Lake Report (Nov 16, 2021)

Posted by James Monroe on Nov 15, 2021

District Governor Bev Harrington will be visiting us at this week's meeting to give us the annual State of the District report. This is a great opportunity for you to invite potential Rotarians to a meeting. You don't want to miss this! Board Members, plan on staying for post meeting gathering with Governor Harrington.

We are saddened on the passing of Club Member Dean Franz. Please see the accompanying article to learn how much of an impact Dean had in our community. We will miss you Sir!

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.

PHOTO CONTEST: You are encouraged to participate in this. The photo has been updated. Can you guess the location now? Be the first person to correctly identify from where the photo at the top of our website and at the top of this bulletin was taken from by 7:30 am Friday, November 19th. Send your guess to the Editor.

Dean Franz

Posted by Gary O'Reilly & James Monroe on Nov 16, 2021

Dean Franz, a strong Rotarian and community spirited friend passed away on Sunday, November 14th after heart surgery the previous Tuesday. Shock can best describe the feelings we all are experiencing over the news of his passing. Dean was deeply involved in the past as the Chair of the Vocational Services Committee. His efforts each year to ensure that our Club Foundation had funds for scholarships for graduating Lake Stevens High School Seniors. Although he decided to let someone else lead the Vocational Services Committee, he helped mentor the new chairperson.

2012 Board Installation by PDG Jane Helten with Dean on the far left

Dean enjoyed being a photographer and was a seasoned financial whiz for our investment club composed mostly of Rotarians. Dean relished time with his family and friends. We will miss his infectious smile which was the center peace and a big part of his demeanor.

2012 Scholarship Presentations with Club President Debe Franz (l) and Scholarship Program Chair Dean Franz (r)

Dean (r) receiving a PHF pin from PDG Sean Hogan in April 2012

Dean has been a Rotarian since June 2005 and was a Civil Engineer with Parsons. Please keep Debe, Derek and Christina in your prayers as they go through their grieving. Dean was special and should be remembered for all that he meant to all of us in Rotary and Lake Stevens.

May 2015 Clean Up at North Cove Park in downtown Lake Stevens with many Club Members. Dean is second from right.

There will be a Funeral Service on Saturday, November 27, 2021, 10:30 am at Elim Lutheran Church in Lake Stevens. A reception and meal will follow.

Club Veteran's Share Their Military Experiences

Posted by Gary O'Rielly on Nov 15, 2021

Three Veterans of our Club shared their military experiences with our members on Friday, November 12th. From left to right: Loren Hole, Jim Steinruck and Senator Steve Hobbs in honor of the Veterans Day observance.

Loren Hole, our 96-year-old active Club Member served in the Coast Guard during WWII. One of the few new members in the Coast Guard who knew Morse Code. Loren enjoyed the 12 am to 4 am shift because he got to sleep in in the morning. Served on one ship until the WWII ended in August 1945. Loren served on the USS Amethyst which was built in 1933 as the Samona II yacht by Craig Shipyards in Long Beach, California. The Coast Guard acquired the ship in November 1940. On the table was Loren's military uniform. A photo of the USS Amethyst is below.

Steinruck, was in the ROTC at Eastern Washington State College (now University) graduated and was commissioned a 2nd LT in 1974. Jim served in the military retiring in 1995 after 21 years of service. The funniest story was parachute training in 1974 because he was deadly afraid of heights and the first jump was the worst he had ever seen. The third jump was good.

Senator Steve Hobbs will be sworn in on November 22nd as the new Secretary of State. replacing Kim Wyman, who leaves for a position in the Biden Administration. Steve has been the Chair of the powerful Senate Transportation Committee. Steve is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Washington Army National Guard. Steve wanted to join the army when he was a mere 17. Mother declined but his father who was in a messy divorce with his mother approved, and he was off to the beginning of his military service. Steve proudly served in Kosovo and Iraq.

Steve received his Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington Evans School in 1994.

To keep the vote count, correct as the new Secretary of State, our President Reshal presented Steve with an Abacus which is a counting frame and can be used as a calculating tool.

Quote of the Week - Who Said It?

“Who looks outside, dreams.
Who looks inside, awakens.”