I’m delighted to present our new member Carolyn Ladd. Thanks to Linda Walton her seconder and John Bridge.  I knew when I met Carolyn that I wanted her to be a Rotarian. Her amazing career includes 20 years as an executive-level attorney for the Boeing Company. So, with my recruiter hat on, I asked her if she knew about Rotary. She said she had been to many Rotary meetings in Oregon when she was Miss Oregon. My recruiting got easier from there!

Carolyn Ladd has followed Rotary’s work in ending polio and fighting malaria. She went to Ghana, Africa for two weeks with Global Volunteers to give a break to a teacher who had malaria. She also worked in Tanzania on a Habitat for Humanity Project.

 

She got her law degree from the University of Oregon and a Master of Laws in Labor Law from Georgetown University Law School in D. C. Her work for Boeing has been primarily in employment law, drawing on her experience with the National Labor Relations Board while serving as Oregon’s Assistant Attorney General litigating workers compensation cases and with two employment law firms, Lane Powell and Jackson Lewis.

              

Excitingly, Carolyn Ladd may have a new career ahead of her. Her love of public service has drawn her to file for election to the King County Superior Court and she is busy campaigning throughout the 17 legislative districts in King County. She has enjoyed serving as a pro tem judge in Kitsap District and Seattle Municipal Court.  She attended the first-ever Judicial Academy for attorneys interested in the Judiciary at the University of Nevada National Judicial College. Carolyn Ladd’s goal is to bring her commitment to fairness and justice to the court.  She also believes the law should be used as a tool to help the underserved.

              

For my first 18 years in Rotary, I was a judge and a justice. I know that Carolyn will find Rotary to be a way to stay connected to the community and to have a positive spot right in the middle of the court week as I did. Rotary helped me to see many good people doing great things which was an antidote for the tragedy, discord, and problems that consume a judge’s life.  Carolyn, I hope you will find your time as rewarding as I have found my 32 years in Rotary.