University Heights Center hoping to collect warm winter clothing for the University neighborhood on December 18, 2020.

2020-2023 COUNCIL CYCLE Dear Rotarians: With the conclusion of the 2020 Council on Resolutions (COR), I am pleased to provide you with the Report of Action.  In this report, you will find: -A letter from Council Services -Resolutions and the enactment that were adopted -Vote tallies for the adopted items -Opposition to legislation report form Voting results for all 2020 resolutions and the enactment can be found on My Rotary.  Please note that the deadline for submitting resolutions to the 2021 COR is 30 June 2021. A link to the submission form, plus helpful resources, can be found on the Councils page of My Rotary. If you have any questions about the report or the COR, please let us know. Best regards, Sarah Christensen Supervisor | Council Services

ONE ROTARY CENTER 1560 SHERMAN AVENUE EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 60201-3698 USA ROTARY.ORG

By Nancy Bittner

The Club’s program on November 19, 2020 featured our two newest members.

Wilson (Doc) Reed – Doc was born in Vicksburg, MS into a family of farmers & grew up in the small town of Redwood which became the home of International Paper Company after buying up many of the small farms in the area.  Doc lived his early life during the Jim Crow era of the South that was regulated by 22 laws regarding race relationships.  Because of this strife nearly 6 million Americans fled the south & migrated to the north & midwest.  He attended racially segregated schools.  Doc’s mother died at age 36 from cancer & his family pretty much fell apart.  In 1969 he boarded a bus & traveled 2600 miles, arriving in Seattle to live with his father’s family.  He attended the UW & earned four degrees.  He taught at Seattle U. for 17 years before retiring.  He is currently writing a book on poverty to Ph.D., lives in Shoreline, & is a single Dad to a 21 year old son.

Steve Gerritson – Steve was born in a small town on the coast of Maine.  His parents moved a lot as his Dad was a salesman, selling chemicals to dry cleaning businesses.

He went to high school in Boston, MA & went on to college, completing only one year before his father died.  He played minor league baseball for two seasons before joining the U.S. Air Force.  He graduated U. MA & received a masters from Princeton.  He worked for the Foreign Service in Africa & also worked for the MA state legislature.  Steve moved to Seattle in 1994 when his then wife was accepted to do post-doctoral work at the UW.  He was employed by PAC-RIM Enterprise Center that sold products to the government.  In 2004 he was part of Clean Tech Alliance & was part of the committee that hired Tom Ranken as its Executive Director.  Steve retired in 2015 & was looking around for some environmental cause to become involved in.  He found that most opportunities wanted him to “oppose something.”  Tom Ranken convinced him that he should try something positive like Rotary.  In his spare time, Steve has written & published two mystery novels & is working on his third book.

By Nancy Bittner

Dr. Michael Berry, lecturer in the Department of Music at the University of Washington, teaches courses in hip hop, rock & roll, and music theory.  He plays the double bass in the Federal Way Symphony & Tacoma Symphony Orchestra.  He previously taught at Texas Tech.  He earned a Ph.D. in music theory from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and a master’s degree in music theory and a Bachelor of Music in double bass performance from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. He enjoys cycling, running, & cooking with his family & friends.  Michael presented a program entitled “Rap Music and the Law” on November 12, 2020. He focused on a trial, in which he was called as an expert when a young RAP artist was on trial for felony charges.

Rap music has been the bestselling music genre over the last 10 years and rap lyrics have been used as evidence against mostly young black men in criminal trials.

With the makeup of our club membership, it is fair to say that not many of us are knowledgeable about the ins and outs of rap music.  A couple of our members in the younger age group may feel differently.  A frequently asked question is “Where should one start if we were to check out rap music?”  Michael gave us a list of artists & songs that you can find below.

The lawyers in the club were interested to know if Michael’s testimony had a positive effect on the trial he was called to participate in.  Sadly, the defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to a lengthy prison term.

Check out Michael’s power point presentation & musical suggestions on our club website.  Enjoy!

Michael Berry, University of Washington: Rap Music and the Law Presentation (Slides):  Download

15 Rap Songs You Should Know, Michael Berry, University of Washington

As with any list like this, “importance” is relative. Some songs are important to rap’s history; others are representative of other trends; some are here because of personal preference. I tried to provide a wide cross-section with a little something for everyone.

1. Sugarhill Gang, “Rapper’s Delight” (1979). (YouTube and lyrics). This was the first significant rap record that brought rap to the airwaves.
2. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, “The Message” (1982). (YouTube and lyrics) This was the first socially conscious rap that rose to popularity, calling attention to the conditions in the South Bronx and similar areas.
3. Run D.M.C., “Walk This Way” (1986). (YouTube and lyrics). An important early rock-rap crossover that had lots of airplay on MTV, the song helped rap cross over to a white audience.
4. Public Enemy, “Bring the Noise” (1987). (YouTube and lyrics). One of the most outspoken political rap groups from the 1980s, with strong roots in the Black Power movement.
5. Eric B. and Rakim, “Follow the Leader” (1988). (YouTube and lyrics). No one rhymes like Rakim. One of my favorite songs.
6. Queen Latifah, “Ladies First” (1989). (YouTube and lyrics). The first lady of rap extols the virtues of women in a field dominated by men.
7. Ice-T, “Midnight.” (1991). (YouTube and lyrics). Ice-T is the godfather of gangsta rap, and his storytelling ability convinced me that there was something to be studied in this music.
8. Cypress Hill, “Insane in the Membrane,” (1993). (YouTube and lyrics). One of the first important Latino rap groups, and one of the first to vocally advocate for the legalization of marijuana. B Real’s voice is among the most unique in rap.
9. Notorious B.I.G., “Things Done Changed,” (1994). (YouTube and lyrics). Biggie was the kind of East-Coast rap during the height of the “East-Coast/West-Coast” feud. His lyricism is effortless and evocative. There should absolutely be a Tupac song on this list (check out “Changes” or “Dear Mama”) but I like Biggie better.
10. Outkast, “B.O.B” (2000). (YouTube and lyrics). From one of the rap groups that put the south (the “third coast”) on the map. This song goes—nothing else sounded like it at the time.
11. Eminem, “White America,” (2002). (YouTube and lyrics). One of the few white rappers respected by the hip hop community. This song is an indictment of the hypocrisy of rap audiences.
12. Missy Elliott, “Work It,” (2002). (YouTube and lyrics). No one has ever sounded like Missy Elliott, and it’s likely no one ever will. Her music is always unique and ahead of its time—she’s on the cover of my book for a reason.
13. Kanye West, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, and Nicki Minaj, “Monster,” (2010). (Vimeo and lyrics) For all of his eccentricities, West is a legendary producer and is able to get top-shelf artists together on tracks like this. Minaj’s verse is probably one of the best of the 2010s.
14. Migos, “Versace,” (2013). (YouTube and lyrics). I couldn’t stand this group when I first heard them, but when I came to realize that they were simply playing around with the sounds of words—just like every artist before them—they grew on me. They are among the most high-profile “trap” artists, music that emerged from Atlanta’s drug scene.
15. Rapsody, “Nina,” (2019). (YouTube and lyrics). Rapsody is one of the most gifted rappers working today. Her album Eve pays homage to the contributions of Black women to our culture.

By Nancy Bittner

David Arndt, DDS  – David was born in Gaylord, MI, which is a town of gas stations & restaurants on I-75 in northern Michigan.  He got his undergrad degree at Michigan State University and then attended dental school at the University of Michigan.  He joined the Army and did a dental residency, spending a year in Korea and five years at Ft. Lewis (now JBLM) in Tacoma.  He met his wife there.  She is a dental hygienist.  They continue to work together today in a solo practice located on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle.  They have 2 daughters & 1 son.  His oldest daughter is a nurse in Utah, second daughter attends WSU, & his son goes to O’Dea HS.  David has coached sports & has been involved in Boy Scouts.  He enjoys the outdoors & likes to ski, hunt, & fish.  He lives next door to current USRC President Tom Ranken & has for 20+ years.

Dan Byrne – Dan grew up in Syracuse, NY in a family of 9 kids.  Following high school he tried college but dropped out & spent some time being a car mechanic.  At age 25 he returned to college at Tufts University in Boston & got a graduate degree from Stanford.  A sales job with Boeing brought him to Seattle.  He owned his own company from 1984 – 2006 before selling it to Airgas.  He’s a refrigeration engineer & is currently a student in an AMP (Masters) program at UW studying nanotechnology.  He also manages commercial real estate properties in the Sodo neighborhood.  Dan has served on many boards in the area.  His hobbies include bike riding (he has ridden across Mongolia), woodworking, & playing golf.  He is the father of three boys, the oldest currently lives in London.  He loves coffee & has been a friend & worked with USRC President Tom Ranken for 20-25 years.

Lincoln Ferris – Before joining USRC, Lincoln was a member of West Seattle Rotary Club from 1991-2003.  He was born in Minnesota & relocated to Seattle at age 15 when his parents divorced & his Mother moved West with 5 kids to get an education & find a job.  He returned to the Midwest to attend McAllister College & University of Wisconsin – Madison.  He has been married for 40 years, has twin boys, & 4 grandkids.  He is a serial entrepreneur having owned 5 businesses.  He has been involved with the YMCA, BSA, Municipal League, King County Council, Seattle Chamber of Commerce, & a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.  In 2013 he became involved in creative finance projects for Seattle Community Colleges & continues to work in major capital projects & administrative services.  Lincoln has known USRC President Tom Ranken for 30 + years.

Walker LaFleur  –  Walter is an RN & manages NW Kidney Center branches in Northgate & Everett.  He was born in Haiti to a family of 6 children.  His Dad moved to Florida & Walter immigrated when he was 9 years old.  He graduated high school in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  His Dad decided to move the family to Lancaster, PA.  There Walker worked in warehouse jobs.  Not liking PA, he moved back to the west coast of FL.  He became a licensed insurance sales agent which he did until the market crashed in 2008.  By this time he had a wife & twins (1 boy, 1 girl) & needed to find a way to support his family.  He became a dialysis technician & at the urging of his wife, who is a nurse, enrolled at Hodges University in Ft. Myers, FL & obtained his nursing degree.  He also opened an urgent mobile phlebotomy service with 3 employees.  Walter also enjoys being a consultant & healthcare coach.  He enjoys running, hiking, & all outdoor activities.  Walker learned of USRC through our cherished member Dr. Hal Ellner who is a patient at NW Kidney Centers.

Isaac McNally – Isaac was born in UT but moved to Montana at the age of 10.  He has an older brother & a younger sister.  He loves to hunt, fish, camp, & anything having to do with the outdoors.  When he was 12 yrs. old his Mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer.  His Mom was an active volunteer in church, school, & library activities.  Isaac claims to have been a Mama’s boy but he admired her strength & her relationship with Jesus & her faith to deal with her illness.  Sadly Isaac’s Mother passed away when he was 16 & a junior in high school.  He attended MSU-Billings for a time but dealt with issues of deep depression & anxiety.  Following his Mother’s example he turned to his faith to draw him out of this dark phase of his life.  He obtained a degree from Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock, TX.  It was here that he met his wife Heather as her brother was a preacher there.  All of Heather’s family are big TX Tech Red Raider fans!.  Isaac spent 6 months doing mission work in Nicaragua & worked for Sojourn Campus Ministries in Commerce, TX.  Isaac moved to Seattle about 2 years ago with the same organization.  Due to Covid restrictions & no students on campus, Isaac is now focused on in home worship & church planting.  Although he is a country boy at heart he does enjoy the diversity offered by living in a big city.  Isaac was a member of a Rotary club in Commerce, TX & came to us via Dr. Hal Ellner.

Stuart Webber – Stuart is a former member of USRC & is rejoining us after having retired from his teaching career.  Originally from Marin County, CA he got an undergraduate degree from the school of business at UC-Berkely.  He has a PhD. in economics for a university in Denmark.  He spent 20 years working for HP.  His first boss at HP later became his wife.  They have two kids.  His son, a Tufts U. grad, is in the Peace Corp in the Republic of Georgia & his daughter likes animals more than people & is engaged to be married.  Stuart has taught business classes at UW Bothell, St. Martin’s College, & Trinity Lutheran College.  He is learning French & is a dedicated Dead Head since he was in the 6th grade.

Welcome new members!

Courtesy of Steve Gerritson

From University Club Past President David Spicer:

I am reaching out to you because I serve on a Task Force created by our DG Cathy Gibson re Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Our Task Force has been working hard to create an opportunity around education and action on matters of racial justice.

Towards that end we are organizing a symposium entitled “Race Matters to Rotary.”  This will be a Zoom gathering on Saturday, November 21, from 9-12. Please see the Save the Date below as well as more information about the informative sessions. We will have speakers and breakout meetings with the goal being to both inform and provide practical action steps where Rotary Clubs can promote racial justice by diversifying club membership, working with organizations on racial justice, supporting minority owned businesses in their community, etc. See more info below.

Yours in Rotary,

Dave Spicer

Immediate Past President of University District Rotary

***************************************

Rotary District 5030 will be hosting a symposium entitled “Race Matters to Rotary” on Saturday, November 21, from 9-12 noon. See more info below.

There will be keynote speakers plus breakout sessions for Rotarians to discuss such issues as:

(1) Diversifying club membership in developing a more inclusive club;

(2) Resources for establishing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within Rotary Clubs;

(3) Public safety solutions working with police and community engagement;

(4) Building education and economic opportunities; 

(5) Developing plans and initiatives for clubs to take action in support of racial justice; and

(6) Partnering with other organizations to promote racial justice

More information to follow in the RD 5030 Newsletter. If any questions, please contact Cathy Gibson or Dave Spicer.

Under the leadership of David Mushen and Ed Bronsdon, the club has purchased and delivered headsets for school kids.

There has been a real need for noise-cancelling headsets to help students maintain concentration during online school programs. We worked with the Mercy Housing and Solid Ground facilities at Sand Point to make these available to the kids that need them.

Of course, one might note that, in the dead of winter, Dave Mushen is wearing shorts.

Fortunately, there is no IQ test to be a Rotarian.