DG Kathleen Visits Our Club

The Official Visit

Although her official installation was three days later, our member and District 5050 Governor for 2026-2027, Kathleen Olson, made her official visit and presentation to our club on July 16. She was introduced by Mel, who is serving this year as the Governor's Aide.

With Rotary International's Vision behind her, Mel told us about DG Kathleen.  Kathleen joined Tacoma #8 Rotary in 1994; Club President 2004-05. Rotary District 5050 Assistant Governor Area J 2023-25. She transferred to the Marysville, WA Club in 2018 and moved to the Arlington, WA Club in 2021. She has been a facilitator at Pacific Northwest PELS and other Rotary learning events. She is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator and Animal Rescue Volunteer. Currently, Kathleen is the community engagement director at the Humane Society of Skagit Valley. Other experiences include fundraising and public relations, as well as a diverse background in advertising, journalism, and airline service.

In lieu of a District Conference, Kathleen has introduced a District 5050 Engagement Initiative.  It will be a year-long pilot project redirecting District Conference resources to increase engagement and impact. It is designed to foster community connections and projects, citing examples like the Global Neighbor Project in Lesotho and local efforts in Arlington, including scholarships, community service, and infrastructure improvements. Kathleen emphasized the importance of documenting projects on the Rotary International Service Project Center to inspire others. She challenged the club to increase its Rotary Foundation and Polio Plus contributions, suggesting a $10 donation from each member could significantly impact global projects. The meeting started with an ice breaker and concluded with plans for upcoming events and club visits.

Icebreaker Activity and Personal Sharing

DG Kathleen instructed everyone to pick up a colored card with a question on the back and find someone unrelated to them to ask it. Participants shared personal anecdotes, such as Lance learning that Greg is grateful for his life and Kathleen discovering that Lindsay used to work as a painter in construction.

Kathleen emphasized the importance of one-on-one conversations when starting Rotary projects and proposed a pilot engagement initiative to foster more connections. As an example, Kathleen spoke about the Global Neighbor Project, a five-year partnership involving Rotary Clubs, including Kathleen's club of Tacoma, World Vision, local churches, and UNICEF, focusing on five villages in Lesotho affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The Global Neighbor Project detailed how it evolved from a simple caregiver kit assembly to a comprehensive initiative encompassing healthcare training, microloans, clean water systems, and HIV/AIDS medication support. The project's success is attributed to collaboration among various organizations and individuals, including Jim Kelly (not our member Jim Kelly) of Tacoma, who contributed his expertise in water systems.

Kathleen highlighted similar collaborative projects in District 5050, such as the Aries Digital Education project in Kenya and the support for villages in northwestern Guatemala through school construction and clean water projects. The conversation touched on the Youth Engaged in Service program, in which young people from Snohomish County raised money and traveled to Guatemala, supported by Hands Across the Border, to do service, and a similar group in Skagit County who travel to Honduras in a partnership with the International Projects Alliance, a partnership of several District Rotary clubs.

Local Community Service and Projects

The DG spoke of various local community service projects undertaken by the Arlington Club, including awarding scholarships, hosting exchange students, and organizing food drives and holiday baskets. The club's efforts have also included improving community facilities, such as the Boys and Girls Club where the club meets, and the Haller Park splash pad and playground, and building a new pump track.

In 2018, the Arlington Club partnered with other local Area J clubs and youth groups to plant 580 trees and shrubs along the Stillaguamish River, demonstrating the club's commitment to environmental projects. It is the only club project listed in the RI Service Project Center. She encouraged members to document their projects on the Rotary International Service Project Center to share best practices with other clubs.

Engagement Initiative and Personal Impact Stories

The Engagement Initiative aims to create meaningful experiences, attract new members, and strengthen existing projects. The initiative aims to encourage members to ask themselves what they can accomplish together next and to share their impact stories.

Kathleen shared an experience about meeting a young man named Bobo in Lesotho, a landlocked country near South Africa, who was critically ill with HIV/AIDS but later recovered and started a business, highlighting the personal impact of Rotary's work. The engagement initiative is presented as an invitation to deepen friendships, welcome new ideas and partners, and serve with purpose, aiming to create lasting impact both locally and internationally.

Support for TRF and Polio Plus

DG Kathleen challenged the club to continue supporting the Rotary Foundation and Polio Plus, noting the club's generous contributions in the previous year. The challenge encouraged members to donate $10 each, which will be matched, resulting in significant financial support for Rotary projects.

A QR code for members to share their projects on the Rotary International Service Project Center was distributed; the site encourages other clubs to replicate successful initiatives.

More details about the District 5050 Engagement are available on the District 5050 website. Click HERE to access the details.