Art covers Wine'n Shine kickoff

All this can lend to a sort of “here we go again” feeling that I carried into our February 17 meeting with the focus on kicking off the 2009 Charity Event.

This bah humbug mood was quickly dispelled by our friendly greeter Linda Hendrickson who deftly rented me an easy chair for the meeting as the first Charity Event. Why not take notes on the meeting in comfort?

As I settled into my chair ready to be exhorted to new heights of item procurement and table captaining, Eric Greenwood took to the floor and said something revolutionary: “Let’s talk about why this matters.” OK I was listening.

Eric reminded us of years past where we had a good time at the auction (then it was an “auction”) and raised money to do good things in the community – many good things with no real focus. As a club we are ready to state a clear charitable giving focus which will galvanize both the Charity Event and our service efforts. This focus that emerged from our Firesides was stated as:

“Rotarians of Woodinville Rotary believe that providing a pathway for youth
to obtain an education represents our opportunity to live “Service Above Self.”

Now I was really listening.

The theme for the October 10 event will be “Puttin’ on the Ritz” with a dinner show by the students from the SAS Music Project. A long ways from Hogs and Rods! I made a note on my PDA to thing about a Tux.

Gone was the skeptical feeling – I was on the edge of my cushy chair when Eric introduced Jim Geiszler and Bernadette Bascom to speak about the Music Project and the impact it is having on the lives of kids in Woodinville.

A short video about Music Project said it all – everyone in the room was touched deeply.

There is no way to relate the feeling in the room in words. Here is the piece that moved me.

Bernadette Bascomb, the musical director of the Music Project, said “The kids in the Music Project have never been applauded by anyone.” The Music Project was their opportunity to put in the work and take the risks to get that applause.

Isn’t this what Rotary is about: to give every kid in Woodinville the opportunity applause? Now this is something worth every second of our work together.

I left our meeting proud to be a Rotarian and ready for another cycle of the meetings, fellowship and hard work.

And by the way, Linda’s chair rentals netted $30.00. Only $149,970.00 to go!

The Music Project's Creative Director Bernadette Bascom
will headline our Dinner Show in October
"and I'll bring someone really famous to help me."

The Music Project's Executive Director Jim Geiszler
listened patiently as Club Services Director
Joe Truglio explained that the promised $5000
check from Woodinville Rotary was en route
from Lynnwood. Members came up with $301 in hard
cash, though, and Jim said the money would go to purchase microphone stands for the many individual performers.

Next Reporter:
Erv DeSmet
February 24