FIR club members look forward to the Walk with Santa Parade every year! This year was no different, members had a blast as the fabulous Rein-Deere Team.
This is the third year that the Fidalgo Island and Anacortes Rotary Club partner together for "Pints for Polio". This is a simple - yet very effective - fundraising collaboration between the two Anacortes Rotary Clubs. Members gathered at the Rockfish Grill to enjoy some social time with fellow Rotarians while donating to Polio Plus. It gets better, because every dollar donated is matched 2-to-1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, meaning that each dollar donated turns into $3, and that is enough to provide a polio vaccination to someone in need.
District Governor David Lukov joined us at our October 10th meeting. He was an incredibly engaging speaker who regaled us with stories as well as Rotary tidbits and insights. He reminded us not only to consider why we joined Rotary, but why we continue to stay with Rotary, including the leadership and learning opportunities, relationships and creating community. His presentation was a perfect example that while people may not remember facts, they will remember stories, anecdotes and how someone made them feel.
DG David awarded two honors for Fidalgo Island Rotarians who have gone above and beyond. The first was to Pam Estvold for her work to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to fruition during the past year, as well as her continued service and passion for the club.
The second was to the three gentlemen who have been working on Programs (Dave Sem, Richard Curtis and Bill French). They were recognized specifically for the work they have done during the past six weeks to partner with AYC to install a new audio visual system and get it operational, solving our longstanding tech issues. Bill, pictured below, was the only member of the three person gang who was at the meeting this morning, so he got to accept the recognition on Dave and Richard's behalf.
DG Lukov also mentioned the District 5050 Facebook page. For those interested, it can be found here: https://www.facebook.
Fidalgo Island Rotary has two fundraisers a year, one of which is the Shipwreck Festival. The event technically starts at 8 am, but there are usually some businesses and booths that get started right at first light, just like the old time fishermen used to. This year was no different. We were setting up at 4 a.m. and the first shoppers showed up at 4:45 a.m. even though it officially starts at 8.
Although everyone in the club helps makes this event happen, leading the effort is Val Tibbetts. She works tirelessly to ensure a successful event. She works with the vendors to get them signed up and ready to participate. She organizes the participation and duties of FIR club members to set the event up, support it and take it down.
The event started forty years ago when our commercial fishermen sold their used gear as yard art on Commercial Ave. "Shipwreck" has evolved into a massive community garage sale including flea market and antique vendors.
This event features over 200 vendors set up in booths along Commercial Ave.; each booth brings something new and usually very eclectic, and you are sure to find something that you can’t live without.
Lots more pictures here: 2023 Shipwreck Festival
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