Through this newspaper, I want to acknowledge the community, national and international contributions made by the Rotary Club of Sammamish during this past year led by our immediate past president, Clint Scott. Our Club was founded just five years ago by the Rotary Club of Issaquah, and we’ve come a long way!
During the past year, our 40 members provided more than 8,900 hours of volunteer service in numerous club activities that raised more than $163,000 for its projects. That’s a significant contribution by so few for so many!
Funded projects included basketball hoops at Camp Sabica, brain cancer education through the Chris Elliott Fund, Life Enrichment Options for developmentally disabled adults, Eastside Baby Corner, Habitat for Humanity, Rotary First Harvest, Sammamish Skate Festival, SAMMI Awards, July 4th festivities, Thanksgiving baskets to women and children in safe homes, Christmas Baskets for Avondale House, Third Grade Dictionaries, CHOICES middle school program, college scholarships to high school seniors, Hugh O’Brien Youth Camp, Lake Washington School District Foundation, and international projects including Computers for the World (Uganda), Polio Plus, Ethiopia Water Project, and Assembling HIV Care Giver Kits with World Vision.
Other local organizations benefitting from Sammamish Rotary grants during Clint’s year included Renaissance School, ham radio operators, Sammamish Youth Board, King County Explorers, Skyline High School Key Club, Issaquah Senior Center, Food Lifeline, Friends of Youth, among others.
In additional to personal donations, Club members held special fundraisers: the eight-day annual Nightmare at Beaver LakeHalloween event, summer Concerts at Pine Lake refreshment booth, Wine/Water/You dessert auction, and event sponsorships supported by many area businesses.
I invite area residents and business people to consider learning more about Rotary, an international organization of over 31,000 clubs worldwide with the “Service Above Self” motto and founded over 100 years ago. We welcome guests and prospective members to our weekly breakfast meetings held Thursdays at 7:15 a.m. at Bellewood Apartments.
Yes, women are most welcome to join us! Rotary has been open to women members for more than 20 years!
-Lisa Kennedy, President 2008-2009
Sammamish Rotary
