2013 marks the 20th Anniversary of the Silverdale Rotary Duck Race!  Over the past twenty years the Silverdale Rotary Club has sold duck adoptions for our annual race, and in the process has returned hundreds of thousands of dollars to the projects we sponsor in the Community. These projects range from small efforts to support non-profits to our current long-term project of sponsoring the Teen Center at the Haselwood Family YMCA in Silverdale. Click on  Duck Race Proceeds Recipients for a partial list of examples.

So, when we say Adopting Duck Changes Lives please understand that your direct support of the Silverdale Rotary Duck Race benefits everyone in our community.  Due to the generosity of our Sponsors donating cash to cover race expenses, every dollar you spend on Duck Tickets goes to charitable causes! 

This year, we are very pleased to offer Online Ticket Sales.  Thanks to the Kitsap Card we are also offering a 2013 Kitsap Card with the adoption of 15 ducks (three Quack Packs - a $60 donation to your community).  This is an offer ONLY available through online sales, and quantities are limited!

Visit the Silverdale Rotary Duck Race Website for more details.

See below for a Sample Quack Pack.

On June 6th, the Silverdale Rotary Club once again demonstrated its dedication to education in our community by giving out $12,250 in scholarships to eighteen Central Kitsap School District students.  The recipients were hand picked by a committee of Rotarians, who chose the awardees based on pre-submitted scholarship applications.  The recipients of the awards were as follows:

Klahowya Secondary School

• Quincy Rouse - $1,000
•  Alyna Jensen - $1,000
• Michael Ward - $1,000
• Riley Mills - $1,000
• Shelby Hemmerling - $500
• Sally Fletcher - $500
• Alyson Kreifels - $500

Central Kitsap High School

• Mathew Bogert - $1,500
• Joshua Wyllie - $1,000
• Nicholas Anderson - $500
• Jahrielle Davis - $500
• Kaitlyn Duarte - $500
• Benjamin Green - $500
• Mykyaila Jaramillo - $500
• Melissa Khuat - $500
• Amber Cheremsak - $500
• Kierra Brobst - $250

Crosspoint Academy

• Alexandra Gamble - $500

Pictured (left to right): Quincy Rouse, Alyson Kreifels, Sally Fletcher, Kaitlyn Duarte, Jahrielle Davis, Amber Cheremsek, Melissa Khuat, Mathew Bogart, Mikyaila Jaramillo, Joshua Wyllie, Kierra Brobst.

On June 6th, the Silverdale Rotary Club gathered at the Kitsap Golf and Country Club to honor Eric Samson as Central Kitsap School District's Teacher of the Year.  Mr. Samson currently teaches Honors Physical Science at Central Kitsap Junior High School.  He has been teaching in CKSD for over twenty-three years and has had a huge impact on many, many lives.  Eric was chosen as teacher of the year at the school level and later at the district level.  In recognition of his dedication to education, the Silverdale Rotary Club presented Mr. Samson with a very nice Crystal Plaque, a Paul Harris Fellowship Award (in which the club donated $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation in his name), as well as a $250 check.  Congratulations Eric Samson and thank you for all that you do for our community!!!

Pictured (left to right): Rotarian Bud Grahn, Eric Samson, and Rotary President-Elect Jason Mayer.

It won't be long before those who have cable TV on Comcast or Wave Broadband will see a new Silverdale Rotary Duck Race cable ad courtesy of Mattress Ranch, once of our biggest sponsors after Advantage Nissan.  The footage was shot on location on May 30 at the Port Orchard Mattress Ranch.

Pictured below are Silverdale Rotary President Elect Jason Mayer, Mattress Ranch owner Ted Sadtler, and Chuck Capps of Advantage Nissan, with Lucky in the 2013 Grand Prize Nissan Frontier Duck Truck.

Thank you Advantage Nissan and Mattress Ranch!

On May 30th, the Silverdale Rotary Club awarded "Duck Bucks" to Easter Seals and the Hometown Band.  Duck Bucks are funds from the annual Silverdale Rotary Duck Race. 

The first recipient was Alisha Hartnett, the Program Director for the Easter Seals Olympic Peninsula Autism Center.  The $900 donation will be used for developing a sensory room, which will be used for therapy enhancement.  Rotarians will also supply a portion of the labor needed to build the room and equipment.  For more information click here.

Pictured: Rotarian Cathy Bisallion (left) with Alisha Hartnett.

The second recipient of the day was Greg Patterson, President of the Hometown Band.  The Hometown Band is a non-profit volunteer community band.  For more information about the Hometown Band visit their website.  The $500 donation will be used to purchase new chairs for the band members to use while performing at community events.

Pictured: Rotarian Cathy Bisallion with Greg Patterson.

Each quarter, the Silverdale Rotary Club honors local Sailors and Marines.  On May 23, we recognized exemplary Sailors and Marines from the Marine Corps Security Force Battalion at Bangor and the USS CONNECTICUT (SSN-22).  These men and women are chosen from a large pool of candidates, and their level of achievement in outstanding service to our country as well as community involvement is truly astonishing.

It was particularly timely to honor our Sailors and Marines just days before Memorial Day, a time when we are all reminded of the sacrifices of so many who have gone before.

Front row: MAC Andrew Christianson, Cpl Nathan Presley, MASN Jill Somekawa, Cpl Elijah Hardy, SSgt Alvin Robancho, SSgt John Bishop (all from Marine Corps Security Force Battalion Bangor)

Back row: MACS John McCown, MA3 Dustin Rothell, MA1 Dameon Parez, SgtMaj Steven Burkette (all from Marine Corps Security Force Battalion Bangor); ET1(SS) Jason Hoag and MMCS(SS) Nicholas Wallace (USS CONNECTICUT (SSN-22))

What a treat after we honored Sailors and Marines of the Quarter on May 23 to hear a stirring patriotic medley from the Independents.  Singing in front of a huge crowd, their special Memorial Day program honored active duty military, veterans, and all those who have fallen in service to our country.

Our own Rotarians Elayne Burton (pictured far right, front row) and Scott Park (5th man from the left, back row), are longtime members of this group,

A favorite part of their program is to sing the anthems of all the military services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard), while all those current, past, or families of fallen heroes in those stand.  Every service was represented with singular pride.  Thank you to the Indpendents for this opportunity to be reminded that Freedom is Not Free.

Continuing a long tradition of supporting the Clear Creek Trail, Silverdale Rotary Awarded $1,000 in Duck Bucks for a project to put a bridge from the new trail just west of Hop Jack’s Restaurant to Bayshore Drive.  The project, dubbed the "Beer Bridge" by Tex Lewis, the longtime driving force behind the Clear Creek Task Force, was designed by the Engineering Club at Olympic Community College.

Pictured left to right are Tex Lewis and Mary Earl of the Clear Creek Task Force and Rotarian Nancy Whitaker.

Duck Bucks are made possible by the generous support of the Community and Sponsor support of the Silverdale Rotary Duck Race.  For information about the Duck Race on July 28, see http://silverdalerotaryduckrace.com/ .

Last Thursday, Nick and Coleta Corey, received a $1,000 check from the Silverdale Rotary Club in support of "Corey's Day on the Farm," an annual two day event in support of special needs children.  The money given to the project comes from "Duck Bucks," funds raised during the annual Silverdale Rotary Duck Race.  The money raised from the duck race each year is then given back to the community in support of great projects such as this.  For more information on Corey's Day on the Farm click here.

Pictured (left to right):  Silverdale Rotary President Mary Hoover, Nick and Coleta Corey, Silverdale Rotary President Elect Jason Mayer.

Costco Silverdale held a Military Appreciation Night on May 11, and Silverdale Rotary was invited to man a booth to thank our local Military families and promote the Silverdale Rotary Duck Race which will be held on July 28 at the Whaling Days Festival (July 26-28 at Silverdale Waterfront Park). Pictured above left to right are Silverdale Rotarians Debi Brooks-Givens, Don Lachata, our new Duck Race mascot "Lucky" (Rotarian Mechelle Hoerer), friend of Rotary Phil Bisaillon, and Rotarians Elayne Burton and Jason Mayer.

Costco very generously provided two "Duck Cakes" to pass out to the hordes of visitors.  Thank you Costco for allowing us to honor our local Military families!

We were also happy to see Jahrielle Davis, our 2011-12 Rotary Exchange Student to Hungary, pictured above.  Jahrielle is a senior at Central Kitsap High School, a Running Start student at Olympic College, and 2013 Miss Silverdale!

Last Thursday, the Silverdale Rotary Club gave $2,100 in "Duck Bucks," funds raised from the annual Silverdale Rotary Duck Race, to Friends of Newberry Hill Heritage Park.  Frank Stricklin (pictured on the left, next to Silverdale Rotary President Mary Hoover) was at the club meeting to receive the check and informed the club that the funds will be used to build the first viewing platform on the heritage wetland and a boardwalk at the bird meadow within the park.  Form more information about the Newberry Hill Heritage Park click here.  For more information on the Silverdale Rotary Duck Race click here.

On May 9, the Silverdale Rotary Club gathered to honor several "Students of the Month" from Central Kitsap High School, Klahowya Secondary School and Crosspoint Academy.  Each student being honored received limousine service from school to the Silverdale Beach Hotel, a luncheon in their honor, a certificate of achievement, a copy of the Rotary Four-Way Test, and a copy of the book, "Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens." 

We are always amazed at the range of talents and achievements exhibited by the students from these schools.  As they described all their activities and community involvement, we wondered once again how they simultaneously balance rigorous AP course schedules with all their other amazing pursuits.  Congratulations to all these well deserving students!

Pictured left to right:  Carlos Vallejo (Klahowha); Russell Melin (Crosspoint, son of Silverdale Rotarian Glen Melin); Josh Wyllie,  Gunnar Onarheim, Joshua Keaton, and Lisa Schmall (CKHS); Silverdale Rotary President Mary Hoover; Rotarian Ron Templeton

Not pictured: Kiara Blas (CKHS) and Shelby Hemmerling (Klahowya)

Last Friday, inside a very hot and crowded Olympic College Theater, and with little support to cheer them on, our crack spelling team, “We Bee Ducks”, emerged victorious in the 22^nd Annual Kitsap Adult Center for Education (KACE) Corporate Spelling Bee for the NINTH TIME!  Our team is sitting in the back row, center in the photo below.

Congratulations to Mike Gass, Elayne Burton, and Ed Ahrens (pictured below) on taking First Place!  They have a long history of success, the Silverdale Rotary team has placed in 20 of 22 of these events. 

As the teams dwindled, and our team stood fast, supporters of other teams in the crowd commented on the tenacity and talent exhibited by our Rotarians! Special thanks to Cathy and Nick Doney, Scott Slocum, Mary Hoover and Steve Burton for coming out to support our efforts.

In Kitsap County, 1 in 12 adults has not finished high school or an equivalent, and 1 in 7 reads and writes at or below the 5^th grade level. The Kitsap Adult Center for Education serves the needs of those individuals, and our participation in the Spelling Bee nets the organization $500 to do that work.

Silverdale Rotarians were pleased to honor Students of the Month on April 11 from Crosspoint Academy, Klahowya Secondary School, and Central Kitsap High School.  In the students' own words we heard about their impressive accomplishments, their wide range of activities and volunteer pursuits, and their plans for the future.  We can't help but ask, how do they fit it all in and still maintain impressive GPAs with multiple Advanced Placement Classes?

Congratulations to the students pictured below - our future looks brighter because of them.

Left to right: Mikal Pattee (Crosspoint), Whitney Killgore aand Sidney Winters (Klahowya), Nicholas Anderson, Kimberly Robles, Abigail Encarnacion (CKHS), Rotarian Student of the Month Coordinator Ron Templeton, President Mary Hoover.

Each student being honored received limousine service from school to the Best Western Plus Silverdale Beach Hotel for a luncheon in their honor, a certificate of achievement, a copy of the Rotary Four-Way Test, and a copy of the book, "Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens."  WELL DONE to these fine students!

Each quarter, the Silverdale Rotary Club honors local Sailors and Marines. On March 7 we recognized exemplary Sailors and Marines from Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific (SWFPAC)/Marine Corps Security Force Battalion (MCSFBn) at Bangor. These service members are chosen from a large pool of candidates by their superiors, and their level of achievement is amazing. Candidates are chosen based on job performance, leadership, and their community involvement.    As we listened to their leaders' descriptions of their accomplishments, as well as to the honorees themselves, our hearts swelled with pride and gratitude for their outstanding service to our country.

Pictured (left to right):

MA1 Ryan Wells - SWFPAC/MCSFBn Senior Sailor of the Quarter

MA2 Joshua Ferrer - SWFPAC/MCSFBn Junior Sailor of the Quarter

MCSFBn SgtMaj Steven Burkett

LTJG Matthew Rumpke

MCSFBn Executive Officer LCDR Darrin Faller

MAC Doug Terou

MCSFBn Command Master Chief MACM George Serrano

MACS Winston Preston

MSgt Jason Selby

Sgt Nicholas Weidner - MCSFBn Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter

SSgt John Bishop

LCpl Nathan Keller - MCSFBn Marine of the Quarter

Not pictured: MASN Kimyounna Jackson - SWFPAC/MCSFBn Blue Jacket of the Quarter

Continuing a 13-year tradition in helping homeless youth in Kitsap County, Silverdale Rotary awarded Stand Up For Kids (SUFK) $2,000 in Duck Bucks to feed homeless youth on weekends.  Pictured below is Rotarian Bob Cassis with a cart full of bags.  Each bag feeds one homeless young person for a weekend.

Director at Large Jo Clark, who recently stepped down after 15 years as Executive Director, introduced Executive Director Margaret Rodriguez to Rotarians and guests at our February 28 Club meeting. Ms. Rodriguez described herself as having a passion for the homeless, and went on to say that there are 800 homeless young people in Kitsap County! SUFC helps homeless youth in a variety of other ways besides food; including clothes, shoes, personal hygiene items, and bus passes and tokens to get to school.

Ms. Rodriguez said that SUFK will continue to provide hands on support to our Silvedale Rotary Duck Race, which will be held this year on July 28, the last day of the 3-day Whaling Days Festival.  It is this fund raiser that allows us to donate Duck Bucks to worthy organizations like SUFK, and we appreciate the partnership with recipients - truly win-win!  

For more information about SUFK, go to http://www.standupforkids.org/bremerton/default.aspx .

Silverdale Rotary was delighted to award $610 in Duck Bucks to the Woodlands Elementary PTA to buy t-shirts for 5th grade students attending YMCA Camp Colman on the Key Peninsula.  The PTA has an agressive fund raising program, providing finanacial support to the many students in the 5th grade who are on a free or reduced lunch program.  Without the PTA support, many could not afford to attend camp, let alone buy a t-shirt.  Camp Colman's program is designed to "help the camper build skills and confidence, explore talents, and enjoy lasting friendships."

Melissa Snyder accepted the check on behalf of the PTA and pledged to help with the Silverdale Rotary Duck Race.  She also added that Woodlands Elementary children are very appreciative of the 3rd Grade Dictionaries that Rotarians provide every year.  

Suquamish Clearwater Casino held their 2nd annual Fat Tuesday Parade of Service  celebration on February 12.  Twenty three non-profit organizations built floats for the competition. The Casino is very generous to the Community, because every non-profit is awarded $500 for their entry, and there is more cash for top prizes. 

Pictured above is the Silverdale Rotary End Polio Now float, celebrating the second year in India without a single case of polio.  Rotarian Jim Dudley provided the pulling power while President Mary Hoover handed out Mardi Gras beads.  Great fun was had by all!  Normally quiet Jim came decked out in Mardi Gras splendor (inset picture).

Thanks to Suquamish Clearwater Casino, one of our biggest Duck Race sponsors, and thanks to all the Rotarians who helped with the float!

February 14 was a day to celebrate the next generation, as Silverdale Rotary hosted seven amazing Students of the Month from Central Kitsap High School, Klahowya Secondary School, and Crosspoint Academy.  With proud relatives looking on, each student spent a few minutes describing their impressive lists of activities, accomplishments, community and international service, and aspirations.  Areas of future study include meteorology, physics, pilot training, food service and bakery management, sports medicine, and many more.  We couldn't be in better hands!

Each student was presented with a copy of the Rotary Four-Way Test, a certificate, limousine service from the school to a luncheon in their honor, and a copy of 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.  Pictured below from left:  Morgan RIchmond and Andrei Brundige (CKHS), Chris Leu (Crosspoint), Sally Fletcher (Klahowya), Silverdale Rotary President Mary Hoover, Alyson Kreifels (Klahowya), Anna Robinson and Ben Green (CKHS), and Rotarian Ron Templeton.

One Rotarian reflected later that while his normally unwelcome Property Tax bill had arrived that morning with a sizable amount included for the CK School District, it was "money well spent."

Rotarians were also delighted when Crosspoint Academy College Counselor and English Teacher Victoria Stamp (pictured below) presented a huge thank you note from the 3rd grade class for their dictionaries (see related story below on this webpage).

The Rotary Clubs of Silverdale and East Bremerton just completed the fourth annual Rotary distribution of American Heritage hardcover dictionaries to all 3rd graders in Central Kitsap School District (12 elementary schools), plus home schooled and Crosspoint Academy 3rd graders.  A total of 872 dictionaries were distributed by Rotarians, family members, and friends of Rotary.  Pictured below is Silverdale Rotarian Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Weninger presenting a dictionary to enthusiastic recipients at Cougar Valley Elementary School.

Dozens and dozens of Rotarians and supporters were involved in the distribution, and all agree that this is one of the most fun and satisfying projects that Silverdale and East Bremerton Rotary Clubs do.  If the looks on the children's faces and the amazing student thank you notes we receive weren't enough, the sincere appreciation of teachers and school staff is an added bonus.  Pictured below: Crosspoint Academy 3rd grade class with (left to right) teacher Carla Fontenot, and Rotarians Johnnie Hawkins, Barbara Beagle, Rotary spouse Barbara Aydt, and Rotarians Tei Habenicht and Roger Aydt. 

Silverdale Rotary is able to fund this project because of public support of the Great Kitsap Duck Race at Whaling Days, and East Bremerton Rotary credits public support of their three fund raisers (the Sweetheart Auction, the Bremerton Party, and the Blast) for their participation.  It's a win-win for all!

Silverdale Rotary's Bell Ringing at Macy's ended on December 22 with a flourish as Rotarians were joined by their kids, grandkids, friends, and neighbors, ringing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Thanks to Rob MacDermid, who was the daily coordinator for the third week in a row!  There isn't room to publish all the photos, but here are a few:

Erin Leedham and her son Kenny. 

To see the rest, click on More below.

Neither rain, nor wind, nor sleet, nor snow, nor dark of night keeps Silverdale Rotarians from their Salvation Army posts at the four doors of Macy's on Saturdays in December!  Below Rotarian Tommy Jones is spreading Christmas cheer in the dark on the late afternoon shift.

The Salvation Army reported to us on December 13 that at the four Macy's doors on December 1 and 8 we collected $1,756 from generous shoppers!

Below new Rotarian Josh Hinman brought his son Noah along to help.

We thank President Mary Hoover who coordinated the initial scheduling and Rotarian Rob MacDermid (top inset) who is coordinating the bell ringers from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for three Saturdays in a row (December 8, 15, and 22)!

In a tradition going back to 1999, Silverdale Rotary Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army kicked off Saturday, a wet and windy day. But it didn't dampen spirits of Rotarians manning 17 shifts at Macy's. Several brought family members. Facebook was abuzz, and people were asking at the Mall, "where is the cute little girl?" (Amelia Mayer, above).

Bob Cassis (above) brought his grandson Robert Cassis IV, who started ringing in 2002!

Rob MacDermid had help from his granddaughter Kaylynn (left). 

We will be greeting shoppers at all four doors at Macy's on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through December.

The Silverdale Rotary Club celebrated the upcoming Veteran's Day holiday at their club meeting last Thursday, by honoring the Sailors and Marines of the Quarter.  In addition, there was a large birthday cake for all to enjoy in celebration of the 237th birthday of the United States Marine Corps (OORAH!).  The Sailors and Marines chosen for this honor are outstanding individuals chosen from a large pool of candidates.  They are chosen based on professional merit, community service and leadership capabilities.  Each person received a plaque in recognition of their achievement, a luncheon in their honor, and a gift certificate.  Thank you to all of those who serve our community and country!

The winners for this quarter are:

MASN Brianne Jaeckel - Blue Jacket of the Quarter

MA2 Matthew Birmingham - Junior Sailor of the Quarter

MA1 Dameon Perez - Senior Sailor of the Quarter

LCPL Zechariah Deloach - Marine of the Quarter

SGT James Wadeck - NCO of the Quarter (not present)

On October 18, the Silverdale Rotary Club gave $30,000 in "Duck Bucks" to the Haselwood Family YMCA.  The $30,000 was the second installment of a five year commitment made by the club to sponsor the YMCA Teen Center.  The Rotary Club has pledged $150,000 over the next five years, with an additional $50,000 coming from individual Rotarian pledges.  The Teen Center is important to Rotary's commitment to help the youth in our community.  Geoff Ball, the Executive Director of the YMCA, reported that the money is being well spent.  He stated that on any given day, the Teen Center is bustling with activity.  In addition, the YMCA weekend program is doing great (allowing middle and high school children to have the run of the facility on Friday and Saturday nights).  Geoff stated that teen attendance on the weekends is about 250 kids per night.  It is exciting to see so many youth benefiting from this project. 

This is by far the largest long-term project that the Silverdale Rotary Club has ever undertaken.  The funding for the project is raised through the Rotary Club's annual fundraiser, The Great Kitsap Duck Race.  Please visit the Duck Race website for more information about the race and all of the other great things that the Rotary Club does with funds raised through the race.

Pictured: Rotarian (YMCA Executive Director) Geoff Ball with Rotary President Mary Hoover

What a celebration it was when Silverdale Rotary awarded the 2012 19^th Annual Great Kitsap Duck Race grand prize – a 2012 Nissan Frontier pickup donated by Advantage Nissan – to Shirley Corbin.  Pictured below, Shirley was all smiles when Chuck Capps of Advantage Nissan handed her the keys.

At the luncheon President Mary Hoover reiterated that the Duck Race is a fund raiser, and thanks to countless sponsors and thousands of ticket buyers, Silverdale Rotary has funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars back into the Communty.

In a record breaking 10 minutes after the last of 22,000 ducks hit the race course in the 2012 Great Kitsap Duck Race, the first place duck crossed the finish line! While it was not a $1 Million Dollar Duck, the winner gets the grand prize of a Nissan Frontier pickup truck or $16,000 cash from Advantage Nissan.  The 19^th Annual Great Kitsap Duck Race was the final event of a fun filled weekend at Whaling Days at Silverdale Waterfront Park.

For the list of 51 prize winners see the story below, and for the official press release, click on the title in the Download column on the upper right side of this website.

For more photos, see the Photo Journal at http://www.clubrunner.ca/portal/Journals/JournalDetails.aspx?accountid=730&jid=46503 .


And we have another winner!


 
Silverdale Rotary Club would like to thank all our generous sponsors, the community volunteers, and the thousands who adopted ducks.  Proceeds of this fund raiser will go back into the community - to see work of our Rotary Club, please scroll down below this story.  To see the list of sponsors and more background about the Duck Race, click on www.greatkitsapduckrace.com . 

The full list of 2012 Great Kitsap Duck Race Prize Winners are:

1. Nissan Frontier Pickup or $16,000 cash - Shirley Corbin of Silverdale. Prize courtesy of Advantage Nissan
2. Cruise for Two - Nathan Draxler of Silverdale. Prize courtesy of Holland America
3. Diamond Pendant - Donene Stagner of Poulsbo. Prize courtesy of Ben Bridge Jeweler
4. $1500 Credit Toward HVAC - Laura Holloway of Silverdale. Prize courtesy of Quality Heating and Air Conditioning
5. 3 Months Chiropractic Care - Mark Ramirez Bremerton. Prize courtesy of Upper Cervical Health Centers of America
6. Pfaff Ambition 1.5 Sewing Machine - Lisa Pitcher of Seabeck. Prize courtesy of Sound Sewing & Vacuum
7. $1000 cash - Zachary Hope of Silverdale. Prize courtesy of Kitsap Credit Union
8. $500 Gift Certificate or $100 Cash - Fred Marchand of Bellingham. Prize courtesy of Kitsap Garage Door Company
9. $500 Gift Certificate or $100 Cash - Alicia Pisegra of Edmonds. Prize courtesy of Kitsap Garage Door Company
10. $500 Gift Certificate or $100 Cash-Ed Hamilton of Bremerton . Prize courtesy of Kitsap Garage Door Company
11. $500 Gift Certificate or $100 Cash-Anya Barnett. Prize courtesy of Kitsap Garage Door Company
12. $500 Gift Certificate or $100 Cash-Maria Hannawadar of Silverdale. Prize courtesy of Kitsap Garage Door Company
13. $500 Gift Certificate or $100 Cash-Rosemary Adkins of Silverdale. Prize courtesy of Kitsap Garage Door Company
14. $500 Gift Certificate or $100 Cash-Doug Rinehart of Port Orchard. Prize courtesy of Kitsap Garage Door Company
15. $500 Gift Certificate or $100 Cash-Robin Record of Bremerton. Prize courtesy of Kitsap Garage Door Company
16. $500 Gift Certificate or $100 Cash-Marissa Gillette of Bremerton. Prize courtesy of Kitsap Garage Door Company
17. $500 Gift Certificate or $100 Cash-Cathy Torolini of Silverdale. Prize courtesy of Kitsap Garage Door Company
18. Junior Suite and Breakfast Hotel Package - Dennis DeCoteau of Kingston. Prize courtesy of Silverdale Beach Hotel
19. Twelve Yards Topsoil Delivered - John Dunham of Gig Harbor. Prize courtesy of Asbury's Topsoil, Inc.
20. Raleigh Mountain Bike - Jodee Countess of Bremerton. Prize courtesy of Silverdale Cyclery
21. Wine Tasting Dinner for 10 Basil Paris of Silverdale. Prize courtesy of Siloam Retreat and Wine Shop
22. BBQ Grill Package - S. A. Henderson of Silverdale. Prize courtesy of Home Depot #4716 Silverdale
23. Complete Auto Detail - Clara Brandewie of Seabeck. Prize courtesy of Silver City Automotive
24. Experience Seabeck Package Prize courtesy of Seabeck Conference Center Paul Harris Bremerton
25. Spa Basket - Troy Cox of Bremerton. Prize courtesy of The Nail Detail
26. 5 Private Pilates Sessions - Justin Robbins of Bremerton. Prize courtesy of BODY reFORM Pilates & Physical Therapy
27. 3 One Hour Massages and Warmie Hot Pac - Donna Aarless. Prize courtesy of Old Town Massage
28. 3 One Hour Massages and Warmie Hot Pac - Kim Poole of Kingston. Prize courtesy of Old Town Massage
29. 3 One Hour Massages and Warmie Hot Pac - Roberta Thompson of Bremerton. Prize courtesy of Old Town Massage
30. 2 Nights Lodging at Resort - Dawn Tharpe of Bremerton. Prize courtesy of Ocean Spray Resort
31. One night's stay - Angelo Ivie of Silverdale. Prize courtesy of Oxford Suites
32. One night's stay - Lyn Morris Bremerton. Prize courtesy of Oxford Suites
33. 3 Months Membership - Bill Metcalf of Poulsbo. Prize courtesy of Silverdale Fitness Center
34. 3 Months Membership - Michael Szymonik Bremerton. Prize courtesy of Silverdale Fitness Center
35. 3 Months Membership - Ernie Kimball of Seattle. Prize courtesy of Silverdale Fitness Center
36. Legal Fireworks - Carl Oswald of Tracyton. Prize courtesy of Prime Lending & Aurora Fireworks
37. Galaxy Limousine Gift Certificate - Roy Meyers of Bremerton. Prize courtesy of Galaxy Limousine
38. Season Tickets to Concert Series - Valerie LeGare of Tracyton. Prize courtesy of Collective Visions Gallery
39. $100 Cash - V. L. Bower of Bremerton. Prize courtesy of BECU
40. Clear Creek RV $100 Gift Card - Karen Gorman of Silverdale. Prize courtesy of Clear Creek RV
41. 2 "Ride the Ducks" Tour Tickets - Nancy L. Beck of Bremerton. Prize courtesy of Ride the Ducks of Seattle
42. $50 Gift Bag - TJ Assortment - Gary Young of Bremerton. Prize courtesy of Trader Joes
43. $50 Gift Bag - TJ Assortment - Delores Allen of Bremerton. Prize courtesy of Trader Joes
44. $50 Gift Bag - TJ Assortment - Matt Puzon of Port Orchard. Prize courtesy of Trader Joes
45. $50 Gift Bag - TJ Assortment - Alma Gillespie of Silverdale. Prize courtesy of Trader Joes
46. $50 Gift Bag - TJ Assortment -Ken Skogstad of Tukwila. Prize courtesy of Trader Joes
47. $50 Gift Certificate - Timothy Putaansuu. Prize courtesy of Ultra Custom Cleaners
48. $50 Gift Certificate - Melanie Malcolm of Bremerton, Prize courtesy of Ultra Custom Cleaners
49. $50 Red Lobster Gift Card - Wayne Hanson of Bremerton. Prize courtesy of Columbia Bank
50. $50 Gift Certificate - Steven Detweiler Bremerton. Prize courtesy of Wild Bird Center
51. $25 Gift Certificate - Kim Miller of Bainbridge Island. Prize courtesy of Barbie's Seabeck Bay Café

Excitement is building in Silverdale as decorated ducks are popping up all over in preparation for our first annual Silverdale Rotary Duck Hunt!  Armed with a license and a map you will pick up at Key Bank on July 14, if you find a duck between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. that day, you may keep it (one duck per license, over 200 ducks decorated).  Buy more licenses, and you can hunt more ducks!  All proceeds go to the Silverdale Rotary Scholarship Fund.

Look for signs and decorated ducks and get your Duck Hunt licenses for $1.00 apiece at the following Silverdale stores: 

Wholesale Sports         Reid Real Estate       

Austin Chase                Old Towne Frame Shop

Global Bean                  Monica's Waterfront Bakery

Global Bean at YMCA   Key Bank

Chung’s Teriyaki           All Star Lanes

Naturally4Paws             Our Place Pub

Yacht Club Broiler

On June 7, Silverdale Rotary was pleased to honor Rich Newell, Central Kitsap School District’s Teacher of the Year (see CKSD’s write up at http://www.cksd.wednet.edu/PDF/Celebration/TOY2012.pdf).  Mr. Newell was presented with an engraved crystal, a check, and a framed copy of the Four Way Test (see http://www.v-artstudio.com/pages/post_fourwaytest.html).

In addition, Mr. Newell and was designated as a Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellow.  This happens on very special and limited occasions, when Rotarians  recognize a non-Rotarian whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives and mission of The Rotary Foundation, to build world understanding and peace.  Mr. Newell was recognized as such for having demonstrated, through personal leadership and devotion to community, the very meaning of the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”  Congratulations, Rich Newell!

Pictured: Rotarian Bud Grahn and Rich Newell

The ballroom at the Silverdale Beach Hotel was the festive site of our 2012 Great Kitsap Duck Race Kickoff Party, where Rotarians, Sponsors, and guests celebrated the our combined efforts to raise money for the Community.   Our 19^th Annual Duck Race will be held on July 29 at Whaling Days Festival at Silverdale Waterfront Park.

Thanks to our generous sponsors we have broken all records for the value of prizes ($41,526), cash donations ($26,070) and in-kind services ($51,914), for a total of $119,510 in donations!   

Silverdale Rotary President Elayne Burton thanked our Sponsors and listed just some of the very long list of worthy causes that have received support from the proceeds of the Duck Race.  Scroll down in our website and you will see just what we are talking about!

Duck Race Grand Prize – a Nissan Frontier truck donated by Advantage Nissan valued at $21,130.

Inset: Aaron Capps from Advantage Nissan describing his company’s dedication to Community Service while his wife Pat looks on.  Not pictured: Chuck Capps.

It was a breezy, cool Memorial Day afternoon at the Kitsap County Veterans Memorial in Silverdale, where a quiet crowd gathered to honor those who have given their lives to protect our freedom.   The thoughtful mood was set by the Duncan Creek String Quartet, and at the end, Taps was played by Kent Larabee while all the veterans present, including six Silverdale Rotarians/spouses, gathered by the wreath donated by Paul’s Flowers of Bremerton.
 

Thanks go to Bob Cassis of the Silverdale Rotary Club who organized the event.

On April 26, President Elayne Burton presented representatives of the 2012 13-Year-Old World Series with our Club's share of a $10,000 sponsorship from all eight Rotary Clubs of Kitsap County.  This Babe Ruth League event will be held August 13-22 at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. In addition to supporting a very worthy event, the combined $10,000 Hall of Fame Sponsorship will provide significant public relations benefits to Rotary.

Pictured left to right: Russ Barker, Brent Stenman, and Elayne Burton.  For more information about the World Series, go to www.kitsapworldseries.com .

On April 19, the Silverdale Rotary Club awarded $2,000 for bunk beds and mattresses to Donna Pledger of Leadership Kitsap, whose team is supporting the Coffee Oasis Teen Shelter project.   This award is possible because of the wonderful community and business support for the Great Kitsap Duck Race.

For more information about the Coffee Oasis Teen Shelter project, go to http://www.thecoffeeoasis.com/#/the-community/oasis-teen-shelter .  For more information about Leadership Kitsap, go to http://www.leadershipkitsap.org/ .  

Juanchy (blue shirt, center) led the Rotary funded trip taking a bus full of students to the capitol.  The trip was so rare that many of the teacher chaperones had never been to the capitol themselves.  What the students learned and saw could fill books.   What Juanchy hoped they saw was opportunity.  A world that is open to educated, English-speaking students. A world where an education leads to employment, living in a house instead of a dirt-floor shack, a variety of food available for purchase rather than a life struggling in the fields to purchase food staples which only ensure temporary survival. 

What began as a "pass of the hat" at a Rotary meeting may well have been the motivation for a student to push beyond their humble beginnings and aspire to a different life.

The Second Annual Parade of Service Organizations at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino was held on February in celebration of Fat Tuesday.

Several service organizations applied, but only 20 groups were chosen to compete by entering Mardi Gras themed floats for the parade. We were one of those selected, and we are happy to tell you that after the judging our Club came away with $2,000 dollars by winning Second Place!!!

Thank you Suquamish Clearwater Casino!  They are also sponsors or our Great Kitsap Duck Race Million Dollar Duck!

But the REAL kudos go to Rotarian Jack Hamilton. When the Board made the decision to try and win this money for our Club, Jack took the ball and ran with it. He single handedly designed and built the float, and it was a magnificant representation of our annual Great Kitsap Duck Race!  We have an extra $2,000 to spend on great causes because of his efforts and his dedication to our Club and the Community!

On February 9 the Silverdale Rotary Club honored five exemplary students from Cross Point Academy and Central Kitsap High School. The faculty chooses Students of the Month based on outstanding academic performance, great attitude and overall contribution to their community and school. Rotarians and family members of the students looked on proudly as these next generation leaders were recognized.

A long list of achievements were attributed to the students, including National Merit Scholar, numerous sports achievements, enormous number of Advanced Placement classes, participation in the Where Everyone Belongs program, and extensive volunteer efforts.  All are college bound.  Each student received a gift certificate, a copy of the Rotary Four Way Test, and a certificate in recognition of their achievement. In addition, the students are transported to and from the Rotary luncheon via limousine.  

The students recognized were as follows:

Crosspoint Academy:

Justin Holland (January and February)

Central Kitsap High School:

Maggie Humm (December)

Austin Cook (December)

Kyle Lanoue (January)

Jasmine Diaz (January)

Pictured left to right: Justin Holland, Maggie Humm, Kyle Lanoue, Jasmine Diaz, Austin Cook

On January 5, the Silverdale Rotary Club granted $100 in "Duck Bucks" to Healthy Start Kitsap.  Healthy Start Kitsap, an organization dedicated to helping low income, first-time mothers through their pregancies up to the child's first birthday, will use the funds to purchase books for their childrens program.  The Rotary Club raises "Duck Bucks" through their annual fundraiser, The Great Kitsap Duck Race.

Pitctured: Ed Kalmbach (Executive Director of Healthy Start Kitsap) with Rotarian Mechelle Hoerer.

In November, Silverdale Rotary proudly donated $350 in Duck Bucks to the Blue Star Banner Program, which funded a Blue Star Banner for Christopher Wonaszek from Silverdale, who is on active duty in the U.S. Navy.  We are delighted to announce that the banner is now hanging on Bucklin Hill Road near Chung's Teriyaki.   Blue Star banners are created for military members serving our Country, and the banners are displayed throughout their home town for as long as the member is in the Service or 3-5 years, the life expectancy of the banners. For more information about the Blue Star Banner Program, founded by Lynette George, go to http://www.bluestarbanner.org/about.php .

Silverdale Rotary has close ties with local military bases, and many of our members served with or are retired from the Navy, Army, Air Force, or Coast Guard. Duck Buck donations are made possible by the generous community support of our annual Great Kitsap Duck Race fund raiser. 

Silverdale Rotary has a long history of supporting students, and today was just another example.  We donated $500 in Duck Bucks to Woodlands Elementary School for scholarships to Camp Coleman.  Accepting the check at our Rotary meeting was Melissa Snyder, who explained that this money will send students to camp that wouldn't otherwise be able to afford it.  Duck Bucks donations like this are made possible by  the huge community and business support of our annual Great Kitsap Duck Race.

Pictured: Melissa Snyder and Rotarian Damian Lonnee 

Silverdale Rotary continued its support of the West Sound Youth for Christ Independent Living Services program with a donation of $500 in Duck Bucks.  YFC Independent Living Services assists youth, ages 15-21, with their transition to independence after emancipation from the foster care system.  The cash will be used for equipment for the virtual token program for approximately 30 foster children.   For more information about the program go to http://westsoundyfc.org/ministries/independentliving/.

Pictured: Rotarian Mechelle Hoerer and YFC Executive Director Josh Hinman (accepting check)

The annual Club project to provide a personal dictionary to each third grade student in the Central Kitsap School District was completed on December 15.  Each school in the district, including Cross Point Academy and home school students, was visited by a team of Rotarians.  Working with the East Bremerton Club nearly 900 dictionaries were delivered.

This project has become a favorite of Rotarians because it combines the opportunity for direct service to the community with the experience of being with young people who represent the future of our community and our nation.  The joy of giving is amplified by the ability to interact with the children and share with them the fun of gifting and then using thier dictionaries for the first time.  Some of us who participated even had the opportunity to witness former CKHS Principal Jack Jensen revert to "teacher mode," a role made for him.

From all the Rotarians who had an opportunity to participate this year, from sticking book plates in each copy to actually delivering the dictionaries, a hearty "Thank You" to the Club for making the experience possible. 

Pictured: Students of Silver Ridge Elementary proudly displaying their new dictionaries.

Pictured (left to right):  Quincy Miller, Epiphany Nick, Myranda Stout, Gavin Jaravata, Joseph Sanchez, Jennifer Seal, and Janessa von Scheele.

Once again the Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Silverdale are making a sound community investment with dollars raised during the 2011 Great Kitsap Duck Race.  Some of those dollars have been invested in dictionaries that are now being distributed to all third grade students in the Central Kitsap School District.  This is the third year for the dictionary program which has earned rave reviews from students, parents and teachers alike.

On a schedule set by individual schools, a group of Rotarians, with hand carts filled with boxes of children's dictionaries, visit each third grade classroom in the district.  In the classroom, after a very short explanation about the dictionary program, the Rotarians hand a dictionary to each student.  The dictionaries are the personal property of the students and the first action they all take is to print their names in the front cover of the book to validate that ownership.  The students are then asked to look up a selected word and read the meaning.

The Rotary Clubs of Silverdale and East Bremerton conduct this dictionary program as a joint project.

Pictured:  This is what it's all about.  Emerald Heights third graders put their new dictionaries to use.

The Rotary Club of Camp Pendleton, CA spearheaded a project to collect personal items for Marines in Afghanistan at the Zone 25/26 Rotary Institute in Palm Springs on November 11-13.  Silverdale Rotarians donated three big boxes of paperbacks and sundries and $200, which Rotarians Brian and Barbara Beagle delivered to the Institute.  Total collected was two big pickup loads, which the Marine Corps will ship for free.   All the items are intended to make the troops' life in harm's way a little more comfortable and remind them that we are thinking of them back home.

Pictured:  Silverdale Rotarian Brian Beagle, Camp Pendleton Rotarian and Project Coordinator Linda Sundram, and three Marines from Camp Pendleton who accepted the donations at a Veterans Day ceremony.

 At the November 10th meeting, the Silverdale Rotary Club celebrated Veteran's Day by recognizing the Sailors and Marines of the Quarter/Year.  Each awardee is chosen by their superior officers from a large pool of candidates in recognition of both outstanding military service as well as outstanding community service.  Each person recognized receives an engraved plaque, a lunch in their honor at the Silverdale Beach Hotel, and a gift certificate. 

Awardees were:

MA1 Virginia Horton (Sailor of the Year)

MASN Krisstofer Drumheller (Bluejacket of the Year)

Sgt Brandon Richman (Marine NCO of the Quarter)

Sgt Williamhar Makolo (Marine NCO of the Year)

Cpl John Davis (Marine of the Year)

MA2 Nicholas Miller (Junior Sailor of the Year)

LCpl Sarah Gorman (Marine of the Quarter)

As an added Veteran's Day bonus, Sgt. Major Rick Smith had his Marines perform a "Full Battle Rattle" for the club.  Marines in full uniform from every time period marched into the ballroom while another Marine described the wars and battles that the Marines from each time period fought in.  It was a wonderful illustration of the 236 year history of the Marine Corps and a powerful reminder of the dear price the American people have paid for the freedoms we enjoy.

 On October 20, the Silverdale Rotary Club gave $250 to Susan Leavell for the CKHS W.E.B. program.  W.E.B., Where Everyone Belongs, is a student run anti-bullying campaign.  The group consists of 16 students who provide programs in their school and also travel to other local schools.  The group performs skits and gives speeches intended to promote diversity and promote inclusion among students.  The "Duck Bucks" given, money raised in the Rotary's annual Great Kitsap Duck Race, will help the students purchase group T-shirts and buy more supplies for their awareness program.

Pictured (left to right): Rotarian Damian Lonnee, Rotarian Mechelle Hoerer and Susan Leavell.

 On October 20, the Rotary Club of Silverdale gave $500 to Kelee Jungkeit and Martha de Forest, co-chairs for the CKHS Grad-night program.  Grad-night is part of a "Safe & Sane" program to help keep our graduating seniors safe on their big night by providing them with a wide range of fun, safe alternatives.  The annual Grad-night party runs from right after graduation until about 4:30 am, which helps to ensure that the kids steer clear of high risk activities late in the night.  

The "Duck Bucks" given were part of the proceeds raised by the Rotary Club's annual Great Kitsap Duck Race.

Pictured: Rotarians Damian Lonnee and Mechelle Hoerer (left two) with Kelee Jungkeit and Martha de Forest (right two).

On October 13, the Silverdale Rotary club honored five exemplary students from Cross Point Academy, Klahowya Secondary School and Central Kitsap High School.  Each month the faculty at each school chooses a "Student of the Month," based on outstanding academic performance, great attitude and overall contribution to their community and school.  Each student received a gift certificate, a copy of the Rotary 4-way Test, a letter and a certificate in recognition of their achievement.  In addition, the students are transported to and from the Rotary luncheon via limosuine.  The students recognized were as follows:

Crosspoint Academy:

Carly Walter (September & October) 

Klahowya Secondary School:

John Wolfram (September)

Katlyn Sargent (October) 

Central Kitsap High School:

Dominic Stamerra (September)

Easther You (September) 

Pictured (left to right): Dominic Stamerra, Carly Walter, Easther You, Katlyn Sargent, John Wolfram, Rotarian Ron Templeton.

On September 8, Silverdale Rotary presented a $30,000 check to the Haselwood Family YMCA, the first installment of a $150,000 commitment of direct funding over 5 years to the YMCA Teen Center.  This grant of $150,000, along with a promise of an additional $50,000 from individual Rotarians, is the largest in the history of the Silverdale Club. The $30,000 check was made possible by huge Community support of our recent 18th annual Great Kitsap Duck Race fund raiser, which this year sold out for the first time ever!

Silverdale Rotary is proud to support the YMCA Teen Center, which serves the future leaders of our County, State, and Nation, consistent with the goals and objectives of Rotary International.

Accepting the check and pictured left to right are Silverdale Rotarian Geoff Ball, Executive Director, Haselwood Family YMCA; Derek Foster, Youth Director; and Jennifer Zuver, Chairperson of the Haselwood Family YMCA Advisory Council.  Presenting the check at the far right is Silverdale Rotary President Elayne Burton.  

On August 27, the new Bremerton Rescue Mission mobile shower was dedicated. Silverdale Rotary donated Duck Bucks to this worthy project. This unit will be made available to the homeless at various locations in East Bremerton where the Rescue Mission and a small army of volunteers provide meals for the homeless and others who need food. Silverdale Rotary also donated linens for new bunk beds for the Bremerton Rescue Mission this year and helped with a fund raiser fun run in April.   

Pictured: Walt Le Couteur, Executive Director, Bremerton Rescue Mission.  http://www.bremrescue.org/  For more photos, click here.

For the August 26 Kitsap Sun article, see http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/aug/26/mobile-shower-offers-kitsaps-homeless-a-place-to/

Silverdale Rotary is delighted to welcome Louise Göbbels, our new Rotary Exchange Student from Theux, Belgium.  Louise will be attending classes at Central Kitsap High School as a Senior, and she is currently residing with Rotarian Ron and Peggy Templeton, her first host family.  Welcome, Louise!

 On August 11, the Silverdale Rotary Club honored the Marines and Sailors of the quarter in recognition of their outstanding military performance and service to their country.  The men and women who receive this award are chosen from a very large group of candidates by their superior officers.  In addition to being honored guests at the Rotary Club luncheon, the recipients receive a $100 gift certificate and a plaque to commemorate their achievement. On behalf of the Silverdale Rotary Club, we thank you!

 Pictured (left to right): MACS Tom Blitz, SGTMAJ Rick Smith, SGT Chad Cason (NCO of the Quarter), MA1 Steven Batterson (Senior Sailor of the Quarter), MASN Mario Osman (Sailor of the Quarter), LCOL Curtis Carlin, MM2(SS) Kenneth Murray (Sailor of the Quarter).

Not Pictured (unable to attend): MA2 Karen Hicks (Junior Sailor of the Quarter, LCPL Brian Maynard (Marine of the Quarter).

August 4 was a day of celebration at the Rotary Club of Silverdale's regular meeting, as today we awarded the 2011 Duck Race Grand Prize of $16,000 from Advantage Nissan to Jeff Kehring of Poulsbo (see story below).  A huge thanks goes to Advantage Nissan for their incredibly generous donation.  As Duck Race Chair Peter Matty reiterated, it is very unusual and especially generous for a sponsor to offer cash in lieu of a prize.  We also recognized and/or awarded prizes from the following other major sponsors: Holland America, Quality Heating & Air Conditioning, Silverdale Ben Bridge, Upper Cervical Health Center, and Kitsap Credit Union.  Congratulations to all!

Of course, the other winners of the Duck Race will be the recipients in the Community and in the Dominican Republic of the charitable work of the Rotary Club of Silverdale, made possible by the generosity of sponsors and this year's successful Duck Race Ticket Sell Out!  

Pictured left to right: Rotarian Barbara Beagle (sold Jeff Kehring the winning duck ticket), Silverdale Rotary President Elayne Burton, Chuck Capps from Advantage Nissan, winner Jeff Kehring, Becky Kehring, and Rotarian Peter Matty (Duck Race Chair). 

Congratulations to the winners of the 2011 18th Annual Great Kitsap Duck Race!  Also, a big Thank You! to all the people in our community who Adopted a Duck this year.  We had a Sell Out (first time ever!) on Race Day which allows us to continue to support the organizations, projects and individuals who so need our continued financial and volunteer support during these stagnant economic times.  Pictured here are the winning ducks racing to the finish line.  For a detailed photo journal of the Race, click here.

The Winners are:

 1. Jeff Kehring of Poulsbo, WA won a Nissan Truck or $16,000.00 cash from Advantage Nissan  
2. Mary Demers of Poulsbo, WA won a Cruise for 2 up to $3,300 Holland America  
3. Kim Rye of Bremerton, WA won a $2,500 Credit towards purchase from Quality Heating & Air Conditioning  
4. Angela Dabney of Silverdale, WA won a Diamond Pendant from Ben Bridge  
5. Elizabeth Kaufman of Indianola, WA won an Upper Cervical Package from  Upper Cervical Health Center  
6. Ed Raymond of Bremerton, WA won $1,000 cash from Kitsap Credit Union  
7. Stephanie Martinez of Bremerton, WA won an Overnight Resport Package from Clearwater Casino Resort
8. Nancy Wood of Poulsbo, WA won a Pfaff 1142 Sewing Machine from Sound Sewing
9. Connie Uhinck of Silverdale, WA won a $500 Gift Certificate from Kitsap Garage Door
10. Carolyn Atopness of Bremerton, WA won a $500 Gift Certificate from Kitsap Garage Door
11. Kim Peck of Poulsbo, WA won a $500 Gift Certificate from Kitsap Garage Door
12. Brian Beagle of Silverdale, WA won a $500 Gift Certificate from Kitsap Garage Door
13. Triangle Import Repair of Bremerton, WA won a $500 Gift Certificate from Kitsap Garage Door
14. Schuyler Beaver of Bremerton, WA won a $500 Gift Certificate from Kitsap Garage Door
15. Debra Menkes of Silverdale, WA won a $500 Gift Certificate from Kitsap Garage Door
16. Chris Townsend of Bremerton, WA won a $500 Gift Certificate from Kitsap Garage Door
17. Elmer Beventson won a $500 Gift Certificate from Kitsap Garage Door
18. Ryan Templeton of Bremerton, WA won a $500 Gift Certificate from Kitsap Garage Door
19. Alex Hunnel of Port Orchard, WA won Limo Service from Galaxy Limousine
20. Cheryl Porter of Seabeck, WA won  12 Yards Topsoil Delivered from Asbury's Topsoil
21. Thomas Morrow of won 10 Yards Medium Bark from Clear Creek Nursery
22. Ken Stansberry of Bremerton, WA won a Raleigh Mountain Bike from Silverdale Cyclery
23. Jan Berry of Bremerton, WA won a BBQ Grill Package from Home Depot  
24. Gena Black of Belfair, WA won a Stay and Wine Tasting Package from Siloam Retreat & Wine Shop  
25. Jeff & Debbie Madche of Silverdale, WA won a $500 EE Bond from Columbia Bank  
26. Mary Hoover of Silverdale, WA won a Spa Gift Basket from The Nail Detail  
27. Karel Chessman of Allyn, WA won  3 one-hour massages plus warmie from Old Town Massage  
28. Barbara Kinnert of Silverdale, WA won  3 one-hour massages plus warmie from Old Town Massage  
29. Laurie Hoskinson of Bremerton, WA won a One Night Stay in Fireplace Suite from Oxford Suites Silverdale  
30. Marcus Hoffman of Silverdale, WA won a 3 Month Pass from Silverdale Fitness  
31. Carol Darling of Bremerton, WA won a 3 Month Pass from Silverdale Fitness
32. Tamera Ingwaldson of Belfair, WA won  $100 Cash from BECU
33. Lou Weir of Bremerton, WA won a $75 Gift Certificate from Wild Bird Center
34. Dianna Johnson of Silverdale, WA won a $50 Gift Certificate from Ultra Custom Cleaners
35. Pete Schlicher of Bremerton, WA won a $50 Gift Certificate from Ultra Custom Cleaners
36. Kevin Howell of Port Orchard, WA won a $50 Gift Certificate from Ultra Custom Cleaners
37. Kurt Fisher of Port Orchard, WA won a $50 Gift Certificate from Ultra Custom Cleaners
38. Claire Brandewie of Seabeck, WA won a $50 Gift Certificate from Ultra Custom Cleaners

Winners may contact our prize coordinator, Mechelle, at 360-662-8218.

On July 28 over 100 Rotarians, family members, CKSD volunteers, Community volunteers, and Kitsap County royalty converged on Jenne Wright to de-tag and re-tag 20,000 ducks with ticket numbers in record time: less than 1.5 hours!  Huge Thanks go to all the Rotarian family members, friends, and Community supporters who helped us!  The ducks were subsequently locked in secure storage to rest up for the Race on July 31.  For more photos of this Community event click here.

Win this Nissan Pickup or $16,000 from Advantage Nissan!  Adopt your ducks now at the following locations:

• Kitsap Mall at Center Court (look for the big Duck!) through July 28
• Silverdale location of Safeway and Albertson's:
• - the week of July 25th – 30th from 10 am to 6 pm
• Kitsap Bank in Silverdale during bank hours.
• Haselwood Family YMCA
• - July 25th - 29th  - 8:00 AM to 6 PM
• - July 30th - 10 AM to 6 PM
• Columbia Bank in Silverdale during bank hours.
• Ben Bridge Jewelers in the Kitsap Mall.
• Advantage Nissan
• Pancake Breakfast: July 30th - 6:30 AM - 11 AM
• Along the Whaling Days Parade route: July 30th
• At Rotary Booths at the Whaling Days Festival

The Silverdale Rotary Club is blessed to have enough dedicated Rotarians that selecting a  "Rotarian of the Year" is a challenge to the Club President.  This year the honor  goes to Jason Mayer. In the past year Jason has successfully delivered on the Clubs first International Services Project, has volunteered for numerous activiites related to the Duck Race, has taken over and significantly increased the marketing and sponsorship levels for this year's Duck Race, has been an active Rotarian in the background on numerous other projects and, maybe most importantly, has come to Rotary with a passion that he is driven to see complete. 

(Photo:  Jason Mayer, right, accepts the Rotarian of the Year  award from 2010-2011 Silverdale Club Presidnet Rich Arper)

The passion he carried into the International Services project -- the delivery of a passenger van to Children of the Nations (COTN), a relief organization focusing their efforts on the impoversihed children of the world's poorest countries, which will provide medical and educational opportunities for children who otherwise would simply have gone without -- is the culmination of several years of work on Jason's part.  The resulting success of this project is literally saving lives every day.  Jason is already at work on a proposal to bring clean water to villages that every day go without.  In villages housing the poorest people in the Western Hemisphere, a term the World Bank refers to as "extreme poverty", the people choose between food, clean water and medicine on a daily basis.  Often only getting one or two of these.  Clean water reduces medical illnesses by over half in children and thereby brings the opportunity for a healthier lifestyle to all.

Congratulations Jason.  And thank you!

Our new 2011-12 President Elayne Burton spoke eloquently about the new Rotary International (RI) President Kalyan Banerjee's Theme "Reach Within to Embrace Humanity" at her installation speech on June 30, 2011.  She provided powerful personal examples and related that "as Rotarians and human beings we all draw on our own inner strength and our own resolve to achieve success in rotary."

"I'm extremely proud to be part of Rotary.  We belong to an organization that has not been afraid to tackle the big stuff - like clean water and polio eradication.  We're lucky to be a part of that.  In all the things we think say and do, we have the opportunity to make a difference.  I'm going to try my best to do that this year, and I hope you'll consider reaching within yourselves and joining me."

For the full text of the speech, click here.                 

Silverdale Rotarians celebrated a new Rotary Year at the Installation Dinner on June 30, 2011 at the Seabeck Conference Center.  We thanked Rich Arper for his service in 2010-11 and welcomed Elayne Burton as our new President (see related article above).  Included in the crowd were 16 Presidents, spanning service from 1967-68 to the present.

Pictured:

Front Row: Rob MacDermid 1998-99, Peter Matty 1991-92 & 2009-10, Guest Joanne Croghan (Area 6A Assistant Governor), Elayne Burton 2011-12, Bruce Armstrong 1973-74,

Back Row: Roger Aydt 2000-01, Scott Slocum 2006-07, Brian Beagle 1985-86 & PDG 08-09, Steve Slaton 2007-08, Bud Grahn 2005-06, Rich Arper 2010-11, Bob Cathcart 2003-04, Don Taylor 1986-87, Larry Rodgers 1988-89, Mike Koch 1983-84, Dick Cooke 1967-68, Jack Jensen 1974-75

For more photos of the event, click here.

June 22 was the 18th Annual United Way Day of Caring, and Silverdale Rotarians participated in several hands on projects at non-profit organizations in Kitsap County.  In an amazing 2.5 hours we and other community volunteers worked magic on the landscaping at the Hospice Care Center in  Bremerton.  This continues our long standing partnership with Hospice, where we have worked on the landscaping and completed our long term project, which was a $100,000 commitment to the Hospice Care Center.  For more photos of this project, click here.  

Other Rotarians worked on projects with their own Company groups, and all over Kitsap County the United Way red t-shirts were very visible as hundreds of volunteers made a difference with elbow grease!

On June 2 Silverdale Rotararians thanked all of our 68 (yes, 68!) sponsors at the Duck Race Kick Off Party at the Silverdale Beach Hotel.  All sponsors present had the opportunity to tell about their businesses and their commitment to supporting the community.  Special guests were Aaron and Pat Capps and Chuck Capps, all from Advantage Nissan, who donated the Nissan Frontier PickupTruck  - the grand prize for the Duck Race on July 31.  THANK YOU, SPONSORS! 

Most people are aware that there is aRotary Club in Silverdale and that they do “Community Service." Most are aware of our “Great Kitsap Duck Race” andour presence at the Macys doors “ringing the bell” at Christmas. Some may evenrecognize the Rotary “wheel” or “gear” that identifies the many projectscompleted by Silverdale Rotarians and donated to the community.  What is not seen by the community is thelevel of personal effort and financial contribution made by individualRotarians in their dedicated efforts to make our community a more safe andpleasant place to live and raise our children.

From July 2010 to May 2011, individual Rotarians were asked to keeptrack of the time they devoted to the work of Rotary. In addition, the personalfinancial donations of those Rotary members were also tracked.  Because the time tracking system was veryinformal, the results were not as complete as might have been desired. However,even with less than half of active members reporting, the total time devoted toRotary and community service was 7,780 hours. The majority of that time isdedicated either to fundraising to support work in the community or incompletion of various “dirty hands” projects. The hours figure breaks down toabout 111 hours per individual or over two and one-half weeks of work per year.When the numbers are corrected to reflect total reporting, it become apparentthat, on average, individuals donate about one month of personal time and laborto live up to the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”

In additionto the time commitment made by Rotarians, they have also demonstrated personalgenerosity. In the same Rotary year, individual Rotarians donated over $15,000to The Rotary Foundation and raised and spent over $50,000 locally.  In addition to the numerous “Duck Buck” grantawards, Rotarians have funded $10,000 in academic scholarships for graduates ofour local CK high schools and helped provide personal dictionaries to eachthird grader in the CK School District.

Rotarians, bytheir very nature, do not seek publicity or recognition for their contributionsor accomplishments; they save that for deserving members of the community. Evenwhile you are reading this, Silverdale Rotarians are planning the nextfundraising activity or community project. There is a Silverdale Rotarian onthe phone or online gathering information or support for a project or activitysomewhere.  Even though they work behindthe scenes and without fanfare, Silverdale Rotarians are a powerful force inthe community. As you drive around the Central Kitsapand Silverdale area, keep a lookout for that blue and gold Rotary “wheel” andknow that a Silverdale Rotarian is working to make life better for all of us.

On Tuesday, June2nd, the Silverdale Rotary Club recognized Mindy Eisele as the Central Kitsap School District's Teacher of the Year.  Mindy was selected for her positive influence on the students, her dedication to the teaching profession as well as her students and her tireless efforts to help students realize their potential.

Along with a Paul Harris Fellow, Mindy was presented with a glass paperweight, a financial gift and a framed copy of the 4-Way Test.

Pictured:  Silverdale Rotarian Bud Grah and CDSK Teacher of the Year Mindy Eisner 

The 2010-2011 Silverdale Rotary Scholarship Awardees were presented to the Club at the June 2nd luncheon.  Each of the students was given an opportunity to introduce themselves to the Club and talk briefly about their future ambitions.  As with years past the selected recipients represent an intelligent, motivated, caring group of students.

Pictured (left to right):  Silverdale Rotary Club President Rich Arper, Joey Cilinceon, Emily Kreifels, Jeffrey Alcock, Jake Shoudy, Amber Henry, Brittney Hassett, Hannah Brown and Silverdale Rotarian Ed Hamilton 

Duck Adoptions will be available in our community very soon.  Supporting the Silverdale Rotary's Great Kitsap Duck Race is a direct way to support the many programs, donations and activities of the Silverdale Rotary.  This year our goals include our 4th year providing every 3rd Grader in the Central Kitsap School System with a hardbound, color dictionary, annual scholarships to graduating high school students, dozens of grants ("Duck Bucks") to community organizations and our newest project to sponsor the Teen Center in the new Haselwood YMCA. 

This year the Duck tickets will be different.  Namely, the "Quack Pack" will be one ticket with 5 chances to win!  The Rotary Club is also pleased to announce additional venues where you can Adopt-A-Duck.  Please see the official Great Kitsap Duck Race website for more details.

 Pictured:  Duce Race Ticket Coordinator Roger Eagan and Silverdale Rotary Club President Rich Arper modeling this year's tickets.

On May 19, the Silverdale Rotary Club recognized eight students from Klahowya Secondary School (KSS) and Central Kitsap High School (CKHS) for their outstanding academic achievements.  As always, each and every student impressed club members with their academic, extra cirricular, community service, athletic and personal activity schedules.  The number one question that gets asked of these amazing kids is, "Where do you find the time?!"  The students being recognized had a wide array of interests, college choices and career ambitions.  However, all students shared the common thread of academic achievements, great work ethics and fantastic attitudes!  Each student received a copy of the Rotary Four-Way Test, a certificate worthy of framing, a $100 savings bond and limousine service to the Rotary luncheon.

Pictured (left to right): Lindsey Holdren (CKHS), Katherine Crabtree (CKHS), Peter Lockwood (KSS), Joey Cilinceon (KSS), Carly Whetsel (KSS), Kyle Hnatovic (KSS), Nicholas Wilson (CKHS), Dexter Leland (CKHS), Rotarian Ron Templeton.

The following image confirms (choose one):

a.  Being the President of a Rotary Club is stressful

b.  The Silverdale Rotary Club just celebrated the second Full Moon Fellowship

c.  This is always the way Rich dresses on Tuesday nights

d.  It's Halloween in May.

 On Tuesday, May 17th, the Silverdale Rotary Club joined the Poulsbo-North Kitsap Rotary Club at Sogno di Vino to celebrate a Full Moon, the Norweigan Independence Day and Rotary Fellowship. The Front Street restaurant was an ideal location on an ideal evening for some fellowship between the two Rotary Clubs.  Approximately 45 Poulsbo and Silverdale Rotarians were joined by District Governor Bob Martin and his wife Jan who both seemed more than willing to wrap up a day of Club visits with a low-key social gathering of Rotarians.

It was a lot of fun to extend the idea of our Full Moon Fellowship to our Rotarian neighbors to the north and have the result be a fun evening in a location not often visited by Silverdale Rotarians.

As for the question above;  I can't help you with the correct answer.  But, having spent a week in the Dominican Republic with Rich, I can tell you he doesn't dress like this every Tuesday night.

(pictured:  Brenda Wall, President Poulsbo-North Kitsap Rotary Club; Rich Arper, President Silverdale Rotary Club and 5020 District Governor Bob Martin)

Silverdale Rotary hosted the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Security Force Battalion (MCSFBn), Bangor and Sgt Christopher Rangel on May 11 in order to recognize Sgt Rangel for being chosen as the MCSFBn’s Marine of the Quarter.  SgtMaj Richard Smith described Sgt Rangel’s multitude of accomplishments, and as always, we are grateful for the outstanding service of the Marines in our area.

SgtMaj Smith then went on to provide us with a summary of the long history of the Marine Corps in the Puget Sound area, which started way back in 1856!  Along the way the Marines were assigned on deployed ships and in Bremerton, Keyport, Alaska, Indian Island, Seattle and then Marine Barracks Bangor, which ultimately became Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, Bangor.  Today MCSFBn Bangor numbers over 1,000 Marine Corps and Navy personnel.

Pictured left to right: Sgt Rangel, SgtMaj Smith, and Rotarian Jack Hamilton

On May 12, Silverdale Rotarians had the opportunity to thank Submarine Group Nine Sailor of the Quarter MM1 Andrew Heil.  Heil, stationed aboard the SSBN Louisiana (Gold crew), was presented to the Silverdale Rotary Club by Louisiana Captain (Gold) Joe Turk.

During a week when media attention was focused on Navy's special forces it was a good reminder that we have exceptional sailors serving throughout the Navy. 

Our Rotary team won the Literacy Council of Kitsap Spelling Bee on May 6!  It took 34 Rounds and four grueling hours, but our "We BEE Ducks" team of crack spellers (Elayne Burton, Ed Ahrens, and Mike Gass) ultimately prevailed over the 12 other teams in the annual fund raiser.   About 15 very vocal supporters dressed in neon yellow "Rotarians at Work" vests cheered them on with duck calls and resounding cheers.   Silverdale Rotary contributed $500 of our Duck Race proceeds towards this event plus uncounted personal funds towards Bribing the Bee and the Silent Auction.   Lots of fun for a good cause!

We mourn the loss of Silverdale Rotarian  Judith Rammel, who passed away on April 19.  She joined our Club in 1995, was Club Secretary 2003-05, and was a Paul Harris Fellow.  We will miss her enthusiasm for Rotary, her passion for service, and her unquenchable smile.

The following is from her husband Patrick (who was also a Silverdale Rotarian from 1995-2004): "There will be a Celebration of Life service on May 7, 2011 at 2 P.M. at the Admiral Theater in Bremerton. Please come and celebrate Judith's life with songs and stories. She wanted this is to be a joyful time and filled love and happiness. If you have something red, wear it because it was Judith's favorite color."

The Rotary Club of Silverdale has been working to support the poor in the Dominican Republic for several years (see March 2011 stories below about the van and dictionary project), and is currently making plans for a clean water project in the batays in Southwestern Dominican Republic.  We are thrilled to report that the Rotary Club of Siverdale Sunrise has provided funds to help  with this project!  On April 21 Jay Lovato and Bill Wright presented us with a $2,000 check.  Thank you, Silverdale Sunrise Rotary!

 Pictured left to right: Nancy Whitaker and Jason Mayer (Silverdale Rotary International Services Committee), and Jay Lovato and Bill Wright (Silverdale Sunrise Rotary).  

In April we awarded $1,044 in Duck Bucks to Leadership Kitsap Project Team 2 to purchase the linens for the bunk beds that the Team just built for the Bremerton Rescue Mission.  Then on April 10, our Rotarians volunteered at the 5K Fun Run/Walk fund raiser.  It was a cold, wet morning, but all participants still had fun! 

Pictured here are Rotarians Mary Hoover and Cathy Bisaillon next to one of the newly constructed bunk beds. For more information about Bremerton Rescue Mission, see http://www.bremrescue.org.

What a pleasure is was to recognize four more outstanding students from Klahowya Secondary School and Central Kitsap High School.  On April 7 we heard all about their achievements and awarded them certificates and Savings Bonds to lend our encouragement.  Congratulations!  Pictured left to right:

Alexandra (Alex) Draper (Klahowya) - is headed for the Gene Juarez Academy and plays bass guitar

Dakota Meadows (CKHS) - is headed for the United States Military Academy at West Point 

Shannon Lubetich (CKHS) - is a National Merit Scholar finalist and a U.S. Presidential Scholars Program finalist

Ashley Hargrove (Klahowya)  - is in Running Start and aspires to be a teacher

Ron Templeton - Silverdale Rotarian 

Meet Miharu Umehara, her Mother Chika, and her brother Hiroaki, all from Chigasaki, Japan (Kanagawa prefecture, southwest of Tokyo).  Miharu is our Rotary Exchange Student who arrived in August 2010.  Just last weekend Chika Umehara arrived from Japan, and Hiroaki arrived from Texas Tech in Lubbock, TX, where he is studying applied linguistics at the graduate school.  Mrs. Umehara brought her daughter a special gift – Miharu’s first formal kimono, which Miharu modeled at our Rotary Club meeting on March 17.  We learned that it takes special training and 1.5 hours to properly dress a lady in a kimono.

Pictured from left to right: Miharu, Christy Cathcart (Silverdale Rotary Youth Exchange Officer, who presented gifts to the family), Chika Umehara, and Hiroaki Umehara.

Silverdale Rotarians heard first hand how attending Washington Business Week (WBW) can change a high school student's life when Andrew Walters (pictured on left), sophomore at Klahowya Secondary School, described his experiences last summer.  In a dynamite presentation, Andrew related how his group invented a product, started a business, and ran it. He described the skills he learned, confidence he gained, and the lasting relationships he formed.   

Silverdale Rotary has been supporting Washington Business Week since 1981, and at our meeting today, Rotarian Jim Adkins presented $2,400 to Steve Hyer, WBW Executive Director (pictured on right) to sponsor two CKHS students and defray out of pocket expenses for two more from CKHS or Klahowya.  Steve talked about the volunteers from the business community that make WBW such an exciting experience for teens. For more about  WBW, go to  http://www.wbw.org/Default.aspx  .

Rotary International and the ShelterBox effort was the spotlight of a CNN story airing this past week.  The story (click here) highlights the versatility of the ShelterBox in the Haiti relief effort.

Volunteer arborists Ken Little and Don McKinney climbed Silverdale's historic 131' Christmas tree to help volunteers from the Silverdale Dandy Lions, Olympic Wiring, and the Silverdale Rotary Club get the tree ready for the big lighting event on November 28 starting at 5:00 p.m. in the Silverdale Antiques Store parking lot.

A large crowd at Bremerton High School gym watched community leaders and former basketball stars compete in a Bremerton Lions Club benefit match on November 9 against the Harlem Ambassadors. 

Click here to see all 30 Duck Race Winners.