June is Rotary Fellowship Month – Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience. There are more than 90 fellowship groups established for Rotarians around the world to share in their common passions, experience exciting experiences, and engage in life changing opportunities. Link - Rotary Fellowships | Rotary International
June is also National PRIDE Month – Rotary D5050 is in the process of combining Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and the Membership Committee. DEI is a natural part of attracting and retaining members and emphasizes that everyone is welcome in Rotary Weunderstand that by cultivating a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture, we realize our vision of a world where people unite, take action to creating lasting change, and celebrate the contributions from people of all backgrounds. People hold visible and invisible qualities that inherently make them unique, and as an organization we strive to ensure each person knows they are valued and belong.
La Conner Rotary partners with La Conner Thrives and June PRIDE events – Please come and enjoy the community partnership and event – or volunteer to help with the events – Link- La Conner Pride
Rainbows - A rainbow is more than just a pretty sight — it’s a symbolically rich natural phenomenon in nature that often signifies hope, beauty, potential, and good fortune. The rainbow’s array of colors also exemplifies unity in diversity, and it’s been a powerful symbol of pride for the LGBTQ+ community since the 1970s. Scientifically, each of the colors of the rainbow represents a different wavelength of light, with violet having the shortest wavelength and red the longest. They also carry emotional and emblematic power: Certain hues have differing psychological effects (e.g., blue is associated with serenity), while others hold unique historical and cultural meanings.
Artists, writers, and designers often rely on colors as tools to shape the tone and narrative of their work. Vincent Van Gogh, for instance, studied color theory, successfully harnessing the power of contrast in his famous paintings.
”There is a sun, a light, that for want of a better word I can only call yellow, pale sulphur yellow, pale golden citron. How lovely yellow is!” Vincent Van Gogh
Years ago, I saw a great play in London called Everybody’s Talking About Jane, and tonight, it feels like everybody’s talking about Audrey. I have two things for her.
First, a thank-you for her outstanding year as president of your wonderful club. She’s been enthusiastic, organized—everything a great president should be.
Second, as she transitions from club president to Area H representative, I wanted to help her remember the clubs in her area: Anacortes, La Conner, and San Juan.
- Tom Bengal lives in Anacortes with his wife and young son. He works as a project manager for HF Sinclair after retiring from 25 years in the U.S. Navy.
- Luke Currier, also from Anacortes, is the CEO of Land Title and Escrow and is currently running for city council.
- Greg Sherman lives in Mount Vernon with his wife and two children. He’s an educator at the Northwest Career and Technical Academy at Skagit Valley College and plays the stand-up bass.
- Christina Adams is a Swinomish tribal member, lives with her husband, and is the mother of five. She works as a program development coordinator for the tribe and is known for her beautiful singing voice.
- Patsy lives on Guemes Island and spends summers in La Conner. She has worked for Skagit Valley Hospital for 34 years as a registered nurse overseeing the dialysis program. A long-time community leader, she began her Rotary involvement as a Sea Scouts leader and later joined the club.
- Tom Bengal: Navy veteran and project manager at HF Sinclair.
- Luke Currier: CEO of Land Title and Escrow, running for city council.
- Greg Sherman: Educator at Northwest Career and Technical Academy.
- Christina Adams: Swinomish tribal member and workforce development manager.
- Patsy: Longtime community leader and nurse, representing La Conner Rotary.
- Connect under-served families—especially those from inland Skagit County—with the coast.
- Offer hands-on water activities like sailing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
- Introduce youth to STEM learning and maritime career paths.
- Build a sustainable, annual event in partnership with the Anacortes Waterfront Alliance.
- $5,500 raised in donations.
- Youth employment opportunities created.
- Increased access to water-based experiences and STEM exposure.
- Cross-sector collaboration among nonprofits, schools, and civic groups.
- Scheduling conflicts with Berry Dairy Days and Pride events.
- Language barriers with safety waivers for non-English-speaking families.
- Transportation access, addressed through a partnership with Skagit Transit and a special workshop at Skagit Station.
- Immigration-related fears among migrant families, addressed through trusted community partners.
- “Between Two Worlds” Curriculum: An Indigenous-infused science program at La Conner High School, featuring hands-on water quality testing and cultural storytelling.
- Student Involvement: High schoolers from Northwest Career and Technical Academy may lead marine science and fire safety demos.
- Fire Boat Demonstrations: Highlighting careers in emergency services.