Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring ChrisTiana ObeySumner, a candidate for Seattle City Council in Northeast Seattle, District 5.

The program will be presented on Zoom on Thursday morning with the line opening at 7 a.m.  The formal meeting including the program runs from 7:30-8:30 a.m.  No registration is required and the program is free.

The meeting will be available via Zoom. Click here to join the meeting Thursday morning.  The Zoom line will open shortly after 7 a.m.

ChrisTiana’s Story: I was born in Alaska in 1986 to a single mother. Growing up, my family faced financial struggles and disability challenges. As a Black, economically disadvantaged, and non-verbal child, I had difficulty attending school, as special education services were not well-established prior to passage of the American Disabilities Act in 1990. Despite testing high, I did not qualify for services, and lacked diagnoses for learning disabilities. My mother and I were often unhoused, moving frequently, and I was often exiled from classes.

After living in several states, I moved to Seattle in 2010 and attended Seattle University. I became involved in social justice advocacy and organized on campus. My advocacy work became personal when my Uncle Wayne went into a nursing rehab facility for disabled individuals who were incarcerated. I advocated for the facility not to take away his wheelchair and dehumanize him, but sadly, my Uncle passed away as a result of gross negligence on the part of the facility.

I would then go on to work in the permanent supportive housing space, where I administered assessments and coordinated services with other providers. However, I saw how the grants received for the work did not match the needs on the ground. This experience led to me realizing that the systems we have in place actually end up perpetuating the disparities we see in action today. This inspired me to become the CEO and principal consultant of Epiphanies of Equity LLC — A social equity consulting firm that particularly specializes in social change, intersectionality, antiracism, and disability justice.

As a recognized expert in my field, I have served on panels for organizations like the Housing Development Consortium and Seattle Center RSJI; given guest lectures at the University of Washington, Seattle University, and M.I.T.; and have been featured in the Seattle Times, Crosscut, Seattle Arts, Seattle Magazine, and Diverse City LLC’s online learning series.

I am also the former co-chair of the Seattle Disabilities commission, and former co-chair of the Seattle Renter’s commission. I have also previously or currently serve as a member or lay-leader on the following boards: the King County Transit Mobility Council, The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, The Seattle University African American Alumni Association, and the King County Board for Developmental Disabilities Legislative Council.

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring a trip report from our week-long sojourn through Eastern Washington exploring the remnants of the great floods.

The program will be presented on Zoom on Thursday morning with the line opening at 7 a.m.  The formal meeting including the program runs from 7:30-8:30 a.m.  No registration is required and the program is free. Click here to join the meeting Thursday morning.

In June, nine members and friends of our club spent a week exploring eastern Washington. We spent two nights in the Grand Coulee area and two nights in Walla Walla.

There was particular interest in learning about the great floods of the region that occurred over 10,000 years ago. It is an amazing story. And there is fantastic evidence of the floods that was clear to us on the trip.

Our Thursday morning speakers are our intrepid trip survivors who will share their experiences exploring the wilds of Eastern Washington from the comfort of their automobiles.  Thrill to pictures of soaring basalt formations exposed in all their raw beauty by massive floods!

Learn why you will not want to miss your opportunity to take a trip next year!

It takes 1,000 donors a day to sustain a blood supply for patients in our community. Blood is central to patient care, cancer treatment, traumas and surgeries. The ripple effect of blood shortages is far reaching in public health and in our economy. Faced with an aging donor base, a shrinking donor base, and missing student donors, we must work together on new and innovative ways to educate our community on the importance of giving blood and hosting drives before a generation of donors passes. That’s where Rotary and you come in.

Sue lives on her houseboat in Lake Union, sings regularly with a variety of local bands and is loving her pandemic project of learning how to sail. 

Sue Nixon has more than 25 years of leadership and consulting experience in marketing, branding and communications that spans the private, public and non-profit sectors. She served as chief executive officer of Fitch global design studio in Seattle – part of a worldwide network of retail and brand experts. Sue applied her skills to the non-profit arena as president of Seattle 4 Rotary club in 2016, realized her passion for community service and following her term took on her role at Bloodworks Northwest, where she manages all aspects of community engagement and donor recruitment to ensure a safe and reliable blood supply for patients in our community who need care.

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring Kurt Miller of the Northwest RiverPartners. Kurt will discuss the future of the Snake River dams.

The program will be presented on Zoom on Thursday morning with the line opening at 7 a.m.  The formal meeting including the program runs from 7:30-8:30 a.m.  No registration is required and the program is free.

The meeting will be available via Zoom. Click here to join the meeting Thursday morning.  The Zoom line will open shortly after 7 a.m.

This presentation will be a discussion on the hot button issues around salmon restoration and the role of hydropower in our clean energy future with a key focus on how we can meet the Northwest’s clean energy requirements while ensuring social equity in the context of our energy availability and resources.

Kurt Miller is Executive Director of the Northwest RiverPartners. Kurt is one of the nation’s leading advocates for hydropower and its role in our clean and equitable energy future. His expertise in energy policy has been featured in over 50 contributed pieces across several regional and national news outlets, and he is a frequent commentator on T.V., radio, and policy panels.

As the executive director of Northwest RiverPartners, Kurt represents millions of public power customers across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah who rely on the affordability and reliability of hydropower to power their homes, businesses, and transportation.

Kurt keynoted the CEATI international hydropower conference in 2023, Hydrovision International 2022, and the Portland-based Business and the Environment conference in 2021. He was also an expert panelist at Clean Currents, the annual conference of the National Hydropower Association and featured on the January 2023 cover of Hydro Leader Magazine.

Kurt is active on the policy front and has advised the Western Congressional Caucus and the Western Senate Caucus on hydropower policy. He has spent most of his 30-year career in leadership positions for electric utilities, bringing expertise in power supply and smart grid initiatives. 

Under Kurt’s leadership, Northwest RiverPartners has expanded its educational role through industry partnerships, thought leadership efforts, and community outreach projects and strengthened its emphasis on science and scientific-based studies.

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring Betty Long speaking on Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates.

The program will be presented on Zoom on Thursday morning with the line opening at 7 a.m.  The formal meeting including the program runs from 7:30-8:30 a.m.  No registration is required and the program is free.

The meeting will be available via Zoom and in person at the Wedgewood Community Church, 8201 – 30^th Ave NE, Seattle, 98115.

Click here to join the meeting Thursday morning.  The Zoom line will open shortly after 7 a.m.

For the average healthcare consumer, entering the U.S. healthcare system for a clinical need can be fraught with anxiety, fear and insecurity.  And that’s not even considering any insurance issues!  And post-COVID, being admitted to a hospital can be downright scary.  Hear about the work of Guardian Nurses and how their team of nurse advocates, in Seattle and nationally, are shepherding patients safely and effectively through their healthcare journeys.

Betty Long, RN, MHA, is the President/CEO and Founder of Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates and a nationally recognized expert and speaker on patient advocacy. As a registered nurse since 1986, she has experience in clinical, management and consulting capacities. In addition, she has a long history of healthcare advocacy with special expertise in critical care, long-term care and geriatric care management. She is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Case Management Society of America as well as the Forum of Executive Women in Philadelphia. She also serves as President of the Board of Trustees for The Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania.

Jonathan Mayer is a Professor of Epidemiology and Geography at the University of Washington.  He is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine, (Division of Infectious Diseases), Department of Family Medicine, and in Health Services, Global Health. He is Program Director, joint degree: MPH in Epidemiology/PhD Biocultural Anthropology.

This the seventh time we have asked him back to talk about medical science. Why? Here is a typical comment:

Dr. Mayer was fantastic.  He is incredibly knowledgeable about this topic and has the rare ability to communicate a complex topic to an audience.

Adaptive skiing transforms the lives of individuals with and without disabilities. It builds community and promotes inclusion for all. While enhancing self-esteem, adaptive skiing helps individuals learn new skills and foster fitness through fun. Ed will share life-transforming stories of adaptive skiing lessons that he’s led.

Ed Bronsdon is a nonprofit leader and educator. His passion is helping people. He recently retired from full time work after a 37-year career in nonprofits, including 28 years as executive director with the Outdoors for All Foundation in Seattle. He’s a graduate of the University of Washington, has a certificate in Rehabilitation Facilities Management from Seattle University and holds Level III Alpine and Level I Adaptive certifications with the Professional Ski Instructors of America.

• Nationally, Ed volunteers with Move United as a board member, clinician and as an adaptive instructor.
• Internationally, he volunteers with Blesma – The Limbless Veterans.
• In our local community, Ed is active with the University Sunrise Rotary Club of Seattle. His Rotary service includes being a past president of the Rotary Club of Issaquah and multiple board roles with both of these Rotary clubs.

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring Rene Kurdzos of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. At our request, she will focus her time on Thursday on fundraising and discussing the pros and cons of an endowment.

The program will be presented on Zoom on Thursday morning with the line opening at 7 a.m.  The formal meeting including the program runs from 7:30-8:30 a.m.  No registration is required.

Click here to join the meeting Thursday morning.  The Zoom line will open shortly after 7 a.m.

Renee Kurdzos is the Executive Director, Planned Giving at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.

Find the presentation slides here:

Prior to working at Fred Hutch, Renee served as the Gift Planning Officer for Washington and Hawaii at American Red Cross, Development & Planned Giving Officer at University of Puget Sound, and as the Director of Major Gifts & Planned Giving at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. 

Renee is a Board Member of the American Council on Gift Annuities. She is the past Co-Chair of the Planned Giving Affinity Group for the National Association of Cancer Center Development Officers. She is also a Past President of the Washington Planned Giving Council and past Board Member of Leave 10.

She has a Masters of Science in Taxation and a Certificate in Estate Planning from Golden Gate University, and has achieved the designation of Certified Gift Planning Specialist through the Institute for Philanthropic Studies at California State University Long Beach. Renee has worked in development for 23 years and in planned giving for 18.

She lives in West Seattle with her husband Kevan, daughters Zoe and Margaret, and dogs Abbey and Jack.

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring Jeff Brennan. Jeff is in his fifth year as our District 5030’s Foundation Chair. The Rotary Foundation is a non-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It has grown from an initial contribution of $26.50 to more than $1 billion.

The program will be presented on Zoom on Thursday morning and at the Wedgwood Community Church.  The formal meeting including the program runs from 7:30-8:30 a.m.  No registration is required.

• Click here to join the meeting Thursday morning.  The Zoom line will open shortly after 7 a.m.
• The Wedgwood Community Church is at 8201 30th Ave NE, Seattle, WA and it will be open at 7 a.m.

Jeff Brennan is in his 5th year as our District 5030’s Foundation Chair. Prior to that, he was the Chair of the District 5030’s grant committee for three years. Jeff is past president of the Rotary Club of Mill Creek, a Major Donor Level 2, benefactor and bequest member, and is a member of the Paul Harris Society. He is well-versed in district and global grant writing and has participated in global grants in Chile, El Salvador, Panama and numerous times to Guatemala.

Jeff served in the U.S. Air Force in communications and then worked in the telecommunications field for over 30 years. He has an Associate Degree in Radio Communications from the Community College of the Air Force, a BA and MBA in Management from Angelo State University in West Texas, and a Law Degree from Seattle University. Jeff works for ESO Solutions, (an Austin, Texas based company) the largest software and data solutions provider to Emergency Medical Services providers and fire departments in the US and Canada.