The Rotary Club of Kirkland held a meeting on May 2, 2022 at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel.
President Dave DeBois rang the bell at 6:15 p.m., calling the club meeting to order.
Alice Volpe led the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attending were George Anderson*, Bob Auslander, Scott Becker*, Rich Bergdahl, Gary Cohn, Terry Cole, David DeBois, Margie Glenn, Brandon Honcoop, Alan Hoviland, Michael Hunter, Isabelle Kalisa, Jim Meniketti, Kristin Olson, Rick Ostrander, Joanne Primavera, John Storbeck, Alice Volpe, Rick Walter. *Attended the meeting online.
Guests:
Guests this evening were the Isabelle Kalisa and her colleagues from Hero House NW in Seattle, Everett, and Factoria/Bellevue: Kim Rettig, club member Factoria/Bellevue, former architect, currently Home Depot installer technician; Bernadette Jacobs, Hero House NW staff technical specialist; and Sarah Conlon, Hero House NW employment specialist. Guest Rotarians attending this evening were John Woodbery of the Rotary Club of South Everett-Mukilteo, and Jocelyn Ellison* of the Rotary Club of Virginia Beach. Prospective members Rashmi Garimello and Doug Evanson attended tonight.
Greeter:
Our greeter this evening was Margie Glenn, and treasurer Jim Meniketti staffed the front desk to greet attendees and collect dinner fees.
Announcements & Club Business:
Dave DeBois reminded Rotarians there would not be a meeting at the Courtyard by Marriott on May 16; club members and guests would meet at Electric Boats on Lake Washington. Please sign up on ClubRunner.
Dave announced that next Monday, May 9, at 5:00 p.m. new Head Duck Gary will hold a meeting of duck Dash Committee members for 2022. This organizing meeting will be at the Courtyard by Marriott before the weekly meeting. Some refreshments will be provided.
Gary reminded members that July 25 is the date of the Duck Branding Party, and Rotarians should meet at Lee Johnson Chevrolet instead of meeting at the Courtyard.
Gary also reminded Rotarians that Sunday, July 31, is the date of the 2022 Great Puget Sound Duck Dash.
Program:
Our guest speaker Isabelle Kalisa and guests was Introduced by President Dave. Her topic was Hero House NW Mental Illness Alternative for Employment. She emphasized that Hero House’s mission is to provide a safe environment to promote structure, support for folks suffering from mental illness who need support, assistant.
Hero House is a building with support staff that provides a safe environment where people who need support coping with mental challenges can perform meaningful work. Meaningful work helps people prepare to re-enter the workplace, if they so desire.
Individuals who need Hero House support are called Members. Attendance is voluntary. Jobs at Hero House require Members to sign up, to perform the task and to interact with others who are present. Members can volunteer for any job at Hero House that they would like to learn or perform.
Hero House provides support before, during and after employment outside the Club House, also. If there is a vacation, relapse or other reason, Hero House staff will cover a club member’s job if the member cannot perform their duties. The staff does not collect a pay check. Only the member who was hired for the job gets paid, while they are actually working.
Referrals to Hero House come from psychiatric facilities, doctors, attorneys and via word-of-mouth recommendation from others who know or have been to Hero House.
Rotarians asked numerous questions of Isabelle and her colleagues. In closing remarks, Isabelle emphasized that Hero House is successful because of the safe, supportive environment that allows people to return to work, if desired, or to have a safe fun place to spend the day while getting a job completed.
Joker Pool:
There was not a Joker Pool this evening.
Adjournment:
President Dave rang the bell at 7:15 p.m. to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully Submitted
Margie Glenn, Secretary