President Jay Tung presided over his first regular Friday meeting of our club in the smaller restaurant area of the Coast Inn. President Jay used his command voice to bring us sharply to order right on time at noon. We filled up the room with about 30 in attendance. Many attendees felt this gave the meeting an energy that we have missed in these COVID influenced times.Immediate Past President Ric Schmidt led us in the Pledge while holding a small American flag as well as offering, on no notice, the Thought-For-The-Day. Ric also had a drinkable gift for Janine in recognition of her loyal service to our club during his year as president. Additionally, Ric reported on progress with our partnership with Title Wave Books to provide reading materials to worthy causes.
PP Angie Rush thanked us for our efforts at making Flag Day special for the resident clients at Alaska Child & Family. Newer members might not know that Alaska Child & Family is the successor organization to the Jesse Lee Home, an orphanage in Seward, where Benny Benson resided. Benson was the winner over 700 other entries in the 1927 contest to design a flag for the then Territory of Alaska.
Mark Cosby reported on his experience delivering the 400+ gift bags assembled by members for distribution to children in the State foster home care program. He was moved by the almost immediate use of some of the bags.
Joe Zimmerman presented President Jay with a club President’s pin that was worn by each successive president during and following PP Ron Wilde who served in 1991-92. Joe then introduced his guest, Terry Nelson, Associate Dean of the UAA College of Business and Public Policy. Dean Nelson invited us to a fund-raiser/showcase for the school to be held Thursday August 18 from 5:00 to 7:30 PM at the college’s home in Rasmuson Hall on the University campus. Among the highlights will be demonstrations of their new artificial intelligence lab and the Seawolf stock ticker. Ms. Nelson was an enthusiastic and impressive representative for the University.