March 3, 2026

Our guest speaker will be Dr. Sibyl Frankenburg of the University of Washington’s College of Education — a passionate educator who is shaping the next generation of teachers across the Puget Sound region. Drawing on her experience as a former high school social studies teacher and current coach to Master of Teaching candidates, Dr. Frankenburg will share how today’s educators are trained, mentored, and inspired to make history come alive for students in ways that connect the past to the world they live in now.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Frankenburg brings a civic perspective through her service on the boards of the Seattle Public Library Foundation and the Brennan Center for Justice, underscoring the powerful link between education, democracy, and community life. If you care about the future of education — and the leaders it will shape — this is a morning you won’t want to miss. Please join us, and feel free to bring a guest for a thoughtful start to your day.

February 24, 2026

I hope you’ll join us next Tuesday at 7:00 a.m. at the Embassy Suites in Bellevue for breakfast, fellowship, and a timely program from our very own Steve Schmitz. Steve and his wife Peggy are principals of Schmitz & Associates, a Bellevue-based CPA firm that has served the community for more than 38 years. A University of North Dakota accounting graduate (Go Bisons!) with additional graduate studies at Gonzaga, Steve will help us make sense of the changing tax landscape at both the federal and state levels — so we’re all a bit better prepared when the “Taxman” comes knocking.

Please plan to attend and give Steve a warm Sunrise welcome, both as a respected tax professional and a long-standing Rotarian. This will be an informative — and dare I say financially therapeutic — morning, and you may even leave humming a certain Beatles tune on your way out. Guests are always welcome, so feel free to bring a friend.

February 17, 2026

Our speaker will be… President Randy Ohlendorf. He will be reprising his classification talk from ten years ago on Oregon running legend Steve Prefontaine. Even if you attended the original presentation, this updated version offers a fresh perspective on a true cultural and Northwest icon, with new insights and meaningful connections to his enduring legacy in sports and society.

February 10, 2026

We are pleased to welcome Shira Brewer, Executive Director of PropagationNation, an environmental nonprofit dedicated to strengthening environmental resilience and economic stability in the Pacific Northwest by planting coast redwoods and giant sequoias. PropagationNation is an intergenerational movement focused on renewing our environment by assisting the climate-adaptive migration of these magnificent trees and enhancing the long-term resilience and natural beauty of our region.

Founded in 2019 by three Boeing retirees, PropagationNation has already facilitated the planting of thousands of coast redwood and giant sequoia saplings in more than 70 communities across 10 Washington counties. Shira will share the organization’s inspiring story and the impact this work is having close to home.

February 3, 2026

We are honored to welcome Sue Rahr as our guest speaker who most recently as Interim Seattle Police Chief (2024-2025). Sue will speak to us on  our country’s broken immigration enforcement program. She will compare and contrast federal immigration enforcement with effective municipal policing standards. Sue will also address where we go from here in light of recent high-profile events, including national debates over federal immigration enforcement.

January 27, 2026

We’re pleased to welcome Jason Cheung, Outreach Specialist at Willdan, as our guest speaker. Jason will share insights into how Willdan partners with governments, utilities, and businesses to modernize infrastructure, improve efficiency, and advance the transition to clean energy—through projects like energy retrofits, renewable energy installations, EV infrastructure, and smart planning for the future.

Rescheduled: January 6, 2026

Kent’s presentation will take us on a journey through the wireless evolution—from the early days of mobile technology and handsets, through the rise and fall of industry giants like Blackberry, Nokia, and Microsoft, to the ever-changing landscape we experience today. It’s sure to be an engaging and insightful discussion, so come enjoy breakfast, fellowship, and another great Rotary morning together!