KINGSTON — As evidenced by the Poulsbo/North Kitsap Rotary’s recent donation of $100,000 to Olympic College-Poulsbo, when Rotarians say they are going to do something, they most certainly do it.
The next order of business is to help increase Rotary’s good deeds by sponsoring a chapter based in Kingston.
The Poulsbo/North Kitsap club will hold two informational meetings for prospective Rotarians from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Sept. 10 and 18, at the Kingston Cove Yacht Club.
Jim Martin, a member of the Poulsbo/NK chapter, said the membership of the Little Norway-based club was growing and current members felt another chapter would help serve the community better.
The service organization chooses members who are in business or supervision, are well thought of in the community and established in the area, he explained. During these informative meetings, potential members will learn about the group’s objective, “Service Above Self.” They will also learn how Rotary interacts with the community through various types of service projects.
Nominations for a president will taken and the club’s official name and meeting time and place will also be discussed, Martin said.
For meeting places, Martin said the Kingston Community Center, Puerto Vallarta Mexican Restaurant, one of the local schools or the Kingston Cove Yacht Club were possibilities.
“There maybe others out there,” Martin added.
The official name is still in question, as the organization has been identified more as a North Kitsap Rotary Club rather than just Kingston. Members would come from Port Gamble and the other surrounding North End communities.
Business leaders in the community can not simply start a Rotary, they must be sponsored by an existing chapter, Martin explained, noting that Poulsbo/NK has already identified between 40 to 60 business owners and leaders in the area.
“The idea is not to promote your business but to have a cross section of businesses and professionals,” Martin said.
The club will try not to overlap into other service groups in the area, such as the Greater Kingston Kiwanis, he added.
Martin said the new chapter will receive support from other local clubs in Kitsap County, which will providing banners and pendants.
For its beginning service activities, the new chapter will most likely help maintain Nike Park and Quiet Place Park as well as be involved in the Poulsbo/NK annual rose sale in October.
For more information on Rotary, call the Poulsbo/NK chapter at (360) 697-3000.
