Club Service

Thank You, University Sunrise Rotary

The SouthEast Seattle Senior Center has sent the University Sunrise Rotary Club a very nice letter (see below) of appreciation for the $5,000 donation that our Foundation made to them. It was presented to them by Steve Barton on May 13, 2021. It will be used for an elevator modernization, an important, but costly, project in a center for seniors.

The $5,000 was a culmination of Past President Barton’s donations of $2500 (from the Club’s annual President’s Dinner proceeds) and a grant from the foundation of $2,500.

Thanks to the Club and our Foundation!

566 Pounds plus $500

May be an image of standing

The Club collected 566 pounds of food and $500 in donations for the University Food Bank last weekend. A quarter of the Club volunteered to spend two hours each outside of the University Village QFC on Saturday.

Thanks to all involved and to Isaac McNally for organizing this!

Service Project This Weekend!

The University Rotaract Club is hosting a street clean up this Saturday, March 13, 2021. Join us!  We will meet on the corner of Roosevelt Way and 45th Street by the Subway at 10 a.m. and are planning be wrapped up by noon.  More information will be provided at our regular Thursday morning meeting by Pam Mushen.

Grant for Seattle Central College Food Pantry Approved

December 23, 2020

The University Sunrise Rotary Club has applied for a $750 urgent needs grant to help fund the Seattle Central College Food Pantry. This is a program that the College uses to help students in need deal with food needs. There is an uptick in need at the Food Pantry due to both the increased needs of students and the increased difficulty of supplying food during the pandemic.

The grant was part of Rotary District 5030 Urgent Needs program and it has been approved. The funds should be received by our Club’s Foundation shortly and allocated to the Food Pantry thereafter.

Bob Donegan, CEO of Ivar’s

Bob Donegan with Hal Beals
Bob Donegan with Hal Beals

The ramifications of the $15 minimum wage are beyond what many may know. Herewith is a trip through the subject as put forth by our September 29th speaker, Bob Donegan, CEO of Ivar’s:

  • What wage to start at–immediate or phase in?
  • Over what period to phase in?
  • What is included in income, i.e., tips, bonuses, health care benefits?
  • Determined by size of organization or the sector?
  • How is law to be enforced?

Principles agreed upon:

  • All employees to be treated the same
  • All compensation that appears on W-2 has to be included
  • The training phase for high school graduates, ex-convicts, and immigrants begins with a phase-in wage to work up to $15/hour.
  • If an employer has more than 500 personnel, this business is a large employer, which must get to the wage in 3 years. If health care insurance is included, 4 years. Tips must be included in the case of small employers.

The question arises as to whether to increase revenue by adding a service charge or raising item prices? The solutions range from one of these to another in various restaurants. The Ivar’s sites will go to $15 over 3 years…If a service charge occurs, it must be shown on the menu what it is and where it is to go. If a price rise is made, this is not necessary. No tips are expected at Ivar’s. But 40% of patrons leave tips, over and above the price rise. Parity between the out-front workers and the kitchen staff has had to be achieved.
The results to date:

  • –People have bought fewer items.
  • –Customer accounts and sales are down.
  • –90% of employers raised wages.
  • –62% of employers raised prices.
  • –30% laid off workers.
  • –30 added a service charge.

Primary factor that has raised employment is the vigorous economy:

  • Many high rise cranes…
  • Record year for cruises
  • Hotel occupancy is over 90%
  • Unemployment is less than 3%.

Obviously, the economy is driving more changes than the minimum wage law. A city law requires that all employees must be given a notice of two weeks as to what their schedules will be. Initiatives regarding paid time off and gender equality will probably pass.

USRC President’s Corner – August/September 2016

Hello Fellow University Sunrisers!  Jim Horrigan

I encourage you to take the time to read through my quick update on happenings in the club as we approach the end of summer.  And please be nice to Past Presidents Tim and Mike as they take the helm for the next two weeks as I vacation!

Relay for Life

Thanks to all who participated in and supported our efforts at this year’s Relay for Life on August 13th at Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill.  What a great way for our club to show a presence in the community, and make a difference in such an important cause.

District 5030 Picnic

This Sunday, August 28th, District 5030 is sponsoring an Old Fashioned Summer Picnic from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM at Aubrey Davis Park on Mercer Island.  Bring a lunch (barbeques will be fired up if you want to throw something on the grill) and enjoy accoutrements and beverages courtesy of District Governor Darling and the company of fellow District 5030 Rotarians.  Details and info the District 5030 website.

TINFA

We’ll continue to support TINFA in an even bigger way this year.  Many of you had the pleasure of attending our meeting with Emma Le Du, where we connected with one of the schools in Guatemala.

We have three needs and opportunities related to our TINFA relationship:

  1. Need – Connect with other clubs to partner with us for a Global Grant
  2. Need/Opportunity – Volunteer to interface with teachers in Guatemala via Skype to help familiarize them with the technology (three volunteers needed – Spanish speakers a plus)
  3. Opportunity – Consider a trip to visit the schools in Guatemala in February

In Search of 2017/2018 President Elect

We’ve asked a few who aren’t quite ready to take on the task, and we have a few more in mind to approach.  That being said, if you’re interested in the job please see me!

Debuts & Discoveries 2017 Grant Recipient

Calling all interested organizations, the time is now to submit an application to be the primary recipient of the funds from our 2017 Debuts & Discoveries event.  We only have a few submissions and the deadline is fast approaching (August 29th).

Membership

Life situations have resulted in the loss of some of our members.  Let’s refresh the ranks by thinking of just one person to bring to a breakfast meeting.  It can be a friend, colleague, business contact, or merchant that you patronize.  Our Membership Committee leaders, Colleen and Past President Tim, are here to help in any way they can.