Pamela Duncan began work as the President and CEO of Metropolitan Development Council in 2018. Pam brought more than 30 years of professional and personal work in community building and economic development, as well as education and grant making in the nonprofit and public sectors to her role with MDC. Pam is passionate about the promotion of equity and dismantling institutional and individual racism. She is also deeply committed to the well-being of young people and elevating the voices of our marginalized and vulnerable community members.
Gerrit Nyland is the Director of Client Information Systems SW at Catholic Community Services, co-chairs the Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness, is a member of the Pierce County Coordinated Transportation Coalition, co-chairs the City of Tacoma Transportation Commission, is a board member with Communities in Schools Tacoma, and is a board member with the Northwest Furniture Bank. He has a BA in History and a Masters of Librarianship, and enjoys backpacking, cooking, sailing, and anything involving trains.
Duke Paulson is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Tacoma Rescue Mission. He came to the mission with over 25 years of experience in raising awareness and building communities through his leadership roles at organizations including MultiCare Health Systems, Helping Hand House and Metropolitan Development Council. Duke has a passion for building community and serving the most vulnerable among us. He and his lovely wife Amy have four beautiful children (2 boys and 2 girls). They live and work here in Pierce County and attend Anchor Church in Tacoma.
James Pogue has a Master's in Science of Clinical Counseling from Post University. He has worked as a Mental Health Professional for over 12 years and is currently the Director of Homeless Services at Comprehensive Life Resources. His two primary programs include a youth and young adult shelter as well as the largest homeless street outreach team that covers the entire county. James currently co-chairs both the Pierce County Continuum of Care and the Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness. He is a passionate advocate who believes that all individuals deserves a safe place to call home.
After our March 5 meeting you will have the opportunity to support our Military members – Active, Reserve and Veterans – as we plan to build 1,000 comfort kits that are filled with toiletries. These kits will be distributed by the American Red Cross Services to Armed Forces programs. We need a few designated members to help with quality control as we package the kits, please text Becky Fontaine at 253-314-6971 if you are willing to help with that job. Both the Military Affairs and Projects committees look forward to seeing you there!
We have a need for members with all level of skills and a little time for service. How about recruiting and managing the volunteers for the set-up the day of the auction? Maybe you have time to help develop a communications plan so that all of our guests and members understand the impact of the auction. Perhaps you have the time to reach out to some of the places where you do business and can encourage them to make a donation of an item or service to the auction, if you can't do that share your idea's with Cindy Grady and she will do the outreach. Do you have a favorite place to satisfy your sweet tooth, how about asking them to donate to our auction dessert dash? Or pass on your great ideas to Kirsten Willis. How about some creative ideas on how we can bring our super heroes alive with table and room decorations? Share those ideas with Carolyn Weyrick. Perhaps you would be willing to help Christina Turner with the sales of our raffle tickets?Take a book to sell to family, friends and co-workers, they don't have to be present to win and who wouldn't want to win $1,000?Our auction sponsors are the foundation of the auction, if you haven't yet turned in your sponsorship form please send it along to Mike Dunbar, Carol Duris or Jacki Farrar. As you all know this auction is what allows us to support our local and global communities, please let Sharon Benson know how you plan to be involved.
FEATURED AUCTION ITEM
Check your calendar to see if you are ready to bid on this great 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo that sleeps 6! Skiing should be just underway and you will enjoy this wonderful getaway!! Items are just starting to trickle in so put on your thinking cap and tell us where you would like to travel and we will see what we can do to find a get away that will fulfill your dreams!!
You need ideas of what to donate? How about a week at your vacation home? An outing on your boat? A gourmet meal in your home or cooking lessons from a local chef? Sports tickets are always welcome. How about airline miles you can donate, or hotel points? Do you go to the same coffee shop every day, how about a coffee or tea gift basket? Perhaps your favorite restaurant will donate a gift card. Maybe a personal yoga session. How about a limo ride and concert tickets? We have ideas if you have connections. We will take items large and small to build creative baskets. Be our Super Hero and send in a procurement form today!
Membership Proposal
Unless written objections are submitted to the Board within 10 days of this posting, the following individual will be invited to membership:
Keith Lemmon, MD
PHYSICIAN - Aviation
Owner - Northwest Aviation Medicine
Sponsor: Ann Voves
Justine Kunz
Christophe Chabaud
Corporate Members
Silver Cloud - Point Ruston
Sponsor: Gil Quante
Our Literacy Committee took advantage of the sunshine on Sunday 2-9 to paint the little libraries with anti-graffiti coating. Seven of them had murals painted on them this fall by neighborhood artists. The coating was donated by the city and helps protect the artwork. Thanks to Dane Meyer, Jim Shoemake and Sherri Stanton.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD NOMINATIONS!
Each year, our club recognizes a non-Rotarian who is providing exemplary service in the community. This person will be honored at our meeting on Thursday, March 26, and receive a contribution from our club to his or her favorite charitable organization. Nominations are due to the Rotary office by Thursday,February 27. If you would like to nominate an individual for this Community Service Award, complete a nomination form using this link. Email your nomination to the Rotary office at clubadmin@rotary8.org. Forms will also be available at our weekly meetings. Don't delay!
Fireside at Kelly Lane's
Thanks so much to our Hosts and Co-Hosts Jim Merritt, Brien Elvins, Alecia Cunningham, Cindy Niemi, Mike Dunbar, Peter Darling, Kelly Lane and Ann Voves. The minutes captured reflect many good ideas to pass on to our Program Committee. What a wonderful way to engage with Rotary members!
Save the Date: Saturday, March 14! Are you tired of exercising only in the gym and not being outdoors lately? How about getting a total body workout in the fresh mountain air with your fellow Tacoma #8 Rotarians? The Fellowship and Relationship Building Committee is organizing a Ski, Snowboard, Snowshoe, and/or Tubing Day at Snoqualmie Summit. Bring your family, young and old, there is something for everyone to do. We will start with a quick breakfast early on March 14th in Tacoma area. After a morning fun, we will gather up at a cabin within walking distance from the lifts or shuttle bus for lunch before heading back out for more snow fun. For the die-hard plankers, an overnight trip may be possible depending on the number of cabins that we may be able to find. If you have any questions, please contact Elaine Chan at elaine@elainechancfp.com.
Your next opportunity for an EFN Break Bag Pack is coming on March 21 from 12-2. Sign up sheets will be on the tables at upcoming meetings or you can let Gil Quante know if you are available to help!
MEETING VOLUNTEERS
Reflection-Cynthia Darland
Greeter/Roving Mic-Emily Mendez-Bryant
Board Greeter- Harrison Laird
Board Greeter/Roving Mic-Gil Quante
National Anthem & 4 Way Test-Elliot Stockstad
Piano-Barbara Mead
Fine Counter-Cynthia Darland
Storywriter-Cindy Niemi
Meeting Sponsor-Alecia Cunningham
AV Assistant-Jeff Rounce
WANT TO HELP AT A MEETING?
Please contact Kathi to volunteer
--Leading the National Anthem & Four Way Test --Giving the Moment of Reflection --Assisting with Audio/Visual --Greeter and Roving Mic --Sponsoring a meeting
--Check in Assistant
Birthdays This Week
Cindy Grady - Feb 16
Byron Okutsu - Feb 16
Dean Carrell - Feb 17
Libby Catalinich - Feb 17
Dick Heaton - Feb 21
Anniversaries to Celebrate
Noah Baskett - 1 year
Bill Duppenthaler - 1 year
Erica Doctor - 3 years
Jamie Brooks - 9 years
Michele Johnson - 14 years
Jeff Gellert - 20 years
Ron Anderson - 37 years
Larry Gaffney - 46 years
ROAMERS
Fred Moisio - Sun City Del Sol
Larry Treleven - Gig Harbor Morning
Social at The Table
Upcoming Socials
The Fellowship/Relationship Building Committee invites all members of Tacoma #8 to join them on Thursdays at 5 pm. These socials are a great way to meet some new Rotarians or catch up with old friends. Pandakas, these meetings will fulfill your "social" requirement prior to graduation and, for all members, it’s fun.
February 20th
Cole’s
5811 N 51st Street
Ruston, WA
February 27th
Wooden City
714 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA
March 5th
McMenamin’s
565 Broadway Avenue
Tacoma, WA
Meet 4th Floor at the Pub
March 12
Thursdays at 5
Thursdays at 5 at the Northwest Furniture Bank
We are so fortunate to have members who host these informative, fun and delicious events. Members were treated to another great evening and some even left with furniture, but all left with a new appreciation for the incredible work that is done by this non-profit. Photographer extraordinaire, Chris Serface captured the evening before he left to do his final packing for a cruise!
In honor of President's Day a thought for the week
The Gearshift is a weekly publication to inform you about current happenings in the Rotary Club of Tacoma #8. We meet on Thursday at the Yacht Club, 5401 Yacht Club Road, Tacoma, WA.
Noon - 1:00 pm Except on the 2nd Thursdays when we meet in the evening at a member's business.
The Rotary Office is located at:
1001 Yakima Ave, Suite 9A
Tacoma, Washington 98405
MAILING ADDRESS:
PO Box 1777
Tacoma, Washington 98401-1777
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