KINGSTON — There are tell-tale signs that a Rotary Club has made its way to the north end of Kitsap.
Two Rotary work parties took place at the Kingston Community Center in November, where members planted grass and pulled weeds. Several Rotary Wheel signs were posted on highways through Port Gamble, Hansville and Kingston in December.
And 36 charter members of the Kingston-North Kitsap club were inducted Jan. 9, making the newest chapter in Rotary District 5020 practically official. The club only needs the final blessing from Rotary International to receive its charter.
Rotary District governor Bill McCarthy attended the meeting Friday to welcome members aboard.
While the group has been holding meetings since October, last Friday’s gathering was the first session under the new status as a provisional club.
Provisional means the district governor has approved the paperwork and charter memberships, explained Kingston-North Kitsap president Brad Brown.
Brown said he was thrilled that the club was given the go-ahead.
“The critical step was provisional status which was granted Jan. 1,” he said. “In March or February, there will be an official charter night.”
Each new member received a Rotary lapel pin, a certificate of membership and an informational folder about the club.
As his first duty as the club president, Brown accepted a small banner from the Tumwater chapter, of which McCarthy is a member. The Kingston chapter is in the process of designing its own banner, Brown said.
When members visit clubs outside the area, especially internationally, they exchange banners, he explained.
“It’s a way of recognizing each other’s clubs,” Brown said.
The new club is part of the seventh largest Rotary district in the world, which extends from Canada to just south of Tacoma, McCarthy said.
This year’s district theme is “Be an inspiration,” McCarthy said. “To yourselves, now that you are a club, to the community you will be serving and to the world.”
McCarthy described the activities the Kingston-North Kitsap members will be able to participate in, including literacy programs, foundation projects and the Rotary youth exchange program as well as providing for the needs of the community.
The new Kingston-North Kitsap Board of Directors is Brown as president, Gene Medina as president-elect, Meredith Arseneau as secretary and Helen Ralph as treasurer. Medina will take over duties as president July 1.
The committee chairs are Katherine Klint of the Club Service Committee, Deanie Madler of the Vocational Service Committee, Debbie Anderson of the Community Service Committee and Roger Meyer of the International Service Committee.
Brown said it’s too early to decide what the club will do as its first big project, but noted that he will concentrate on developing the organization, recruiting members and determining the needs of the community.
