But start Joel did, with a shout for Dave Coleman to give the invocation. And with the microphone finally in full working mode, our President called upon Bob Gee to lead the Pledge. Joel acknowledged the assistance of Mick Johnson at the Paul Harris desk, Mary Lou Sclair as the Sgt at Arms, and then called on the very same Mary Lou to introduce our lone visitor, Tim Ware from Tacoma #8. Guests included our own Satu Sihvo, exchange student extraordinaire from Finland, who is doing her own countdown: 9 more weeks before her departure home. Don't wait! Ask her over to your house before it is too late! And our second and final guest was Bill White's son, Drew. Welcome to all! There was no Sunshine Report, but one could not help but notice the pump PE Greg Horn was wearing to assist in the healing of his injured foot, the one with the 2" open wound. If you should see Greg strapping on water skis in the next few weeks, please remind him that this would not be a good idea.
Announcements/Fines:
: Ted Wier read a letter from the City of Lakewood, thanking our Club for our considerable participation in Parks Appreciation Day, alluding to our ongoing contributions to the community. Ted failed to mention his many upcoming trips and vacations.
: Dave Coleman has for several years worked for the M.J. Murdock Trust, and he announced with happiness the recently awarded grant to our own Dan Livingston's Tillicum Youth Center, in the amount of $250,000. ($100,000 of the sum needs to be matched to be awarded.) Dan is no doubt ecstatic, and Dave gave $20 in recognition of his own joy.
: Joel's request for May birthdays netted one volunteer, Shannon Krueger, who presumably parted with $10.
: DeWayne Shepard received his blue badge. He asked if he was to be billed for the $5 fine that accompanies this award, to which Lawyer Joel pronounced his ongoing practice that "it's what's up front that counts." Which reminds me of the picture here, showing Joel's former
law offices
.
Program:
Stephanie Walsh announced the cumulative award of $12,000 for scholarships this year, and thanked the committee which included herself, Carl Fynboe, Jason Whalen, and Chairman RobertPeterson. Carl and Bob proceeded to introduce our scholarship award winners:
Clover Park High School:
Jaime Bradford (present): Western Washington University, to be a teacher. Started a homework club, among many other volunteer efforts.
Samantha Ling, to be a teacher.
Deja Morrison
Lakes High School:
Katrina Andrews, West Point
Brianna Wilhelm (present): Central Washington, to be a teacher.
Nnadozie Okorafor: Pre-med at UW; From Nigeria, would like to return there to help his country.
Cathea Carey, to be a physician.
Nab Ina Yea, UW, PhD in Psychology
Katherine Badger (present), BYU, 4.0 GPA, elementary education
Jessica Edgecomb, 3.91 GPA, UW or New York U
Kaitlyn Kessel (present) 3.89 GPA, UW pre-law
Sarah McKeown (present) 3.9 GPA, U of Portland, English & secondary education
Steilacoom High School:
Emily Boline, UW, 4.0 GPA, medical career
Josiah Donor (present) Whitworth, computer science and math
Carlyn Harlow (present) U of Dayton Ohio, civil engineering
Jennifer Kim (present) UW, medical school 3.995 gpa (1 A minus!!)
MacKenzie Mercurio (present) UW, health care admin or pediatrician
Erica Mueller (present) Brown University, pre law & political science (90% scholarship)
Repeat recipients:
Ulisis Sanchez (present) Pierce College now, hopes for UW in criminal justice
Emily Kirkpatrick, University of Texas
Denise Isler, Pierce College
Christopher David Badger, BYU
Brittany Frances Ward (present), UW
Mike McGowan said a few words, exhorting the honorees to travel the good road and avoid mistakes that can last a lifetime. They have worked hard for the opportunity, and now must make the most of it in a highly competitive marketplace.
Erica Mueller gave a few heartfelt words of praise for the help she received from Lakewood Rotary's Next Step program, helping greatly with her 90% scholarship to Brown.
Kaitlyn Kessel and Sarah McKeown gave thanks for their RYLA experience.
And Brittany Ward read a poem she wrote for the occasion, called "Seed of Faith":
Only the strong will survive in this cycle of faith
But what does strength entail?
The willingness to hold on
When all around you crumbles?
The capacity to adhere to words of wisdom?
Even when you are blinded by naivete.
The momentum to keep swimming
When reality sinks while you're past surfaces
Recurring symbols of failure
Tainting your here and now
Blurring your vision as though
Intentionally implemented to destroy you
Yet, you are not fretful;
You humbly reach up
As a trusted mentor extends a hand
To lift you out of a bottomless pit
Ridden with nightmares of justified doubt
Listen to this person standing before you
Deigned to aid you as you venture into
A world far too complex to decipher on our own
A beacon of light in this dense atmosphere
An outlet of truth when things are uncertain
One to console you in times of despair
And rejoice with when acknowledging blessings
A living testament of life fulfillment
Maintaining the ever-flowing cycle
By providing the tools that lay the foundation
For a seed to sprout and a garden to thrive!
Congratulations to the recipients, to the committee for their wisdom, and to the Club for their generosity and hard work which provided for these scholarships.
The Drawing: #543121 Mo Sarram. No shouts of glee, so one must assume the award of a $5.00 bounty.
Travels with Satu:
Satu recently spent the evening with the Bill Allen family, and had a blast. She visited Mount St. Helens with another exchange student and his family, and raved about it. Not so much the sunburn she received from forgetting her sunscreen. And she's slated to join Ron and Jeanette Adkins for a Rainiers game soon. Next on the horizon?????
Arriving in August: Anatole from France!
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