The Navy Band played festive, patriotic music to start the program and then President Beth walked up to the podium with “Danger Zone” from Top Gun playing, given today’s Seafair and Navy/Coast Guard theme as well! Beth reminded us that this week is the culmination of Seafair and features Fleet Week, the Blue Angels and the Hydro races and gave her appreciation for “those that serve in the military.”
The Navy Band led us in the National Anthem and Faith Ireland inspired us with water-themed remarks in honor of Seafair. She mentioned all the different bodies of water in our area (101 lakes, 44 rivers/creeks in King County) and everything that water provides: drinking water, ferries, maritime economy, cruise ships and tourism, etc. Seafair is her highlight of summer fun, so she encouraged us to be grateful for water.
President Beth welcomed all of our Seafair guests that are too numerous to list here but included: Seafair King Neptune Rich Gray, and leaders from US Coast Guard District 13, Navy Region Northwest, Submarine Group 9, Carrier Strike Group ONE, Canadian Fleet Pacific, and the Navy League. We also had visiting Rotarians from Minneapolis and Washington DC.
She then introduced Eric Conning, President/CEO of Seafair who recapped the back to in-person Seafair this summer and gave us a preview of what is on tap for this final weekend. He mentioned the 4th of July Fireworks over Lake Union, last weekend’s Torchlight Parade, and now what is taking place this weekend, which includes free tours of the fleet ships at Piers 69 and 90. He announced that the Blue Angels will be flying their new SuperHornets this weekend (louder, faster and 30 percent larger!). Other featured groups that will take part in the Seafair Air Show include: Air Force 535 Lightning II, Fat Albert BAC-130, Growler planes from Whidbey Island Air Station, Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, and Boeing’s KC-46A Pegasus Tanker and P8-A Poseidon. He concluded with, “I hope to see you out there.”
Past President Jimmy Collins then introduced our featured speaker RADM Melvin Bouboulis, Commander of US Coast Guard District 13 that is based here in Seattle,” to talk about the Coast Guard’s Role in Maritime Safety and Commerce in the Pacific Northwest.” He mentioned what an exciting time it is to be in the Coast Guard and showed a video on the Pacific Northwest Coast Guard activities and those that serve the people of the Puget Sound and the entire Northwest.
He presented some facts about the Coast Guard:
- They are the smallest of the armed forces with about 50,000 members
- Their presence stretches around the globe and from the Artic to Antarctica
- They have 259 ships/cutters, 1600 boats in their fleet
- District 13 that covers four states has about 300 active-duty men and women as well as volunteers: 3 air stations, 19 cutters and is home to the nation’s only icebreaker
RADM Bouboulis mentioned some of their activities in the Pacific Northwest:
- Operate a vessel tracking system to safely move vessels north/south of the border
- Work to ensure the safe passage of the nation’s largest passenger ferry system
- Seattle is the “gateway to the Arctic”
- Opening a new base in Astoria that will include two new fast response cutters
- Work closely with their Canadian partners
He closed with saying how excited he is about the Coast Guard and is looking forward “to its future in the Northwest” as they are expanding their Seattle footprint. They plan to have new “polar security cutters/icebreakers” in Seattle that are funded and being built now to increase the country’s presence in the Arctic. He concluded with a call to hire young people as new Coast Guard members.
Ken Grant facilitated a special Seafair Knighting of President Beth by King Neptune on stage! Rich Gray/King Neptune said, “it is an honor to knight people and there is no one more deserving than Beth Knox, a true friend of Seafair.” He encouraged/ordered Beth to “spread the joy of Seafair throughout the land!”
Thank you to meeting reporter Dann Mead Smith for this week's meeting report!