Unless written objections are submitted to the Board within 10 days of this posting, the following individual will be invited to membership: 

 

 

 

 

President Mark called the June 7 meeting of the Rotary Club of Tacoma to order at 12:11 pm in the Plaza Grand Ballroom.  Elliot Stockstad, Habitat for Humanity, gave a moving and concise invocation.   President Mark thanked Lori Harnick, Goodwill, for being this week’s meeting sponsor. Jeff Albers, Wilson Albers and Company, and Sally Glover, South Sound Care took the mics around for introducing guests and visiting Rotarians.  Among the many guests was former long-time member Dave Thomas, visiting from Sedona AZ.

Debbie Regala then came forward to introduce this week’s speaker – Penny LeGate.  Penny is no stranger to Rotary or to this Rotary Club.  She has spoken numerous times to many Rotary gatherings and is an honorary member of Tacoma #8, as well as a recipient of six Paul Harris Fellowships. The theme of her remarks was Marah’s Story, talking about the untimely death of her daughter Marah and the terrible effects of the Opioid Crisis in our country.  This is an epidemic and is a battle to save American lives.  In 2015 overdose deaths surpassed all the deaths in the Vietnam War, and in 2016, drug overdoses claimed over 64,000 lives.  She said that the homeless problem is over 90% related to Opioid use. Her daughter died at age 18 from a heroin overdose.  She was a very sensitive and talented person.  Her daughter identified with others who were down and out and was a very complicated child who went through a number of treatment episodes for drug use.  Penny stated that the war on drugs is not working.  She said we have learned ten things from what is happening:  1) Addiction is a disease, a chronic medical condition, and that the typical heroin user needs 4 fixes each day.  It should be treated like any other disease. 2)  Control prescriptions of Opioids.  Doctors are prescribing them far too often for pain.  She said that 60% of kids get drugs from medicine cabinets in their own homes or homes of friends.  3)  No one is immune from the dug crisis – it touches all ethnic groups.  4)  Education is essential – talk with your kids early on. 5)  Find alternatives to self-medicating.  6)  More treatment facilities.  7)  Recovery is possible.    There is medication assisted treatment and there is no shame in that.  8)  Make Naloxone available as it can reverse overdoses.  9)  Know that in this state there is the Good Samaritan Law.  10)  There should be no stigma and no shame – then people will stop dying.  If you stay in the shadows people will die.  Penny concluded her remarks to a standing ovation for telling Marah’s Story and the sage advice on the Opioid Crisis.

President Mark then called forward Carol Webster and Mike Wark, from the Community Service Grants Committee, to present the third cycle of grants for this Rotary Year.  Representatives from all of the grant recipient organizations were present to receive their award and the total amount of this Round Three was $52,500.  We were reminded that the funds raised at each Rotary Auction and donations to the Tacoma Rotary Foundation fund the grants that the club gives out every year. The fourteen organizations that received grants were; Eloise's Cooking Pot, First Washington, Tacoma Children's Museum, Foundations for a Healthy Generation, Nourish, EFN, Children's Therapy Center, Safe Streets, Citizen's for a Healthy Bay, St. Vincent dePaul, College Success Foundation, Rebuilding Together, ARK and Seabury School. 

Then Maureen Fife and Elliot Stockstad from Habitat for Humanity came forward to receive an  oversized check totaling $78,000 from the recent Auction Raise the Paddle.  Helping President Mark make the presentation was Auction Chair Carol Duris. Meeting Sponsor Lori Harnick from Goodwill, came forward and briefly described the work of Goodwill in operating stores, community partnerships and helping people in need. They are hosting the Social tonight and invite members to see their services through a clients eyes. 

Anniversaries celebrated this week:  Chris Serface – 4 years; Anthony Chen – 9 years; Mark Anderson – 15 years; Peter Carlstrom – 17 years; Ross Hjelseth – 22 years; and Jamie Will – 43 years. Diane Tilstra came forward to help celebrate birthdays.  There were two celebrants in attendance: Cynthia Darland and Lori Harnick.   Also celebrating this week were Shon Sylvia and Past President Bill Baxter, celebrating 93 years, and a card for Bill was going around at the meeting.

President Mark made a brief paid announcement for a free Breath of Air concert set for Friday evening, which is a singing group Mark belongs to, and reminded everyone about signing up for the June 28^th Galleyside, and said there was a need for one more boat.

President Mark thanked our speaker Penny LeGate for the informative program.  He thanked Lori Harnick for being the meeting sponsor.  Tonight’s social will be at the Goodwill at 714 South 27^th St..  Our speaker next week will be Michael Mirra, Exec. Dir. of the Tacoma Housing Authority who will talk about how they are serving the community in  finding suitable and sustainable housing. 

As he adjourned the meeting at 1:20pm., President Mark said to now go out and Live Rotary!