President Sandy McIntire gaveled in the last full meeting of his term. (Don’t tell him, He’s about to be deposed). He wore the chairman’s hat of the country in question which invented paper, pasta and gunpowder. Sandy called on Charlie Self who correctly identified China. Note that the Prez never the entire year called on this erstwhile reporter whose standard answer to the country question would have been “South Dakota”.
Gail Ridenour accompanied the membership in singing My Country Tis of Thee. We need to work on the second verse – volume went down considerably.
Announcements:
Also we will NOT be holding a meeting next week July 1st due to an extended 4th of July Holiday. Northwood Hall will be closed.
Changing of the Guard will be held July 8th due to the July 1st holiday. Got that? No meeting 1 July.
We are looking for Website sponsors for the next Rotary year starting July 1st. Great opportunity to advertise your business and support Rotary. The cost is $300 for the year. Check our the current sponsors on our website by going to bellinghamrotary.org.
2019-2020 Planning:
Peter Theisen is the program chair for next year and is looking for help and ideas for programs and great speakers.
Shauna Naf has described the club app which allows what’s on the club website to be on your phone NOW. She outlined the steps to get set up and how to use it. Big news there will be tech help each week for those who need help. Remember there will not be a printed Roster distributed as usual in July.
Time to update your personal information and photos in the Clubrunner Website. You can Login yourself on bellinghamrotary.org or give your information to Sandee and she will update it for you. Instructions on how to login are on the home page of the website in the left column under Website Tutorials and other links will be added there as well. Contact Doug Cole or Del VandeKerk if you would like a photo updated.
Here is a tutorial on how to login for the first time. (Click here) In order to login you need to know your user name and password in your Clubrunner account. The user name is Yourfirstname.Lastname.264 unless you have changed it. Example: Sandra.Lindhout.264 The password is initially set by clubrunner at .264 or 264 (don’t recall now) unless you have changed it. Sandee can see your Username from my computer but not the password. She can also change your password for you from my computer at your request if you run into problems.
Please contact Sandee at 350-734-5532 or rcob@comcast.net if you run into any trouble.
Major Projects Committee
Jim Wakefield requested that Club members submit any and all ideas for our next Major Project for the Committee's consideration. Click here for criteria.
Additional Announcements
Prexy Sandy gave a short report on the rotary Cruise from last week. More than forty people sailed out on six mighty ships to Vendovi Island. Apparently no high jinx occurred.
Some Bozo gave an impassioned plea for additional Tattler reporters. Women are especially welcome (to give their viewpoint).
Nathan Twining reminded the members of another social event. On the 19th of July, the club will attend the Bells game at Civic Field. For a cost of $24 (plus tax) you get the game, all you can eat and drink, and enjoy each other’s company. Let’s fill the ballpark. See a bunch of you there.
Guests of Rotarians:
Steve Hager introduced Doddie Honrud, Director of Community Development of Whatcom County Pregnancy Clinic
Peter Theisen introduced Eric Brown with Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition and JP Slagle with Freeland & Associates
Monty McAllister brought Rumbi our exchange student, Mitilde Neble our new short term exchange student from Madrid, Hillary Greenwood who will be leaving as the short term exchange student to Madrid and her mother Rachel Greenwood
Paula McCandlis brought Tiffany Bailey attorney with Brett McCandlis Brown Conner PLLC
Mark Knittel introduced former member Dale Rings and his wife Penny
Presentations:
Steve Hager introduced Dobbie Honrud a driving force in the pregnancy clinic. This is a community supported place that provides mentorship and other support (like clothes) to young mothers. Most of these women come from fractured families and need support. Our club supported their efforts to the tune of $1,000 in a service fund grant.
Eric Brown and J.P. Slagle were introduced by Peter Theisen for an update on the major project. The Galbraith Mountain parking lot is 30% design complete. The need for such a facility is apparent. There are 20 after-school bike school participants every week. Parents have to park far down Samish Way and escort their kids across the highway. Our project will help to increase safety by establishing parking and an improved crossing to Galbraith Lane. They (and we) are aiming for a September start date. If this can’t be accomplished, the project will be postponed until spring 2020 to avoid working in the wet season. They were presented with a check of $86,220.56 which looked a little too large to spend
Program:
The program this week was to honor club members with annual awards. Each award is accompanied with a $1,000 donation to the RCOB Foundation from the RCOB Club in their name.
Paula McCandlis gave a short speech and revealed that the David C. Morse Sr. Community Service Award went to Lisa Saar. She was humbled, she said, and gave an even shorter thank you to the club.
Next Paul Grey kept a few of us guessing on the recipient of the Michael K. Mischaikow International Service Award. He cited that a great human equalizer is education. And this year’s recipient had done major work in Kenya to rural communities. Mark Knittel not only design a nearly foolproof system for accessing a huge body of knowledge for these rural folks, but the system is sustainable, reliant on solar energy. Teacher training goes along with the ARES (African Ruggedized Educational System) and numbers show that where implemented student scores raise significantly.
Jan Marchbanks outed Teri Treat as the recipient of the Karen W. Morse Vocational Service Award. She ran over Teri’s history which not only included career notables, but community action. Teri was an instigating factor in the Downtown Merchants Association which was instrumental in revitalizing the Bellingham city center after the mall took all the major retail establishments to the Guide and I-5. This work is now done by the Downtown Business Partnership. Teri did the same sort of thing when she and Matt, along with Jeff and Deb McClure renovated the abandoned Waples’ Mercantile Building in Lynden. Teri, the general manager of the Inn at Lynden, undertook to revitalize the Lynden downtown area. She did this through a number of avenues like Lynden Chamber of Commerce, Lynden Tourist Bureau, and linkages with the county fair, Homestead Golf Course and the Mt. Baker ski area. Jan said that Teri and the Inn have more than fixed the pimple on the nose of Lynden which was the damaged Waples’ Building.
Congratulations to all the honorees. The Club Service Award will be presented at the next meeting 8 July. Don’t miss it.
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