“Help others and give something back. I guarantee you will discover that while public service improves the lives and the world around you, its greatest reward is the enrichment and new meaning it will bring your own life,” said Arnold Schwarzenegger. That sentiment embodies the life—and work—of Kim Dinsmore, Executive Vice President of Lacey’s Sunset Air.
Born into a military family, Kim Dinsmore settled in Olympia when his Army father retired here. He joined the Sunset Air team in 1977 as employee #7. Over the past 38 years, he “learned the business from the ground up. I swept floors, ordered material, took old furnace systems to the dump, followed [company founder] Peter Fluetsch like a puppy dog to job sites, took classes on heating and cooling, learned how to bid and design heating and cooling systems and learned how to sell.”
“I did this until about 1985 when Peter ask me to step up and oversee the commercial side of our business,” explained Dinsmore. “Brian was doing more of the service side and the residential side by that time, so we really started to grow our commercial business.
Since 1985, Dinsmore has continued on the commercial side of Sunset Air, serving as the Executive Vice President. “Like any good company you always do whatever it takes to succeed,” says Dinsmore. “I still work some in residential and in service as well as helping to grow our engineering and full mechanical capabilities.”
His passion for the company and its mission is strong, even after almost 40 years. As he explains, “One of the cultures I am most proud of at Sunset Air is the importance we place on people’s families. I was always able to attend my kid’s sporting events, music concerts etc. We make a point of making sure employee’s families are a top priority. Sunset Air has grown to become one of the premier energy services companies in South Western Washington and that’s something I am very proud to have been a part of.”
The Sunset Air mindset has carried over into Dinsmore’s recreational life as well. “Our founder, Peter Fluetsch, instilled in many of his employees the need to give back to the community you live in. It is a foundation of everything he is about and he wanted all of us to get involved,” remembers Dinsmore.
“One of his favorite things to say was ‘you take care of your community and your community will take care of you.’ Rotary’s motto is ‘service above self.’ My dad was also a member of the downtown Olympia Club. This is the original Rotary Club in Thurston County, founded in 1921. One thing lead to another and I was ask to be on the Board of the Club, and a few years later elected to be President for the 2002-2003 year. My father was the President in 77-78 and my grandfather was President in 40-41. I am the only third generation Rotary President in the Olympia Club.”
On November 22, the nine Rotary Clubs of Thurston County will host the 13th annual Cool Jazz Clean Water event. This fundraiser benefits Rotary clean water initiatives around the world, youth leadership training, and the purchase and repair of over 500 musical instruments for local school music programs. This year’s festival will begin by hosting 12 Local High School and Middle School bands at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The musical portion of the day is a free family event. That evening, the Center will transform into a wine tasting event where for $50 guests will receive a complimentary wine glass, 10 samples from over 70 wine selections and Three Magnets Brewery, and the chance to bid on silent auction wines donated by Rotarians. Music in the evening is provided by local jazz great Syd Potter and his Tentette.
Monies raised by the event will be divided three ways. Explains Dinsmore, “40% of the proceeds go to a Rotary Clean Water project. Over the past 12 years, Rotarians have finished three major water projects – two in Malawi Africa and one in Kenya – that are now providing clean water to over 30,000 residents of those countries. This year’s project will be in Honduras.”
“Rotary’s water mission is to fund projects that are sustainable, educational, and provide a sanitation element,” continues Dinsmore. “The other 40% of the proceeds is used to buy new and refurbished musical instruments for local school districts. North Thurston, Tumwater, Rochester, and Olympia Schools have received over 400 instruments the last 12 years that get checked out to students who otherwise may not be able to afford an instrument.”
Dinsmore explains that the final 20% goes to fund a ‘Youth Summit.’ “This one day event is a day of seminars designed to help non-profits that work with youth. Participants are able to learn things like nutrition, how to work with at risk youth, how to learn to identify kids that may be facing abuse, listening techniques and so on.”
Dinsmore has also served the past 10 years on the board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Thurston County “It’s a great organization that I really believe in,” he states.
Gandhi once said that “service which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served. But all other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy.”
Kim Dinsmore is a man of tremendous service but also tremendous joy. His passionate love of our region, its people, and hands-on service projects have far-reaching results which have made the world a better place.
