Anita Eixenberger - 2 years 

Joan Engle - 2 years 

President Linda Kaye Briggs called the August 2nd meeting of the Rotary Club of Tacoma #8 to order at 12:07 pm in the Temple Theatre at the Landmark Convention Center.  Bryan Flint, Metro Parks Foundation gave the invocation, and talked about new beginnings, in honor of the annual visit by our District Governor Craig Gillis. Chris Serface, Tacoma Little Theatre lead us in both the Canadian National Anthem and our National Anthem, and the Four Way Test.  President Linda Kaye thanked the Executive Committee for being this week’s meeting sponsor.

Maria Harlow, the Names Foundation, and Dean Carrell, Pierce County Library Foundation, took the mics around for introducing guests and visiting Rotarians.  Among the visiting Rotarians were the President of the Passport Rotary Club, a member of Tacoma Narrows Rotary, and a visitor from the Des Moines Iowa Rotary Club.

Two new members were introduced today.  First President Linda Kaye introduced Tamara Williams, who is transferring to Tacoma #8 from Spokane #21 Rotary.  She is the Sales Manager for Tacoma Living Local Magazine.  She has been a freelance writer and as she commented, a ‘recovering hairdresser’ who had a salon in Spokane.  She graduated from Arizona State University, and was an English Literature major.  Tamara is the mother of four and a grandmother also.  Coming forward next was Sue Dreier, from Pierce Transit to introduce Ryan Wheaton, who is transferring to Tacoma #8 from Shelton Skookum Rotary.   Ryan works at Pierce Transit in Marketing and Community Relations.  His background has been in education and spent the last 18 months working in Shelton.  He has been married for 16 years and he and his wife have three sons.

Club service anniversaries were then recognized: Monique Nadeau – 9 years; Ed Ramos – 9 years; and Karena Kirkendoll – 1 year.  George Pilant, RE Max, then came forward to celebrate the August birthdays.   Present to celebrate their August birthdays were Christina Turner, Cindy Niemi, Pete Taylor, Stephen Deal, Whitney Grisaffi, Clay Zhang and Rick Triggs.  They were asked what their favorite Canadian city is and which Club Committee is their favorite.

President Linda Kaye then mentioned a series of announcements.  Habitat Build dates have been set and the first is August 18, use the link in an earlier article to sign-up.  There is an auction kick off meeting on August 22 at the Rotary office. Don’t forget to sign up for the Courage beer garden. Carolyn Weyrick and Diane Kelleher are leading that effort.  There will be an EFN repack on August 25.  We were reminded to sign up for committees and to fill out the Project Greater Good form.  Already 50 members have signed up for Project Greater Good and pledged $27,000.  Special thanks was given to Teresa Maxwell, President of Tacoma South Rotary and Executive Director of Communities in Schools for her assistance with today's backpack project, as well as Rusty Hersey, John McMasters and Kirsten Willis for all of the set up work they did to make this happen.  Tonight will be Rotary at the Rainiers.  We were also reminded not to forget the first ‘Thursday at 5’ meeting on August 9 at KBTC.  There is a link in the gearshift to sign up and registrations are required.

President Linda Kaye then called forward the Foundations Committee Co-Chairs – Kirsten Willis and Jim Henderson to make presentations of two new Paul Harris Fellows:  Debbie Regala and Stephen Deal.  DG Craig came down from the podium to actually hand Paul Harris Pins and Certificates to each.

President Linda Kaye then introduced AG Jennifer Durham who introduced District Governor Craig Gillis.  Jennifer told us that Craig joined the Campbell River Daybreak Rotary Club in 2001 and was Club President in 2010-2011.  He worked as both a teacher and an administrator and he and his wife have a son and a daughter.

DG Craig then said he was deeply honored to be at Tacoma #8.  He reminded us of the Rotary International Theme this year of ‘Be the Inspiration’.   District 5020 has 90 clubs and 4,600 Rotarians.  He recognized as mentors, past District Governors Jim Harris and Pete Taylor.  To help us join the dots, he talked about the ‘Heart and Science of Service’ of Rotary.  Science is how to do things and making a difference in the life of others.  He reminded us of Rotary Moments where stories of the work we do in communities are strands of service.  Membership growth is important so we have more hands and more hearts.  He related the story of a Rotary Student of the Month, Mary,  from his Campbell River Daybreak Club, (which meets by the way at 6:45 am). This 73 year old was graduating from high school.  She had been unable to read and therefore did not graduate high school many years ago.  In talking about the Science of Rotary, he said that the RI Foundation is our best story.  It is both simple and complex.  We gather funds from Rotarians and three years later they are returned back to the district.  He asked can we imagine Rotary not in existence in the world?   Rotary takes our dollars and invests them purposefully.  He urged us all to do a little more, to move the needle more so that we can have a large impact.  He said together we can shape our future and create lasting change, across the globe and in our community and in ourselves.  DG Craig complimented Tacoma #8 as a leader in the Rotary Youth Exchange program.  He said the reasons we have Exchange Students is the the student takes with them part of our clubs and members, and also leaves parts of themselves in the club.  The students return back home as Peace Ambassadors.  On each table was a thank you card and we were encouraged to take it and send a note of thanks to someone who has inspired us – a note of inspiration to someone.  He said that together we can all make a difference.  DG Craig was an engaging and inspirational speaker.  Besides the standing ovation at the beginning of his talk, he received another standing ovation from the members for his inspirational and heartfelt comments as a fellow Rotarian in District 5020.   DG Craig was presented his speaker gift by President Linda Kaye which is an original gift of art designed by the students at Hilltop Artists.  He was thanked for the insight he provided the members about the difference each one of us can make by always remembering Service above Self.

President Linda Kaye thanked Bryan for the invocation and Chris for being our singer and managing our AV needs.  There will be no social tonight as we will join other Rotarians at the Tacoma Rainiers night.  Special thanks to everyone for being at the meeting today and enjoying the thoughts from our wonderful District Governor Craig Gillis.  Next week the meeting will be the first ‘Thursday at 5’ at KBTC.  The meeting was adjourned at 1:07 pm and members were invited to stay to stuff the backpacks for hundreds of Tacoma students in need.