Lake Report (May 25, 2021)

Posted by James Monroe on May 24, 2021

The featured program of this week's meeting is our Scholarship Presentations! Vocational Services Committee Chair Lance Morehouse will make the presentations assisted by various members of the Club. We congratulate all of our recipients and look forward to hearing about your further educational successes.

Once again the meeting will be a combination of in-person and online. Pick the option that suits you. If you would rather join via the Zoom meeting platform, the link is available here as well as on our website. If you attend in person you will be asked to abide by the physical distancing guidelines set up by the school district.

The link to our YouTube Channel is now available on our website and our weekly bulletins. You can view recent online meetings. If you watch any of them, you can count it as a makeup. Just let our Secretary, Gary O'Rielly know.

Lastly, let us not forget those that have fought and died for the freedoms that we enjoy in America today. Monday is Memorial Day. If a member of your family served in any of the wars and conflicts we thank them for their service and sacrifice. Personally, I have had family members serve in every one since the Revolution. I suspect that many of you have as well.

PHOTO CONTEST: You are encouraged to participate in this. Be the first person to correctly identify from where the photo at the top of this bulletin and at the top of our website was taken from by 7:30 am Friday, May 28th. Send your guess to the Editor.

We Are Back - Hybrid (Live & Virtual) Rotary meeting

Posted by Gary O'Rielly on May 24, 2021

On May 21st, the Rotary Club of Lake Stevens opted to use a hybrid model Rotary meeting where some members were in-person and others joined virtually via a real-time Zoom conference link. President Ken Collins' term as President has been on Zoom for the past year until this past Friday's meeting. Everyone was eager to see one another. Social distancing and masks were part of the in-person meeting.

Lorrie Roe - FunkO

Posted by Gary O'Rielly on May 24, 2021

Our very special guest speaker on Friday, May 21st was Lorrie Roe with the Funko Marketing department. Funko started in a garage in 1998 in Snohomish by Mike and Claudia Becker. Funko is an American company that manufacturers licensed pop culture collectibles, best known for its licensed vinyl figurines and bobbleheads.

Although Mike Becker sold Funko, he is still involved in the business. The international headquarters for Funko is at California Street and Wetmore Avenue in downtown Everett in the old Bon Marche' department store. The campus is composed of the financial operations and a retail operation encompassing 17,000 sq. ft. Once in the retail store, you can be lost in the giant Bat Mobile. A second retail store has opened in Hollywood, California with 40,000 sq. ft. of space. Statues and movie sets are part of the atmosphere in the Hollywood retail store. FunkO has the most licenses in the world at around 1,100 licenses.

Funko has 550 employees in Washington State. Covid had an impact on the operations clogging the Ports as inventory was coming in from overseas. Although the company struggled during the early part of Covid, the company adapted and had their best earnings ever.

There are many sides to Funko from the mystery minnies which go very quickly to exclusive conventions which are planned a year in advance. Hawaiian fans come in droves from the islands bringing macadamia nuts and so much more. It takes seven weeks for products to be made, licensed and prepared for market. Recently a Golden ticket two pack sold for $14,000.

Funko has acquired TokenWave, the company behind the TokenHead app and added Forrest-Pruzan Creative the board game maker known for games such as Disney's Villainous and Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle and started Funko Games. They have exclusives with Barnes and Noble and a contract with Amazon. Prior to Covid the stock registered at $6 per share and is now $25. Their charity wing has donated over 1/2 million dollars for Toys for Tots and Operation Home Front for the military. Lorrie told us that the value of a collectible includes being in a original mint box.

Fun story and a really great program. Thanks Lorrie for sharing information about Funko, past, present and future.

New Members Update

Posted by Gary O'Rielly on May 24, 2021

Three of our newest members were given their Membership Packets and badges by President Ken Collins and Membership Chair Ron Rasmussen at our first in-person meeting in well over a year. From left, Ron Rasmussen, Ken Collins, Connor Davis, Kyle Strand and Brian Rewis. It was so good to be back in-person. Those unable to join us used Zoom link to view the whole meeting.

Quote of the Week - Who Said It?

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”