Duck Dash Week!

Duck Call Assembly & the Dash

In lieu of a program at the July 2 meeting, duck calls were assembled, and plans were announced for the July 4 event.  There were lots of other things that needed to get done during the week, including, but not limited to, getting the boom and boat ready, preparing the wagon and the Rotary wheel trailer for the parade, scanning ducks, turning in tickets and accounting, and, of course, selling tickets, including the infamous pub crawl.

This was our best ticket-selling year ever!  Once the statistics are compiled, we will provide a breakdown by team and salute the $1500 club.  Total ticket sales: $117,695. Combined with $156,500 in sponsorships, gross revenue is $274,195.  Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Arlington, for a job well done!

Classification Talk

Chelsea Saunders

One of our newest members, Chelsea Saunders, shared her background and family as our program on June 25.  Chelsea is the current Unit Director of the Arlington Boys and Girls Club. She lives in Lake Stevens.

Daughters and Kids Kloset Auction

You would have thought it was “Bring Your Daughter to Rotary Day” on July 25. On the left is Jennifer and her daughter Jordan.  On the right, Mel with her daughter Willow.  Not to be outdone, John had his LSU champion weightlifting daughter, Laura, who is currently home and who is organizing the Kids Kloset 4th of July Auction:

Lance Otto

Lance shared his life journey, starting from his birth in Arlington, Washington, in 1978, to his current success in real estate. He recounted his various jobs, including landscaping and electrician work, before finding his passion in real estate. Lance highlighted his achievements, such as becoming the number three agent in his office by 2009 and later joining Keller Williams Realty. He discussed his investments in rental properties, which now total 25 units, and his commitment to family, including annual tropical vacations and coaching his sons' baseball team. Lance emphasized the importance of a positive attitude and continuous learning.

Fifteen Scholarships Awarded

In lieu of our regular luncheon meeting at the Boys and Girls Club, our meeting on June 4 was held at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center to recognize recipients of the $5,000 scholarships given to graduating seniors from Arlington and Darrington.  Only AHS graduating seniors attended our luncheon.  Darrington's graduation was on June 6.  

The 8 AHS graduating seniors who attended the lunch were introduced by a member of the scholarship selection committee, Ursula Spidell.  Other members of the committee included its chair, Carla Rankin, Rotarian Harold McClure, and community members JoAnn Mulligan, Paige Olson, and Claire Gastineau.

From left to right: Aubrey Robers, Grace Armes, Sophie Jean-Lewis, Kara Glassman, Camden Knudson, Noah Chimacosa, Lukas Nations, and Justin Rhinehardt. For individual photos of those attending the recognition lunch, click HERE

Here is a complete list of scholarship recipients and the school they will be attending:

Club Awards at Installation Event

Paul Harris Recognitions were given to Diane Kreig and Kay Duskin for their service to the community.

Diane Kreig with Presenters Lance Coupaud and President Bob

Kay Duskin via Zoom, as she is at a skilled nursing facility recovering from side effects of chemotherapy.

Eva Reynolds is Outbound Exchange Student

She's going to Germany--Rotary District 1850

At our evening meeting on May 21, Kevin Raymond introduced Eva Reynolds, a sophomore at Arlington High School, who our club is sponsoring as an International Exchange Student.

Let the Ticket Sales Begin!

At our meeting on May 14, Jennifer kicked off the ticket-selling phase of the Great Stilly Duck Dash 2026.  But before she unveiled this year's shirt and tickets. Dave zeroed in on the “why” by giving the members a PowerPoint presentation on some of the things we have funded in the past and, of course, the future Pump Track.  In the presentation, he pointed out that we are not only “People of Action” but also a “Club of Action.”

Kids have been the primary focus of the Duck Dash, as it was originally created to raise funds to build the Boys and Girls Club. The playground and splash pad, which Dave referred to as the “crown jewels,” were a club project funded by Duck Dash.  The city projects that ground breaking for the pump track will occur next month, with a dedication and ribbon cutting on July 20.  Our club has committed $250,000 to the project, with funds generated by the Great Stilly Duck Dash.  It will be at Jensen Park close to where there is playground equipment that was constructed as a joint project with our club, the Lions, and the Kiwanis Clubs.

Jensen Park Pump Track Coming July 20, 2026

Here is a list of other beneficiaries of the Great Stilly Duck Dash

Epic Day of Service 

Our club spearheaded a second annual “Epic Day of Service” on May 16.  Members of the Rotary and Lions Clubs and other volunteers assembled in the storeroom at Grocery Outlet to divide into teams to provide service at Haller and Terrace Parks and Arlington Cemetery.  To see an album of photos taken at the three locations, click HERE.

Snohomish County Public Utility District

Dealing with Storms

Our program on May 7 was a presentation by Kellie Stickney, Lead Communication Specialist,  and Brett Smith (photo above), the North County Operations Manager from the PUD, who discussed storm preparedness and response strategies. PUD operations have been consolidated at a site just south of the Boys & Girls Club.  The Stanwood and Arlington administration offices have been closed, but the yards may still be used for staging.

The Newest Members of the Order of the Duck!

Our April 30 meeting focused on selecting our duck mascots, Splishy and Splashy, for the 2026 duck season.  As is the tradition, there is much tension in the room as members who have never been ducks are teased by the reigning ducks, in this case, Dave and Katy.