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You can find and download the entire presentation here:

Find Sarah’s presentation slides here:

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Sarah Cave is a former University Sunrise Rotary member and current owner of Always Best Care, an in-home care and assisted living placement agency serving the Seattle Area and Eastside communities. Sarah launched Always Best Care in 2022 after 15 years in healthcare administration and eight years in higher education administration and consulting. She is passionate about long-term care, having coordinated all aspects of care for her mother, Maggie, who had a severe stroke in 2021 and was one of Always Best Care’s first clients.

Sarah holds a masters degree in health services administration from the University of Washington and serves on the board of the Puget Sount Kidney Centers. She lives in Maple Leaf with her husband and business partner, Ron Frerichs, and their two Australian labradoodles. Sarah is the proud mother of Maggie Jensen, who is completing her freshman year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She and Ron enjoy cycling, skiing, and traveling.

Come join us to hear Ted Hunter and his Firelight Chorale presentation of Ring Out Ye Bells!

University Sunrise’s Member Ted Hunter will be presenting a zany, uplifting, and fun Christmas Show performance with the Northwest Firelight Choral to lift up your holiday spirit

Shows presented on December 12, 13, 19 & 20

Rotary Night is December 12 at 7:30 at our own North Seattle Church. 

When purchasing a ticket, attribute it to me, Ted Hunter, and I will personally rebate $5 of the purchase price to you or the Club – your choice!  It’s Rotary Night on December 12 with several members already there! 

Click here for tickets!

NOTE:  No solos for Ted this show; he wanted to give others a chance.  If you can’t make these shows, come hear Ted and the Seattle Symphony’s presentation of The Messiah on December 18, 20 and 21. 

Celebrate the holidays with the Northwest Firelight Chorale as we kick off our 15th season! This year’s program will delight audiences of all ages with sparkling seasonal classics, majestic carols, frosty favorites to fill you with joy, and a show-stopping gospel rendition of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. Filled with magical moments, our dazzling choralography, and plenty of surprises along the way, this spirited Seattle holiday tradition is sure to uplift and inspire. Let the merry music chime!

Click here for tickets!

Black Holes and Universe Role

The main speaker for the meeting was Bruce Balick, a University of Washington Professor Emeritus in Astronomy and a Club member, who gave a presentation on black holes and their role in the universe. Balick explained the concept of gravity and how black holes are formed, mentioning that they play a crucial role in the existence of planets and life.

Understanding Black Holes and Their Role in the Universe

Bruce delivered an in-depth lecture on black holes, covering their formation, properties, and the role they play in the universe. He explained how stars can become black holes and described the characteristics of different types, including stellar, intermediate, and supermassive black holes. Bruce also discussed recent research using the James Webb S

pace Telescope to study “little red dots,” which are believed to be supermassive black holes from the early universe. He emphasized that black holes formed before galaxies, resolving a long-standing question in astronomy. The lecture concluded with a brief overview of a new telescope in Chile designed to study supernovae and nearby asteroids. After the presentation, Bruce answered questions from the audience, including inquiries about his career and the telescope project.

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Bruce Balick studied physics at Beloit College in Wisconsin and received his doctorate from Cornell University. He has been at the University of Washington since 1975, where he headed the department. He is now professor emeritus.

In 1974, he discovered Sagittarius A with Robert Hanbury Brown using the interferometer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). His research focuses on planetary nebulae, the final stages of most stars in the galaxy (including the Sun).

He is a user of the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope.

He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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Conor Bronsdon is the Head of Developer Relations & Growth at Galileo, the AI reliability platform for enterprise GenAI evaluation and observability. He is also the host of the Chain of Thought Podcast, exploring AI with software engineers and leaders every Wednesday. Conor grew up in Seattle and graduated from the University of Washington. He is the son of Club President Ed Bronsdon and currently lives in Olympia with his wife, Katherine.

Grant Bronsdon is a Principal at Parker Remick, a retained executive search firm that advises & works with tech companies across size and stages. His 90+ searches in his time at PR have included early-stage clients, pre-IPO organizations, and large public companies like Google, Square/Block, and Walmart. Grant earned a B.A. in Political Science with honors at Yale University and later worked as a Yale admissions officer. After hours, Grant enjoys writing about the Seattle Mariners (lamenting their World Series drought all the while), serving as a Yale Alumni Schools Committee Director, and solving crossword puzzles. He and his wife Phoebe live in Beacon Hill.

Meeting Summary: Overview of AI and Its Impact on Business

Conor Bronsdon explained the history and evolution of AI, including large language models (LLMs).

Grant Bronsdon discussed the impact of AI on hiring and the need for AI strategies in businesses.

The presentation covered the use cases of AI, including software development, writing emails, and travel planning. Connor highlighted the challenges and benefits of AI, including its ability to generate new information and its reliance on training data. AI in Software Engineering and Hiring: Connor and Grant discussed the use of AI in software engineering, including code generation and testing. The presentation covered the impact of AI on hiring, including candidate assessment and digital interviewing. Connor explained the concept of AI agents and their role in automating tasks. The discussion included the importance of evaluating AI answers and the role of human experts in the process.

The Club’s Foundation, in our September 2025 meeting, approved grant requests for the following:

• Bukebero Health Clinic for $1000. This is a project that seeks matching grant funding and emanates out of the University District Club. It is to add solar power for a new health center in Uganda.
• Hunger Intervention for $1000. This is a project that seeks matching grant funding and emanates out of the Lake Forest Park Club. The project aims to provid health meals to needy individuals in north Seattle and King County.
• Makawnapur, Nepal, for $500. This is a project that seeks matching grant funding and emanates out of the Edmonds Club. The project provides tailoring and business training for girls.
• Twegasha School for $1000. This is a project that seeks matching grant funding and emanates out of the Seattle International District Club. It will add harvesting and filtering of rainwater for cooking, drinking, hygiene, and agriculture in Tanzania. It will also add needed toilets for boys.

Jon Scholes discussed the progress and challenges facing downtown Seattle, emphasizing the growth in residential population and the recovery of the visitor industry post-pandemic. He acknowledged the need for improvements in street safety and the ongoing issue of ground floor vacancies, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic and high operating costs. Scholes expressed a commitment to enhancing the downtown experience for residents and visitors alike.

Jon highlighted issues with local government performance, criticizing the fixation on tax revenue rather than outcomes that benefit businesses and residents. He pointed out that the city is set to collect record amounts of money but questioned whether it is providing adequate value in return. Scholes warned that increasing the B&O tax could drive businesses away, as they have alternatives outside of Seattle.

Jon reported strong visitor numbers to the new downtown waterfront park, indicating a successful local engagement with the space. He acknowledged the challenges of negative perceptions surrounding downtown Seattle and outlined strategies to improve its image, including a campaign aimed at locals to promote new attractions. Scholes emphasized the importance of local support for a thriving downtown.

Jon discussed the current office vacancy rate in downtown Seattle, which stands at over 30%, compared to lower rates in Bellevue. He noted that the decline in office occupancy is due to companies reducing their space and the need for a more appealing business environment to attract tech firms. Scholes also warned that falling office values could lead to increased tax burdens on residents.

The USRC Foundation has very kindly set aside funds to match our contributions to a special campaign in L.A. organized by the Rotary District 5280 Charitable Foundation (https://rotary5280.org/page/2025-wildfire-disaster-relief/).

You can be assured that your donation to our Foundation will make a helpful difference.  Mail a check to the USRC Foundation at P.O. Box 15131, Seattle, WA 98115 with “L.A. Recovery” on the memo line.