Youth---truly our investment in our future! How fitting that Rotary designates a calendar month to Youth Services! Many Rotarians join or remain in the ‘family of Rotary’ because of its advocacy for youth programs. I did! As a past teacher and current administrator, the Rotary partnership is so evident in our schools and community. Leadership, literacy, and scholarship programs flourish because of Rotary. I am so grateful for the opportunities for youth to learn, to connect, and to become leaders!
We are very proud of our longstanding Youth Exchange program. Chair, Ron Hutchinson, has made the program vigorous and impactful. Faiza has enriched our understanding of her country and culture…soon she will depart for home enriched by a year full of incredible memories. Yes, many students in adulthood return to their host families and Rotary communities to visit and reconnect because of lifelong ties established during the exchange year. These students are our ‘peace ambassadors’. Thank you for opening your homes and hearts to our exchange students!
Whatever you do to support youth programs…..a sincere thank you. Annually our club awards over $37,000 in scholarships, engages in local and global literacy projects that support reading, send students to the Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly, support the Interact Club and AVID students at SKHS, support the Ready for K! Program in SKSD, and honor the PO Rotary Students of the Year. Our youth infuse our world with a sense of possibility. Thank you for recognizing that an investment in our youth is an investment in our future. Students so very naturally know how to “Be the Inspiration”….and demonstrate how “Rotary Connects the World”.
Lori Blankenship is currently a Detective with the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office. She started my career as a law enforcement officer at the University of Washington Police Department in 1989. In 1992, I joined the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office and spent the first ten years on patrol and the last seventeen in detectives.
She is an active member with the SAIVS (Special Assault Investigative and Victim Services) a multi-disciplinary team that creates protocol for law enforcement agencies investigating sexual assaults, domestic violence and vulnerable adult crimes. SAIVS also is a co-host for Camp Rise where children who have been physically or sexually abused have a safe place to go and enjoy indoor and outdoor activities.
In October 2016 she joined the board at KSAC (Kitsap Sexual Assault Center) and in May 2017 she was elected as the President of the Board.
Penelope Sapp
Penelope joined KSAC as an Executive Board Member in December of 2017 because she strongly believes that sexual assault victims need assistance to cope with the psychological, emotional, and physical impacts that a survivor endures.
Penelope was hired at the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office in 2002 and holds the rank of lieutenant. She is also the President of the Kitsap Shop with a Cop, which hosts an annual event where over 120 underprivileged children go shopping with local law enforcement during the holiday season. In her free time, is currently working on her dissertation for her PhD in Philosophy of Public Policy Administration.
Cami Lewis
Chief Felony Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office. She has been with the office for almost 19 years practicing in each of the criminal divisions we have. Cami is also the Chair of Kitsap SAIVS (Special Assault Investigations and Victim Services). This is the County’s multi-disciplinary team made up of law enforcement, prosecutor’s office, CPS, APS, AG’s office, KMHS, victim advocacy groups (such as the YWCA, KSAC, Scarlet Road, Navy advocacy) and Olympic College. They are tasked with creating the County’s law enforcement protocol in investigating sexual assaults, domestic violence, crimes against children and human trafficking. With the help of KSAC and other partner agencies, we do outreach and education and for 4 years have co-hosted Camp RISE with the Kitsap County Juvenile Department.
Mission & History
Kitsap Sexual Assault Center (KSAC) began in 1975 providing services to sexual assault victims and their non-offending family members in Kitsap County.
In 2015, therapy, support groups, advocacy, crisis intervention, personal support, information and referral services were provided to 1,041 individuals who were primary and secondary victims of sexual assault.
KSAC provides training for school personnel and other agencies throughout Kitsap County about how to respond to sexual assault disclosures, reporting procedures and community resources.
This is a busy week. Tomorrow is morning meeting at WG. Please bring your donations and wine bottles to meeting.
Wednesday is the Board meeting at 530pm at the Brick House.
Thursday at 5pm, at Timmerman’s to get programs ready for Auction event.
Friday, we will meet at Ron’s at 3pm, to load auction items up the trucks and unload at Conference Center.
Saturday, we all meet at Conference Center at 10 am to set up for Auction. The more that attends, the faster we will be complete and ready for evenings festivities. Also, Saturday, give Mark, Jon or Dave Weikel your credit Card Info, so you won’t have to stand in line Saturday evening. It will help the lines go faster, if we Rotarians have already signed in.
Our club in conjunction with the Discovery high school kids released 35,000 chum salmon fry into Beaver Creek on Monday 4 March. I met the students at our Karcher Creek hatchery at 1:30pm. IWe were at the main gate Fuel Depot between 2 - 2:15pm. We released an additional 35,000 chum fry into Beaver Creek on Tuesday 5 March. This release was not on the Fuel Depot, but on a private farm further up the road.
Register now for the District Training and Conference in Victoria, British Columbia, May 9 - 11, 2019. You will have the opportunity to attend training sessions, hear an array of internationally recognized speakers, and most of all, get to know and share with fellow Rotarians from around our district. Stay at the award-winning Hotel Grand Pacific in the heart of downtown and enjoy all this beautiful city has to offer. Be inspired, have fun, form friendships, celebrate our accomplishments, and look forward to the Rotary year ahead!
Rotary brings the world to Hamburg One of the city’s largest and most multi-cultural conventions will bring €24 million HAMBURG, Germany (30 April 2019)
Register now for the District Training and Conference in Victoria, British Columbia, May 9 - 11, 2019. You will have the opportunity to attend training sessions, hear an array of internationally recognized speakers, and most of all, get to know and share with fellow Rotarians from around our district. Stay at the award-winning Hotel Grand Pacific in the heart of downtown and enjoy all this beautiful city has to offer. Be inspired, have fun, form friendships, celebrate our accomplishments, and look forward to the Rotary year ahead!
