Meetings/Events

September 1: Dr. Nicholas Cowan, MD, Transplant surgery practices and AI's impact on the practice of medicine

Dr. Nicholas (Nick) G. Cowan, M.D. is a board-certified urologist and transplant surgeon at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. He specializes in kidney transplantation, kidney cancer, complex kidney stones, and advanced laparoscopic and robotic urologic surgeries. [1]

Medical & Academic Background

• Medical Education: Earned his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2009.
• Residency: Completed his urology residency training at Oregon Health & Science University in 2015.
• Fellowship: Finished a specialized fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2017.
• Leadership Roles: Serves as the Urology Residency Program Director at Virginia Mason.
• Academic Appointments: Functions as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Urology at the University of Washington. [1, 2, 3]

Research & Professional Affiliations
Dr. Cowan is actively involved in the medical research community, focusing heavily on minimally invasive surgery and technical innovations. His published research includes studies on specialized pain management techniques and cost-reduction strategies specifically designed for kidney transplant surgeries. [1]

• Professional Memberships: Active member of the American Urological Association and the Urologic Society for Transplantation and Renal Surgery. [1]
• Editorial Roles: Acts as an expert manuscript reviewer for major medical publications, including Urology, The Journal of Urology, and Clinical Transplantation. [1]

Personal Life
When he is not in the operating room or teaching residents, Dr. Cowan is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys surfing, skiing, and backpacking.

September 8: DG Patricia Chapman will address us during the District Governor's annual visit.  Presenting a "Creating Lasting Change Award" to a member of each Rotary Club.

 Patricia Chapman is a dedicated community leader, pageant alumna, and long-standing philanthropist who serves as the Rotary District 5030 District Governor for the 2026–2027 term.
P
Rotary Service & Philanthropy

• Rotary Tenure: She has been an active Rotarian since 2005. [1]
• Home Club: She is a member and Past President of the neighboring Rotary Club of Duvall. [1]
• Major Recognition: In June 2025, she and her husband, Mike Chapman, were inducted into the Arch Klumph Society (Chair's Circle). This elite recognition honors individuals who have made substantial lifetime financial contributions to the international Rotary Foundation. [1]
• Civic Honors: In May 2026, the Mayor of Duvall issued an official proclamation declaring "Patricia Chapman Day" to celebrate her extensive history of community service and leadership. [1]

Personal Life & Background

• Early Life: Born in Washington in 1962, she shares an exact birthday with the famous Seattle Space Needle built for the World's Fair.
• Pageant Alumna: She began public speaking and community advocacy as a teenager, placing as the first runner-up in the Daffodil Princess Pageant at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.
• Lifestyle & Pursuits: She operates an online venture called Women of a Beautiful Age. She splits her time between a small farm in Western Washington and a condominium in Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Family Team: Her husband, Mike Chapman, actively supports her leadership track, serving as her District Governor Chief of Staff for the 2026–2027 Rotary year. [1, 2, 3]

September 15:Amy Lee Derenthal Executive Director, The Center for Active Living

Amy Lee Derenthal is a dedicated nonprofit leader and a passionate advocate for community enrichment. She serves as the Executive Director of The Center for Active Living(opens in new tab) (formerly the Senior Center of West Seattle), an organization affectionately known as the "Jewel of the Junction." Under her leadership, the Center serves as a vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive social gathering place. It supports the physical, mental, and emotional health of local seniors through robust educational programs, daily affordable meals, wellness services, and social connection.  Amy Lee’s lifelong calling to social services began at the tender age of four, when she started delivering Meals on Wheels alongside her mother. This foundational experience instilled in her the core values of volunteerism, community responsibility, and caring for neighbors. With over 20 years of professional leadership across the social services sector, Amy Lee brings a diverse background in strategic planning, budgeting, direct mail marketing, and planned giving. Before her executive role at the Center, she built an extensive career helping West Seattle organizations thrive. She previously directed fundraising and development efforts for organizations like Food Lifeline, The Kenney Retirement Community, and the Highline Medical Center Foundation. She holds a certificate in Fundraising Management from the University of Washington(opens in new tab). Amy Lee’s primary strength as an executive is her ability to nurture deep relationships between individuals, organizations, and the broader community. A true West Seattleite, she lives locally and actively collaborates with community groups—including serving as an engaged member of the West Seattle Rotary Club—to champion the needs of older adults and create a neighborhood where everyone can age with vital support and dignity.

September 22: Hon. Michael Heavey (Ret) - Judges for Justice 

Judges for Justice is a non-profit organization of retired judges who review trial transcripts to identify and overturn wrongful convictions.

The Honorable Michael Heavey (Ret.)
Decorated Veteran, Former Jurist, and Champion for Truth & Justice
Judge Michael Heavey (Ret.) has dedicated his entire adult life to the service of his country, his state, and the core principles of the American legal system. A man driven by duty, honor, and a deep commitment to human rights, his multifaceted career spans military heroism, fourteen years of impactful legislative leadership, and over a decade of fair-minded service on the King County Superior Court bench. Today, he channels his extensive legal expertise into serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Judges for Justice, a non-profit organization he co-founded to correct systemic errors and free the wrongfully convicted.
Raised in Seattle, Washington, Mike Heavey’s journey of service began when he stepped away from college to enlist in the United States Army during the height of the Vietnam War. Serving as a second lieutenant with the esteemed First Cavalry Division, his leadership and courage under fire earned him the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service. Upon returning home, he completed his education, earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Washington(opens in new tab) and his Juris Doctor from the Santa Clara University School of Law.
Before transitioning to the judiciary, Judge Heavey spent 14 years serving the citizens of Washington State in Olympia. He brought steady, community-focused leadership to both chambers of the Washington State Legislature, serving eight years in the House of Representatives and six years in the State Senate.
In 2000, Governor Gary Locke appointed Judge Heavey to the King County Superior Court, where he presided over hundreds of complex civil and criminal trials with a reputation for impartiality, fairness, and deep respect for the rule of law.
While serving on the bench, Judge Heavey faced a profound test of conscience. When a local neighborhood student, Amanda Knox, was wrongfully prosecuted in Italy, his deep-seated instinct as a truth-seeker compelled him to act. Believing that justice knows no borders, he chose to speak out publicly against the clear violations of due process happening overseas. He famously stated that he struggled to balance the rigid rules of a jurist with the moral obligations of a father, husband, and neighbor. Guided by a higher moral authority, he accepted personal and professional risks to defend her innocence, a stance that was ultimately vindicated when Knox was fully exonerated by Italy’s highest court.
His profound experience fighting for the truth globally inspired Judge Heavey to dedicate his post-judicial life to rectifying systemic flaws at home. Following his retirement from the bench in 2013, he co-founded Judges for Justice alongside retired Michigan Judge Peter Deegan.
As the organization's CEO, Judge Heavey applies the precision, analytical rigor, and evidentiary standards of a seasoned jurist to review fractured cases. Rather than evaluating cases solely through DNA, Judge Heavey and his team of retired judges review full trial transcripts to identify "noble cause corruption"—instances where overzealous investigation tactics or prosecutorial overreach inadvertently target the innocent.
Under his passionate leadership, Judges for Justice has built an incredible track record of success:

• • Innovative Advocacy: Transitioned the organization into producing hard-hitting mini-documentaries and local media blitzes to shift public opinion and compel courts to act.
  • Life-Changing Exonerations: Directly contributed to securing the freedom of four entirely innocent men across Idaho, Hawaii, and Ohio—including Chris Tapp, Albert "Ian" Schweitzer, Wayne Braddy, and Karl Willis.
  • Systemic Education: Travels nationwide lecturing at universities, legal seminars, and civic organizations to educate law enforcement, prosecutors, and defense attorneys on preventing future wrongful convictions.

Judge Heavey’s work continues to ensure that the American justice system lives up to its highest ideals, proving that a true jurist’s devotion to the truth never retires.

September 29: Yuvika Tolani, Artistic Director of Union Arts Center

Ms. Tolani is the newly-appointed Artistic Director at Union Arts Center, which represents the recently merged A Contemporary Theater and Seattle Shakespeare Company.

Yuvika Tolani joined Union Arts Center as Artistic Director in May 2026. She brings to the role a background that spans theater producing and urban community development, grounded in the belief that a strong arts environment is foundational to a healthy city.Tolani spent seven years at The Public Theater in New York, rising to Director of Producing, where she oversaw more than 20 productions annually for audiences of over 400,000, including Shakespeare in the Park, community pageants, and Off-Broadway premieres. As a member of senior leadership alongside Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, she shaped institutional strategy, long-term season planning, and guided the organization through the pandemic. She brings dramaturgical training alongside her producing expertise.

Tolani holds a Master's Degree in city Planning from MIT and a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University. Her work across theater and urban community development reflects a singular conviction: that the arts are essential infrastructure for a thriving city. She brings that vision to Seattle and to Union Arts Center.