President Paul Grey introducing the Rotary Brass Doug Cole, John Dunne and Del VandeKerk
Sara Maloney Erin Malone, Exec. Director of WCEL
Rotarians on the Move!! Maple Valley Inn Workparty 10-15-2022
October 17, 2022
Opening Welcome:
President Paul opened the meeting today at 12:25.
The Rotary Brass Trio with Del on trumpet, John D on trombone and Doug on euphonium, played America the Beautiful with a new arrangement by Del. (Happy Birthday Del!)
Four RCOB members participated in last Saturday’s Rotaract work party at Faith Lutheran church: Shauna and Ward Naf, Paul Grey and Tom Grinstad.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 15 PARKING SPOTS RESERVED WEEKLY AT THE BACK OF THE SYRE STUDENT CENTER BACKING UP TO ORCA LANE. PLEASE UTILIZE SO WE DON'T LOSE THEM.
10/24 Rosemary & Garlic Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Roasted Fall squash, Garden Salad, Fruit Platter and Iced Tea
10/31 Beef Chili, Cornbread, Baked Potatoes, Garden Salad, Fruit Platter and Iced Tea
October 13, 2022 Board Briefs
Letters of resignation from Greg Baker and Steve Hettick were both accepted with deep regret due to business pressures.
It was suggested that we follow the lead of Bellingham Bay and sell raffle tickets for 1 for $1.00 or 7 for $5.00. It was moved and seconded to try this to increase funds raised.
Paul presented the notes from the recent Club Assembly held, October 10th. Andy Day, Steve Ban, Felicity Dye and President Paul will put the notes into actual goals and frame up ideas and present recommendations to the board as soon as possible to capture the enthusiasm of the members. It was discussed holding another Club Assembly before the end of this Rotary Year.
The District Conference is May 5,6 & 7th at Sheraton Hotel, Guildford B.C. and board members are encouraged to attend.
We are considering selling the RCOB Podium, made by Ernie Burkhardt, and our Piano which appraised for $2,000 in Oct. 2020. Sandee contacted the appraiser, and she may have a buyer.
Jack Westford requested that Book Reviews begin again at meetings. After a lengthy discussion it was decided, due to the limited time during the business portion of the meetings, that we do not restart them this year. It was moved and seconded.
Service Fund chairman, Doug Cole, reported that the committee has approved the following Grants and the board approved. All for $1,000 each. A request for the grants will be sent to the Foundation.
CAST - Coffee and Sandwiches Together - Scott Wallace, sponsor
Starfish Food Program - Del VandeKerk, sponsor
Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center - Andy Day, sponsor
Blue Skies for Children - Larry Halgren, sponsor
Next Board meeting is November 10, 2022
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 3RD 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 will be $22 for a buffet meal. We must notify them by Monday 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 $22 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.
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 di ctly 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 PayPal option as usual and we are set to take payments at the meeting. We have a QR Code that you scan and simply click to pay thru paypal also.
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
Paul Grey introduced visiting Rotarian from Fidelgo Rotary Club in Anacortes, Charlie Barbour
Sara Maloney introduced Erin Malone with Whatcom Center for Early Learning
Doug Cole introduced speakers Mike Olinger & Steven Bradshaw with Post Point Renewal Program and Journalist with Cascadia Daily News, Julia Lerner.
Mike Bradburn, returning member, also joined by Zoom
Members attending on Zoom: Steve Ban, Peter Theisen, Nathan Twining, Loch Trimingham and Scott Wallace
Presentation:
Our Major Projects coordinator Sara Maloney introduced Erin Malone, Director of Communication for WCEL - Whatcom County Early Learning, our next Major Project recipient. In 2023 WCEL will be observing their 50th year serving children, from newborn through age three. WCEL was founded by Anne Brown, a public health nurse. Therapy for children is provided in homes with classes for parents and care givers being provided at classrooms in one of three WCEL locations locations: The “big blue house” on H Street, Cordata or Ferndale. WCEL has grown 350% in the past five years and now has 50 employees serving 245 children each month. The focus of RCOB’s project will be to upgrade accessibility and outdoor play yards at the H Street location. A brief video titled “You Never Stopped” was shown which outlined the WCEL story. Here are 2 links of presentations for viewing #1 Click Here#2 Click Here
Program:
Program Coordinator Steve Ban, virtually introduced our two speakers Mike Olinger, Assistant Director of Public Works for the City of Bellingham and Steven Bradshaw, Superintendent and Plant Manager for the Post Point Sewage Treatment Plant. They provided a short history of the plant and considerations for either upgrades or repairs of the current facility.
The original plant began operation on Whatcom Creek in 1947. The Post Point Plant opened in 1973 with primary treatment. Secondary treatment and the #2 incinerator were added in 1990 and 1993. Five years of planning began in 2017 to determine either upgrading or replacing the current plant. Considerations were to replace the incinerators, focus on resource recovery, support the Climate Action Plan goals and advance an anaerobic digestion-based solution. The current incinerators contribute to approximately half of Bellingham’s CO2 emissions.
An anaerobic digestion process would eliminate much of the CO2 emissions but would instead produce material which would be subject to land-based disposal. The Department of Ecology pursues “maximum beneficial use” (recycling) of such material and thus discourages landfill options for disposal. A concern for this option would be if the waste material were to be used as fertilizer due to the presence of PFAs, which may contain heavy metals and microplastics. It was pointed out that “fertilizer” would not necessarily be used for food production but could be used for forests or other non-human consumption. Deciding for the anaerobic digestion solution could cost $1.1 billion over 15 years. At present the average single family pays a monthly $49.10 for sewage. In seven years, that could swell to $122.80 per month. Given this cost potential, it was felt alternative solutions should other than anaerobic digestion should be considered. Current capacity is forecast to be adequate for the next 15 years. Other technologies will be explored as well methods for improving current sewage and incineration methods.
