Rotary Club of Everett
MEETING:
President John opened our #5,401 meeting and 48th virtual meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance at 12:01 pm.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
Tom Koenig provided read eight quotes from President Abraham Lincoln for the Thought of the Day.
- “Books serve to show a man that those original thought of his aren’t very new after all.”
- “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
- “You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.”
- “It’s not me who can’t keep a secret. It’s the people I tell that can’t.”
- “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”
- “If I were two-face, would I be wearing this one?”
MUSIC:
Walt Greenwood is on the road so we will wait until next week.
VISTING ROTARIANS AND GUESTS:
No visiting Rotarians or guests.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Kari Petrasek announced Happy Hour will be this Thursday, June 10th at 5:30 pm She will send the Zoom Meeting link via email on Wednesday. Come join the virtual fellowship!
President John announced Rotary Park Clean up is Saturday, June 12th from 10 am – 12 pm. Please sign up in advance.
Abby Cooley gave an update of the College Essentials Shopping Spree which was Wednesday, June 2nd, at the Mill Creek Fred Meyer. Ten AVID Students received $500 shopping spree. Abby worked with Dell for laptops for the students who wanted a laptop. Each student was paired with a Rotary member. Thank you to everyone who helped!
HAPPY DOLLARS AND BIRTHDAY BUCKS:
Fred Safstrom was $108 happy for 67th birthday and 41st anniversary.
Neil Angst was $100 happy for his 61st birthday.
Rich Toyer had $100 happy and sad dollars as he was happy to be home in Everett and sad that he had to leave the beautiful weather in Mexico.
Don Steward was $100 happy for a 79th birthday.
RAFFLE:
We will wait until next week. Please purchase your raffle tickets online.
INTERACT CLUB:
Tammy Dunn introduced the Everett High Interact Club Officers, Molly Riker and Eduardo Heredia-Rome. Molly and Eduardo presented the Interact Club’s year end report. The students two main themes were perseverance and motivation. Due to COVID pandemic the students learned how to persevere and be motivated when school was remote and online.
The club’s motto was Service Over Self. They had meetings every week online. The students worked on six projects throughout the year.
The first project was the MLK Assembly. This assembly highlighted social injustices in our community. The Interact Club presentation was on the Poverty.
The second project was Seagulls Eat Local. This project focused on helping the small local businesses in Everett. They posted information about the restaurants on the club’s social media platforms. The students enjoyed promoting the restaurants as it gave a way to create awareness of the restaurants.
The third project was KIVA Loans. The students loaned money to others around the world. The opportunity to receive money from the KIVA Loans was important to the small businesses as this was a way for the owner of the business to “make a go” of their business.
Loans went to businesses in Africa and South America. They gave $1,275 in loans
The fourth project was Sammy’s Closet. This project helped the homeless student population. The club used the Amazon Store to collect items needed.
Unicef Trick or Treat was the fifth project. The students collected money in a unique way this year as they were promoting the project remotely. They raised $200.
Interacts of Kindness was their sixth project. This was a way to spread kindness throughout the community all school year. They used social media posts and handed out posters and gifts to individuals to promote the Interacts of Kindness.
PROGRAM: Development of AZT & other anti-HIV drugs
Sean Kelly provided the introduction of Greg Perkins. Greg Perkins spent 37 years in clinical work. He worked on the development of the AZT drug.
Greg Perkins gave a history of viruses including HIV virus and COVID-19. He stated bacteria is responsible for the plague. HIV and Polio are viruses and viruses are 90% respiratory infections.
In 1981, AIDS cases became known. In 1983 the AIDS disease was being transmitted sexually. There was 3,000+ cases and no vaccine developed for the disease.
Doctors worked on anti-viral drugs to have the FDA approve a drug. The AZT drug was an effective anti-viral drug.
Greg started interfacing with FDA to make sure that the drugs were safe and the drugs were doing what it was supposed to do. Normally drugs are developed in 3-4 years. With the COVID vaccine, it was developed in 18 months. This vaccine development was successful in a short period of time.
COVID-19 will not be the last virus the world will be faced with.
Greg took questions.
MEETING ADJOURNED:
After thanking our presenters, President John announced that next week’s program presenter with be Mayor Cassie Franklin.
Respectfully Submitted,
Tammy Dunn
Photography Submitted,
Tammy Dunn
NEXT PROGRAM:
Everett: Challenges in a Time of Covid, presented by Mayor Cassie Franklin