Dan Newman is leaving in July and Pam Mushen and Sarah Cave are taking over as the Club’s new coordinators with the UW Health Sciences Rotaract Club.

Obstacles to success can be poor eyesight, poor hearing, poor reading skills, and poor nutrition. June 2^nd we heard from those who help lighten these burdens. Janine Kennedy, of Teen Feed, informed us of another dimension in aiding the young and vulnerable. Teen Feed creates a family for those, age 13-25, who have been forced onto the streets.

And here are the facts:

• The incidence of homelessness is rising sharply. An estimated 800-900 kids are sleeping in an insecure location
• Youth of color are a large part of those served.
• Home abuse and addiction are among the major factors causing this homelessness.
• Teen Feed affects their lives in subtle and social ways.
• Kids’ needs, which cannot be directly met, can be referred to places where help is available.
• They can be gotten into housing and into school.
• Too many kids are jailed, some via outdated truancy laws.
• Until recently, the older homeless have looked after the young homeless. The former have been evacuated, leaving the young unprotected.
• Bringing them in is superior to treating them on the streets.
• They sit at tables with mature adult volunteers who can hear their stories and potentially connect them to services.
• Runaways are difficult to deal with. If they come in for help, it is then available to them.
• There is no ID requirement to enter into the system.
• In winter, socks and camping gear are provided.
• When sitting and eating with other adults with their children, sometimes can be beneficial when they see normal relations.
• Because of previous trauma, they are candidates for mental illness. The process can be stopped between 18 and 24.
• Outreach teams include formerly homeless youths. They know where the kids hide.
• Volunteers can sit at a table or organize a meal team. These teams prepare, cook, and serves the kids.
• Allies clean up, share basic needs, and are a source of peer relationships.
• Teen Feed provides IDs and directs the kids to medical care facilities.
• Some of the kids do not want to be found, in that they escaped from foster care and do not want to be sent back to it.
• Outlets from trauma include art and other similar pursuits
• Donors at all levels provide funding and their time.
• There are a few employees, many volunteers.

Comment: Anyone who saves one life has done a heroic deed. Those who save many are truly blessed.

 

Shawn Bills, State Director for Senator Patty Murray, provided a view into her legislative activities.

She was first elected in 1992. He has been with her for the past 12 years. He mentioned the fact that she commutes to D.C. from WA every week, and does not stay there to participate in talk shows. The speaker pointed to the Senator’s bipartisan efforts at compromise, which have been effective, to wit:

• In 2013, when the government headed toward shutdown, she and Rep. Paul Ryan, in a spirit of mutual trust, worked out a compromise to defuse the crisis. It is to be noted that in this, as in other endeavors, Sen. Murray worked with legislators from the opposite party.
• A similar cooperation occurred with a Georgia Republican.
• She and Ryan, on the Budget Committee, created a commission to review federal policy, which led to data-driven methods.
• As head Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee, she has jurisdiction over many of these issues.
• With Senator Lamar Alexander, she helped to right the K-12, No-Child-Left-Behind issue.
• As was reiterated, Sen. Murray continues to work with people of different views both at home and across the aisle in Congress.
• The NIH funding has been a project of Murray, Blount, and Alexander. The House has passed it and it is before the Senate.
• Alexander and Murray have campaigned for funding for research and response vis a vis the Zika virus. As a result, an amount of $1.1 billion has been allocated.
• Her interest in veterans’ affairs has been active. She is the first female chair of the Veterans’ Committee. Having met resistance in her effort to aid injured veterans begin anew and start their families, she got it through.
• Her other interests include clean energy, climate change, wildfire control, recreational access, and bringing business to the state.
• She decries the gridlock that has denied Judge Garland a Senate hearing.

In summary: A comprehensive, if slightly partisan, summary of his employer’s activities.

Professors Dan Schwartz and David Ginger, of the UW Clean Energy Institute, took us into the future in regard to solar power and related resources.

Focused on clean energy throughout the world, they spoke of a $17 trillion international commitment. Solar energy is in itself cheap, but factories cost too much. The UW facility is planned to lower the cost.

These are the facts:

• Climate change is a worse threat than international terrorism.
• 20,000 premature annual US deaths are due to the use of fossil fuels.
• The distribution of energy is critical to society as regards health and the economy.
• The world population is growing. Global lifestyles are becoming increasingly similar to those in North America. World energy use is going up.
• The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is involved in the Institute.
• US energy consumption is huge.
• It is cheaper to burn off natural gas than to capture it.
• The dream is to convert sunlight to clean electricity quickly and economically.
• Solar energy has the largest technical possibility of all renewable sources.
• Other sources such as wind and hydroelectric should by no means be ignored
• A solar farm can supply not only electricity, but also heating and lighting. In Kenya, it is being used for light to facilitate education.
• Solar is growing exponentially.
• Renewable energy is projected to keep up with US demand.
• The challenges include storage, grid infrastructure and information systems, and bringing down costs.
• We need to make new materials to enable this technology.
• Some of these are organic polymer inks; carbon and nitrogen based materials; hybrid peroxkites, a crystalline structure.
• The various efficiency of materials in solar cells were considered.

Comment: The world has awakened to the damage done by the use of fossil fuels. The undertaking by this group and others is part of the race to reverse the drastic changes afoot. If this is ever accomplished–and everything depends upon it–it will not occur

Last week we heard from economist Paul Cunnington, a purveyor of pragmatism.

Several of his pronouncements were as follows:

• The media are not honest.
• 95% of what is written or spoken about the economy is either wrong or irrelevant.
• Nothing should be taken for granted.
• Money does not disappear; it just changes hands.
• Those who are informed accumulate fortunes, the actions of Soros, et al, being an example.
• The movement of money runs through the stock and real estate markets. When one rises, the other declines.
• When real estate drops, the strength of the US dollar follows.
• A drop in oil prices was caused by the dollar getting cheaper.
• Chinese investment in the US is in commercial real estate
• As money flows in from China, these currents can change and affect many lives.
• Fluctuations in credit affect the economy more than the supply of money.
• When mortgages are widespread, money comes “out of the air”. The price of goods and services rises.
• Sufficient money must be created to pay principals and interests.
• This cannot go on forever.
• Debt can be used productively to grow the economy.
• Debt is non-productive when it is used for spending.
• Debt cannot pay back principal and interest.
• When debt creation is large, prices rise.
• It takes $3 of debt to produce $1 of growth. This is bad for future generations.
• Rising debt, with people borrowing money to spend it, means higher stock market risk.
• With money not being paid back, recession results.
• The times for recovery from recession loom longer and longer, accompanied by a drop in the economy
• An apparent rise in the stock market does not always mean we are in a favorable growth period.
• A long -term debt cycle recovery time is 60-80 years.
• A lot of manufacturing has left us due to government debt policy/trade deficit.
• With debt rising and the deficit greater, this does not mean we have growth.
• Subscribe to Paul’s newsletter @ http://mygreencapital.com/

Comment: According to the speaker, things are not exactly looking up

Sign up for UW Rotaract’s Annual International Service Scholarship Banquet and Auction on May 6th, 2016. This will be held at the UW Hub Lyceum from 6-9 PM. Tickets are $20 for students and $25 for the general public. There is also an option to sponsor a table (8 seats) for $160. If you sell 2 tickets and if you are a Rotaract member, you get yours for free! All proceeds go toward our student service scholarships and charities!

Your ticket includes access to a live auction, silent auction, raffle, and a buffet dinner catered by Little Thai Kitchen, and one free alcoholic beverage (if you’re over 21)!

If you have not paid yet, please go to tinyurl.com/donateuwrotaract BEFORE the event. Please contact uwhsroto@uw.edu or ssleong@uw.edu for any questions or concerns. See you on May 6th!

The memorial service for The Rev. David Storm will be on Friday, April 1, 2016 at 1:00 pm at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Port Angeles, WA.

The Rev. Stephanie Parker is looking into hiring a bus for transport. If you are interested, please sign up on the clipboard in the Narthex of the church. A public graveside service at Lake View Cemetery is Saturday April 2, at 11:00am.

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The Rev. David Anderson Storm

1928-2016

Born: 2/3/1928 in Seattle , WA

Son of: Jerome Richard Storm and Dorothy Rachel Storm

Education: Broadway High School, Seattle, 1946; BA Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA, 1950;

M Div, Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, VA, 1965

Confirmed in the Episcopal Church, Christmas 1961 at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Spokane, WA

Ordained to the Diaconate: 6/20/1965; Ordained to the Priesthood: 6/24/1966

Business Background:

1950-1958       Department Manager, J.C. Penney Co., Seattle, WA

1958-1962       Credit Manager, Volker Co., Spokane, WA

Service:

1965-1967       Assistant/Curate, St. Stephen Episcopal Church, Spokane, WA

1967-1972       Vicar, St. Hilda-St. Patrick Episcopal Church, Edmonds, WA

1972-1993       Rector, St. Andrew Episcopal Church, Port Angeles, WA

1974-1980       Diocesan Evaluation Committee, Diocese of Olympia

1974-1990       Training and Consulting Services (TACS), Diocese of Olympia

1978-1982       Diocesan Council, Diocese of Olympia

1993                Retired

1995-2016       Assisting Priest, St. Stephen, Seattle

Other:

1962   Spent 5 months traveling in Europe and the near East. Visited 22 countries during that time.

David Storm went into the ministry after a career in business. While working in Spokane for the Volker Company, at one time the largest wholesale distributor of home furnishings in the country, he started attending the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and was confirmed there at Christmas 1961. The Very Rev. Richard Coombs, Dean of the Cathedral wrote that, “David was one of our boys who went into the ministry…He graduated from the Virginia Seminary, and went to St. Stephen’s as curate following his ordination.” When St. Stephen’s, Spokane could no longer support a curate, Dean Coombs suggested that David contact “near-by” bishops about employment. One of these “near-by” bishops, Bishop Ivol Ira Curtis of Olympia responded and soon David was on his way back to the Seattle area with an appointment as Vicar at St. Hilda, Meadowdale (now St. Hilda-St. Patrick, Edmonds). St. Hilda’s had only been formed a few years before and shortly after his arrival, St. Hilda’s and St. Patrick’s, Eastmont began share David’s ministry and eventually formed one congregation. After his first visit to Meadowdale,

David wrote,

I had an exciting albeit confusing ride through the Meadowdale area yesterday. The best characterization of the area would be people to people – like wall to wall carpeting. The area seems to have no focal center except the schools so St. Hilda’s (I found a sign on a tree pointing in a nebulous direction with that name on it) meeting there is a good thing. Growth – and rapid at that – would seem to be the order of the day for the area and for the church…

 David served at St. Hilda’s-St. Patrick’s for 5 years during which time ground was broken for a new church building. In September 1972, he wrote to his congregation telling them of his acceptance of a call to St. Andrew, Port Angeles, The writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes rightly says that there is a time and a place for all things. I don’t recall that he says how one deals with such changes in terms of your own feelings…I have been privileged to be a part of your lives as you have been of mine. While I will no longer be your priest, I can still be your friend and I do wish well for each of you… This sentiment is typical of David Storm as he was and is often described as a good friend. In a variety of letters he’s described as ‘amiable and likable,’ ‘ready to build friendships across denominational lines,’ ‘a most likable and engaging person, open, interested, always ready to engage with people..’ and ‘very kind, a gentle man, and a gentleman.’

Fr. Storm served 21 years at St. Andrew’s where he exhibited the qualities of caring and friendship referred to throughout his career.   A conscientious priest and a good administrator – responsible in the matter of expending church funds, he felt that, the Lord’s money must be spent wisely at all times. One parish secretary remarked that this was a ‘comment he makes with sufficient regularity that it might be considered a by-word with him.’

Arriving in Port Angeles on the heels of the Rev. Walter McNeil, Jr., who left to become Archdeacon for the diocese, David had some big shoes to fill. As a new church building had just been completed, he and the congregation could concentrate on pastoral concerns and community outreach – as well as continued development of the church facilities.

In 1983, Fr. Storm suggested an idea to the Port Angeles city council to establish a fund to help people in need pay utility bills. The idea called for those who were able and willing, to contribute money to a fund that would help people truly in distress and unable to pay their bills. A utility relief fund was subsequently established. He also served on the local committee responsible for allocating federal aid funds to those in need of shelter and food.

During his tenure at St. Andrew’s the new Coulter organ was installed and a memorial garden was also established.

Fr. Storm was also active in the diocese serving on the Diocesan Evaluation Committee, tasked with the responsibility of evaluating the effectiveness of diocesan programs, Diocesan Council and as a member of TACS, the diocese’s Training and Consulting Services, with which he served as a senior trainer focusing on leadership development and organizational skills.

Though David retired from St. Andrew’s in 1993, he continued to occasionally officiate there and was also soon at work again as Assisting Priest at St. Stephen’s, Seattle – where he continued his ministry.

He will be missed!

On March 17th our speaker: Dr. Mike Mallahan, audiologist par excellence, is wholly committed to an endeavor that brings the prospect of a better life for many.

It concerns hearing loss and its prevention. It involves screening of infants for deafness. It is known that, if the defect extends beyond two years, a child will never catch up and will face a disadvantaged lifetime. Dr. Mallahan has taken his skills, along with those of a corps of associates, to Guatemala. Allied with him are local Rotary clubs and fueling the process are Rotary grants.

In rural areas, where medical facilities and personnel are sparse, he has held screenings of newborns where, indeed, absence of hearing can be detected. At as early a stage as possible, they are fitted with hearing aids. Audiology technicians volunteer to fly in and aid in the screenings. They, in turn, train local personnel in the techniques. He gave three case histories in which children were rescued from deafness and its consequences. These represent a microcosm of the successes that are occurring. It is hoped that ophthalmologists will join the project. For the future, he envisions:

• A Global Grant to fund more newborn screenings
• More partner Rotary clubs to aid in funding
• More audiology training and equipment to be financed
• Ongoing surgical and medical supply needs to be met
• Expansion to other Spanish-speaking countries.

Comment: As we often observe, to do a little bit at a time helps make the world a better place. Dedication and its results have a way of expanding. We have witnessed this phenomenon in a number of previous addresses to our club.

 

Jim Lambright was installed as a new  member of the University Sunrise Rotary Club. He is a former member of the Marysville Rotary Club.

Jim had an illustrious career at the University of Washington where he lettered in football his last two playing years, was named  All Conference , All Coast, and Most Inspirational player, voted on by his peers.  Jim coached and taught school in Fife before returning to the University of Washington football program as a coach where he remained for 34 years.  He coached in  394 games; 8 Rose bowls along with 20 other bowl games; participated in two national championships, one as a player and one as a coach, winning 67% of those games.

Jim has two adult  children , Eric and Christine both of whom live in the area.  He has six grandchildren. Dr Hal Ellner will be Jim’s Rotary sponsor. Welcome Coach Lambright!

 

It is the beginning of the school year in Guatemala and three new elementary schools are starting this school year (school years go from January to November in Guatemala) full of excitement, with new equipment and the potential that this collaboration with TINFA and with its network of schools and teachers will bring.

These new partners are elementary schools in the Retalhuleu region of Guatemala. They are in the same region the existing ones in their 2nd and 3rd year program, strengthening the collaboration among teachers.

We are exited about closing the loop on this 3 year model, with school partners in year 1, year 2 and year 3. It is going to be a busy year for TINFA and the teachers. It is going to be some fun and deep learning for the students!

On January 28th, University Sunrise Rotary presented TINFA presented with a generous check of $16,500 for the project in Guatemala.

This was a team effort lead by the University Sunrise (kudos to Mike, Lee, Tim, Ricky and all the members), in partnership with the University Rotaract, the Mill Creek Rotary, the Guatemala Rotary del Este, as well as a generous matching from the District. What an impressive piece of work, and what an impact by the Rotary!  This grant will provide all the equipment, the training and the support for one new school entering in collaboration with TINFA this year, as well as the training and the support for one school on their second year of collaboration.