Wheel for Meeting of 3-6-2017

Posted by Kyle Cronk on Mar 06, 2017
 
 
Rotary Club of Olympia
The Wheel
 
Date:  Monday, March 6, 2017
 
Today’s Program:
renee sunde
Renee Sunde, Economic Development Director, City of Olympia
 
Meeting Called to order 12:27 by President Wendy Holden 
 
Invocation by: Dirk Farar
 
God Bless America by: Nancy Zussy
 
Pledge of Allegiance led by: Mayor Cheryl Selby
 
Four Way Test led by:  Gerald Pumphrey
 
Guests of Rotarians: Dave Suderberg, Margarett Hanson, Bonnie Nelson, Ginger Saver, Norm Mitchell, Lee Sherman, Keith Stahley, Mark Renfro, Kim Young
 
Visiting Rotarians: Ken Balsley
 
Happy Bucks: Dan Lehuta, Nancy Zussy, Oscar Soule, Chuck Fowler, Judy Henderson, Todd Cutts, Sam Bovard, Jim Balz, Bob Wubbena, Caroline Manger
 
Auction: Bill Lahmann won Harlequin Tickets to “The Understudy”
Eggs went to Sam Bovard
 
Honoring Rotarians: John Huff presented several Rotary Awards:
Christy Peters (Paul Harris Fellow $1K donation to RF)
Martin Meyer (Paul Harris Fellow plus One Sapphire $2K donation to RF)
Tore Nielson (Paul Harris Fellow plus One Sapphire $2K donation to RF)
Dennis Peterson (Paul Harris Fellow plus Two Sapphire $3K donation to RF)
Neil DeBoer (Paul Harris Fellow plus Three Sapphire $4K donation to RF)
Corrina Phillips (Paul Harris Fellow plus Eight 3 Rubies)
Sean Padget (Paul Harris Fellow plus Eight 3 Rubies)
Judy Henderson (Major Donor over $10K to RF)
 
Special Announcement: Club members were honored to invite Congressman Denny Heck to the podium for a brief Washington DC update. Congressman Heck shared his two areas of focus and priorities:
  1. As Chairman of the Housing Coalition and member of the pro-Growth Democrats: Housing is a major priority and presents a key opportunity for economic growth.
  2. Congressman Heck is a Member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence – providing oversight for all 17 intelligence organizations. The House Select Committee on Intelligence is a bipartisan committee and encourage members to have patient in the process.
 
Program: Olympia City Council Member Jim Cooper introduced Renee Sunde – City of Olympia EDC Director for today’s Program. Renee brings 25 years of EDC work to the City of Olympia. Renee achieved a high degree of successful program implementation in her former role as Duty Director of Thurston County Economic Development Council.
 
Mrs. Sunde began her presentation describing that economic development requires a coordinated effort with strong polices and a business culture focused on strategic partners. In only a year and half, Olympia is enjoying a renewed interest in the revitalization of its downtown thanks to Mrs. Sundee’s coordinated approach.
 
Highlights for 2016 was Sales Tax Revenue was up 7.1%; Construction Revenue increased 23% and multiple projects broke ground. Renee briefly highlighted other accomplishments like the city’s coordinated Auto Mall strategy – they are actively recruiting, Zoning changes at the Briggs Village, adoption of the Community Renewal Action Plan (allowing City to purchase blighted property for renewal and reuse, State of Washington’s $69M project that is changing the gateway to Downtown Olympia, and the City’s renewed focus on small business growth.
 
Mrs. Sundee closed the program with a photo slide show highlighting the changing landscape of Olympia. Connect to the City website for more information regarding the City of Olympia’s economic development strategy.
 
Mr. Snappy: Peter Brennen, hand painted Turkey Dish
 
Meeting adjourned: by President Holden @ 1:39 PM