Dr. Edward Taylor is vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs at the University of Washington where he oversees educational opportunities that deepen and enrich the undergraduate experience.
Dr. Taylor is a professor in the UW’s College of Education, which he joined in 1995. His research and teaching center on moral dimensions of education and integrative education, leadership in education and social justice, and he has written, taught and presented extensively on these topics.
Taylor earned his Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Washington. He earned a master’s degree in psychology and a bachelors’ degrees in sociology and in psychology at Gonzaga University. In 2014, Dr. Taylor received the Distinguished Graduate Award from the UW’s College of Education.
WINNERS FOR LIFE : Each year, Rotary Club of Seattle honors high school students who have shown exceptional character in overcoming significant obstacles to remain in school. Poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, domestic violence, teen pregnancy, language and learning disabilities are just some of the challenges these amazing kids have surmounted. These remarkable students are quietly building bright futures in difficult circumstances. They are our “WINNERS FOR LIFE.”
This Wednesday, March 30, volunteers from Seattle #4 will host our 38 WINNERS FOR LIFE at an 11am reception and at our regular Rotary luncheon. WINNERS receive a personalized plaque and our congratulations. It's one of the year's most inspiring and uplifting events - be there!
The takeaway from this week’s program might be that if you want to hear a good story, find yourself a good historian. Or better yet, a good museum.
Washington’s first museum, officially the Washington State Museum of Natural History and Culture but what everyone knows as “The Burke,” cares for 16 million biological, geological and cultural objects. Since these tell the story of the earth and its creatures, you might say that Dr. Julie Stein, the Burke’s Executive Director, has a million stories. She shared a few, and captivated the Rotarians.
Stein explained that the common name of the museum occurred because early Seattle Judge Thomas Burke and his wife, Caroline McGilvra Burke, were early collectors of Northwest Native art and bequeathed their estate to the Museum. Judge Burke, Stein reported, was also a cofounder of Seattle Rotary #4.
Looking for new answers in old things
The Burke is a place for exploration, Stein said. The museum’s samples are being used today for research unimaginable when much of the collection was assembled. “In biology today, all questions are really about DNA, and isotopes,” Stein said. “One day the Burke got a request from a biotech startup in Australia. They were interested in studying the genes that control the human immune system, especially the genes involved in Influenza A virus, which can cause death. They wanted to study and compare the evolutionary sequence of the DNA in 13 specific carnivores to learn which became immune to that virus and which did not. Of all the institutions in the world, only the Burke possessed every one.”
You never know what you might find
Dr. Stein also related a story of modern discovery – of a mammoth tusk uncovered by construction in South Lake Union in 2014. After about 20,000 years in Seattle, it was, understandably, soggy and limp. In fact, if it had been moved without expert help, it would have disintegrated.
Working at night to not disrupt construction activity, Burke scientists carefully unearthed the full tusk and eventually transported it to the museum, where they started a very slow process of drying and preserving the tusk. During removal, one of the 8,000 curious and thrilled Seattleites who came to watch gushed to Stein, “I never knew a mammoth lived under my apartment building!” Proving, I suppose, that while you never know what might have lived under your apartment building – the Burke might.
Instilling valuable skills
Turning to the Burke’s cultural treasures, Stein told how the Burke helped turn a great young athlete with little interest in school into a First-team Academic All-American – the University of Washington’s first in 23 years. Danny Shelton, a Pacific Islander who grew up in Auburn, embraced learning how his culture conveys knowledge outside of books. He dove deep into research that he now shares with others, both here and in Polynesia. Shelton earned a 3.54 GPA in anthropology and is now a starting defensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns, but he maintains his engagement with the Burke, with incoming students, and with his community.
Shelton had two other Husky teammates enter the NFL who also were classmates at the Burke: Hau'oli Kikaha and John Timu. Stein reported that all three say academic skills they learned at the Burke – to observe, compare, and find patterns in human behavior – are skills that helped elevate them to professional football and give them advantages over their competitors.
Coming Soon – The New Burke
Dr. Stein shared an exciting story from the future, as well. Washington’s oldest museum is going to become Washington’s newest. The Burke will begin construction of a new museum this year. The “New Burke” will be 64% larger, with double the public viewing capacity and many important new features to properly care for the collection and support new research. Dr. Stein invited Rotary 4 members to attend the groundbreaking on May 18 at 1 pm.
Life’s a garden. Dig it!
Rotarians also learned from Brody Hovatter how digging into dinosaurs helps teachers get students to dig science. Hovatter is Assistant Director of a program invented by Burke Museum/UW scientists called Discoveries in Geosciences (DIG for short) Field School. DIG takes K-12 teachers to Eastern Montana each summer to an area rich with dinosaur fossils. The teachers get to actually dig. They learn about geology and fossils, practice critical thinking and examining evidence, and go home with curriculum materials. So far, DIG has trained 110 teachers in 14 states. Hovatter wrapped up with what must be a paleontologist’s bumper sticker: “Life’s a garden. Dig it!”
This week’s program was organized by John Pohl, who introduced the speakers. President Sue Nixon announced Danner Graves' Memorial – see more info following this article. David Woodward and Trish Bostrom (Piano) led the club in America the Beautiful and Joel Paget delivered the invocation.
Join Fedva Dikmen on Wednesday, March 30 for another fabulous ethnic dinner night! Enjoy Turkish cuisine and good company at Bistro Turkuaz. Click HERE for more details.
The Rotary Club of LaConner and Seattle 4's Ollie Iversen will be bringing loads of beautiful tulips to our April 6 luncheon. A bouquet of 10 stems is only $5 -- you'll want a bunch!
The annual RBGC Maintenance Day will be held Saturday, April 23, 9-11:30am at the Rotary Boys & Girls Club (201 19th Avenue). This year there will be a special ceremony to install the first of the Peacebuilders Committee's "Peace Poles" at 10;30am. Following the chores, Patrick Carter's famous strawberry shortcake and lunch will be served. Contact David Levine (david.levine@ampf.com)to sign up.
The Seattle 4 Sustainability Committee, along with Student Conservation Association ( SCA), invites you to the 2016 Earth Day work party at the Washington Park Arboretum on Saturday, April 23, 2016, from 9 am to 2 pm.
This has been an exceptional event for Rotarians, family members, friends and High School students needing volunteer hour credits. It is a great way to give back to our community and the Arboretum will be at its spring-bursting best. Sign up on the link below and be sure to note Seattle Rotary as your affiliation. See you there!
On March 23, 2016, the Bylaws of the Seattle Rotary Service Foundation (“Bylaws”) were amended by the SRSF Board of Trustees (“Trustees”).
Examples of material changes to the Bylaws are:
1. The minimum number of Trustees is increased to 9, and the maximum number of Trustees is increased to 15;
2. A Trustee can be removed with a 2/3 vote of the Trustees (not a majority as before); and
3. Clarification of an Immediate Past President officer position who serves for one year with voting rights once his/her term as President of the Seattle Rotary Service Foundation is complete.
The amended Bylaws provide that Seattle 4 Rotary members may rescind such action taken by the Trustees regarding the Bylaws by a majority vote of the members present at a special meeting of the Rotary Club of Seattle. If written notice for a special meeting as described in the amended Bylaws, is not sent within sixty (60) days after March 23, 2016, the amended Bylaws shall be immediately effective without further action.
If you would like a copy of the amended Bylaws, please contact Sam Thompson at the Rotary Club of Seattle at sam@seattlerotary.org or 206-623-0023. Thank you.
Wider World of Rotary
Brought to you by the Rotary Relations Committee
Committee Chair: Trent Mummery
Club Secretary: Lisa Mayfield
Harmony in Coeur d' Alene - 2015-16 District Conference
A Family Friendly Event!
About the conference:
The district conference is the ultimate showcase for the programs and projects under way at the 50 Rotary clubs in our District. It is also a terrific opportunity for Rotary fellowship. Join us April 29 - May 1, 2016 for inspirational speakers, program and project updates and terrific social activities.
NEW "Kids Camp" at the Conference
What? Will there be drop-off child care at the Kids Camp? Yes, there is drop-off care at the Kids Camp provided by Family Biz Kids during designated hours for ages 5-14 on Sat. and Sun. at the Coeur d’Alene Resort during the conference.
There will also be some activities for children of any age with an adult chaperone:
• kite building
• service project with school backpack assembly for Syrian refugees
• a kids corner
• a movie night
• hear from Youth Exchange high schoolers
• a kids menu, games, prizes, and more.
If you’ve been reluctant to bring your children or grandchildren or other future Rotarians to the district conference, hesitate no more! Questions about Kids Camp: contact Jean Thompson at seidlerthompson@aol.com.
The following Seattle 4 Rotarians have already registered: Cathy Burnell, Daryl Campbell, Corinne Cavanaugh, Ken Colling, Steve Crandall, Sten Crissey, Jann Curley, Clark Daffern, Mark Davis, Ralph & Lynn Davis, Cathy Gibson, Roberta Greer, Carolyn Hojaboom, Paul Ishii, Mariah Kimpton, Sandra Kemp, Ben Linford, Lisa Mayfield, Barry McConnell, Carma McKay, Virginia McKenzie, Tom Mesaros, Jim Moore, Trent & Alexandra Mummery, Craig Nelson, Derick Pasternak, Harvey Rubinstein, Mason Sizemore, Jean Thompson, and Kathy Williams. See you there!
The Rotary “Four-Way Test” is a standard
expected of all Rotarians:
1. Is it the Truth?
2. Is it Fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
4. Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
Winners for Life
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