Presidents of Rotary 2020-2022
Jennifer Bliesner
President Yakima Rotary Club 2020-2021
Jennifer Bliesner is the first President of the Yakima Rotary Club for its second century. She is a long-time resident of the Yakima Valley and lives in Yakima with her husband Terry and her two children. She is an active community volunteer and has served on the Board of Directors for the Independent Insurance Agents of Yakima County. Jennifer joined the Insurance business in 2008 when she was employed by the firm of Terril, Lewis, and Wilkie. One year later she was named a partner becoming the only female independent insurance agency owner in Yakima. She is currently Vice President/Co-Owner of the company. Previously she was Local Sales Manager for KNDO/KNDU-TV.
Jennifer has served on the boards of United Way of Central Washington, Yakima Valley Tourism, Junior League of Yakima, St. Paul’s Cathedral School Advisory Commission and the Monsignor John A. Ecker Foundation. In July of 2020 she will become president of the Yakima Rotary Club.
John A. Baule
President Yakima Rotary Club 2021-2022
John A. Baule was Director of the Yakima Valley Museum from 1992 to 2016, and is currently the Director Emeritus of the Museum and its Archivist. During his tenure as Director he instituted many professional museum practices, oversaw the fund development and expansion/renovation of the museum’s physical plant.
John is a native of Dubuque, Iowa where he grew up exploring the historic parts of the community. Although he was always fascinated with the past, he chose to earn a degree in math and physics, and taught 9th grade algeba for for several years. Following a stint in the Army he returned to Cooperstown, New York to earn a master’s degree in museum history studies. He is also a graduate of the Williamsburg Seminar in Historical Administration and the Museum Management Institute.
He joined the Yakima Rotary Club in 1993 and has served on a number of committees. He became club president in the 2021-2022 Rotary Year. John is active in various national professional organizations. His community activities include Chair of the Yakima Convention Center & Tourism Board, founding member of the Yakima-Morelia (Mexico) Sister City Association, founding member of the Yakima Arts Commission, Treasurer of the Downtown Revitalization Improvement Group, and numerous short-term projects. From 1998 to 2016 he was a Trustee of Humanities Washington and served a two-year term as its chair.
Richard J. (Rick) Fairbrook
President Yakima Rotary Club 2022-2023
My ancestors settled in the Yakima Valley in the mid-1860s and I have lived in Yakima for most of my life. After 14 years of going to school and living in Oregon I returned home in 1981 where I became the third-generation member of my family’s real estate company. In 1996 I purchased the company and in 1999 became affiliated with the John L. Scott Real Estate franchise.
My father, John Fairbrook, joined Rotary in 1958 (?) which is when I began to learn about Rotary through club picnics and special events. I had the opportunity to meet many Rotarians and was always impressed by them. I remember them as community leaders. In 1980 my father was selected to be the President of Yakima Rotary.
When I moved back to Yakima, I was proposed for membership by my past President father and I did not hesitate to say yes to becoming a member of Yakima Rotary. In a way I have been part of Rotary for most of my life and was able to pass on the opportunity of Rotary International’s Student Exchange to my daughter. And in this way, it is passed on again!
Erin Black
President Yakima Rotary Club 2023-2024
Erin Black currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The Memorial Foundation, Yakima Valley Memorial’s philanthropic partner. She joined the foundation in summer 2015. Within this role, Erin leads an exceptionally talented team in which they collectively build genuine relationships within the community helping connect people’s generosity to impactful health care programs and services.
Black previously worked as the Yakima YWCA Executive Director and is a Downtown Yakima Rotarian, serves on the Rotary Trust Board and will serve as the Downtown Yakima Rotary President in 2023/2024. She was appointed by Governor Inslee to serve as a Trustee on the Central Washington University Board. Black received a master’s degree from Seattle University in Nonprofit Leadership and her bachelor’s degree from Central Washington University. She is passionate about mission-based work and the opportunity for collective impact for the betterment of communities.
Erin enjoys spending time with her husband Monte and beautiful daughter Raelee. Together they love to travel, ski, hike, and camp.