Volunteers Wanted For The Big Taste! March 23

We’re reaching out with some fantastic news and an exciting opportunity for you to make a meaningful impact in our community.

We’re gearing up for The Big Taste event on Saturday, March 23, starting at 5 pm at Hangar 30 in Magnuson Park, located at 6310 NE 74th St, Seattle, WA. This event promises an evening filled with delicious wines and lots of other beverages, great company, and most importantly, a chance to support three incredible organizations: Outdoors for All (Providers of adaptive and therapeutic recreation for children and adults with disabilities), We Heart Seattle (Action-based, boots-on-the-ground movement that organizes trash cleanups in our public spaces and offers resources to those in need), and University Sunrise Rotary Foundation (creates positive, lasting change locally and globally through service, investments in the community, and building close relationships).

To make this event truly special, we need your help! We’re in search of around 100 energetic and enthusiastic volunteers to ensure the smooth running of the evening. Here are some areas where we could use your support:

  1. Registration Team (20 volunteers): Help us sell tickets, check IDs, and provide wristbands from 4 to 7:30 pm.
  2. General Set Up (20+ volunteers): Join us in setting the stage for an amazing event from 11:15 am to 1:30 pm.
  3. Cleanup Crew (20+ volunteers): Assist with bagging up recycling/trash, folding tables/chairs, and more from 7:30 to 9:30 pm.
  4. Greeters & Rotary Info Stations (10+ volunteers): Welcome guests, distribute bottled water, and share general Rotary information from 4:30 to 8:30 pm.
  5. Cashier Station (8 volunteers): Coordinate with bottle valet and registration to make the payment process a breeze from 4:30 to 8:30 pm.
  6. Photo Booth (3 volunteers): assist photographer w/ pictures of guests and signing waivers etc. from 4:30-8:30 pm.

Ready to dive in and be a part of something amazing? Sign up for your preferred role and shift by contacting me at maria@weheartseattle.org .

Your dedication will contribute to the success of the event and, more importantly, support the wonderful causes we’re rallying behind.

Tickets for the event can be obtained at Big Taste Event Registration.

As an added bonus, volunteers that work a 2-hour shift will receive an entry to the event and 5 beverage tasting tickets.

Thank you for considering this opportunity, and we can’t wait to see you at the Big Taste event!

Best Regards,

Maria

Maria McManus, Board Member, We Heart Seattle, 206.475.8141

Program: Dr. Matthew George, Coastal Shellfish Manager, WA Fish and Wildlife, “Using Adaptive Management to Balance Commercial Harvest, Recreational Opportunity, and Sustainability within WA Coastal Shellfisheries,” January 11, 2024

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring the Coastal Shellfish Manager for Washington Fish and Wildlife, Dr. Matthew George.

The program will be presented 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 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.

Dr. Matthew George Will discuss the status of shellfisheries on the Washington coast.

He is the Coastal Shellfish Manager for the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. He received his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Washington in 2018. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Gonzaga. He regularly serves as a reviewer for prestigious journals such as Aquaculture, Scientific Reports, Environmental Science & Technology, BMC Genomics, and Global Change Biology.

Program: University Sunrise Rotary Club Foundation: A Report, January 4, 2024

The program Thursday morning will feature the Board and leadership of our Club’s Foundation. We will report on some big shifts in the Club’s Foundation direction, the grants we have made recently, solicit the Club’s approval of several changes, and ask for your input for our future.

The Foundation’s Board includes:

  • Tom Ranken, Chair
  • Pam Mushen
  • Lincoln Ferris
  • Dave Mushen
  • Stuart Webber

Our Screening Committee, which reviews requests and makes recommendations, consists of:

  • Hal Beals
  • Nancy Bolin
  • Mike Madden

Jeff Mushen serves as our financial advisor and Paul Meehan participates in our discussions as Club President.

Find the PowerPoint slide presentation here.

Program: David Bobanick, Executive Director, Harvest Against Hunger, “Building Healthy Food Systems Across our Community,” Dec. 14, 2023

David Bobanick, Executive Director of Harvest Against Hunger (HAH), has nearly three decades of experience in non-profit executive management.  Since David joined in 2001, the organization has significantly expanded its impact at the local, national and international levels, resulting in the delivery of nearly half a billion healthy servings of produce for those in need. 

David has led the creation and development of the national Harvest VISTA program, as well as innovative and award-winning programs focusing on shortening the connections from Farm to Community. In addition, David and the HAH team continue to build and scale nationally-recognized programs with partners like the Corporation for National and Community Service, AmeriCorps, USDA, WSDA, Washington State University, the University of Washington and other partners to enhance food systems in communities across the United States.

David has a degree in communications from Penn State University and has studied at the Non-Profit Executive Leadership Institute at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, as well as the Non-Profit Management Institute at Stanford University. David was also recently named a “Food Waste Innovator” by ReFED, and currently serves as a board officer for four local, statewide, and regional non-profit organizations.

Program: David Woodson, “Energy Renewal at University of Washington,” December 7, 2023

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring the University of Washington’s David Woodson.

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

David Woodson is the Executive Director of Campus Energy, Utilities & Operations at the University of Washington. David spent most of his career at the University of British Columbia where he had been responsible for the Energy and Water Services group prior to leaving to join the UW in November 2021. David’s primary role at the UW is to decarbonize the steam plant and recapitalize energy infrastructure.  David is a UW Alumni with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering and also has an MBA from the University of British Columbia.

University Sunrise Rotary Club Service Projects: Teen Feed

On December 28, 2023, University Sunrise Rotary club volunteers will prepare and serve dinner to about 70 needy young adults in the University area.  These young adults are going through a difficult time; they come for the food but also find Teen Feed staff who offer support and resources.  Volunteers should arrive at University Congregational Church at 5 pm to start meal preparation.  Meal service will begin around 7 and clean up by 8.  Volunteers have a chance to see the young people being helped as well as to chat with club members.  To participate in this project, contact David Mushen at David.mushen@gmail.com.

University Sunrise Rotary Club Service Projects: The Dictionary Project

On December 8, 2023, University Sunrise Rotary will deliver new dictionaries to approximately 24 third grade students at Sand Point Elementary.  These dictionaries are designed specifically for this age group and each dictionary may be the first book that the student has owned.  The delivery is accompanied by a brief description of how to use a dictionary.  Club volunteers help small groups of students follow the instructions for dictionary use.  The entire project takes about 1 hour or a little more. For more information and to sign up for this project, contact Ron Espiritu at sespiritu@aol.com.

Veteran’s Day Program: Jackie Jones-Hook, Executive Director, Buffalo Soldiers Museum, November 9, 2023

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring the Executive Director of the Buffalo Soldier’s Museum, Jackie Jones-Hook.

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.

A lifelong resident of Washington State, Jackie holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Central Washington University and a master’s in public administration from Evergreen State College in Olympia. She received her first government job, in high school working for the Honorable Governor Dan Evan and retired from Washington State Government.

 Department of Transportation where she worked in Management Information Systems. Her retirement life is filled with serving as the Executive Director of the museum. The Museum founder was William Jones who served as a Buffalo Soldier and POW. Jackie never saw her dad until she was 2 years old because he was a prisoner in Korea. Growing up, the daughter of a military parent, she gained her appreciation and respect for the military and those who serve this country both then and now. Her memories include her dad being assigned to Fort Lawton, Washington along with thousands of Black Soldiers.

The mission of the Museum is to Educate, Preserve and Present American Military History and the Buffalo Soldiers story from 1866 1944 which includes all branches of the armed forces. The museum’s primary focus is to be a community partner with public schools in the teaching requirement of history for the 5th, 8th and I grade students. The Buffalo Soldiers Museum is a cultural American History organization, located in Tacoma’s Tacoma with a project office in Seattle for the preservation of the historic 25th Infantry Band Building. The preservation project will educate, preserve, and present American military history, of the Black soldiers and tributes to military service men and women who sailed from Seattle during WWI and WWII. The project’s significant theme is service, bravery, honor, and valor. Through adversity and discrimination, these men won major battles for America during WWI and WWII. The museum presents the factual dates, times, and places of the history from the military records. The strategy is to display American Military history, Black heritage, and culture, providing educational programs, and building a partnership with Public Schools.

In her free time, she enjoys jazz music, cooking and entertaining. She is a grandmother of two and spending time with them is one of life’s highlights.