz, he sat by Bates Thomas. (And we all know how Bates loves to talk about Rotary!) "I don't remember what he said, but I do remember his passion," Don recalled. As far as his goals for the year, he grinned, "My goals are going to be Reto's goals plus 10 percent."

Don also challenged every Rotarian to set a fitness goal. Share it with others in the club — and then make a contribution to the Rotary Foundation at the end of the year when the goal's achieved.

Don closed with a quote by Marianne Williamson (often incorrectly attributed to Nelson Mandela). The author of A Return to Love wrote:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people
won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

John Rodrigues presented Bud Babcock with a special appreciation award. Our longtime treasurer is "retiring" from his post.

Outgoing Sunrise Club President Joanie Williams is the pretty lady framed by our guys.

There are more installation photos further down in this newsletter. Yes, the funny ones. . .

It's time to brush off that tux and dig out your dancing shoes. The Rotary Club of East Jefferson County's annual gala, and big fundraiser, "Puttin' on the Ritz" is this weekend. From 5:30 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Sept. 11, Port Ludlow's The Bay Club is the place to be for food and fun.

This is indeed the premiere event of its kind in Jefferson County. The evening begins with flowing champagne and trays of hors d'oeuvres, consumed while folks wander the silent auction room placing their bids.

There's something for everyone at the Ritz's auctions. Local residents and businesses donate lots of items, priced from a few dollars to a thousand dollars or more. In years past, trips on sailboats, parties for 50, travel opportunities, handmade quilts, early telephones, office fans, Wilson classic golf clubs, nursery stock, a solid oak game table and a Seahawk's jersey were just a few of the items that were up for auction. Who knows what treasures this year's donors have offered. Many local businesspersons donate services, as well. Last year's Ritz netted $38,457 — the most ever.

Before the oral auction begins, Ritz guests are wined and dined with prime rib, King salmon or vegetarian pasta, catered by The Belmont Hotel. Decadent desserts follow.
Once the last of the donations is auctioned off, guests are invited to dance the night away to the Dukes of Dabob.

Ritz donations are tax deductible. Tickets, $65 each, are available at Enclume, Frederickson Electric, Hadlock Dental Center, from your favorite Rotarian, or call Dee at 385-7988.

Service Above Self
For more than 20 years, "Service Above Self" has been the mainstay of the Rotary Club of East Jefferson County. The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster service, friendships and high ethical standards. Funds raised by the service organization go right back into the community.

"Rotary taught me a sense of purpose," said Dee Weinstein, a past-president. "To be thankful not only for what I have, but for the ability to help people who may not be so lucky to have what I've got. To give back to my community who has helped me to grow and prosper.

"It's not money," she clarified. "It's the friendships that I have made through Rotary which have made me rich beyond my wildest imaginations. When I first joined Rotary, I hardly knew what Rotary was about. I knew they did scholarships at Chimacum School, which was what peaked my interest. I had no idea of the things they do around the world, like the eradication of polio, helping the underprivileged in third world countries, and helping victims of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, etcetera, etcetera. Believe me, I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

"Rotary has not only changed the lives of millions of people they have helped, but changed mine as well," Dee said. "Not only has this organization given me a standard of high ethical business practices, but personal integrity as well. The day I joined Rotary was the first day of a new life for me. I met a group of people that I can call my lifelong friends. I can't imagine my life now without Rotary."

Since 1990, the East Jefferson club has disbursed nearly $400,000 — most directly into the local community. Through the years, the Club has supported: food banks, Port Hadlock's Teen Resource Center, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, Future Business Leaders of America, Jefferson County 4-H, Jefferson County Historical Society Museum, many Chimacum School activities, Rotary Youth Leadership awards, Tri-Area Community Center, Boy Scout Troop 480, McCurdy Pavilion, youth baseball and football, the American Red Cross, Literacy Council of Jefferson County, OlyCap's Thanksgiving and Christmas community dinners, Christmas for Tri-Area Children, July 4 fireworks, the guardian ad litem program, as well as many other similar programs. Medic 13's $29,000 Life Pak 12 heart monitoring unit was a gift from Rotary, too. Central to this generosity is the success of the Ritz.

"The Ritz gives our guests an opportunity to help make a real difference in the lives of Jefferson County residents," said President Don Young. "The Ritz allows the Rotary Club of East Jefferson County to fund numerous projects benefiting the citizens of Jefferson County. This includes our scholarship program, in which we give money to hard-working students in Jefferson County to help them pursue their dreams and benefit society. We will also be breaking ground shortly on our Rotary Centennial Pavilion project in H.J. Carroll Park. This will serve as a focal point for community activities in the Tri-Area."

Building of the pavilion should begin in October and be completed early in 2005. To help fund the $52,000 pavilion, the club is raffling off a Harley 2005 Sportster 1200 Custom (or $8500 in cash). Only 1250 of the $20 tickets will be sold, so the odds are pretty good. (Second prize, $500; third, $250.)

The pavilion is the brainchild of the club's long-range planning committee. First chartered in 1996, it was tasked to develop potential fundraising activities and club projects that are multi-year in scope. The first project was to raise $63,500 to replace and vastly improve the ancient playground at Chimacum Schools. The project was completed in 1999, thanks to fundraising efforts and a lot of volunteer labor.

Scholarships
Each year, the Club awards between $9,500 and $14,000 in scholarships to worthy graduating seniors from Chimacum and Quilcene high schools. More than $128,000 has been granted since 1990.

Besides the typical scholastic records and financial need information, the students are asked to write an essay on "What the Four-Way Test Means to Me and How I'd Apply it in My Life".
Rotary's "The Four-Way Test of the things we think, say or do" asks:
1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build good will and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Judging one's actions by this test meshes well with the Rotary's motto, "Service Above Self."

In the beginning
The East Jefferson club was chartered on June 21, 1982. "Club 063" in District 5020 was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Port Townsend. There were 23 charter members. Of these, only John Barrett is currently an active club member. Jim Humphrey, now an Honorary member, was the club's first president.

John, who was the Club's second president, recalled its beginnings, "The Rotary Club of Port Townsend sponsored our club. David Gooding and Judge 'Ace' Grady were the two members of that club who were the primary movers and shakers of the effort. It was formed so that the members of the Port Townsend club could have a convenient avenue for makeups (of missed meetings). It was fairly difficult to get a minimum signup of members (for our new club). Gooding and Grady worked really hard to get this club off the ground," the Port Hadlock dentist said. "We originally had our lunches in the Ajax Café."

The Club's first fundraising effort was a beer booth operated at Hadlock Days and Airport Daze. Dollarwise, the effort was minimally successful, but it did irritate Valley Tavern owner Chuck Russell.

"After quite a bit of discussion between Chuck and me, I learned that his anger wasn't so much a turf issue, as it was that we had been cheating quite a bit on the law — mostly from ignorance — and that wasn't appropriate," John recalled. "I had to talk long and hard with Chuck to convince him that we wanted him as our friend rather than enemy, and that we would prefer to do our business by the book and with guidance from someone who understood the rules. That eventually led to Chuck's becoming a Rotarian — a very good one I might add."

Chuck was instrumental in helping to create "Puttin' on the Ritz", which he also named.
Aboard the catamaran cruise boat, Spirit of Alderbrook, guests enjoyed a dinner cruise from Port Ludlow to Protection Island. Live music, food catered by Nancy's Place, oral and silent auctions, and everyone decked out in their finest roaring '20s' outfits equaled great fun.

"We used cruise boats for about four or five years prior to transitioning to the South Ludlow Bay Club," John said. "Subsequent Ritz events were ever more successful, adding magic shows and other entertainment with the result that now the event is looked forward to as the best dress-up party of the year in East Jefferson County."

Win a
Harley!

The Rotary Club of East Jefferson County is once again raffling off a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Raffle tickets sell for $20 each.

Only 1,250 tickets will be sold, so the odds of winning are quite good. One can win a new Harley — or take $8,500 in cash. Second prize: $500; third: $250. Drawing's at the Ritz.

In early June, Chimacum's Interact Club installed its officers.

From left: Outgoing Vice President Danielle Brann, advisor Linda Kostenbader, incoming President Paige Worley, incoming Vice President Amanda Porto, and incoming Secretary Makenzi Wrinkle.

Reto and Jana Filli, above. Another great story: Once upon a time, there was a cute young guy who came to the US for the Olympics, as part of the Swiss luge team. After biking all around the country and boating near and far, he ended up in Port Townsend.

When his new friend asked Reto what he wanted for his birthday, he said, "A girl." Joe Daubenberger took the bait and introduced Reto Filli to his sister, Jana. Five weeks later, Reto and Jana were married. . .and they lived happily ever after.

Need a makeup? Try E-Club One

Rotary's first Internet-based club, "Rotary eClub One" (District 5450), has made it a goal to serve all Rotarians. The club has designated the ability for others to make up missed Rotary club meetings as its international service project. And, yes, the Rotary Club of East Jefferson County does honor a make-up through Rotary eClub One.

Chartered in January 2002, Rotary eClub One had had 8,000 make-ups before the printing of a June 2003 article in The Rotarian. The site now says more than 11,000 Rotarians have used its service.

Make-ups are made by reading one of the informational programs on the site and completing the make-up request form. On it, you'll discuss the program you read, including how it might relate to your home club's activities. You'll also be asked to suggest topics for future makeup programs.

Note: The link wasn't working tonight (Sept. 5). Hopefully, it's a temporary glitch. . .

Sandy Hershelman Designs
P.O. Box 521
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
360.385.1087

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