Sunrise Rotary Inducts New Members Marsha Lindeken and Thom Wells
Christianne Dettmann
We’re growing! The SaddleBrooke Sunrise Rotary Club is excited to welcome two more members to its ranks. Focused squarely on community service throughout the Copper Corridor, the Club cherishes and celebrates everyone who has committed to helping make a tangible difference in and around the communities we call home.
Marsha Lindeken has been an honorary member of the club for a few years, having consistently participated in club activities alongside her husband, Rotarian Roger Lindeken. This year, however, Marsha became a full-fledged member in her own right, having been sponsored by her husband and inducted on March 5. She also dove in headfirst by agreeing recently to be the club’s newest secretary. Marsha helps regularly at the Tri-Community Food Bank, at the Golden Goose Moonlight Madness sales, and in planning the club’s social activities. She greets everyone with a smile and is a pleasure to have on board!
Thom Wells joined the club having been a Rotarian already for 15 years in both Colorado and North Carolina. In those clubs, he served in a variety of positions and now brings immense perspective and talent to this one. Thom has already helped regularly at the Tri-Community Food Bank and at the Golden Goose and is eager to involve himself even more wherever he can.
Sponsored by Garrett Ressing, Thom was inducted on April 16. He is a fountain of knowledge and experience coupled with healthy portions of kindness and humility. The club is excited to welcome Thom into the fold!
Are you someone who likes to have an impact by doing? If so, this club may be for you! Visit the SaddleBrooke Sunrise Rotary Club website (saddlebrookesunriserotary.org) to learn more, or come sit in on one of the regular club meetings. Members convene in the Mesa Room of the La Hacienda Club at SaddleBrooke Ranch from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. (latest 9 a.m.) on the first and third Thursday of each month. Join us!
Gary Haslett
Spotlight on Gary Haslett, Sunrise Rotary of SaddleBrooke
Joyce Wainscott
There are people who enter and light up a room—and don’t do much after that. Gary Haslett turns out the lights at the end of the night, cleans up, and makes sure everyone gets home safely, while giving the group the credit.
Before Gary became a charter member of the SaddleBrooke Sunrise Rotary—serving as secretary, membership chair, and leading the installation of the Little Free Library in the Copper Corridor—he lived an active life of service to our nation’s youth.
His 43-year career in education is a master class in showing up, stepping up, and still having enough left to coach after school.
With degrees from Centralia College and Central Washington State College (B.A. in History and a master’s in Educational Administration), Gary began at Sultan High School in 1969, where he wore more hats than most closets—teacher, vice principal, special education director, athletic director, and head basketball coach. A career defined by saying “yes.”
He later served as principal at Adna Junior/Senior High School and Mossyrock Elementary/Middle School, overseeing athletics and special education along the way. Not one to ease into retirement, Gary joined Washington State University as an adjunct professor before finishing in Arizona’s Picacho School District teaching math and physical education, and serving as athletic and testing director. Retirement was more of a rumor than a plan.
His leadership extended statewide. He served four terms as President of the Southwest Washington Extra Curricular Activities Association, overseeing more than 60 schools, six terms on the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Board, and four years on the State Elementary Principals’ Board. If it involved students, sports, or structure—Gary was probably already handling it.
Born in Centralia, Wash., and raised in Mossyrock (population: just enough for a full-court game), Gary describes his childhood as “Norman Rockwell meets pickup sports.” The small-town values and constant motion endured.
Gary married Sally in 1994, blending a family that now includes five children and 15 grandchildren. Together, they logged countless hours in bleachers and on sidelines. Their girls’ basketball teams made six state tournament appearances—suggesting Gary didn’t just attend games, he influenced outcomes.
When not in a gym, Gary and Sally have traveled extensively, visiting 41 states and several countries, including across Europe. Proof he could be found somewhere without a whistle.
Gary is also the author of Salkum Reds, a 363-page collection of stories about growing up in small-town Washington.
His honors include Principal of the Year (Lewis County and Region 4), Athletic Director of the Year (Snohomish County and Region 1), service on the Central Washington University Alumni Board, and recognition from the Arizona Department of Education for helping Picacho achieve one of the state’s top test score improvements.
Gary played competitive basketball until 52 and was a spin instructor until 75, which raises a fair question about what, exactly, he considers slowing down.
Gary’s is a lifetime proving that sustained enthusiasm, paired with quiet leadership, looks a lot like excellence.
Spotlight on Frank Shipton
Christianne Dettmann
“Never volunteer for anything!”
This was the advice Frank Shipton’s father—himself a 32-year military veteran—gave before Frank deployed to serve in Vietnam. Trained as both an Army Infantry Officer and a helicopter pilot, Frank predominantly flew the UH1 (“huey”) to support military operations during battle, ultimately flying over 500 combat missions and earning numerous medals.
His father’s advice proved sound: the one mission for which Frank volunteered was the one and only time he and his crew were shot down. After taking over 250 rounds of fire, they managed a controlled but hard landing while still in enemy territory and with only seconds to spare before the rotors froze. All survived in this instance, suffering non-life threatening wounds and managing to evade enemy forces until being rescued hours later. Tragically, another crew was shot down in the same area just two weeks later and was not so fortunate.
Following his tour in Vietnam, Frank returned to the states and reported for duty in Washington state. There he met, dated, and married Diane, his wife of now over 50 years. They share two sons and four grandchildren.
Frank’s storied career eventually took him away from full-time military, off to graduate school, and into sales, although he maintained a presence with the Air National Guard and Reserves, eventually retiring with over 20 years of service. If you know Frank, this combination becomes obvious: he’s a servant heart who loves making new friends … and flying! After earning a master’s degree in International Marketing, Management, and International Business, Frank sold medical products and managed both the sales of radiology information systems for DuPont and computer systems for Hewlett Packard. He finished his working years in the Air Force Air National Guard and as a government contractor supporting Air Force Air National Guard operations.
One of Frank’s proudest career accomplishments began on May 18, 1980, the day Mt. St. Helens erupted in southwest Washington. Among 1,600 other activated guardsmen and 16 helicopters, his unit helped find and rescue 167 people from the aftermath. In recognition of exemplary action and aviation skills directly involved in rescuing victims of the St. Helens eruption, Frank was awarded the Valley Forge Cross for Heroism (#100).
When it came to retirement, Frank’s father’s advice about volunteering fortunately did not stick. Upon moving to SaddleBrooke, Frank took up pickleball and became an instructor. His neighbor, Ron Lenz, introduced him to the SaddleBrooke Sunrise Rotary Club, with which he now volunteers regularly at the Tri-Community Food Bank and in many other endeavors.
The club is proud to have Frank among its ranks and encourages you to check us out too. Visit saddlebrookesunriserotary.org to learn more!