Meeting in Review - June 21, 2023
By W Todd MillerMonday, June 26, 2023
_og.jpg "Meeting in Review - June 21, 2023")
On June 21, 2023, the Rotary Club of Washington, DC, held its regular weekly meeting in person at the University Club of Washington, D.C. and via Zoom, and welcomed guest speaker Dr. Katherine Ott, a curator at the National Museum of American History.President Marilyn Nevy Cruz called the meeting to order at 12:30 PM and led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Secretary Todd Miller introduced the guests and visiting Rotarians.
Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Max Salas recognized birthdays and anniversaries for the week.
Club Historian Monica Smith shared a History Moment. In recognition of Pride Month, she discussed a place that featured prominently in LGBTQ+ history in Washington, DC, Annie’s Paramount Steak House. Annie’s was opened in 1948 near its present location by George Katinas, the son of Greek immigrants. Originally known as “Paramount Steak House,” George added Annie’s name in the 1960s to honor Annie, one of his sisters who helped operate the restaurant and was noted for her compassion to gay patrons. The restaurant is now run by Paul Katinas, Annie’s nephew and George’s son, and continues to be an important community institution.
President Nominee Bob Schott encouraged everyone to give to the Club’s Foundation, noting that the Rotary Year was almost up and there are only 7 more cases of pink gin.
Past President Nancy Riker presented a blue badge to John Kropf.
President Marilyn awarded Member of the Month for the month of June to Past President Andy Cook. President Marilyn thanked Andy for his contributions this year including presiding over a lunch meeting and hosting the Spring Soiree.
President Marilyn also reminded everyone that the June 28 luncheon meeting for the Club will be held at Whittemore House, 1526 New Hampshire Ave., NW. It will be a Club Assembly and she was able to maintain the current pricing for lunches despite the change in venue.
President Elect Lisa Cohen gave a brief recap of the Changing of the Guard event at her home on June 17. She explained that the day was special to her since her son was deployed this year and the 17th was his 32nd birthday.
President Marilyn noted the next Tree Planting ceremony will be June 28, 2023, at 11 AM, down by the Tidal Basis. Further details have been sent by email by Bryan Ingram.
Club Historian Monica introduced her colleague from the Smithsonian and the guest speaker, Dr. Katherine Ott, a curator at the National Museum of American History for 20+years.
During Dr. Ott’s tenure at the Smithsonian, she has spent time thinking, talking, and writing about how and why people in the past were tagged for being different—because of disease, gender, disability, sexuality, race, or just being annoying. She has led exhibitions on HIV and AIDS, the Stonewall Anniversary, Polio, and disability history, among other topics. She teaches a graduate course at The George Washington University and has authored or coedited three books.
Dr. Ott responds to all pronouns and is energetically honing her queer superpower.
Dr. Ott began by thanking the Club for its assistance in presenting the Museum’s exhibition on polio. She focused her discussion on the materials relating to LGBTQ+ life at the Museum, noting that those materials have been spread across the collections and often the significance to the LGBTQ+ world was not known at the time it was collected. There are also a number of “quirky” LGBTQ+ artifacts including a matchbook collection because the matchbooks were used as a form of communication and John Waters’ pencil to color in his mustache.
Dr. Ott explained that she has justified her efforts as relating to the “history of sexuality,” which falls within one of her areas of responsibility (the history of medicine). She also noted the difference between collecting artifacts in contrast to maintaining archives. She shared that there are a number of current and upcoming exhibitions, including Entertainment Nation, currently on view.
After a question-and-answer session, President Marilyn presented Dr. Ott with a certificate for the planting of a tree under the Club’s Trees for the Capital program.
Sterling Hoffman conducted the Raffle, which was won by Chelsea Uzarowski, but she did not draw the Ace of Spades.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:28 PM. Salvador Farfán was the producer on Zoom, and Past President Nancy Riker the producer in the room. Dr. Sam Hancock and Austin Southern were the greeters.
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