Program, Stephen Fine, Melanoma Education Foundation, “Early Detection and Prevention of Melanoma,” March 26, 2026

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring Steve Fine of the Melanoma Education Foundation.

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.

Steve Fine, founder and president of the Melanoma Education Foundation, attended colleges in the Boston area, receiving a doctorate in chemistry from Northeastern University. He then moved to Pennsylvania, completing a year of postdoctoral research at Lehigh University. After 5 years as Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, he moved back to New England where he served in technical and management positions in high tech chemical companies.

Shortly after his son, Dan, died of melanoma in 1998 at the age of 26, he founded the non-profit Melanoma Education Foundation and, since 2000, has devoted full time to the Foundation.

The primary activity of the Foundation has been educating high school and middle school wellness teachers about melanoma and providing them with free online lessons to educate their students about self-detecting melanoma while it is curable. Prior to the pandemic over 1700 schools in all 50 U.S. states and Canada were using the lessons, resulting in saved lives of students, teachers and their loved ones. Recently outreach was expanded to U.S. and Canadian Rotary clubs in Eastern, Atlantic, and Central time zones. Since mid-2022 over 500 virtual sessions on early self-detection and prevention of melanoma have been conducted. Steve is the public image director of the Rotary Club of Peabody, Massachusetts.

Melanoma Education Foundation Web Page

home page

Video Links

31-Minute Early Self-Detection/Prevention Video: https://bit.ly/3hipmFK

(This video has most of the live Rotary Presentation Content)

16-Minute High School Student Video: https://bit.ly/2CBzdoT

22-Minute Middle School Student Video: https://bit.ly/2yv32Ep

30 Minute Health Teacher Training Video: https://bit.ly/3jqzejP

Program: Conor Bronsdon and Grant Bronsdon, “AI in Today’s Business World,” October 2, 2025

AI in Today’s Business WorldDownload

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.

University Sunrise Rotary Service Foundation Makes Grant Commitments

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.

Program Summary: Jon Scholes, Downtown Seattle Association, August 28, 2025

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.

Program Summary: “China Update,” Sam Kaplan and Spencer Cohen, August 21, 2025

The discussion focused on the current state of China and its implications for Washington State, led by Sam Kaplan and Spencer Cohen, who provided insights into the economic relationship between the two regions. Spencer emphasized that China is Washington State’s largest trade partner, detailing the economic advantages derived from exports, tourism, and foreign direct investment. He also addressed the challenges in the U.S.-China relationship, particularly the impact of tariffs on trade flows through state ports.

The conversation shifted to China’s manufacturing landscape, with a conference room participant highlighting the country’s efforts to advance its manufacturing capabilities amidst a contracting labor force. It was noted that China’s innovations in sectors such as electric vehicles and solar technology counter the perception that China primarily replicates foreign products. This discussion underscored the complexities of China’s economic evolution and its push for higher value-added manufacturing.

Sam Kaplan outlined several economic challenges facing China, including high youth unemployment and substantial local government debt. He pointed out that while advancements have been made in industrial robotics and supply chain development, significant structural issues remain due to the country’s political economy. A contribution to this discussion linked economic growth to political systems, suggesting that China’s growth could have been even more robust with political liberalization akin to that seen in Taiwan and South Korea.

The meeting concluded with a focus on the housing market’s role in wealth accumulation in China, as discussed by a conference room participant. It was noted that many Chinese households depend on real estate as a primary store of value, raising concerns about excessive leverage in the sector, particularly with companies like Evergrande. Sam also highlighted the U.S. administration’s concerns regarding China, mentioning ineffective tariff policies that have inadvertently benefited China and the decline in international students coming to the U.S. due to new regulations, alongside China’s efforts to attract talent from abroad.

University Sunrise Rotary Club: Trip Plans!

February 3, 2025

Seven of us met Friday afternoon to discuss the planning of a third annual club trip.

We have done a Club trip twice in the last two years and they have been fantastic fun (In fact everyone who has been on past trips is enthusiastic about going again).

Here is what we decided:

  • Destination: The Walla Walla area.
    • We plan to spend time visiting local wineries and breweries in the Walla Walla area.
    • TBD–While we are there, we are considering a one-day side trip to the Lewis Clark Valley (Lewiston, ID/Clarkston, WA area) to investigate the Lewis and Clark Discovery Center.
  • The proposed dates are September 4-7.  Please mark your calendar!
  • Please let us know your interest in participating.  We are investigating getting discount room rates and will likely look for a March 1 commitment from participants to get lower room rates.

The participants in the meeting were Bruce Balick, Steve Barton, Ted Hunter, Scott Jamieson, Mike Madden, Dave Mushen, Pam Mushen, and Tom Ranken.

Possible itinerary:

Day One (Thursday):

Depart Seattle in carpools leaving at 10am. Drive to Walla Walla with stop for lunch.  Arrive by 4 pm to check into the hotel.  Rendezvous for dinner and wine walk/tasting at 6pm. 

Day Two (Friday):

Wineries and breweries in the Walla Walla area.  Possible day trip to Clarkston for a Lewis & Clark tour.  Visit the Discovery Center, the Interpretative Center, the Nez Pierce Historical Museum, and the Confluence Campsite.  Lunch in Lewiston ID (beer available for those 19+!).  Leave Walla Walla at 8 am, return by 6 pm.  Visit a famous winery for a tour and dinner. 

Day 3:(Saturday):

Wine tour to three or four famous wineries in the area, led by Scott Jamieson.  May include a venture across the border to Oregon or into the Palouse. 

Day Four: (Sunday)

Return to Seattle or continue the L& C trail to Astoria or?  (Your own plan.  Could include Goldendale for an observatory visit or drive down Columbia Gorge with a stop in Hood River or myriad possibilities). 

Are you in??

-Tom

-Tom Ranken | 206.890.8387 | tom@usrotary.org

Program: University Sunrise Service Foundation Annual Report to Members, January 2, 2025

The mission of the Foundation is to enable members to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty. The Foundation may fund activities or make direct grants to individuals or organizations and may combine its financial resources with other Rotary clubs and Districts, for the greater good.

The program will be presented by the Board of the Foundation along with members of the Screening Committee. Board members are Tom Ranken (Chair), Stuart Webber (Treasurer/Secretary), Pam Mushen, Dave Mushen, and Lincoln Ferris. Screening Committee Members are Mike Madden, Nancy Bolin, and Hal Beals.

University Sunrise Rotary Service Foundation Presentation 010225Download

Program: Michael Bronsdon, “Puget Sound’s Triangle of Fire: Forts Worden, Flagler, and Casey,” August 22, 2204

Forts Worden, Flagler, and Casey were developed to prevent enemy incursions into Puget Sound. When were they built, and what became of them?

Michael Bronsdon is a Pacific Northwest native who grew up camping and learning about the natural and human histories of the West. This fed a lifelong interest in history and the outdoors.

Michael earned B.A. (History), and MBA degrees from the University of Washington. His professional career included several years in book publishing, followed by 26 years in the software/technology industry.

Michael relocated to Bainbridge Island (Fletcher Bay neighborhood) in 2021 with his wife Cathy. He appreciates learning and sharing the stories of the communities of Bainbridge Island and the Pacific Northwest.

He volunteers with the Bainbridge History Museum and joined the board earlier this year.

He is a passionate skier and hiker, and also enjoys choral singing, winemaking, photography and travel.