Rotary Club of La Conner, La Conner, WA (2026)

08/31/2026

Aug 2026 business
At our 8/17 Rotary business meeting and our 8/24 meeting:

Aug 17, Connie presented the inspiration:
The DNA OF A Rotarian
A Rotarian is not recognized by what they say.
They are recognized by what they do.
By worn hands rather than perfect speeches.
By gratitude that is born of action.
Because true Rotary is not learnt by heart.
It is not invented.
It is not improvised.
It is carried in the DNA.
A DNA that moves words aside because it is nourished by deeds,
that refuses to stand still and simply watch.
A DNA that does not ask “What’s in it for me?”
But instead asks, “What is needed?”
No offense meant, but you are not a good person because you are a Rotarian.
You are a Rotarian because goodness was already in your DNA.
The kind you carry as a birthmark,
spoken through the heart.That is why a Rotarian
D elivers…they do not promise.
N urtures “we” and never “I”
A cts…they do not boast
Rotary does not change you.
It reveals you.
It takes what is already within you – that restlessness, that commitment, that
heartbeat—
and opens the path to impact.
Through projects.
Through genuine service.
And through teamwork – remember the word ALL.
Ant that life resume…let me say it again: it is not improvised.
It is a genetic code.
It is the DNA of a Rotarian.
And yes…once it lives inside you,
Rotary finds you.

by Vaness VaVe from the Rotary Club of San Pedro Alcantara

Lori’s Club Goals for 2026/27
Membership 30 members
Service Participation 24 people
Annual Fund Contribution $5,000
Polio Plus Contribution $3,000
Social Activities 10
New Member Sponsors 3
Rotary Action Group 1
Leadership Development 4 people
Interact Club 1
RYLA 2 attendees
(Rotary Youth Leadership Awards)
Media Stories 4
District Training people 6

Announcements:
We’re collecting eyeglasses for the Etta Project.
We are sponsoring the La Conner Swinomish Library Festival of Tiny Trees which will take place on November 21st at 4pm.

Calendar
Tuesday, September 8, 10am-12pm: Helping Hands Food Bank Volunteering
La Conner Rotary Social: September 10, 5:30 at COA
September 25-27: Fall Stewardship Weekend at the North Cascades Institute (Lori has more details)
Tuesday, October 13, 10am-12pm: Helping Hands Food Bank Volunteering

At our Aug. 24 Rotary Meeting
The Rotary Club of La Conner was chartered on August 27, 1945.

Inspiration by Marty who discussed the ripple effect in her inspiration, reminding us all that kindness and positivity with others has a ripple effect that keeps spreading.

When we look around today at the problems that individuals, communities, countries, the world and the planet are having, it is really easy to get overwhelmed. and you might ask yourself. What can I do? Individual me? What can I do to make a difference? I believe in the ripple effect and that is how I cope. So I try to be positive in my life to do good, to be kind to other people and in that process make them feel better and then they might be kind to someone else and you have the ripple effect. The ripple effect isn’t very loud, but I think it can be really powerful and very effective. One of the things I love about our club is that we have 27 individuals who come together who care a lot about the world and about their lives and the ripple effect from those 27 people is magnified a hundredfold so let’s continue to do good.

Birthdays We sang happy birthday to Roy and Patsy!

Memorial Jerry Willins will be remembered on October 25th at 3pm at the vinery at Christianson’s Nursery.

More Inspiration

Lori shared a bumper sticker: When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

Audrey related her airport experience of getting a wheelchair for a man who looked like he was having trouble standing. It was appreciated by the man and his family and points out that noticing those around us who could use assistance and then acting on it is part of the 4-way test.

The La Conner Swinomish Library has an opening for a new Board Member.

08/22/2026

The value of companion animals
At our Aug. 10 Rotary Meeting as Inspiration
Dennis played a YouTube video of “The Peace Arch Song” performed by Terry Kelly. Terry, a blind musician, performed the song in public for the first time at the Hands Across the Border this past Saturday. You can see the video at this link: https://youtu.be/jGCqjLnOgbs?is=Z8woQLS0ZVMZId8M
Dennis and Audrey announced awards our club received at Hands Across the Border:

3rd highest per capita giving to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund
Club Excellence Award
Full retention of Membership

Our Speaker was Dr. Christina Chambreau on the Topic: The value of companion animals
Dr. Christina is a homeopathic veterinarian, author, and speaker who lives in Florida, but spends July and August in Anacortes every year. She asked us to take care of our animals, our children, and ourselves with a more holistic approach that will also decrease stress and, at the same time, make a difference for our planet.

Decrease the environmental cost of buying bags of dog food that have been processed and shipped from all over and instead feed your dog locally sourced meat, fish, vegetables, etc. that you can prepare with your own food. Make sure to get organ meat as well, even if you don’t eat it. Cook and puree the vegetables. The Magic Skagit has everything you need. Just something to consider.
Animals don’t need vaccinations every year or year-round flea medications. It costs lots of money and you want to be careful about the toxins you are giving your pets.
They must have rabies vaccinations every 3 years.
Christina started working in vet clinics when she was 11 and living in Japan. Dogs then often lived into their mid 20s. Cats to 25 or 30. She said, “And holistically treated animals, I see that in all the time.”
Too many people are bit by dogs every year. Read the book: Ask the Dog by Steve Dale. See the Resource list.
Change the idea of Net Zero by 2050 to Climate Restoration. “So, as we think about the environment, we want to think about our footprint. Every time we make a choice for anything, we want to think, how is it affecting the environment?” This is also in line with the Rotary Environmental Committee.
See the Resource list at the end.

Thank you to the VanderSandens for the Rotary Picnic.
The Bakken/Jones scholarship was given to a graduating high school female going into a STEM field.
Rotary Joining anniversary: Martin Howard has been a Rotarian for 19 years as of August 7th!
Car and Boat Show: Patsy thanked our volunteers. LC Kiwanis did their part too. 🙂
Reading Glasses: We’re collecting for the ETTA Project.
CPR Class
Our first CPR class was August 6th for 21 La Conner School District staff members. Chief Woods and newly trained instructor Cole were great! Lori put in a plug for the Rotary’s involvement in this one and in 3 more over the next several months.
Calendar

Saturday, August 29, 5pm: La Conner Rotary’s “Let the Good Times Roll” Auction Doors open at 5:30.

08/17/2026

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Enjoy a lovely evening surrounded by friends or family with this exclusive private dining experience!

It’s the perfect opportunity to gather your favorite people, enjoy a memorable evening together, and savor a wonderful dining experience.

Just another fantastic Live Auction item you won’t want to miss!

Bid high, bid often, and get ready for an unforgettable evening!

08/13/2026

Our Auction is just around the corner! We have so many great items and packages for you to bid on! Here’s another peak!

08/07/2026

Sheriff's Office 2026
At our July 27, Rotary Meeting, the inspiration was provided by Marty.
Marty encouraged members to take time to journal or meditate and to enjoy a "nature bath"—being present in the beauty around us. She invited everyone to pause, look around, and express gratitude for the natural surroundings we are fortunate to enjoy.

Our guest speakers were from the Skagit County Sheriff's Office.

Chief Chris Baldwin began his career with the Sheriff's Office and was promoted to Sergeant in 2009. In 2019, he became Chief of Field Operations, overseeing the Patrol Bureau along with numerous specialty assignments, including Critical Incident Response and Community Engagement. He also serves on the North Cascades Regional SWAT Team, which serves both Skagit and Island Counties, and works with the Crisis Response Team and the Workplace Violence Prevention Team. Chief Baldwin is currently a candidate for Skagit County Sheriff.

Lieutenant Steven Dills joined the Sheriff's Office in 1996, beginning his career in Corrections before transferring to Patrol in 2000. During his career he has served in Traffic, K-9, and Search & Rescue assignments. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2019, supervising East Precinct operations, and became a Patrol Lieutenant in 2024.

Sheriff's Office Overview
The speakers provided an overview of the Sheriff's Office and its major divisions. Administrative Services handles warrants, court orders, restraining orders, evictions, and other civil process.
The Investigative Services Bureau is responsible for criminal investigations, including general detective work and drug investigations.

The Field Operations Bureau, the department's second-largest division, provides 24-hour patrol coverage throughout the county using four patrol squads assigned to four geographic zones.
La Conner is served as Zone 1. The East Precinct, headquartered in Sedro-Woolley, provides dedicated coverage for eastern Skagit County. The presenters noted that the department remains relatively young due to many retirements and officers relocating out of state in recent years.

The Corrections Bureau is the Sheriff's Office's largest division, operating with an annual budget of approximately $26 million. In addition to managing the county jail, it oversees inmate medical care, booking, transportation, and electronic home monitoring.

Specialty Assignments
Beyond routine patrol responsibilities, many deputies also serve in specialized assignments in addition to their regular duties. These include the regional SWAT team, Traffic and Motorcycle units, the Crisis Response Team, K-9 units for both patrol and narcotics detection, Search & Rescue, Marine Patrol, Animal Control, Crisis Negotiations, and the department's Training Unit.

The Sheriff's Office also operates six patrol boats and recently added two Zodiac boats for flood response. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones) are regularly deployed to assist with searches for missing persons and fugitives. Search & Rescue volunteers receive ongoing training from Sheriff's Office personnel and remain an important county resource.

Daily Operations
The speakers described the wide variety of calls deputies handle during a typical shift. Mornings often involve domestic violence incidents, DUI investigations, and serving civil paperwork such as evictions and restraining orders. Evening patrols more commonly respond to burglaries and other criminal activity. They emphasized that no two shifts are alike and that deputies must be prepared to respond to a broad range of public safety needs.

Announcements:
Saturday, August 8th: Members are encouraged to attend Hands Across the Border at Peace Arch Park and Heritage Hall in Surrey. Lunch begins at noon.

Tuesday, August 11th: Helping Hands volunteering at 10 AM will take place, and members are encouraged to sign up if they would like to participate.

Members are also asked to continue bringing donated reading glasses to upcoming meetings for the ETTA project.

08/04/2026

Another peak at a live item for our upcoming auction on August 29!

08/03/2026

Go Get 'Em
At our July 20 meeting, the inspiration read by Marty:

Go GET 'EM
Don't wait around hoping someone will give you permission to fall in love with your life. Release the fire that burns inside by treating yourself to an amazing life. Do what feeds your soul. Seriously ponder on Alice Morse Earle's quote; "Yesterday
is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present." Treasure today, act courageously, and reap the rewards of engaging in life while chasing your aspirations and dreams.

The installation was held at Shawn O’Donnell’s on Sunday, July 19th. Several La Conner Rotarians attended and volunteered at the event. All of us were inspired! Rotary International Director Marty Helman gave a wonderful speech, and Val Tibbits and Bev Harrington were both given special Rotary International awards. The culmination was the dedication of the Peace Pole, which Governor Elect Shawn O’Donnell unveiled just outside the northeast end of the parking lot. It looks great!

Favorite quote of the day was: You can’t declare peace; you have to build it.

Announcements:
• Monday, August 3rd: Picnic at Big Lake. If you haven’t signed up, be sure to let John know you are coming. Bring a dish to share and BYOB.
• Thursday, August 6th: CPS class scheduled for La Conner School Employees. The next class will be in March.
• Tuesday, August 11th: Helping Hands Volunteering - Sign up if you want to help.
• Bring reading glasses for the Etta Project to Rotary meetings.

We received thank-you notes from scholarship recipients and Hospice.

07/30/2026

District Govenor 2026-2027
At our July 13 Meeting Doug provided this inspiration. See end of post for the details.

Besides our speaker, our Guests included Rick Olson, Ginny Dugaw, and John Dugaw

The meeting featured our new District 5050 Governor Kathleen Olson as the main speaker, who discussed creating lasting impact through club collaboration and engagement initiatives. Kathleen shared examples of successful international projects, including a Global Neighbor Project in Lesotho and a water project in Ecuador, emphasizing how simple conversations can lead to meaningful service.

Notice a need, make an impact. Invite one person, engage and act. DG Kathleen’s Engagement initiative will take the place of a District Conference.

As with all our speakers, she signed a book destined for the Honduras mobile library

Other Business
The club discussed upcoming events including the Car and Boat Show on August 1st and the annual picnic on August 3rd at Big Lake, with sign-ups needed for both.

Members were asked to collect reading glasses (strengths 3.5-4.5 and higher) for an Etta project in Bolivia.

Lori read a letter from Brian Hennessy , who proposed starting a US version of the Climate Change Initiative in District 5050. Lori announced plans for a kickoff meeting at North Cascade Institute's fall stewardship weekend to organize a new dedicated group within District 5050.

Marty shared thank you letters from Honduras school YES project.

Birthday, Adam McGarity July 13, who brought and shared carrot cake!
Anniversary Don and Danya Wolf July 13 (30 years) off at Crater Lake to celebrate.
Joining Anniversary Randy Goembel July 10, 2015 (11 years)

# # # # # # # # # # # Inspiration:
For fun – last week we went camping with our grandkids…
I told them about when I was on staff at the Boy Scout camp in…
the mountains of Eastern Washington, we had a saying

“Christmas comes but twice a year, once at home and once up here.”
We would exchange small gifts on June 24th.

In case you were wondering - There are 165 shopping days until Christmas.

Rotary has designated July as Maternal and Child Health Month.
July is also Transition and New Leadership Month, marking the…
official start of the Rotary New Year.
It’s a time of leadership transitions,
the chance to invite new members, and importantly,
the opportunity to build on our momentum of last year.

Some quotes on maintaining our momentum…

Rotary founder Paul Harris said, "This is a changing world,
we must be prepared to change with it.
The story of Rotary will have to be written again and again."

Current Rotary International President Yinka Babalola noted for this year,
"Change is only the beginning. Impact is what endures."

Arthur Ashe, the tennis player, was quite a dedicated philanthropist and
humanitarian. He said…
“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic.
It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost,
but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”

Here’s to the start of our new Rotary year, and continuing the momentum.

07/27/2026

Here’s another sneak peek at one of our live items for our Annual Auction on Saturday, August 29, 2026!

07/21/2026

Our Annual Auction is just around the corner! August 29, 2026. Here is a sneak peek at one our auction items!

Win a Week at WorldMark Depoe Bay!

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Your package includes:
A welcome gift basket filled with wine, chocolates, crackers, and other treats
A $200 gift card to use for gas, meals, or anything you choose

Enjoy all that WorldMark Depoe Bay has to offer, including indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, a fitness center, pickleball and tennis courts, an activity center, and more.

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Relax. Explore. Make Memories!

Rotary Club of La Conner

08/31/2026

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