President Steve rang the meeting to order promptly at 12:30.
The Paul Harris quote of the week “A smile can brighten someone’s day and change their life.”
President Steve reminded us that next week our meeting will be at 6pm at Lombardi’s (21 Bellwether Way). There are currently 45 people signed up. (Update: today's total is 52. The max. We’re ready to socialize!)
May 17th from 9:00 to noon is our annual clean up of Sunnyland Memorial Park. RCOB is the official partner of the city, so we need a great show! Mark Knittel and Scott Herman unrolled a large Day of Service banner in honor of this and future events. Here to register with the City and get more information.
Aaron Booker reminded us that the long-awaited Second Annual RYE International Trivia Night Friend-raiser is May 15, 6-8 pm. Bring your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors to compete for the coveted winning team medals (hand-crafted with love by our current exchange students). Test your knowledge of the countries our exchange students come from or have been to. Teams of 4-8 people (bring a whole team, or create one on the spot). Suggested donation of $10 per person; international dishes made by our exchange students (from France, Spain, Japan, and Ethiopia) included! This event is a fundraiser for the Rotary Youth Exchange programs in Whatcom County
The Rotary Brass played an original arrangement of America the Beautiful by George Halsell.
Guests:
Bill Day brought his wife Lynn
Members on Zoom: Fred Kaiser and Loch Trimingham
Club Events and Committee Announcements
Future events for Rotarians on the move
May 12th meeting 6 PM at Lombardi's Italian Restaurant
May 15 Second Annual Rye International Trivia Night 6-8pm
Good Local Brews
2620 Northwest Ave.
Bring friends, family, and everyone you know! This event is a fundraiser for the Rotary Youth Exchange Programs in Whatcom County. Meet Rotarians from other clubs in our district.
May 24th 12-3: Whatcom Memorial Day Parade we will march. Please Sign-up to get last minute meeting instructions on our Clubrunner Website Click here
May 25th we will have a Rotary booth in Fairhaven at the Ski to Sea event. Be sure and visit.
NOMINATIONS FOR MAJOR AWARDS ARE NEEDED:
RCOB Annual Award Nominations are being accepted thru May.
We will be presenting awards June 30th at the Changing of the Guard. Send nominations to Exec. Secretary Sandee Lindhout or the Executive Board: Steve Ban, Doug Cole, John Moffat and Nathan TwiningClick Here for Complete Information
The Will J. Griswold Club Service Award, named after our Club’s founding president, a highly-respected citizen and attorney who came to Bellingham in 1903. He established a private practice in 1912, and help found our Club in 1917. He is described as “a citizen of worth and has ever conformed his practice to the highest ethics of the profession”;
The David C. Morse Sr. Community Service Award, named after a Club Member who has served the Club faithfully for over 61 years as of his 91st birthday June 30, 2004, and who set a remarkable standard of community support, both financial and in terms of personal time and effort throughout his lifetime;
The Michael K. Mischaikow International Service Award, named after a Club Member who, as an expatriate of Bulgaria who had been subjected to the rigors of three totalitarian regimes there, and later, as an American citizen and a professor at Western Washington University, worked tirelessly in projects furthering international understanding and peace; and
The Karen W. Morse Vocational Service Award, named after a Member of our Club who became President of Western Washington University in 1994, and who is a leader in her field of chemistry winning several prestigious national and international recognitions, and has been also selected to lead several higher education professional and trade organizations.
These awards are not based upon popularity or popular vote, they are awards for long-term service; accordingly, the committee is careful not to select a member for an award because of very recent service only. Normally, because the awards are intended to recognize any exemplary Rotarian, the award should not be made to a current or very recent Club Officer, except when special circumstances (such as age, illness or relocation) dictate overlooking this caution.
Because these awards are unique to the Bellingham Rotary Club, and because they are given for a substantial period of service, they are the highest honors that the Club can give to its Members.
Of possible interest to members
The Whatcom Wind Ensemble will be offering its final performance of the season this coming Saturday at 7 PM in the Western Washington University Performing Arts Center Auditorium. The concert will be directed by Associate Director Zach Smith, as well as guest conductors George K. Halsell and Bruce Camblin. Admission to the concert is free, though the two best places to park are both paid lots, either the one below the Viking Student Union on N. Garden St. or the one on the southwest side of the PAC. For more information, please visit https://whatcomwindensemble.weebly.com/.
Born of an Air Force navigator and Australian war bride, Bernard became a software developer, director, and subsequently a small business owner of Tinkertons and Tepui Tents. Throughout his life, he has been a world traveler, skiing slopes in the US and Europe, diving in places like the Great Barrier Reef and Cayman Islands, sailing in the Aegean Seas, and even crewing for a sailboat race in Honolulu. He’s been inspired by his parents, the founders of Sun Microsystems, and Fred Clark of Region of America. Like many of us, he likes fine wine, fine dining, and hates stupid. Welcome Bernard!
Weekly Payment Reminder
VENMO:
@RCOB- Bellingham.
Give Sandee a call if you need help. 360-734-5532.
CASH / CHECK:
Yes, we still take these and saving on fees is appreciated.
Aaron Booker introduced our speaker, Mark Knittel, long-time member of RCOB and current chair of RCOB's International Service Committee.
Mark gave an inspiring update on the ARES project (African Rural Educational System) in Kenya, conceived and supported by Rotary clubs in our region, including the RCOB.
In rural Kenya only 16% graduate from secondary school and nearly 30% of children receive no education at all. Schools are dilapidated, and the teachers poorly trained and paid. Because access to electricity and the internet is so scarce in rural Kenya, the ARES system is designed to operate without either. Initially, ARES bought cheap Chinese tablets and laptops that broke down far too easily. Those were replaced by more durable but expensive systems. For participating schools, there is also a teacher training program and curricula. When they discovered that many teachers were not using them, ARES now provides more teacher support and a tracking system to monitor teacher usage. ARES has also started a vocational training program, since most of the school graduates do not go to college.
All children are required to wear uniforms, which may minimize perceptions of social and financial difference. Poorer families may be able to afford a uniform for just one of their children. Another impediment is that many girls drop out of school when they start menstruating. Mark concluded his presentation with a video about the program. You can see this demo here.
Jan Marchbanks and D. C Morse have been major financial supporters of ARES and now Daver Morse has joined the cause; Mark would like to include donations from others too. There is a donate button on the group’s webpage
Closing:
President Steve closed the meeting at 1:35 after congratulating Mark on the continued success of ARES.
Rotary Brass: Doug Colle, John Dunne, George Halsell, Del VandeKerk & Pete Kirkman
Aaron Booker: Minister of Fun and Games!!
District Epic Day of Service banner for May 17th
We will be doing the Sunnyland Memorial Clean-up. Please sign-up
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.
Click on the button below for the the clothing catalogue, with the Order Form on the last page. Fill out the order form, turn it into Vinson Latimore at a meeting or email a scanned copy to embroidery@choicesscrubs.com.
