At our Sept. 21 Rotary Meeting, the inspiration was provided by Mike:

In any amount, this little bit of inspiration comes from a Chinese philosopher that I have become familiar with over the years, and Lao Tzu was born in 531 BC, so that's 3,000 years ago. This has to do with gratitude. And I don't think we can talk about gratitude often enough. 

Be content. With what you have. Rejoice in the way that these are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."

Our guest this evening:  Holly Witte, a lapsed Rotarian from Seattle 4, who now resides in La Conner and is part of the Arts Commission and is now moving toward membership in our club.

The originally scheduled speaker never showed. Keith gave an impromptu follow-up/second talk on AI, referencing his January session with the club.

·  Free vs. paid chatbots 

·  Customizing chatbot output (ASD-STE100 example) 

·  Why AIs hallucinate 

·  How to reduce made-up info (domain restriction, mandatory citations, avoiding reliance on trained "memory") 

·  Personal anecdotes on AI being wrong (Copilot drip pan pump; Claude price guess) 

·  Crafting with AI example (Silhouette Cameo/diaper cake) 

·  Using AI to improve Room décor    

·  How LLMs work (brief, simplified)

·  AI Agents (capabilities and risks) 

Keith recommended everyone try: https://beta.dol.gov/ai-ready  This will text message you daily for about 7 days and you interact and learn in about 10 minutes each day.

The slide deck presented which has links to many other items is at: https://tinyurl.com/usingAIv2-pptx   
Note:  Google does NOT properly display the PowerPoint.  
You must download and use a PowerPoint viewer to properly see it.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wSWVU6D-ou9D7jCZ-euRQWMlNbXO0aZJ/viewis PDF of the slides along with presentation notes.
 

Calendar

• Friday, September 25, 6pm: Camp Kirby Camptoberfest: Beer, cider, dinner, games, raffle
  21+ starting at 6:00 PM, $20 suggested donation.
• Wednesday, October 7, 3pm-5pm: Rotary Sponsored Free CPR Class at La Conner High School Library. Sign up on our website.

• Tuesday, October 13, 10am-12pm Helping Hands Food Bank Volunteering

• Thursday, October 15: Rotary Social Seahawk Party at the home of Lyanne and Travis
  starting at 5:15 PM, featuring the Seahawks game (vs the Broncos) and a hot dog bar.

• Saturday, October 17 9am-12pm: Work Party at Camp Purdy involving the YES students and Skagit and Whatcom clubs

• Saturday, October 17: Skagit Humane Auction at the Swinomish Casino, 5:30 PM, organized by Kathleen Oldnar

• Sunday, October  25, 2pm: A  Gathering to honor Jerry  Willins at Christianson’s Vinery  (Note the time change)

• Monday December 14: Rotary Club of La Conner Holiday Celebration  at Moltobello

• Saturday, August 28: Rotary Club of La Conner Auction

At our Aug. 31 Rotary  Meeting 

Guests

Chris Cleaver

Bernie Halliday

Kurt Nelson

Kathy Willins

Inspiration

In honor of Dolly Parton, Connie read the letter all kids get from Dolly when they turn 5 and stop getting Imagination Library books.

Dolly Parton's IMAGINATION LIBRARY

Dear Imagination Library Graduate,

My, how time flies. It seems it was only yesterday when your family and friends read you your first story. You were just a baby. Now you're five years old and about to go to school. How exciting!

This may be your last book from my Imagination Library but you have to promise me you will keep on reading. If you go to your local public library you will find a great number of books just for kids your age. Every book is a treasure and every time you open one up you will meet new friends and take wonderful journeys to magical places.

I hope you have a great time in school. I bet your school will even have a library where you can check out books. You and all of your friends are very special. There is no limit to what you can do or how far you can go.

Just remember the lessons my family taught me - dream big dreams; learn everything you can learn; and care for all those who care for you. You do all of these things and you can be anyone you want to be.

You are terrific, and remember...

I Will Always Love You,

Dolly

Speaker

Youth Engaged in Service (YES) participant Sabrina Hill regaled us with her experience as a volunteer here and in Honduras. She had trouble getting all her 80 volunteer hours before the trip because of her school activities, but she made it. She spoke highly of the program and how prepared all the students were by the activities and training opportunities they had throughout the year before the trip. She loved the weather in Honduras but arrived there tired from all the travel. For their first activity, the YES students painted the exterior of an orphanage and part of the inside. They learned how to interact with the children there and that made it comfortable to meet others. Sabrina loved the birds and seeing them in the wild.  She got bit by fire ants which really hurt!

She said it was so refreshing to be so welcomed by everyone in Honduras. In the villages, the YES students painted, gardened, did activities with the children, presented Days for Girls, and built a playground.

When they built the first playground, the men in the village weren’t sure the girls should be building, since they were girls, but the girls went right ahead and did it well.

After the days of work, the girls got to be tourists. They had a wonderful time attending a festival, visiting a bird sanctuary, and seeing Myan ruins.

Riding in the back of the truck and singing karaoke were highlights of the end of the trip.

Sabrina told us it was a great bonding experience for the girls. They learned about leadership, friendships, and dancing. She is continuing to volunteer. Sabrina is thankful for what we have in this country, but learned that you don’t have to have much to be happy.

Her advice to incoming YES  participants is: Go into this experience with an open mind. You are there to learn and serve. Learn Spanish!

Biggest takeaway: Be so gracious with other people. 

Poetry Festival Basket

Molly McNulty brought a “poetry basket” that was meant for our silent auction but didn’t get placed in the silent auction area. So, with Don Wick as auctioneer, the basket was auctioned off at our meeting. Don not only was the auctioneer; he was also the high bidder!

Humane Society Auction

October 17^th is the date of the Humane Society of Skagit Auction. Our District Governor, Kathleen Olson, is the director of Skagit Humane. As a show of support, it was suggested that the animal lovers in our club buy a table and attend the auction.
 

Peace Pole

Our Peace Pole for the La Conner Peace Garden has been approved by the Town Council. Research into the cost will be conducted.

Major Donor

Danielle Mullen was highlighted for her work with our club and was honored as a Major Donor for contributing $10,000 to The Rotary Foundation (Rotary International). Congratulations and thank you, Danielle. Dennis Milliken, Foundation Chair, presented her a Major Donor pin and crystal. 

Before his passing, Jerry Willins also became a Rotary International Major Donor. 

Calendar

• Monday, September 14: Last meeting to turn in reading glasses

• September 25-27: US Rotarians begin the discussion about becoming a US 50/50 Environmental Action Group.

• The next CPR class will be a Saturday in early October.

At our 8/17 Rotary business meeting and our 8/24 meeting:

Aug 17, Connie presented the inspiration:

The DNA OF A Rotarian

A Rotarian is not recognized by what they say.

They are recognized by what they do.

By worn hands rather than perfect speeches.

By gratitude that is born of action.

Because true Rotary is not learnt by heart.

It is not invented.

It is not improvised.

It is carried in the DNA.

A DNA that moves words aside because it is nourished by deeds,

that refuses to stand still and simply watch.

A DMA that does not ask “What’s in it for me?”

But instead asks, “What is needed?”

No offense meant, but you are not a good person because you are a Rotarian. 

You are a Rotarian because goodness was already in your DNA.

The kind you carry as a birthmark,

spoken through the heart.That is why a Rotarian

D  elivers…they do not promise.

N  urtures “we” and never “I”

A  cts…they do not boast

Rotary does not change you.

It reveals you.

It takes what is already within you – that restlessness, that commitment, that

heartbeat—

and opens the path to impact.

Through projects.

Through genuine service.

And through teamwork – remember the word ALL.

Ant that life resume…let me say it again: it is not improvised.

It is a genetic code.

It is the DNA of a Rotarian. 

And yes…once it lives inside you, 

Rotary finds you.

by Vaness VaVe from the Rotary Club of San Pedro Alcantara

Lori’s Club Goals for 2026/27

Membership      30 members

Service Participation 24 people

Annual  Fund Contribution $5,000

Polio Plus Contribution       $3,000

Social Activities10

New Member Sponsors      3

Rotary Action Group  1

Leadership Development    4 people

Interact Club     1

RYLA        2 attendees

(Rotary Youth Leadership Awards)       

Media Stories    4

District Training6 people

Announcements:

• We’re collecting eyeglasses for the Etta Project.
• We are sponsoring the La Conner Swinomish Library Festival of Tiny Trees which will take place on November 21^st at 4pm.

Calendar

• Tuesday, September 8, 10am-12pm: Helping Hands Food Bank Volunteering
• La Conner Rotary Social: September 10, 5:30  at COA
• September 25-27: Fall Stewardship Weekend at the North Cascades Institute (Lori has more details)
• Tuesday, October 13, 10am-12pm: Helping Hands Food Bank Volunteering

At our Aug. 24  Rotary  Meeting 

The Rotary Club of La Conner was chartered on August 27, 1945.

Inspiration by Marty who discussed the ripple effect in her inspiration, reminding us all that kindness and positivity with others has a ripple effect that keeps spreading. 

When we look around today at the problems that individuals, communities, countries, the world and the planet are having, it is really easy to get overwhelmed. and you might ask yourself. What can I do? Individual me? What can I do to make a difference? I believe in the ripple effect and that is how I cope. So I try to be positive in my life to do good, to be kind to other people and in that process make them feel better and then they might be kind to someone else and you have the ripple effect. The ripple effect isn’t very loud, but I think it can be really powerful and very effective. One of the things I love about our club is that we have 27 individuals who come together who care a lot about the world and about their lives and the ripple effect from those 27 people is magnified a hundredfold so let’s continue to do good.

Birthdays  We sang happy birthday to Roy and Patsy!

Memorial  Jerry Willins will be remembered on October 25^th at 3pm at the vinery  at  Christianson’s Nursery.

More Inspiration

Lori shared a bumper sticker: When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

Audrey related her airport experience of getting a wheelchair for a man who looked like he was having trouble standing. It was appreciated by the man and his family and points out that noticing those around us who could use assistance and then acting on it is part of the 4-way test.

The La Conner Library Foundation has an opening for a new director.

At our Aug. 10  Rotary Meeting as Inspiration 

Dennis played a YouTube video of “The Peace Arch Song” performed by Terry Kelly. Terry, a blind musician, performed the song in public for the first time at the Hands Across the Border this past Saturday. You can see the video at this link: https://youtu.be/jGCqjLnOgbs?is=Z8woQLS0ZVMZId8M

Dennis and Audrey announced awards our club received at Hands Across the Border:

• 3^rd highest per capita  giving to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund

  

• Club Excellence  Award

  

• Full retention of Membership

Our Speaker was Dr. Christina Chambreau on the  Topic:  The value of companion animals

Dr. Christina is a homeopathic veterinarian,  author, and speaker who lives in Florida,  but spends July and August in Anacortes every year. She asked us to take care of our animals, our children, and ourselves with a more holistic approach that will also decrease stress and, at the same time, make a difference for our planet.

1. Decrease the environmental cost of buying bags of dog food that have been processed and shipped from all over and instead feed your dog locally sourced meat, fish, vegetables, etc. that you can prepare with your own food. Make sure to get organ meat as well, even if you don’t eat it. Cook and puree the vegetables. The Magic Skagit has everything you need. Just something to consider. 

2. Animals don’t need vaccinations every year or year-round flea medications. It costs lots of money and you want to be careful about the toxins you are giving your pets.
   They must have rabies vaccinations every 3 years. 

3. Christina started working in vet clinics when she was 11 and living in Japan. Dogs then often lived into their mid 20s. Cats to 25 or 30.  She said, “And holistically treated animals, I see that in all the time.”

4. Too many people are bit by dogs every year. Read the book: Ask the Dog by Steve Dale. See the Resource list.

5. Change the idea of Net Zero by 2050 to Climate Restoration. “So, as we think about the environment, we want to think about our footprint. Every time we make a choice for anything, we want to think, how is it affecting the environment?” This is also in line with the Rotary Environmental Committee.

   See the Resource list at the end.

   

Thank you to the  VanderSandens for the Rotary Picnic.
The Bakken/Jones scholarship was given to a graduating high school female going into a STEM field.  

Rotary Joining anniversary:      Martin Howard has been a Rotarian for 19 years as of August 7^th!

Car and Boat Show:    Patsy thanked our volunteers. LC Kiwanis did their part too.  🙂

Reading Glasses:          We’re collecting for the ETTA Project.

CPR Class

Our first CPR class was August 6^th for 21 La Conner School District staff members.  Chief Woods and newly trained instructor Cole were great! Lori put in a plug for the Rotary’s involvement in this one and in 3 more over the next several months.  

Calendar

• Saturday, August 29, 5pm: La Conner Rotary’s “Let the Good Times Roll” Auction Doors open at 5:30. 

Let the Good Times Roll 
Annual Harvest Dinner & Auction 
Saturday, August 29^th, 2026 • 5:30–9:30 PM 
Maple Hall • 104 Commercial St, La Conner

Gourmet dinner, preceded by appetizers offered during the silent auction, provided by La Conner Seafood & Prime Rib. Paired with wine provided by Skagit Crest Winery.

$100 per person 
Kindly RSVP by August 15^th , 2026

Respond by visiting: https://bit.ly/harvestinghope2026 or

Harvesting Hope for Literacy

Historical tradition provides that people gather, celebrate, and share a bountiful harvest with a feast.
On August 29, 2026, the Rotary Club of La Conner will gather to share fellowship, promote peace and understanding, honor one another, and share our prosperity.
All proceeds further the promotion of Rotary education and humanitarian projects.

Duane was born and raised in Mount Vernon, Washington, with his brother, Dwight, and sister, Diane. A proud 1966 graduate of Mount Vernon High School, he was honored to be one of six commencement speakers. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics from Whitman College in Walla Walla, where he joined Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and served as social chairman for two years. He later completed a Master of Science degree in physics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Duane’s career took him into the high‑tech world, beginning as a physicist with the Ultek Division of Perkin‑Elmer in Palo Alto, California, where he developed electron‑beam instrumentation. He later spent 30 years with Coates and Welter Instrument Corp. and Nanometrics Inc., and his work on scanning electron microscope design resulted in several patents.
Duane also brought his talents to construction, serving as a project engineer and superintendent for Hagengen Pacific Construction on projects in San Jose, Cupertino, and San Francisco. After retiring, Duane and Mary returned to their Skagit County roots and made their home in Shelter Bay.
Duane’s lifelong love of genealogy led him to serve as president of the Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society. He has also served faithfully as a church deacon and elder. In the local community, he served Sunrise Food Bank as treasurer for several years and continues to care deeply about its mission and the people it serves.
Duane and Mary are blessed with three children, seven grandchildren, and nine great‑grandchildren.

Another peak at a live item for our upcoming auction on August 29

At our July 13 Meeting Doug provided this inspiration.  See Read More for the details.

Besides our speaker, our Guests included Rick Olson, Ginny Dugaw, and John Dugaw

The meeting featured our new District 5050 Governor Kathleen Olson as the main speaker, who discussed creating lasting impact through club collaboration and engagement initiatives. Kathleen shared examples of successful international projects, including a Global Neighbor Project in Lesotho and a water project in Ecuador, emphasizing how simple conversations can lead to meaningful service. 

Notice a need, make an impact. Invite one person, engage and act. DG Kathleen’s Engagement initiative will take the place of a District Conference.

As with all our speakers, she signed a book destined for the Honduras mobile library

Other Business

The club discussed upcoming events including the Car and Boat Show on August 1st and the annual picnic on August 3rd at Big Lake, with sign-ups needed for both.

Members were asked to collect reading glasses (strengths 3.5-4.5 and higher) for an Etta project in Bolivia.

Lori read a letter from Brian Hennessy  , who proposed starting a US version of the Climate Change Initiative in District 5050. Lori announced plans for a kickoff meeting at North Cascade Institute's fall stewardship weekend to organize a new dedicated group within District 5050. 

Marty shared thank you letters from Honduras school YES project.

The meeting also covered auction planning, with Audrey reporting that invitations had been sent and the website was live for table reservations. The committee decided the club should create a "cart of fun" featuring member-donated items like wine, games, and puzzles for the auction.

Birthday, Adam McGarity July 13, who brought and shared carrot cake!

Anniversary Don and Danya Wolf   July 13 (30 years) off at Crater Lake to celebrate.

Joining Anniversary  Randy  Goembel  July 10, 2015 (11 years)

Car and Boat Show: Saturday, August 1.

At our June 30, meeting, Adam gave the Inspiration including a quote attributed to Pope Francis:

"Life is of no use if not used to serve others, for life is measured by love."

followed by:

“Rivers do not drink their own water. Trees do not eat their own fruit, the sun does not shine on itself, and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other.”

Audrey introduced Scott Thomas, Town Administrator for La Conner. Background shared with the group is in Read More

 State of the Town of La Conner

Scott Thomas has served as La Conner's Town Administrator since 2018 (approximately 8 years). He framed his remarks around the town's size relative to its scope of responsibility, and around the Town Council's strategic plan.

Town Size and Staffing

• La Conner recently surpassed 1,000 residents per the latest census estimate.
• The town operates with 12.5 staff positions, not including law enforcement (contracted through the Skagit County Sheriff's Department) or wastewater treatment plant operations (contracted out).   Giving about 1 staff to 83 residents.
• Despite its small size, La Conner is proactive on regional issues — a practice established under former Mayor Ramon Hayes and continued under current Mayor Varna Hanneman, who encourages staff involvement in regional bodies (Thomas himself chairs the 911 board).
• La Conner provides a broad range of services comparable to or exceeding those of larger nearby communities (Mount Vernon, Burlington, Cedar Wooley, Anacortes), including water, sewer, stormwater, planning, a senior program, and public works/streets. Staffing ratios vary by community depending on service scope (e.g., Anacortes has a larger water service area, requiring more staff per capita, 1 staff per 49 residents)

Strategic Plan

The Town Council adopted a strategic plan roughly four years ago, updated it two years ago, and will update it again at the end of July 2026. Six goal areas were covered:

• Economy: An updated comprehensive plan has spurred more affordable housing (small-home apartments, an incoming Habitat for Humanity development). Agricultural support has lagged, but a farmer’s market is being explored with the Port of Skagit, building on the existing Saturday producer’s market. The town is also expanding festival programming (Tulip, Birding, Daffodil festivals) and is piloting a 4th of July street closure/shuttle system alongside the usual parade, fireworks, and concert.

• Economic Development Plan: Not yet started independently; the town intends to build on Skagit County’s forthcoming countywide strategy (CEDS).

• Public Safety: A new fire boat (replacing an inadequate old one) has meaningfully improved emergency response on the channel. The town coordinates with the County Sheriff and Fire District 15, shares mutual aid with Fire District 13, and has an Emergency Management Commission whose all-hazards plan performed well during last December’s flooding. The recent rapid Winthrop wildfire evacuation was cited as a reminder of local wildfire risk.

• Capital Projects: Three major infrastructure projects are underway or looming — a ~$32M wastewater treatment plant replacement (targeting 2031–2032, dependent on grant funding), a $3.4M Channel Drive water line replacement (mostly funded, aiming for completion within a year), and an eventual ~$10M replacement of the aging main supply line from Anacortes (needed within roughly 10 years, timing uncertain).

• Staff Talent: The town is midway through a wave of turnover in senior staff; the Finance Director and Town Planner have both already been replaced successfully, with more transitions expected.

• Community Engagement: Council continues to encourage resident involvement and thanked the town’s volunteer base for its outsized contribution.

Q&A Following the Presentation

Members asked about several topics, and Thomas responded as follows:

• Town revenue comes mainly from property and sales taxes (including destination-based online sales tax), service fees (water, sewer, stormwater, compost), and lodging taxes that fund tourism efforts.

• Contracted vs. town staff: Sewer plant operators and law enforcement are contracted services, not direct town employees.

• Regional coordination: Search and rescue runs through the County Sheriff’s office; La Conner and Fire District 13 provide mutual aid to each other, and the Port of Swinomish contributes to the town in exchange for fire protection of port facilities, even though the Tribe itself supports District 13.

• Ongoing community needs: The Maple Hall sound system remains broken with no fix yet identified; the bike repair station came in well under its original budget. The town is also launching free community CPR training this August (in partnership with Fire District 13 and LC Fire) and is looking to address a local shortage of public AEDs (currently only at the library, Maple Hall, the Retirement Inn, and the school).

• Rescue boat: Run by the Fire Department and berthed at the port; response time has dropped from hours to minutes, and it will be patrolling for fire risk on July 4th starting around 4–5 p.m.

Following Q&A, the club's traditional guest gift (having Scott Thomas sign the club's Spanish-language guest book, which supports a partner library in Honduras) was presented.

Club Announcements

• Birthdays: One birthday this period — Rick Bullduck (not in attendance), whose birthday was the 27th.
• District Installation for Kathleen Olson (July 19): Expected attendance over 100. Begins 11:00 a.m. Sunday. Registration available via District 5050 (link to be included in circulated minutes). Event will include a bagpiper.
• Mariners Field Trip: Being organized for September; details to follow.

At our 6/22 meeting, Mike Cook was inspired by the opening of the Obama Library and quoted from a speech given by President Obama in 2015:

“You are America. Unconstrained by habit and convention. Unencumbered by what is, ready to seize what ought to be. For everywhere I this country, there are first steps to be taken, there is new ground to cover, there are more bridges to be crossed. America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.’ ‘We The People.’ We Shall Overcome.’ ‘Yes We Can.” That word is owned by no one. It belongs to everyone. Oh, what a glorious task we are given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours.”

Also inspiring: Mike and his wife have tickets to visit the Obama Library in October!

Executive Director Carrie Omdahl and Conductor Michael Wheatly 

not only verbally highlighted the Skagit Symphony, they gave us a flavor of the symphony with Michael on the violin, Carrie on the clarinet, playing Mozart duets. 

Symphony highlights include growing to 80 musicians and:

• Art in the Garden Bash and Garden Tour on June 28^th https://www.skagitsymphony.com/garden-bash-2026

• Fifth- grade orchestra concert for all Skagit County fifth graders in January, which our club supports.  This year it will be The British Are Coming!

• The 2026-2027 Concert Season: https://www.skagitsymphony.com/

  Faces of America

  • American Reflection

  • Christmas  Past (with our friend Al Call reciting The Night Before Christmas)

  • The  British are Coming-Children’s Concert   Dave Johnson will narrate

  • Mother of  Exiles

  • Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite

  • Critical Hits-Pops Concert

• Stringed instrument instruction in the libraries, including La Conner/Swinomish, to get kids playing since strings are no longer taught in the schools

• Adult strings instruction at the La Conner/Swinomish library too!

Scholarship Recipient Isabelle Villard

Isabelle inspired us with her public speaking, leadership, academics, and sports. She was ASB Executive Vice President and participated in leadership all four years. She played volleyball, basketball, and threw discus,  javelin, and as part of the state winning La Conner track team. She is executive vice-president of the Associated Student Body and participated in leadership all four years. After high school, she will attend Western Washington University to study early childhood education.  Her parents, Shaye Villard and Lucas Villard, attended our meeting.

Rosi painting

Sabrina manning a drill

Sabrina putting in bolts to attach the swings