March Social

Posted on Mar. 15, 2025

Guess Who is Coming to Dinner?

Our March social event was lots of fun, as you can see from the photos posted in the albums section. Some members hosted a dinner at their home, not knowing which members would be their dinner guests. The guests were only told what to bring and where to go, not knowing who the other guests would be.

Thank you to the Harmans, Huleatts, Kmets, and Deisher-Allens for hosting. Here are photos from each of the hosted locations:

Harmans'

Deisher-Allens'

Huleatts'

Kmets'

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March 13 Program

Posted on Mar. 13, 2025

City of Arlington Update

Paul Ellis, City Administrator

Paul was our club's program on March 13. He just got back from a trip with the Mayor and other city officials to Washington D.C. to lobby for some projects that would benefit the City. Funding is sought for three utility projects: A new well, water plant expansion, and new water reservoir. All are needed for population growth in the City.

There are a few bills pending in the State Legislature that the city is watching and which could impact the city:

State wants to remove parking requirements for housing, this is fine in large urban areas, but in smaller towns this does not do well.
State wants to get rid of voting for county sheriffs and have them appointed.
State wants to get rid of part time commissioned officers, these are officers that do not carry guns only tasers that help with parking and animal violations. They carry tasers to protect themselves if they get physically assaulted. This would cost the city more money in hiring full time officers to do the job.

Paul showed a couple of charts. Here is a chart outlining budget items. The City of Arlington is not struggling like some of the nearby municipalities because of the diversity of income that it has. The police department is fulling staffed!

Below are the highlights of the City's comprehensive plan. You see the Jensen park restrooms in the park projects connected with the plans to upgrade the park with our pump track project, also under parks.

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Register for the Magic of Rotary

Posted by Celia Black

Unlock the Magic of Rotary at the District 5050 Annual Conference! ✨🎩

By Celia Black, District PI Director

Imagine stepping into a world where service transforms lives, friendships spark new opportunities, and leadership turns visions into reality. Now, picture this world coming to life over one extraordinary weekend—May 2-4, 2025, at the Tulalip Casino in Tulalip, WA—where the Rotary District 5050 Annual Conference, themed “Abracadabra: Behind the Magic of Rotary,” will reveal the unseen wonders that make Rotary so powerful.For Rotarians across Washington State and British Columbia, this conference is more than just an event—it’s a celebration of service, fellowship, and the magic we create together. But what truly makes it special? You.

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March 6 Program

Posted on Mar. 06, 2025

Matthew Fairfax

Matthew is co-founder of Justice and Soul, a foundation that helps to end human trafficking and put purpose back in the lives of those who have been trafficked. To see the slides of his presentation, click HERE

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Recognitions!

Posted on Mar. 06, 2025

New Member Stacy Morse from Banner Bank

Proposed by Carla. Cindy will be her Mentor

Scott and Harold Earn Blue Badges

Congratulations!

Karla Marsh--Tiny Tots Update

Kids Kloset Expansion Project

Funded by a generous Rotary grant in 2024.
Expanded services to support families from pregnancy to senior year.
Ribbon cutting event on September 3, 2024, attended by community members.

Service Impact

Served over 1,022 families and 1,575 children in 5.5 months.
30% of guests are single-parent homes; 11% face homelessness.
55% earn less than $40,000 annually; 26% earn between $40,000 and $60,000.

Community Support and Partnerships

Collaborated with Marysville Plumbing for water connection, enabling laundry services.
Continued support during holidays for families in need, including those in domestic violence shelters.
Partnered with Babies of Homelessness for diaper supply, receiving over $20,000 worth monthly.

Future Plans

Open every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 AM to noon and 3 PM to 6 PM.
Upcoming partnerships with local organizations for increased donations.
Volunteer pursuing car seat safety certification to provide car seats to families in need.

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Duck Dash 2025 Sponsorship Drive Kickoff

Posted on Feb. 27, 2025

At our meeting this week, Duck Dash Chair Dave Kraski announced the kickoff of the 2025 Duck Dash by introducing the sponsorship chair, Jola Barnett. Jola started her presentation by playing a video made in 2021. To see the video, click on the photo above.

The goal this year is to raise $160,000 in sponsorships, half of which will go directly to scholarships for graduating seniors from Arlington, Weston, Darrington, and Lakewood High Schools. Jola challenged all members to convince past sponsors to give a little more and reach out to new sponsors.

If you would like to sponsor the event, you can complete the sponsorship form, which you can access by clicking HERE. Fill in all the information on the form and deliver or email the completed form to Jola.

Please return the form on or before April 3 to ensure your name appears on the shirts and tickets. If you have any questions, please contact Jola. There will be prizes, such as the Rotarian soliciting the most new sponsors.

To send Jola an email, click HERE

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Miss Vicky $25,000 Challenge

On Friday, May 2, the District Conference will be all about PolioPlus. The after-dinner speaker will be Ramesh Ferris, a polio survivor from the Yukon Territory of Canada. Unlike Lee and Winston, who used motorized vehicles to raise funds and awareness of PolioPlus, Ramesh hand-pedaled a bike across Canada. We will be recognizing all of the Rotarians in our District who have joined the District's PolioPlus Society by pledging a minimum of $100 a year to the effort until polio has been eradicated. If you join the Society today, it will help unlock the $25,000 in matching funds pledged.

To learn more about the District 5050 PolioPlus Society, click HERE

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February 20 Program

County Council Report

Nate Nehring

Our speaker at our February 20 meeting was Snohomish County Council Member Nate Nehring, who represents District 1. The District includes Arlington, Marysville, Stanwood and other areas in North Snohomish County.

Nate gave us a broad view of the Council's issues and some funding benefiting the Arlington Area.

Of interest to our club is the $100,000 earmarked for the bicycle pump track and $50,000 for restrooms at Jensen Park. Nat's presentation was recorded and can be viewed on our club's YouTube Channel by clicking HERE

Nate noted that this is his first Rotary Club presentation where he could by Girl Scout Cookies:

Mel's Daughter Willow Makes a Sale to Nate!

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Wine, Chocolate & Charcuterie Fireside

Posted on Feb. 15, 2025

Wine, Chocolate & Charcuterie Fireside

Hosted by Kathleen and Rick Olson

In the last few years, the Olsons have hosted a social for members and guests near Valentine's Day, featuring wine and chocolate. The event this year was attended by about 20 members and guests, including the president-elect and the president-nominee of the Marysville Sunrise Rotary, Robyn and Gordon Sparks.

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Visioning

Posted on Feb. 13, 2025

Where is the Club Headed?

The District's Visioning Team helped us develop our strategic plan at a special meeting held at the Arlington Airport board room. The team consisted of all past District Governors: Rob Thomsen, Rob Martin, Linda Murray, and David Lukov.

It all started with an exercise in which participants, acting individually, listed ideas divided into the four areas of the Rotary Action Plan: Impact, Reach, Engage, and Adapt. The team then shared those ideas around the room and put them on poster paper hung on the walls. When all the ideas were gathered, participants were given colored dots to go around the room to express the ideas each felt had the most merit. Those receiving the most dots in each category were then identified for a second round of dots.

The results will be shared soon with the entire club, and committees will be asked to develop steps to achieve the desired results.

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IT'S TIME TO RODEO!

Rodeo Lounge-Smokey Point (2437-172nd St NE)

As announced by President Mel, the Board has decided to try something different to engage some less active members. There will be an evening meeting instead of a luncheon meeting on the last Thursday of the month. The first evening meeting is on March 27th at 5:30 at the Rodeo Lounge in Smokey Point. The goal is to have the evening meeting on the last Thursday of the month in the future, and since that is also the week we are supposed to have classification talks, Mel thought it would work nicely to have it on those Thursdays. A meal will be provided. If people want extra drinks, those will be at their own cost.

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Pump Track Progress

Snohomish County Contributes Funds

County Councilman Nate Nehring Presents $100,000 Check to City Council

Our club has taken on the project of raising funds and in-kind contributions to build a bicycle pump track at Jensen Park. We have committed $100,000 of funds from the Great Stilly Duck Dash. Our immediate past president and City of Arlington Public Works Director, Jim Kelly, provided this breakdown of the funding for the project:

*Design & Permitting*
Design (American Ramp Co.)	$ 35,000
Survey	$ 5,000
Cultural Resources	$ 5,000
Geotech	$ 7,500
Permitting	$ 5,000
Contingency/Mics	$ 2,500
TOTAL	$ 60,000

*Construction Funding (Target: $400,000)*
County Grant	$100,000
Rotary	$ 90,000
Design Carry-Forward	$ ????
Stilly Tribe	$ ????
City of Arlington	$ ????
Amazon	$ ????
Coca Cola	$ ????

TOTAL	$ 190,000

Jim indicated at our meeting that Bucky Tart has agreed to contribute his services as a Geotech and that Metron has agreed to contribute surveying services. Other funding sources, including the Stillaguamish Tribe, are being pursued.

Welcome to our Club!

Service Above Self Since 1970

We meet In Person

Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.

Arlington Boys and Girls Club

18513 59th Ave NE
(Hadley Community Room)
Arlington, WA 98223
United States of America

District Site

Venue Map

https://www.facebook.com/facebook

President

Mel Simpson

President Elect

Bob Campbell

Vice President/President Nominee

Dave Kraski

Secretary

Simona DeVries

Treasurer

Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam

Past President

Jim Kelly

Foundation Director

Joan Tilton

Membership Director

Kevin Raymond

Public Relations Director

Tanner Olson

Club Administration Director

Jennifer Holocker

Director Youth Services

DJ Lockwood

Community Funding Director

Cindy Huleatt

Service Projects Director

Chad Hilker

Youth Exchange Officer

Program Chair

Sergeant-at-Arms

Duck Dash Chair

Service Projects Associate Director

Gina Hilker

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