The 1970s were very busy years for the Rotary Club of Sequim. Rotary’s major fundraiser, the annual Salmon Bake began with a bang — literally! Member Cy Frick got the club’s attention by shooting a blank from his pistol. Wow!

The first bake was held on the beach at Pitship Point — the present location of John Wayne Marina. The community turned out with great enthusiasm to enjoy freshly-baked salmon fillets over an open fire, sending Rotarians scrambling to the grocery store for more supplies to feed the hungry crowds.

The Salmon Bake moved from Pitship Point to Sequim Prairie Grange for 30-plus years. Last year’s 51st-annual Salmon Bake, now held at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, 400 W. Fir St. in Sequim, served more than 500 delicious meals of either salmon baked over an alder fire or tender pulled pork sandwich.

Funds from this successful first event were used to support Sequim High School in many ways, helping to purchase marching band uniforms, paying $10,000 toward the building of the current concession stand and restroom facility at the football field, heading and helping fund the current library building on North Sequim Avenue, providing graduating SHS students with scholarships, and many other community projects.

Members organized and put on the first Career Day for Sequim High juniors and seniors, with many of the membership and other local professionals talking with students about the benefits of their personal professions such as journalists, electricians, pharmacy, real estate professionals, attorneys, doctors, police, paramedics and many more.

To learn more about the Rotary Club of Sequim and our current projects, please visit our website at www.sequimrotary.org or our Facebook Page, Facebook.com/SequimNoonRotary. The club meets for lunch each Thursday at the Baja Cantina. Join us as “People of Impact”!

Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series of nine articles highlighting the Rotary Club of Sequim, whose byline is, “People of Impact.” Club members plan to celebrate its nine decades of community service through the remainder of the year culminating with a Celebratory Tea on June 18 (at Pioneer Memorial Park, 387 E. Washington St.), to which all former members, members’ spouses, exchange students and others will be invited.