Celebrating a Record Year!

Under the leadership of President-Elect Jennifer Holocker, we set a new record for gross revenue from the Great Stilly Duck Dash of $274,400, with $117,900 in ticket sales and $156, 500 in sponsorships. 

Jennifer Holocker

The Golden Duck Award

Rotary Club of Arlington Celebrates Record-Breaking Sponsorship Year

Sponsorship Chair Jola

On Thursday, July 23, 2026, the Rotary Club of Arlington hosted its annual Sponsorship Recognition Event at the Bonus Room in Smokey Point. This year's celebration marked an exciting first as the event transitioned from its traditional luncheon to an evening happy hour. The new format was a tremendous success, with an outstanding turnout of both sponsors and Rotarians coming together to celebrate another incredible Great Stilly Duck Dash season.

Longtime Sponsorship Chair Jola Barnett led the evening, recognizing the many businesses and organizations whose generosity continues to make the Great Stilly Duck Dash one of Arlington's most impactful community events.

Recognitions

Delivering Checks to Duck Dash Winners 

Maddy Kruger--$5,000 First Prize (Seller Mel Not Present)

Grant Jensen--$4,000 Second Prize--Seller: Dave

New President Dave Presides

Donation to Arlington Community Food Bank

Third Place Duck Dash Winner

THERE IS A PHOTO ALBUM COVERING ALL THINGS DUCK DASH--JUST CLICK HERE.

With last week's meeting being used for duck call assembly and President Dave being in New York, this was his first meeting to preside. Vice President and Duck Dash Chair Jennifer presided last week.

Rotarian Jeff Huleatt, president of the board of the Arlington Community Food Bank, and two Rotarian directors, Casey Miller and Kim Deisher-Allen, accepted a $25,000 check from our Community Funding Director, Bill Kmet, to help fund the “Meals 'til Monday” program. Click HERE to learn more about the program.

All 5 top finishers in this year's Great Stilly Duck Dash have been invited to a meeting to accept their winnings.  Pictured here is the 3rd-place finisher, Seth Morris, who won $3,000. He is from Sedro-Woolley, but, as luck would have it, when the farmers market in his community was unavailable, he came to Arlington's Farmers Market and was convinced by Tom Langenhop to buy a ticket. 

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.

Here are some photos:

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