At our October 7, 2024 Rotary Meeting.
The group discussed a proposal to add a fifth question to the Four-Way Test, focusing on environmental respect. This would be considered as an additional question rather than a replacement for current implicit fifth: “Is it fun”.
A land acknowledgment was made to honor the native peoples of the area.
Connie shared a tribute to Linda Jean Coyle, a past district governor, highlighting her contributions to Rotary and her community. Linda Jean was remembered for her strength, guidance, and inspiring spirit.
Terry introduced Sam Green, an honorary member of the club and a key figure in the Skagit River Poetry Foundation and Festival. The festival promotes literacy and poetry in schools, providing students with opportunities to engage with poetry and develop their own skills.
Sam Green spoke about the importance of unity and the role of Rotary in bringing people together despite differences. He shared his experiences working with students and emphasized the value of promoting literacy through poetry. Poetry is a literacy of the heart, one of the things that comes across over and over is how we give kids a chance to say something that they couldn't say in any other way. Suddenly they're talking to their parents in a way their parents hear. They're talking to their peers in a way that their peers finally hear. There are a few groups who feel less heard than kids, so giving them those tools is important. Poetry is just one way to do that.
Sam is a former Poet Laureate of the State. He shared experiences traveling to small towns and schools across the state, often with vague directions. Despite challenges, the arts were thriving in every corner of the state, indicating a strong cultural presence. Artist Trust, an arts support organization in Seattle, commissioned the Sam to write a poem for a new sculpture. Initially hesitant, Sam accepted the commission for $1,000, dedicating three weeks to crafting the poem.
The poem, written in the form of an abecedarium, required each stanza to start with consecutive letters of the alphabet. It highlighted various Washington cities and places, emphasizing the local nature of art and its presence in everyday life. The poem celebrated the arts in diverse settings, from small towns to larger cities, and various forms of artistic expression. It underscored the importance of art in community life, education, and personal expression. The poem was donated to support the Skagit River Poetry Foundation, reflecting the speaker’s commitment to promoting literacy and poetry. The speaker read the poem, which included references to numerous towns and artistic activities, illustrating the widespread impact of the arts.
There are an awful lot of ways to contribute to the arts. Jerry and Kathy just opened their home to 4 poets for 2 weeks. They not only opened their home, their refrigerator, their bedrooms, and, thank God, their liquor cabinet, but their hearts as well, and no one I know does that better than Jerry. That is an exemplification of what happens here at Rotary. All those 4 rules they hold true, and Jerry knows how to make that 5th rule hold true, too.

October is Community and Economic Development Month for Rotary.
- October 30th: After-school program event with pumpkin painting and hot dogs at 4 PM. Volunteers are needed for pumpkin procurement and hot dog preparation.
- John Stuart Milner was recognized for achieving Paul Harris Fellow Plus 4, signifying significant contributions to the Rotary Foundation.

After last week’s discussion led by Dave Duskan about club’s goals, the president provided a PDF update on the goals, highlighting the importance of setting and achieving these goals for annual certification. The club has been successful in this area due to careful goal selection and a strong sense of identity and purpose.
These goals are selected and updated throughout the year, with input from the Rotary Foundation and Rotary International. The discussion focused on reviewing the club’s goals, which fall into categories such as participant engagement, increasing impact, expanding reach, and enhancing adaptability.
Goal Achievements:
- Service Participation: 22 members participated in the auction, meeting the goal.
- Leadership Development Participation: 3 members have participated in leadership training, with a goal of 5.
- District Conference Attendance: Scheduled for later in the year, with expected strong attendance.
- Use of Rotary Promotional Materials: The club adheres to Rotary standards in printed materials.
- District Training Participation: 2 out of 3 members attended a recent training session, with more expected.
- Annual Fund Contributions: $4,420 raised against a goal of $3,500.
- Polio Plus Contributions: $1,450 raised towards a $3,500 goal since July 1st.
- Service Projects: Just beginning for the rotary year.
- Club Membership: 27 members, aiming for 29.
- New Membership Sponsorship: 1 out of 2 achieved.
- Rotaract Club Sponsorship: Ongoing support for the local Rotaract Club.
- Media Coverage: At least 2 stories about club projects published, with a goal of 4.
- Online Presence: Updates made to the website and social media.
The club has achieved 6 out of 15 goals so far. Members were asked to provide feedback on questions from the district governor to help identify areas for improvement. The discussion highlighted the need for more social events within the club, noting that while there have been business-focused activities, social gatherings have been lacking. Upcoming events include a Christmas party and a potential Polio Plus dinner, with suggestions to be more proactive about organizing events on fifth Mondays. The conversation then shifted to increasing the club’s ability to adapt through innovation, relevance, awareness, and openness. Members were encouraged to provide feedback on a questionnaire shared by Dave, which aims to gather input on these areas.
Sam shared a personal story about his father, who developed Alzheimer’s in his late 60s. Despite the disease, the father could still remember and recite a poem they had learned together when Sam was a child. During a visit to the memory care center, Sam and his father recited the poem “The Cremation of Sam McGee” by Robert W. Service, alternating lines. This experience highlighted the power of poetic memory and its ability to connect people, even in the face of memory loss. The speaker cherished this as one of the happiest memories with their father, emphasizing the importance of shared memories and the emotional bonds they create.
Audrey’s closing remarks emphasized the importance of October as Polio Month, especially given the current global turbulence and increase in polio cases.
The club expressed gratitude to senior Rotary leaders, including PRIP Jennifer Jones, RI Polio Plus Committee Chair Mike McGovern, and others who successfully lobbied the Canadian government for a $151 million donation to the polio campaign.
World Polio Day is approaching, with a virtual focus session scheduled for October 24th at 12 PM Mountain Time (2 PM Eastern Time). The session will feature Trustee and PRIP Gordon McInally, Dr. Mark Joffe, Chief Medical Officer of Alberta, and RI Director Chris. Members were encouraged to register for the event.
Rotary is committed to raising $50 million annually for polio eradication through a partnership with the Gates Foundation, which matches every dollar 2 to 1. Rotary has contributed over $2.6 billion to fight polio, including matching funds from the Gates Foundation, and has dedicated countless hours to protecting children worldwide.
Members are urged to take action and raise awareness on World Polio Day and throughout the year by making a gift to the Polio Plus Fund at endpolio.org.
The meeting concluded with a reminder that it’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving, quoting Mother Teresa.