As business leaders and Rotarians, we are often called to attend conferences, meetings, fundraisers, trade shows and receptions. Studies show that over 90% of us feel uncomfortable entering a room full of strangers! Despite starting off life as an introvert, I quickly learned that it was essential to network with others in order to further my career, expand my contacts and ultimately improve my life. Many of these new acquaintances became friends, colleagues, employers – and many ended up funding projects for a cause I supported.  After “working” hundreds of rooms over many decades, I created this course that includes the Dirty Dozen – The Twelve Essential Tips for Successful Networking.  I used both personal experiences and research from the experts to encourage you to comfortably and graciously expand your cadre of supporters and friends!

Joseph B. Diehl, CPA, JD, recently joined the University Sunrise Rotary Club–and appreciates this opportunity to share his ideas.  Joe manages Diehl & Co. LLC which has provided services to nonprofit organizations since 1996.  For the first half of his career, Joe held a variety of accounting/finance positions in the for profit sector.  He earned his BS degree in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University (go “Huskies”) and his JD from UIC-John Marshall Law School in Chicago, IL.

Notes from Jeff Mushen:

Thoughts of the Day by Ryan Hamilton

Quotes from Sir Winston Churchill:

“To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.”

“Everyone is in favor of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people’s idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone else says anything back, that is an outrage.”

Announcements

Dave Mushen – thanked all who participated in the teen feed project this past week.

Michael Bronsdon – October 9^th Tiny house project is still looking for two more folks to help build tiny houses. Reach out to Michael or use the following link to sign up. https://1drv.ms/x/s!AlWWcrFmXfyjkP5YzZ4Yve39YQ96DQ?e=KIP0X1

Isaac McNally – QFC Food Drives is scheduled for October 30^th. Costumes are optional!

Dan Byrne – Street End projects! He’s looking into parks that we as a club.

Colleen – August 20^th Social at Ivar’s on Northlake at 4/5pm

Mike Madden – TINFA virtual FUN-draiser. Saturday October 2^nd reach out to Mike Madden for more information,

History Lesson

Last week on this day – The US Government started taxing your income.

This week on this day – IBM introduced the first personal computer.

Speaker – Joe Diehl – How to “Work” a Room and Build Relationships

Joe’s previously experience as a stutterer and introvert led him to the theater as a child, go figure? He ended up acting and taking his experience on the stage to real life. Words of wisdom from his instructor, “Life is a play, get over it!”

Why do we seek to Network with others?

Find future connections, expand circle of friends, find supporters for your cause, expand your career, and build strong/lasting relationships.

Once you’ve arrived: Analyze the landscape

Do not search for people you know. Do not stand by the wall with your drink.

Walk to the first person you don’t know and follow these tips.

Tip One: Prepare in advance – Understand the group, dress appropriately, bring lots of business cards and a pen, bring your own name badge.

Tip Two: Get an elevator speech down – tell someone what you do for a living.

Tip Three: Get your networking face on – SMILE!

Tip Four – Personal stories outweigh memorization

Tip Five – The host of the events, always sets the RULES. Follow them

Tip Six – Have a Dream and share it with people

Tip Seven – Don’t talk about sensitive topics

Tip Eight – Jot down personal items on the back of business cards for the people whom you meet

Tip Nine – Network with each person for a maximum of 3-4 minutes.

Tip Ten – Try to make the connection productive for the other persons.

Tip Eleven – Try to find mutual interest

Tip Twelve – Follow up is required in writing, not optional

The Bottom Line: Networking is an art, not a science. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

Chris Vance has been a Washington State leader in politics and public policy for over 30 years. Vance is a former State Representative, King County Councilmember, Chairman of the Washington state Republican Party, and US Senate nominee in 2016.  Vance now serves as the Communications and External Affairs Manager in the King County Assessor’s office, teaches part time as an adjunct professor at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, and is a Senior Fellow at the Niskanen Center.

Pamela L. Banks is a tireless advocate for equality and social justice, building community partnerships and strengthening community engagement to create lasting economic opportunity. In December 2020, Pamela joined the Mayor’s cabinet in a newly created role as the Director of Recovery and Equitable Investments to lead the City of Seattle in social and economic recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. In February 2021, Mayor Durkan expanded her role to serve as Interim Director for the Office of Economic Development. The Office of Economic Development continues to be a lifeline for many by promoting access to economic opportunities, especially for small business and workers. Before returning to work at the City, Pamela was President and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle. Prior to that, she retired after 30 years working for the City and built a reputation for making city government more accessible to underserved residents, community organizations and small businesses. Pamela has served on multiple boards and is a graduate of the University of Washington. In her free time, Pamela enjoys trying new restaurants throughout Seattle with family and friends.

Program Notes by Merrill Mayer:

• 5th director in 4 years
• Focused on recovery from COVID
• Vision is build inclusive economy.
• Many impacted by COVID especially Bipoc and low income. Try for equitable recovery.
• Cannot have healthy city without healthy downtown.
• Teams of people work with communities. Provide training for careers. High wage careers. Focus on growth industries. Partner with unions for training.
• Neighborhood recovery, downtown revitalization, small business support
• $128 million to deal with housing and homelessness, biz recovery, community well being, community assistance. 23 million of this for Seattle office of economic development. Money will be used to revitalize downtown and get people back to work. Also concerned with Public safety, beautification.
• Community driven ideas for neighborhood revitalization.
• Going week by week to assess impact of Delta variant.
• Housing alone won’t solve homelessness. Need services.
• Try to bring back 1/3 of previous downtown workers to offices.
• Allow different use for ground floor biz. Example, have art studio or dentist office instead of retail.

Meeting summary by Michael Bronsdon.

Paula Del Giudice has been the executive director of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Redmond, WA, for the past four years. Previous to her work with Little Bit, she served as the executive director or regional director of National Wildlife Federation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Seattle Guild, and the Pacific NW Pollution Prevention Resource Center. She has earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Nevada, Reno, and a Master of Education degree from Regis University. She lives in Sammamish, WA, with her small dog. She has two grown children, Kevin who works for the State of Washington’s Emergency Management Division, and a daughter who is a Speech-Language Pathologist in Issaquah. She is an avid golfer, artist, and gardener who loves to bake for family and friends. She is also Secretary of the Rotary Club of Redmond and is a member of BNI–Eastside Excellence chapter.

Little Bit was founded in 1976 by a woman named Margaret Dunlap. Margaret had Multiple Sclerosis and found that being on the back of a horse slowed the advance of her disease. From our humble beginnings of one horse and five riders, we have grown to be one of the largest nationally accredited, industry-leading PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International centers and one of the largest full-time therapeutic horsemanship programs in the United States. We offer Adaptive Riding and Hippotherapy, and serve 260 riders and patients each week with 30 horses and the help of more than 350 volunteers.

Little Bit runs three programs

• Hippotherapy: PT, OT, or Speech-Language Therapy: The movement of the horse brings full-body movement for riders, which brings a number of benefits to each rider. Core strength, stretching of muscles, and the bond between horse and rider are key benefits. Many of the clients are also able to have a different view of the world from on top of a horse.

• Adaptive Riding: Similar benefits to the above, but also teaches how to care for and work with a horse. Clients have goals to pursue through recreational horseback riding. Special Olympics Equestrian Team is also a component of the Adaptive Riding Program. Program suspended by Covid; intending to restart

• Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy: Mental health therapy, working with mental health professionals and an equine specialist. This is an ‘unmounted’ program and through the interaction between horse and client includes helpful biofeedback. Equine-Assisted Learning also includes educational and professional skill development, in which clients also have personal learning goals as they develop life skills through working with horses.

Other Programs – Summer Camps! Inclusive camps for children and young adults for kids from 5-12, and young adults ages 18-35. Participants get to ride for an hour a day.

Volunteers: A key part of Little Bit is the volunteer support that enable all of the programs. 135 volunteers weekly, who range in age from 14 to 92! Over 15,252 hours were logged in 2020.

The Horses

30 horses currently on the property. One third are Norwegian Fjord horses, which are stoic and a bred to be work horses. They are also a bit shorter than other breeds. They are easy to work with and very popular. Horses average 419 hours of staff and volunteer care per year.

‘Harvest’ was a Seattle Police horse who retired from the department and has moved to Little Bit. He’s been great for larger riders, as he is 17-hands tall.

Friends of Little Bit

34 different work groups (including some corporate teams) help with cleaning and maintenance issues.

Little Bit sponsors several fund-raising events every year. On September 9, 2021 they are hosting a golf tournament at Redmond Ridge. Registration is available online.

Program Summary by Joe Diehl.

Jake Leachman made a presentation on the use of hydrogen in Washington State as an environmentally friendly approach to reducing carbon emissions. Refer to Jake’s PowerPoint slides for more detailed information. Jake noted, this talk is presented on a very high-level basis. There is a lot happening in the news on clean energy. Jake’s presentation covered where we were; where we are today; and where we are going in the future. There is no doubt climate change is a reality!

Currently a major challenge is in the supply change: most hydrogen is delivered in liquid form in a huge tanker truck. In the big picture, 74% of all of the mass in the universe is hydrogen – and 75% of the sun’s mass is hydrogen. Thirteen percent of all atoms on the earth are hydrogen atoms. Jake covered several different types of hydrogen (grey, blue, green, etc.). Washington is building one of the largest plants for green hydrogen production. By the way, nuclear power produces a byproduct known as pink hydrogen.

Jake spoke about combining wind power using hydrogen to produce electrolyte water. A good characteristic of hydrogen, is that it can be compressed. The use of hydrogen is growing as quickly as the historic growth of solar and wind power. Jake noted that Federal funding for the development of hydrogen energy is sorely lacking.

Worldwide, hydrogen energy development has now been embraced by the world. During the pandemic, carbon emissions were reduced; but now they exceed pre-pandemic levels – thus elevating the importance of developing alternative energy sources. Hydrogen can be delivered forty times fast than other energy fuel.

Jake answered questions and answers from Rotary Club members in the remaining time.

Jacob “Jake” Leachman is an Associate Professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Washington State University (WSU). He initiated the Hydrogen Properties for Energy Research (HYPER) laboratory at WSU in 2010 with the intent to advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of cryogenic hydrogen systems. He earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2005 and a M.S. degree in 2007 from the University of Idaho. His master’s thesis has been adopted as the foundation for hydrogen fueling standards and custody exchange, in addition to winning the Western Association of Graduate Schools Distinguished Thesis Award for 2008. He completed his Ph.D. in the Cryogenic Engineering Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2010 under the advice of John Pfotenhauer and Greg Nellis. He is the lead author of the reference text “Thermodynamic Properties of Cryogenic Fluids: 2nd Edition”. In 2018, he received the Roger W. Boom Award from the Cryogenics Society of America and is a Senior Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.

Our new President, Pam Mushen, opened the weekly meeting at 7:30 a.m. 

Jim Horrigan’s Red Team members introduced the Thought of the Day and the Rotary Minute. 

President Pam announced that Club Social Events Chair Colleen White and Club Community Service Co-Chair David Mushen had already met with their committee members and have put together our first Social/Community Service event on July 13^th, 4:00 p.m. at Colleen White’s residence at 9209 8^th Ave NE.  Everybody participating will help with preparation of a meal that will be delivered to Teen Feed at University Way NE. that same night.  Teen Feed will distribute the meals. 

Pam introduced her first ‘Historical Fact’ and reviewed all Club positions and areas of responsibility for the coming year.  She will follow-up by emailing both the Social Events Calendar and Committee Roster to all members. 

Pam, the ‘almost’ ‘Strawberry Fair Princess and probably future Queen’ of the Lebanon, Oregon community, informed and entertained us with her “This is Your Life.” so far, facts and stories about her education, career positions, and family.   

We were then led into our ‘Break-Out sessions by Committee assignments’ by Lincoln Ferris, who also coordinates the ZOOM meetings each week.   

**Sidenote:  I was fortunate to be the only other member of the Social committee in attendance with Joseph Thomas and Claudia Gutierrez in our ‘break-out session’.  They attending from Mexico City.  We discussed an idea of theirs……They have mailed/emailed a local Rotarian who owns large grounds at the foot of the volcano sites and hosts two ‘Beer Festivals’ a year and an annual ‘Cut your own Tree’ Christmas Tree sale.  They would like our University Sunrise Rotary membership to attend this festival in 2022.  As of now, they have not heard back from the owner of the property but will keep us posted.  Pam thinks this would be a great trip for us! 

That’s it.    

Teri St. Onge – First-time Scribe for our new year – July 2021 – June 2022.