Program: Olivia Kirby, Recology, “Where Does It Go?” July 25, 2024

Olivia Kirby is the Waste Zero Supervisor for Recology King County, a waste hauler in the greater Seattle region. She was recently promoted to the Supervisor position, where she now oversees a team of Specialists who support the twelve cities that Recology services with waste reduction and diversion goals.

Before her recent transition, she worked as a part of the Waste Zero team that she currently manages as the Seattle Commercial Specialist. Her work aimed to fulfill the company’s mission to become Waste-Zero by offering educational opportunities and outreach materials so businesses could reduce contamination, increase diversion, and gain confidence in their journey to greater sustainability.

In 2023, she completed 28 new compost starts and thirteen recycle starts for businesses around Seattle, diverting thousands of tons of waste away from the landfill. As well, she delivered 75 presentations to Seattle businesses and other cities served, reaching a broad number of communities and people to explain the importance of the work and its impact.

She graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in Enviromental Science, which has equipped her with a strong passion to help the Earth and the communities in which we live.

Program: Elisa Law, “The First World Flight: Seattle’s Best Kept Aviation Secret,” April 4, 2024

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring Elisa Law speaking about The First World Flight.

The program will be presented on Zoom only on Thursday morning with the line opening at 7:00 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. The Zoom line will open shortly after 7:00 a.m.

Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast, Seattle history buff, or simply intrigued by tales of human perseverance and innovation, this presentation promises an inspiring and educational experience that will leave you with a newfound appreciation of the golden age of flight and our local aviation heritage. This year commemorates the 100th anniversary of man’s first around the world flight, a race against nations that began and ended for America here at Sand Point Field (now Magnuson Park and NOAA). Our speaker will guide you through the daring exploits of these Army Air Service aviators who embarked on this 175-day journey, defying the limits of early 20th-century technology and pushing the boundaries of human endurance. Through a blend of vivid storytelling and captivating visuals, we will revisit the challenges and triumphs faced by those intrepid individuals who dared to dream of circumnavigating the globe by air.

Our speaker is Elisa Law (MA Museology, University of Washington) is a Seattle-born and raised museologist and public historian. Before she was brought on board as Executive Director and Centennial Coordinator at Friends of Magnuson Park, she built an impressive resume, traveling Indian Country filming documentaries with Project 562, running development projects and becoming an honorary chief on a remote Samoan Island in the Peace Corps and studying the emergence of Buddhist temple museums in Japan. In addition to her current work with Friends, she manages book projects for HistoryLink, a museum renovation for Vashon Heritage Museum and writes grants for the historic Tokeland Hotel. And she is also the mother of a 1-year old.

The connective thread of her background in cultural heritage, education, and project management is a passion for storytelling. Don’t miss her thrilling rendition of the 1924 First World Flight!

Program: Rich White, The Boeing Company, “Boeing in Washington,” July 18, 2024

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring Rich White of The Boeing Company.

The program will be presented in person and on Zoom on Thursday morning with the Zoom line opening at 7:00 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 in-person meeting will be at the Wedgwood Community Church at 8201 30th Ave NE, Seattle. Doors open at 7:00 a.m. and the program begins at 7:30 a.m. The meeting will also be available via Zoom. Click here to join the meeting Thursday morning. The Zoom line will open shortly after 7:00 a.m.

Rich White, Senior Manager, State & Local Government Operations will speak with members about the exciting work happening within Boeing’s facilities, along with growth opportunities in the aerospace industry and Boeing’s current hiring initiatives. In his presentation, Rich will share the latest market outlook and update members about Boeing’s ongoing partnerships and investments in the Puget Sound region.

Rich is a Senior Government Relations manager for The Boeing Company. In this position, he is responsible for representing the company before elected and appointed public officials and their staffs, industry and business association executives and political community-based organizations in the Central Puget Sound region, Oregon and Montana. He acts as the primary company focal for negotiating and influencing government relations’ policy on external issues and he provides political strategy and advice to company management. White also develops and implements legislative and regulatory programs to ensure that the business interests of the company are reflected to the best advantage.

Prior to joining The Boeing Company, Rich was the director of government affairs for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, where he oversaw the development and implementation of the chamber’s policy positions. He also acted as the chamber’s lobbyist both regionally and in Olympia, WA. Rich also has worked in Olympia for the state Senate Republican caucus and as the Washington field director for the Dole/Kemp Presidential Campaign. He previously worked for former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton in both Washington D.C. and the state of Washington.

Rich is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from the Evans School of Public Affairs. He was a 2005 Marshall Memorial Fellow and is a 2000 graduate of Leadership Tomorrow. He earned his Eagle Scout in 1986.

Rich’s current activities and volunteer experiences include serving on the Board of Directors for the Schack Art Center, Everett Public Schools Foundation, Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, Oregon Business & Industry and nearly a dozen other groups, chambers and agencies.

Program: Chris Reykdal, WA State Superintendent of Public Instruction, July 11, 2024

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring Chris Reykdal, Washington State’s Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The in-person meeting will be at the Wedgwood Community Church at 8201 30th Ave NE, Seattle. Doors open at 7:00 a.m. and the program begins at 7:30 a.m.

The meeting will also be available via Zoom. Click here to join the meeting Thursday morning. The Zoom line will open shortly after 7:00 a.m.

First elected in 2017, Chris Reykdal is currently serving in his second term as Washington’s 16th State Superintendent.

Known for pushing against the status quo to meet the evolving needs of our students and our economy, Chris has spearheaded some of the most transformational changes Washington’s K–12 public education system has seen in decades.

As State Superintendent, Chris has:

Expanded pathways to graduation to align with students’ individual interests and goals,
Successfully advocated for historic state investments in services for students with disabilities,
Made significant progress in eliminating out-of-pocket costs for students engaged in dual credit programs like College in the High School and Advanced Placement,
Increased access to free meals at school to an additional 465,000 students,
Expanded dual and tribal language learning programs for our youngest learners,
Started a first-of-its-kind residency program to support teacher recruitment,
Added civics education as a graduation requirement for all students,
Increased the number of CTE course equivalencies, which allow students to earn core academic credit requirements through CTE courses, by 20%,
Successfully advocated for market-rate salaries for Washington’s teachers,
Returned timber revenue to the rural communities where it’s generated,
Established a path for students to earn elective credits toward their diploma with paid work experience, and
Diversified the OSPI staff and leadership team to more closely reflect the diversity of Washington’s students.

As a former teacher, soccer coach, school board director, state legislator, and executive for our state’s community and technical college system, Chris has a unique perspective of the K–12 system and how our state supports learners from preschool through postsecondary learning.

Under Chris’ leadership, the work of OSPI is centered on equity, transparency, accountability, customer service, and on keeping students at the forefront of all decision-making.

Chris graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate, and he earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.

Chris is a lifelong learner who enjoys solving complex problems with data and research. In his free time, you can find Chris hiking, cheering on Washington’s sports teams, listening to 80s music (the greatest decade for pop music!), or seeing a movie with his family.

Chris and his wife, Kim, live in historic Tumwater with their two children, Carter and Kennedy.

Honors & Awards:

Leadership Award, National Association for Bilingual Education, 2023
State Auditor’s Stewardship Award, Washington State Auditor’s Office, 2022
Henry Toll Fellow, Council of State Governments, 2022
Golden Gavel Award, Washington Association of School Administrators, 2021
Envision Award, Washington DECA, 2019
President’s Award, Association of Washington School Principals, 2018
MESA Champion Award, MESA USA (Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement), 2018

Apply Now for the RISE Program: Deadline is Monday, April 1, 2024

Rotary District 5030 is launching the next cohort for RISE (Rotarians Inspired to Succeed and Engage)! We’re encouraging clubs to use this program to attract and engage members by offering advanced leadership training and an experienced member from another club. The program cost is $150 per participant and each club can have up to three members in the program. The deadline for application is Monday, April 1, and the application form is here.

Last fall, we had seventeen members in our pilot session and our exit survey rated the program 4.7 (out of 5) stars. Two-thirds of the participants reported that participating in RISE had already helped them to advance in their career and/or their club.

Testimonal: “I think the RISE program is a valuable tool, both for those early in their professional or Rotary careers with limited leadership experience, and for those later in their careers as a litmus test to reflect on whether one’s leadership habits have been as productive as one hoped.”-Mark Ward, President-Elect, West Seattle Club.

Each club can have up to 3 members per training cohort. There is a Spring session and a fall session.

Program: Mike Pellicciotti, “State Finances and Long-Term Policy,” March 28, 2024

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring Washington State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti.

The program will be presented on Zoom on Thursday morning with the Zoom 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.

Mike Pellicciotti (Pelleh-chee-otti) was elected the 24th Treasurer of Washington in 2020. As Washington’s chief financial officer, Mike is dedicated to increasing government transparency, protecting Washington’s financial health, and leading policies that best serve our state’s working families and retirees.

Before being elected State Treasurer, Mike was an assistant attorney general and served North Pierce and South King Counties in the Washington House of Representatives. There he led efforts to increase penalties for corporate crime and get “dark money” out of politics.

As State Treasurer, Mike is leading good government reforms and policy proposals to reduce financial barriers for all Washingtonians. Last year he was selected as a Rodel Fellow, the bipartisan recognition of America’s 24 most promising elected leaders.

He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and received his Master’s in Rural Development as a United States Fulbright Scholar. His law degree is from Gonzaga University. Mike is a lifelong fan of Gonzaga Basketball.

Program: Bruce Balick, “Our Favorite Places for Great Photography Close to Home,” March 21, 2024

Bruce Balick will lead a discussion of club members as we share our favorite places to photograph inside and within 100 miles of Seattle.

The in-person meeting will be at the Wedgwood Community Church at 8201 30th Ave NE, Seattle. Doors open at 7:00 a.m. and the program begins at 7:30 a.m.

The meeting will be available via Zoom. Click here to join the meeting Thursday morning. The Zoom line will open shortly after 7:00 a.m.

Bruce Balick is a is a tremendous photographer. Professionally, Dr. Bruce Balick is Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington in Astronomy. He joined the UW Astronomy Department in 1975. Subsequently he served as its chair, became active in faculty governance, and participated in the design of new instrumentation for Hubble. Since his retirement in 2014, Balick continues to publish research papers using data from the Hubble Space Telescope and to supervise astronomy undergraduates in research and public outreach. He is a coauthor on a research paper based on one of the newly released images from the James Webb telescope.

Program: Tim Nagel and Griffin Armour, “Outdoors for All: Mission, Programs, and the Future,” March 14, 2024

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring Outdoor for All.

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.

The Outdoors for All Foundation transforms lives through outdoor recreation. Founded in 1979 in the Pacific Northwest, Outdoors for All is a national leader in delivering adaptive and therapeutic recreation for children and adults with disabilities. Each year more than 3,000 individuals exercise their abilities thanks to the training and support of more than 850 volunteers. Outdoors for All enriches the lives of individuals with disabilities and families and helps them to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Outdoors for All’s programs include snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross country and downhill skiing, cycling, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, youth and adult day camps, yoga, military programs, weekend excursions and custom events.

Tim Nagel is fueled by a deep passion for expanding the realm of outdoor recreation and sports for individuals with disabilities. Living with a physical disability has served as a catalyst for Tim to explore numerous opportunities. His journey began on the wheelchair basketball courts of Dallas, Texas, where he honed his skills and passion for adaptive sports. Tim earned a B.S. and M.S. in Sport Management at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and contributed as an Assistant Coach for the wheelchair basketball program. Post-college, he embarked on a career in adaptive recreation, dedicating himself to impacting the outdoor recreation landscape for youth, adults, and veterans with disabilities. Tim has resided in the Pacific Northwest since 2019. In his free time he likes to ski, mountain bike, paddleboard, camp, and travel. Tim is enthusiastic about continuing to make a meaningful impact in the local PNW community.

Griffin Armour was born and raised in the Seattle area but has spent several years living in South America. He is the Development Manager at Outdoors for All and focuses his time on growing individual and grant contributions to the organization. Some random things he loves include skiing, the Talking Heads, chess, Mount Rainier National Park, and the films of Ingmar Bergman. Griffin takes great pride in contributing to an organization that makes a profound difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities.

Program: Walter Impert, “Tax and Estate Planning in 2024 and Beyond,” March 7, 2024

Here Walter’s handout “Practical and Taxwise Estate Planning:”

Practical-and-Taxwise-Estate-Planning-2024 Download

Walter Impert provides individuals and families with practical advice on how to incorporate their values and goals into a thoughtful and carefully considered estate plan.

Walter is a Partner at Dorsey & Whitney in the Tax, Trusts and Estates practice group. His practice focuses on all aspects of wealth management, including estate planning, business organization and succession planning, charitable organizations, estate and trust administration, and estate and trust litigation.

Walter served as a member of the firm’s Policy Committee (Board of Directors) and serves as a Senior Vice President and Director of the Dorsey & Whitney Trust Company.

Walter received his law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), School of Law (J.D., 2002). He was Managing Editor of the UCLA Law Review. His BA was awarded by Occidental College (B.A., Economics, 1996) with College Honors and Department Honors. He is a Phi Beta Kappa member.

His Professional Achievements include:

Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Past Chair of Seattle Chapter
Seattle Estate Planning Council, Member
College Success Foundation, Board of Directors
Seattle University Planned Giving Committee

Walter has been honored as:

Recognized by Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) for Private Wealth Law – Washington, 2017-2021
Listed as a “Rising Star” by Washington Super Lawyers, 2008-2012

Walter can be reached at impert.walter@dorsey.com, (206) 903-2439

Program: Virginia McKenzie, “Rotary Club of the Pacific Northwest Ending Sex Trafficking,” June 6, 2024

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring Virginia McKenzie speaking on Sex Trafficking.

The in-person meeting will be at the Wedgwood Community Church at 8201 30th Ave NE, Seattle. Doors open at 7:00 a.m. and the program begins at 7:30 a.m.

The meeting will also be available via Zoom. Click here to join the meeting Thursday morning. The Zoom line will open shortly after 7:00 a.m.

Virginia McKenzie has been a Rotarian for seventeen years and has built a reputation for innovation. Originally a member of Seattle #4 Rotary, she started the Young Rotary Leaders Committee and helped recruit over 100 new members to the club, all under the age of 35. Next, she launched Seattle City Rotaract, a community based Rotaract Club with our beloved Devon Ahud as Charter President. Most recently, Virginia has chartered the Rotary Club of the Pacific Northwest Ending Sex Trafficking. This is a single cause club where all of their speakers, projects and grants are focused on a single area. Tune in to learn about the plight of sex trafficking in our local area and what you can do to help.