President Paul brought the meeting together at 12:30 PM. In his opening remarks, he talked about our participation in the cleanup of Memorial Park, honoring our veterans, with the assistance of the Sunnyland Neighborhood Association and the Parks Department. He also mentioned that there would be a meeting of the Executive Committee immediately after today’s meeting.
Finally, he reminded us that there would be no meeting next week because of the Memorial Day holiday.
In providing us a musical opening, Rick Kaiser admitted his only vague recall of the Four Way Test. Thinking we might be in the same boat, he shared a musical rendition of the four-way test that we can watch at home. This was put together by the Rotary Club Saskatoon Nutana and it made this editor wonder what a rendition offered by our own RCOB might look and sound like. Those Canadians really know how to have fun.
(Tatter Bonus Reminder: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?)
Rob Olson provided the invocation. He talked about the long history of organized religions’ justifications for slavery and discrimination of groups and individuals, including those LGBTQ+ identified. His remarks were prompted by our annual support of bell ringing for the Salvation Army which he noted continues to discriminate against sexual minorities. Rob was calling this to our attention, not advocating necessarily for RCOB changes.
Minister of Fun: John Moffat was the Minister of Fun today. He asked us to consider who the greatest athlete had been and offered several examples of noteworthy athletes. However, he said that the greatest athlete was not a human but a horse, Secretariat. Secretariat had won the Triple Crown but so had 11 other horses. What distinguished Secretariat was that he won each race by large margins in world record times that have never been equaled. To reinforce his nominee, he showed a video of the Belmont Stakes running from start to finish. Secretariat won in commanding fashion with the field bunched far behind.
Happy Bucks:
Marty Haines donated $50 happy bucks for 50 happy years living in Bellingham and noted how two of our members helped him get started in the insurance business.
John Moffat donated $42 happy bucks for 42 years of marriage.
Rob Olson was happy for three wonderful days in Vancouver, BC.
Club and Committee Announcements
Volunteer & Social Events Upcoming:
1. MAY 27 and 28. Shauna Naf promoted the Memorial Day Parade with the Rotary float this Saturday. She encouraged everyone to participate. MEETING LOCATION IS NORTH STREET AT CORNWALL AVENEUE AND WE ARE #68. BE THERE BY 11:00 AM. The next day, Sunday, May 28, the club is still looking for volunteers to cover the RCOB table at the fair. Contact Shauna if you are interested in doing so.
2. JUNE 3:Ward Naf encouraged people to sign up to help with the Whatcom Early Learning Center’s Gala on June 3 at the Four Points by Sheraton. Volunteers are needed for set-up from 9-12 on June 3rd. WCEL was the recipient of our Major Project fundraiser this year. Contact Ward if you can help at 360-303-6671.
3. JUNE 19: Marty Haines encouraged people to sign up for the Rotary cruise to Sucia Island on June 19. There are signup sheets on every table. The cost is $110/person. Give your payment to Sandee or mail to 2200 Vining St., Bellingham 98229. Call Marty at 360-739-0204 to reserve a spot, they are going fast!!
Breathtaking tour of the northern San Juan Islands and visit to Sucia Island State Park
Fabulous picnic lunch on the beach provided
Fully narrated tour with experienced wildlife guides on board each cruise
Two hours on Sucia – time for lunch and a beach walk with our naturalist – or explore the island on your own!
Deluxe 50′ tour vessel with indoor and outdoor seating
Contact Marty to sign up
4. Ongoing:
John Dunne asked for member volunteers who have access to a pickup truck who could help deliver larger donated items to homeless families and single homeless people moving into unfurnished apartments. He noted how appreciative the family had been for the items he delivered recently.
Gear 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. Here is the clothing catalog, 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 to have 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:
John Moffat introduced our only guest, today’s speaker, Robert Hahn. There were no visiting Rotarians.
Zoom attendee members: Steve Hager, Jack Westford and Steve Ban
Vising Rotarian, Chuck Snyder from Arizona
Presentations:
President Paul presented a Paul Harris Award plus two to Monty McAllister, who got a standing ovation recognizing his continuing support of Rotary. Go Monty!!!
Program
John Moffat introduced today’s speaker, Robert Hahn, a meteorologist and avalanche forecaster with the Northwestern Avalanche Center. Robert grew up in Boston. His love of skiing led to his interest in meteorology and avalanches. His last academic training was at the University of Washington. He joined the NWAC in 2017.
The Center provides three services: mountain weather and avalanche forecasts, education about snow conditions and avalanches for skiers and climbers to make informed decisions, and compiling and sharing data. He helps develop forecasts for the Olympic mountains, Mt. Hood and the Washington Cascades. In addition to carefully monitoring current weather forecasts and recent weather conditions, the Center relies on many other sources of information to make its avalanche forecast. In addition to their own fieldwork, they get information about snow conditions from ski area safety teams, ski guide operations, the Department of Transportation and industrial and mining firms. Despite all the information they gather, there is still a high degree of uncertainty in their forecasts, so they constantly try to refine and improve their forecasts. As a concluding comment, he noted that those who venture into the mountains are voluntarily putting themselves in these situations, distinguishing them from others who involuntarily experience natural disasters, such as extreme heat, tornadoes and hurricanes.
Closing
President Paul thanked all those who had helped make the meeting possible. He also reminded the Club that there would be a meeting of the Executive committee immediately after the meeting.
