Campfire Samish 2026

At our Jan. 12 Rotary meeting, Marty provided the inspiration, reading from Theo of Golden by Allen Levy. (See Read More at end)
 
Adam presented our Rotary check for $1,850 for camperships to Marcus Roskamp from Campfire Samish. This is double what was asked for in the grant request, but the board felt like it was such a worthwhile cause, they doubled it. This goes directly to families in need. All camp experiences are at Camp Kirby on Samish Island.

Marcus spoke briefly:
  1. Overnight Camp: They have already had requests for $15,000 for scholarships for camp, even though camp is not until summer. 800 campers are served in this one week, over-night camp program. There are not enough beds for more. There are seven sessions every summer.
  2. Day camp serves younger kids or kids not ready for overnight
  3. Outdoor School is for school districts, generally 5th grade, for 3 days and 2 nights. There was an outdoor school fund in state budget, now no longer. School districts are looking to other organizations to help fund outdoor school.
*All these camps are outdoor-based and technology-free.
 
Our Rotary Youth Engaged in Service students make use of Camp Kirby for leadership training and volunteer activities.
 
Spring and fall work parties would be a great time for our club to volunteer.
 
Keith conducted an audience survey about what people would like to know about Artificial Intelligence in preparation for his presentation on January 26th.
 
Happy  Birthday and welcome home Danielle! January 5th    
 
Classroom Snacks:
Marty and Dennis will shop and deliver the snacks.  Christi has been doing this, but her efforts are needed to take care of  Chris and her mom. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
 
Marty discussed Homeless families, what could we do to support.
5th graders in La Conner are distributing the weekend food.
 
Calendar
Monday, January 19:  Auction Meeting at 5:00pm
Monday, January 26: Membership Meeting following Club Meeting
Saturday, January 31: Deadline for Large Projects to be submitted.  So far Log Park and newspapers in the school
          
Saturday, February 28: Shred-a-thon with La Conner United
Shred-a-thon cost: $1050, charge $10/box, club signs and banners, table with coffee and brochures. The proceeds after recouping the cost of the shredding company will go to the Sunrise Food Bank.

"We all walk roads of various descriptions in life. The long and winding road. The road to ruin. Easy Street. The road less traveled.

"Along the way, there are questions, there is news, there are concerns and fears and uncertainties that furrow our brows, trouble our souls, and break our hearts. Death terrifies many of us.

"But God, in His sublime goodness, has always sent others, mysterious others, to walk with us — prophets, preachers, friends, teachers, artists, storytellers, wives and husbands, children, songbirds and rivers, even hardship and loss — to help us see clearly.

They are ones who make our hearts burn within us, who call us out of our indifference, our lethargy, our death and defeat. They call us to be fully alive, or at least more alive than we were before we met them.