Phil Gubbins - Rescue of Refugees in the South China Sea Catherine Riordan - Invocation
April 3, 2023
Opening Welcome:
President Paul rang the meeting to order at 1:30 PM. This being the first meeting of April, he recognized those with birthdays and Club membership anniversaries this month. He then reminded us to nominate members for the four end-of-the-Rotary-year Major Awards, sending those to any member of the RCOB Executive Committee. Nominations close at the end of this month. Paul then held up the current issue of Rotary Magazine as an excellent recruiting tool for prospective new members. Next, he encouraged all members to consider attending the upcoming District 5050 Conference, which will be held in Surrey, B.C., May 5-7, 2023. Many excellent speakers, fine entertainment and a chance to hobnob with those friendly Canadian Rotarians. Just attending the full day Saturday program without staying overnight is an option.
Club and Committee Announcements:
Ward Naf announced that volunteers are needed to help with the Whatcom Center for Early Learning Gala on June 3 at the Four Points by Sheraton. WCEL was the recipient of our Major Project fund raiser this year.
Terri Treat stated that the annual Sunnyland Memorial Clean Up is coming up in May, date to be announced soon.
Shauna Naf announced that she needs help from Club members with her many Club responsibilities, including staffing the Ski-to-Sea booth at the finish area, Student of the Month program, Members Recognition, and putting on a RCOB public event each month.
Roland Trenouth announced that the Meal Packing project had achieved its goal of raising enough money to fund 30,000 meals! However, 14 more people are needed to help pack those meals on April 22. Also, 7-9 people are needed to set up the evening before. See Roland or Marty Haines for details.
John Moffat, our Program Director starting July 1, asked members to contact him with ideas for speakers for the coming Rotary year, including considering giving talks themselves.
Volunteering opportunities:
1. Max Higbee Center is a past RCOB Major Project and here is an opportunity to help them further:
April Brews Day is Bellingham's biggest beer festival, with over 65 regional breweries and thousands of attendees turning out to raise funds for Bellingham's Max Higbee Center. This year, April Brews Day will be held at the Downtown Waterfront on Saturday, April 29th, 2023. Volunteers make this event possible by helping with everything from admissions to pouring beer to assisting brewers and guests.
There are also some perks to volunteering! Volunteers for the first, second and third shifts will receive free entry into April Brews Day, and volunteers for the fourth shift will receive free entry into the event and a growler of beer at the end of their shift.
2. Our meal packing event is on Saturday, April 22 from 8:30 to noon at the Assumption gym. We will pack 30,000 meals, each costing only 22 cents, which will be sent to Sierra Leone in West Africa. We have successfully raised $9,000 for the food. Organizers Roland Trenouth and Marty Hainesannounced that, currently, there are 62 individuals signed up for the April 22 event to pack meals for the people of Sierra Leone. They need 100 volunteers, so club members, family and friends are urged to sign up. (Click Here to Register)
3. Whatcom Center for Early Learning Gala on June 3 at the Four Points by Sheraton. WCEL was the recipient of our Major Project fund raiser this year. Contact Ward Naf.
The annual Memorial Day parade is on May 27 and RCOB will be both a sponsor and participant.
RCOB apparel,including polo shirts, dress shirts, vests and hats is now available. These are items that every Club member simply must have in his/her wardrobe! Besides looking great, Club members will be contributing to branding for the RCOB as well as supporting our Club's Foundation, which will receive part of the proceeds. Here is the clothing catalogue, with the Order Form on the last page:(Click Here) Fill out the order form, turn it into Vinson Latimore at a meeting or email a scanned copy to embroidery@choicesscrubs.com.
WE MOVED TO THE SYRE STUDENT CENTER - SYRE THEATER AT WHATCOM COMMUNITY COLLEGE. HERE ARE THE DIRECTIONS.
The buildings address is 235 W Kellogg Rd. But this is not where you park. There is no parking off of Kellogg Road. You must enter parking off either Eliza Ave or Cordata Parkway. You are looking for the YELLOW lot (look on light poles for Y2 or Y3).
Enter from Eliza Ave: the driveway between Kellogg Rd and Westerly Rd has a driveway into the campus, follow that about 200 yards until it slopes down, park in the area between the three buildings.
Enter from Cordata Parkway: Just north of the WTA station and Cruisin Coffee before the round about is Orca Lane, take Orca Lane around the first two buildings until you find a large parking lot between three buildings.
You will still receive an email from Sandee each week prior to the Monday 12:30 meeting if you are unable to attend in person (you can start logging in at 12:00 for short socializing) with the link for that privacy-protected meeting. If you have n done so, please download the Zoom app on your computer (you need a camera and microphone on it), iPad or phone. There is no cost to you. If you cannot do either, you can also call in. On the invitation, there are US phone numbers you can call and enter the meeting ID number also indicated on the invitation.
Lunch is $17.00 for soup, salad and bread buffet. We must notify them by Wednesday at NOON the week prior to the Monday meeting as to the number of members attending. We are sending out meeting "Invites" weekly and members are asked to sign-up ASAP. You can also sign-up by going to the event section of our website at bellinghamrotary.org. If you sign up for a meal at the meeting, you will need to pay the $17 even if you don't wind up attending the meeting after the numbers are turned in. If you plan to attend but not eat, PLEASE indicate that on your sign-up so we don't overorder meals and still make sure there is enough seating.
The Club will collect payments prior to the meeting or at the door by Venmo, check or cash.
We urge members of the RCOB to set up a Venmo account for ease in payment of Meeting lunches, Happy Bucks, Minister of Fun, Dues or donations to the club. Our account is @RCOB- Bellingham. If you do not have a Venmo account you can set up an account with your computer then download the app. on your phone (just Google "Venmo" and you will find all the information you need) You then attach it to a debit or credit card (a fee on your end) or attach to your checking account at no cost. Payment will be sent directly to the RCOB checking account. When you use it for the first time it may ask you the last 4 digits of the RCOB phone number which is 0282. Give Sandee a call if you need help. 360-734-5532
Other payment options are to bring a check in the correct amount to the meeting made out to RCOB or cash in the exact amount to speed up the payment process. There is also the option to pay by PayPal. We have a QR Code that you scan and simply click to pay thru paypal.
Website and Phone App instructions:
Here is a tutorial on how to login for the first time. (Click here) Go to belling mrotary.org first. In order to login you need t know your user name and password in your Clubrunner account. The user name is Your first name.Lastname.264 unless you have changed it. Example: Sandra.Lindhout.264 the password is initially set by Clubrunner at 264 unless you have changed it. Sandee can see your Username from her computer but not the password. She can also change your password for you from her computer at your request if you run into problems.
Once you have originally created your User Name and Password you can download the ClubRunner Mobile app on your phone:
Please contact Sandee at 360-734-5532 or rcob@comcast.net if you run into any trouble.
Guests:
Steve Ban introduced today’s featured speaker, former member Phil Gubbins and his wife Christine
Mark Knittel introduced Scott Herman
John Harris brought his wife Patricia Harris
Zoom attendee members: John Moffat, Bob Morse, Loch Trimingham and John Pedlow
Program:
Former RCOB member Phil Gubbins described the rescue of Viet Nam refugees on the South China Sea. A graduate of the US Naval Academy, Phil was a Naval officer for 30 years. On June 10, 1990, he was commanding the USS Peleliu, an aircraft carrier with a well deck, as it was heading towards Subic Bay in the Phillippines, on its way back to the United States after a 4 month deployment which included military exercises with the Thailand Navy. His crew spotted a 50 foot boat with 154 people on board taking on water. These were primarily a number of large Viet Namese families who were trying to escape Viet Nam, some for the second or third time. At sea for seven days, they were trying to sail to the Phillippines, but developed engine problems and had been without food or water for several days. The small boat was tied to the stern of the Peleliu and each refugee was carefully transferred to the well deck, which was made difficult by the heavy rolling seas. Of note, about 20 minutes after all of the refugees and their belongings had been removed, the boat sank.
The Peleliu was well equipped to take care of these refugees, many of whom required significant medical care. There were 3,000 sailors on board, as well as a small hospital, with 4 operating rooms, a 17-bed ICU, and a 150-bed hospital ward, which could be expanded to 300 beds.
The refugees were moved from the well deck to the hangar deck, some on stretchers, and were given immediate medical care as needed. The most common problem was dehydration. Per protocol, the refugees had to be searched (adults only) and registered, including keeping families together. Viet Namese translators were needed for these and other tasks and a total of 10 former Viet Namese refugees, now US Marines and Sailors, were recruited from the Peleliu and surrounding fleets for this purpose.
Since the Peleliu took 7 days to reach Subic Bay, private sleeping berths were needed for the refugees and 150 of the sailors voluntarily gave up their berths. There was extra clothing on board that was given to the refugees. Initially, they were initially provided with a bland diet (fish and rice), but were soon asking for the same American food (burgers, fries, hot dogs) that the crew ate.
Phil briefed the refugees regarding arrival in Subic Bay and transferring to a refugee camp there. He also alerted the Philippine authorities. Once in Subic Bay, Phil and his staff negotiated with the Philippine government, which agreed to accept the refugees, who then were able to go ashore. Phil noticed that every child coming off the boat was clutching a stuffed animal or other gift. He later learned that these were provided by his sailors, who had actually purchased them for their own children back home. Phil and his staff also made sure that whatever money the refugees carried were converted, at fair value, to Philippine pesos.
A truly remarkable and heartwarming story; many thanks, Phil!
Closing:
President Paul thanked those members who assisted with today's meeting and rang us to adjournment at 1:35 PM.
