Julia Eagan John Kunin Remembering Our Beloved Don Anderson
March 22, 2021 42nd VIRTUAL MEETING
Pre-Meeting Social Time
Kathy Buckley gave her book report on the classic, Jane Eyre: An Autobiography, a book that first exploded on the literary scene in October 1847. The author, from the Yorkshire moors, publicly known only by her gender-ambiguous pseudonym Currer Bell, was poised for a meteoric rise into the ranks of great novelists. From William Makepeace Thackery to Queen Victoria, all acclaimed this historic and lasting novel as a “must-read”! The deeply personal confessional voice of the novel’s “poor, obscure, plain, and little” heroine, tells a story of her life as a template for the model Victorian woman, guardian of a Christian nation, English hearth, and home. Highly recommended and still relevant.
Opening Welcome:
President Gary welcomed all.
Club and Committee Announcements
Rotary Cruise
Ahoy! Marty Haines gave an update to the club on this year’s Rotary Cruise. Like the last time we cruised in 2019, we will use San Juan Cruises. But this year, due to the transition back from Covid, the cruise will be a public sailing, though our club will likely make up the large majority of cruisers and go on a larger boat for social distancing purposes. Also, it will be a whale-watching cruise. Special price is $90 a person and the date is Monday, June 21st. Sign up going on now, so anchors away! You can sign-up by using the email that was sent out or go to the bellinghamrotary.org website under events and register.
Steve Ban reminded club members of the urgent call for blood donations to Bloodworks NW. This call first came to us a couple of weeks ago, and the need is still there. Steve appreciated all who have given, and reminded us that generally a person can give blood every 8 weeks.
YAIL
This year's District YAIL program will look different, like so many other activities. It is available for all High School students this year for FREE with a limited number of registrations at 30. It will be over 5 separate sessions. Click Here for information
Urgent need for blood
Steve Ban reminded club members of the urgent call for blood donations to Bloodworks NW. This call first came to us a couple of weeks ago, and the need is still there. Steve appreciated all who have given, and reminded us that generally, a person can give blood every 8 weeks.
Ongoing Announcements:
Blood Drive -
Steve Ban reminds us that when we donate blood, they are still testing for and informing us whether or not you have Covid antibodies. He also reported that our blood drive will be open for the entire Rotary year, until June 30, 2021. We are participating, along with the other clubs in our Area G, in a District 5050 challenge against the other District Areas. He is encouraging friends and relatives to join in. Those who can't donate blood can donate plasma. Currently, the W. Bakerview office is the only donation location open in Whatcom County. Click Here for additional information.The minimum age for donating blood is 16 and those 16 and 17 would need parent’s permission to participate. Rumor has it that you can score a Bloodworks pair of socks for donating! You may schedule your donation appointment on the flyer in the above link or you can make an appointment by phone. In either case, when you are donating, please tell them that you are donating on behalf of RCOB.
Meeting Virtually
All Rotary meetings will be held Virtually on Zoom until further notice due to Covid-19 social distancing. You can look for an email from Sandee each week prior to the Monday 12:30 meeting (you can start logging in at 12:00 for short socializing) with the link for that privacy protected meeting. If you have not 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 do not have 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.
RCOB has now set up a Venmo account for ease in payment of 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
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 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 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:
Don Anderson's daughter, Gretchen Cilley and wife Alice Racer joined the meeting today. Don will really be missed by all.
Dale Rings joined up again.
Former member, Bruce MacCormack joined us also with a special happy buck
Paul Grey introduced our speakers, Julia Eagan and John Kunin
Minister of Fun:
Dick Tucker took it easy on us this week with a quick painless quiz. Thanks Dick!
Happy Bucks:
Patricia and Bruce MacCormack celebrated their Diamond Anniversary and consequently have donated $100.00 ‘Happy Bucks’ to the RCOB Foundation. At the same time they would like to share their Anniversary video link https://youtu.be/FUIqJBoJbDowith our many RCOB friends. Happy Anniversary!!!
Presentations:
Don Anderson Tribute
Roland Trenouth gave a personal, warm, and illuminating tribute to Don Anderson. Don was an outstanding individual, an incredibly talented pianist and musician, dedicated to his family and to his patients as an ophthalmologist and to our community. Don’s quiet demeanor, gentle smile, and chuckle will be greatly missed.
Don was born in 1940 and Sedalia, Missouri. Growing up he was fascinated by music and learned to play the piano at age 4 and later the Ukulele and trombone. Later the family moved to Jackson, MS. He graduated from Mississippi State University and then the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. Don decided to become an Ophthalmologist and after his naval career he went to Ohio State University where he undertook a residency in ophthalmology.
While Don was doing a research project at the Gulf Coast Research Lab, he spotted an attractive young lady from the University of Virginia also performing a research project. He focused on netting her and was successful in doing this by taking out his ukulele and playing “Song from the Ukulele”. On their first date, he bought Alice her the first alcoholic beverage that she ever had, a grasshopper, and he advised her to drink it very, very slowly. They were married for 57 years and had two children, daughter Gretchen and son Dave, and four grandchildren.
Don moved to Bellingham to start his practice in 1973 with Dr. Robert Kaiser and John Hodge. He was a dedicated Physician committed to his patients and his staff. Talking with one of his patients, who was a child on his first appointment to see Don, was very leery until Don performed what his patient described as “the best ad hoc magic show he had ever seen”. After that, he loved coming to his appointments with Don. Don was truly dedicated to his family and the love of his life Alice. Despite going through the hardships that he endured over the last few years, he remained cheerful and pleasant. It was so hard to watch Don lose his ability to speak and socialize and the loss of that smile that was so much a part of his character.
In addition to his family and work, Don was dedicated to his community. He joined Rotary in 1979 and played the National Anthem on the piano at the meeting opening for over 35 years. Don also served at the Maple Valley Inn, volunteered at the Bellingham Technical College, and served at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for 48 years as a lay reader.
A little over a month ago when he was being moved from one healthcare facility to another, one of the last things he was able to say to Alice was that he wanted her to know how much he loved her because he knew that soon he would not be able to tell her that. She and their daughter, Gretchen, were in our Zoom meeting and expressed their gratitude to the Club for today's tribute and many years of memories. But the appreciation is all ours and to Don. His integrity, honesty, and humor will be sorely missed; Especially that chuckle and gentle smile, as well as his thoughtfulness.
Program:
Vice-Chair of the Board and Director of Business Development John Kuhnin and Board Member Julia Eagan joined the Club to discuss the EastWest Food Rescue organization, which has done amazing and impactful work since starting up in May of last year. The mission statement for EWFR says it all: Supporting farmers and caringly feeding our neighbors in need.
EWFR acquires surplus food – mostly from farmers – and distributes it to people in need. East West refers of course to the farmers in Eastern Washington and the beneficiaries west of the Cascades. Most of the food they source is distributed in western Washington in the greater Puget Sound region, though EWFR has sent food to 19 counties in our state and 19 states in total. The numbers are truly impressive: 35 million lbs. of food distributed, enough for 28 million meals serving over 2.8 million people. All since May.
EWFR was organized in response to the pandemic, as food insecurity skyrocketed. Pre-pandemic food insecurity was stable, impacting 12.5% of the US population (bad) but jumped to between 20-27% at different times last year and is presently 25%. Farmers were also disrupted mightily by Covid-19 as restaurants and institutional consumers like schools and hospitals were shuttered or had greatly reduced operations. By working directly with farmers and then distributing to over 700 food agencies (not just food banks) EWFR has worked to create a mutually beneficial, critical link. EWFR acquires and distributes fresh produce, dairy and proteins in that order. They seek to pay farmers as part of their mission.
It’s an organizational feat to move so much food efficiently, especially since EWFR is 100% volunteer-operated. They relied on over 2,000 donors and over 650 volunteers in 2020, have no brick and mortar in their operation, and have developed partnerships and collaborative arrangements with companies and organizations large and small. As a result, they also garnered considerable national and regional media attention via EWFR’s compelling story of helping two groups in need at the same time.
2021 will bring increased focus for EWFR’s efforts, with priorities being farmer collaboration, narrowing their field of distribution partners, exiting the USDA food box (well served by others), and keeping a regional focus within Washington and the Northwest. They are aiming to distribute 250,00 to 350,000 lbs. per month for now. EWFR is building relationships with EFN, who supports 180 food banks in Puget Sound, and also directly with tribes, large churches and others focused on serving the food insecure.
Finally, EWFR has Rotary roots, with the Woodinville Club being a home to board members (including Julia) and volunteers. Donations are welcome, as is volunteer time. And closer to home, the Whatcom County Food Bank needs a receiving site for semi-truck loads of fresh produce. Know a collaboration partner?
Their contact information and organization website.
