Rotary Club of Sequim members thought big and were able to partner with the Sequim High carpentry class for 10 years and build homes in Sunland to sell, providing a hands-on education for students wishing to pursue the trades.
Club members were electricians, school administrators, attorneys, architects, custom home builders and Realtors with important skill sets to accomplish this project. The homes were sold and profits were used to continue the club’s community support.
Member Joe Hawe, then the Chief of Police for Sequim, recognized the need for a safe place for kids to be after school hours and until parents were home from work. The club, with Hawe’s direction, helped establish and provided seed money for the Sequim Boys & Girls Club.
Originally located in the Masonic Lodge building which is now the location of First Federal’s North Sequim Avenue branch, the Boys & Girls Club later moved across the street to the Methodist church building when the Masonic Lodge was torn down. Transportation of kids was provided by a big blue Rotary bus.
If these projects weren’t keeping members busy enough, the club also took on the challenge of spearheading a fund drive to build the present building housing the North Olympic Library on North Sequim Avenue. Club members helped raise more than $175,000 from community supporters and as a club contributed more than $30,000.
The club also assisted financially with resurfacing the track at Sequim High and providing funds for hurdles, continued to put on the Irrigation Festival Parade for the enjoyment of the Sequim community and their annual Salmon Bake.
By 1986 the club had grown to 80-plus members and sponsored the formation of a second Sequim Rotary club, now known as Sequim Sunrise.
The club is celebrating their 90th anniversary this June, and is looking for other community minded folks who would like to be a part of the fun.
To join us as “People of Impact,” learn more about what we are working on, meeting times and location, please visit our website at www.sequimrotary.org or look us up on Facebook at Facebook.com/SequimNoonRotary. Feel free to drop into a meeting or message us at sequim rotary@gmail.com.
Editor’s note: This is the sixth 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.
