By Nancy Martin
The Kingston North-Kitsap Rotary will reach a milestone in 2014, the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Kingston club.
Rotarians are busy planning a gala celebration for this event for Feb. 1. Invitations are being sent to all past and present Rotarians. The evening will provide more than a few surprises and a walk down memory lane.
In fall 2003, several Poulsbo Rotarians formed a group to help establish a new Rotary Club in Kingston. Since Poulsbo Rotary meets at 7 a.m. for breakfast, it was decided that the new Kingston Club would meet at noon. The first meetings were held at the Kingston Community Center under the leadership of Brad Brown. Poulsbo Rotarians Jim Martin, Rand Hilliard, Pat McFadden, and Jim Moore were there to guide us through the formation of a new Rotary club.
Brad Brown, Kingston’s first Rotary president, served a half-year term and presided over the Charter Night festivities on Jan. 20, 2004. Of the original 35 charter members, 10 are still Kingston Rotarians — Phil Dorn, Doug Hallock, Tom Lamar, Nancy Martin, Gene Medina, Randy Monlux, Rea Mowery, Skip Peters, Helen Ralph, and Bob Winkel.
Gene Medina, past superintendent of the North Kitsap School District, was the first full-term president. Chuck Atcheson, Paulette DeGard, Phil Dorn, Dan Martin, Skip Peters, Fredrick Branchflower, Clint Boxman, and Don Hutchins have all served a term as president of Kingston Rotary. Meisha Rouser is president for the 2013-14 Rotary year and will be followed by Isaac Anderson.
Rotary’s impact on the Kingston community is evident. Rotary’s first major goal was to raise funds to purchase lights for the athletic field at Kingston High School. This was an ongoing goal that took several years to accomplish. Each Rotary president designates a project which the club works to accomplish. Past presidents’ projects have included improvements to the Kola Kole school building, installation of the sprinkler system at Village Green Park, and the erection of the Rea Mowery picnic pavilion at Village Green.
Rotary raises money to fund these projects from several events scheduled throughout the year, the most notable being the Rotary Golf Classic, at White Horse Golf Course. This annual event has been held in June for the past six years. New fundraisers have been added over the years — the Rotary Wine and Beer Garden held during the Saturday evening Concerts on the Cove, the 4th of July Fun Run, and the newly added Kitsap Haunted Fairgrounds. All of these events are staffed by a group of 40 dedicated Rotarians.
Community service events are also supported by Kingston Rotary, such as the blood drive headed by Jon Sole, various food drives held throughout the year, and the annual award of Rotary scholarships.
Varying types of memberships are available; just ask any Kingston Rotarian. Rotary can be a great activity for you and your spouse; the Kingston club has several husband and wife teams as members: Bobbie Moore and Walt Elliott, Randy and Eva Monlux, Jessica and Scott Larson, Skip and Sondra Peters, and Dan and Nancy Martin.
Anyone is welcome to attend a weekly Rotary meeting. Join the Kingston Rotary Club for lunch on Wednesday at noon to learn more about Rotary and its many opportunities for service. Rotarians gather at 11:45 a.m. at the North Kitsap Fire & Rescue Station 81 (Paul T. Nichol Headquarters), 26642 Miller Bay Road in Kingston for their weekly meeting. Please contact Fredrick Branchflower at 425-445-9975 for directions and questions. We’d love to have you join us.
