Seattle’s degree of growth and development is directly proportional to David Allen’s enthusiasm thereof. A scion of the McKinstray Family, he has done much to further the company’s fortunes.
Seattle leads the nation in growth and is at the convergence of an astounding array of top businesses, entertainment, education, shipping, aerospace, philanthropy, transportation, and a ferry system. He foresees the boom to extend into the ’20s and ’30s. It has encompassed WA, OR, and BC.

What engendered this state of things? He dates it to the era of Expo in the early ’60s. Leaders bearing the names, or affiliated with them, met with a vision. They included such as Weyerhaeuser, Nordstrom, Boeing, and the many others, all with an average age of 40.6. They laid the framework of clusters of industries, Indeed, several are spinoffs of original businesses. The work is still in progress.
68 cranes is the current count in the building sector. Each represents $10M to $15M. Overall sectors include Government, Civil, and Private.
Latter-day innovations are in Cyber Security, Virtual Reality, and Artificial Intelligence.  In every sense of the idiom, things are looking up.

Comment: Jobs abound. As has been averred, we must fill them with local manpower, else there will be dependence on outside talent. The pressing assignment is to keep the supply of local trainees current. Moreover, in this climate of prosperity, work needs to be done for benefit of the working poor,  those priced out of dwellings and—lest we forget—the homeless.

The two remaining Charter Members from 1984, John Reynolds and Jim Miller, wish Michael Gillespie well on his last scheduled Club meeting before he leaves.

Having kayaked the Mississippi from its origin to Memphis, David Ellingson, outdoorsman extraordinaire, was not satiated. This ultimately enabled him to narrate and colorfully illustrate his journey through the Erie Canal in NY and down the Hudson to New York Harbor. He got as close to the Statue of Liberty as the law allowed.

In this aquatic odyssey, he took us through locks, under bridges, and places of rest. We also, got a glimpse of the fauna and flora, as well as geologic formations, i.e., the Palisades, that passed in review before his eyes and camera.

The presence and numbers of River Angels, those hospitable and of help to him, was heartening. They gave of their time, substance, and shelter to strangers in transit. One feels that such kindness is in the majority, despite those that the media hold before us as otherwise.

Unspoken but communicated was the courage involved in this endeavor. There is rough water, the presence of fatigue, fog, and the debt that muscles must pay for the constant need to paddle a frail craft safely.

Comment: While the many may float a loan, it is the few that float alone.

Neil Strege is Vice-President of the Washington Round Table. This group of senior executives has focused on education reform. Their main objective is to fill the teeming job market with WA graduates. Otherwise, talent from outside shall have to be imported. And presently, the demand exceeds the supply. It is projected that 740,000 job openings will occur in the next five years.

He described three major career pathways, to wit:

1. Career. High skilled, high pay. Academic credentials needed.
2. Pathway. Blue collar. Skilled. Pathway to career jobs over five years
3. Entry level. Low skilled, low pay.

Today 31% of WA high school students go on to earn a post-secondary credential. The goal is 70% by 2030. That is, a credential by age 26.

Not good! WA is 47th in the nation in college-going high school graduates. The 70% goal, if achieved, will yield significant social benefits, i.e., reduction of unemployment and poverty. It will be necessary to improve the performance of the K-12 system, enhance the participation of WA State in post-secondary education, and help students develop better awareness of careers that will be available.

It is a fact that poor students start behind and finish behind. There have been identified 255 low performing K-12 schools; more than one-third of school districts have at least one. However, only 100,000 students attend them. The challenge extends beyond low performing schools:

• There is a correlation between poverty and race
• Other factors include homelessness and the various reasons for it.
• Steps to be taken:
  • Improve K-12 financing.
  • Enhance support and accountability
  • Increase access to educator talent
  • Close achievement gap early.

Comment: This is an important and far-reaching undertaking. The more successful  these efforts, the more everyone, statewide, will benefit.

Arnold Swanberg, Resident Historian, spoke characteristically without notes. On this occasion, his topic concerned the last year(s) of World War I.

1917 was the most decisive year, entailing such events as: The Russian Revolution and army collapse; The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, allowing the German army’s transfer to the western front; the battle-weariness of all combatants. Meanwhile the British under General Allenby had routed the Turks and marched into Jerusalem. This led to the British mandate over Palestine.

President Wilson, who had avoided US participation, had hoped to be the voice of mediation. For a while, German submarine warfare had been conducted in keeping with the rules of warfare. Then came the sinking of the Lusitania and the institution of unrestricted submarine warfare.

In addition, Germany had embarked on a Mexican strategy, hoping to entice Mexico to go to war with the US to gain back the territory it had lost in the southwest. This became known when the British deciphered a cablegram containing the Zimmerman Note which defined the plan. Moreover, Germany asked the Japanese to go to war with the US, the incentive being a Californian port. Overwhelmed by events, Wilson requested and got a declaration of war against Germany.

Events that soon followed: Our non-membership in the League of Nations, the temporary expedient of the income tax, and women’s suffrage.

Comment: It only took 20 years for global carnage to resume.