John Harris shared his thoughts about the book Saving Freedom by Joe Scarborough, which deals with former President Harry Truman and the global geopolitical situation following WWII. John gave a short history of how HST rose to the senate and then the Vice Presidency. Following the death of FDR shortly into his fourth term of office, Truman became the most powerful man in the world, without crib notes or any preparation from his predecessor. President Truman recognized the threat that the communist bloc presented to the west and set about to convince a war-weary population to confront the threat. He enlisted the help of Winston Churchill, who gave a speech in 1946, first coining the term “Iron Curtain”, giving a handy reference for the bloc. In 1947. Truman gave a speech proposing the Marshall Plan, NATO and other measures to countermand those behind the Iron Curtain. John recommends this book.
Opening Welcome:
With a sharp strike on the bell by Sandee, President Gary graciously opened the official part of the meeting.
Club and Committee Announcements
Rotary Board Briefs January 14, 2021
Pres Gary gave a short Board of Directors report.
Shauna Naf has created an updated New Members Manual and after a few corrections it will be used to
promote the club for prospective members, and she can print them off for about $10 each. It will be sent to the entire membership electronically. The Board approved this well-done document. It was also recommended that we add the Football Pool and Raffle Ticket fundraisers to the document.
Recent resignations were approved with regret from Kim Perry, Joe Jarzembowski and Andrew Evans.
Sandee reported that we raised $419.06 for the Light house Mission and a check will be mailed.
With the addition of the MOU’s the RCOB Procedures Major Projects Recommendation Guidelines will be updated to read as follows:
A RCOB Foundation Fund Drive Acceptance form must be signed by the RCOB President and the RCOBF President. Susie Thomson supplies updated form.
The MOU must be signed by the RCOB President and selected project top executives
The MOU must be signed by the RCOB President and officers of the selected project.
The Rotary Club of Bellingham Foundation must approve the selected Major Project, after RCOB board approval, prior to fundraising beginning. Contact Susie Thomson and current President of the Foundation, with documentation, of the project to get a vote of the directors.
Due to Covid-19, we will postpone the March 1, 2021 Rotation Day until the spring.
The Board discussed the RCOB purchasing its own Zoom account. Cathy Buckley and Gary Goldfogel have graciously let the club use their personal accounts. Sandee received an offer of updating her account with 25% off by 2/1/21 Annual fee $112.00 for 1 year ($67 savings). After President Gary abstaining, the purchase was approved by the board. The Club is planning on continuing Zoom meetings even after we can meet personally.
Paul Grey, Co Chairman of the International Service Committee, had two IPA updates:
Honduras has experienced 2 major hurricanes recently causing extreme flooding. IPA supports 38 Villages in the locations hardest hit. Paul Grey and the International Service Committee are looking for a $1,000 Grant, over and above the International Service Budget of $12,000 which has been spent. This grant will help repair a water tank that is leaning, and they need to prevent it from completely toppling over. This tank serves two villages. The total cost for the project if $7,000 and the IPA would cover the remaining costs. Funds used would come from the RCOB Foundation budget of $1,000 for Miscellaneous Donation.
Just prior to starting this discussion we lost our Zoom connection hosted by President Gary so after Gary’s approval we circulated an email to the Board and the $1,000 expenditure was approved.
Susie Thomson will issue a check from the RCOB Foundation.
2020-2021 Max Higbee Major Project special announcement: Jen Moehl excitedly announced that the club has reached and exceeded the goal for the major project this year, the Max Higbee Center. Well done all. In this reporter’s opinion this was an admirable goal and project.
The Max Higbee Center started as grassroots effort led by educators, families and people with developmental disabilities who wanted quality recreation and social opportunities. Today, the Center serves over 400 individuals in Whatcom County through its welcoming social and recreation programs. Jen Moehl and John Dunne are leading the fundraising of this project. Members can donate from their tax-deferred accounts directly to RCOB without incurring a tax liability. Click Here for Donation Form
These programs also provide vital respite support to families. The stress and financial responsibility as a family caregiver can be extraordinary and lifelong. The services that Max Higbee Center staff provide are essential in supporting families to work, rest, and fulfill obligations while maintaining a safe and enriching environment for their family member with a disability. Their new facility at 1400 N. State Street, currently under construction, will allow the Center to expand its program capacity to meet an urgent community need. Our contribution to the project will be funding the new recreation room, the largest and most actively used room in the new facility, which is to be named the Rotary Room. Click here for further information.
Other Announcements
Blood Drive - January is Blood Donation Month -Steve Ban reported that when you donate blood they are still including Covid antibody tests. 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. You must schedule your donation appointment on the eflyer in this link to make sure your donation is counted. If you have already given blood and didn’t follow these procedures, please contact Steve and he will make sure that your donation is counted.
The minimum age for donating blood is 16 and those 16 and 17 would need parent’s permission to participate. This reporter gained a Bloodworks pair of socks for donating a week ago.
All Rotary meetings will be held Virtually on Zoom until at least January 31, 2021 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 12:15 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:
Paul Grey introduced our speakers Dr. Bill Lombard, Micki Jackson, Helene Fellows and Jo Ann Brady-Armstrong
Dale Rings joined us again today...
Program:
Paul Grey introduced Dr. Bill Lombard for his talk about chronic kidney disease. Dr. Lombard is former head of nephrology at the hospital and ran the dialysis unit at Peace Health for many years. He is a member of the board for the Mount Baker Foundation. The presentation started off with a startling statistic – one in three of us is at risk for chronic kidney disease…are you the one?
There were a number of statistics, which I will not relate except for a few. Chronic kidney disease is basically unknown by the public at large. (Why are they at large?) The startling number is that only one in ten know they have chronic kidney disease. Dialysis is basically the best, perhaps the only, treatment for CKD. Here in Bellingham, more than 40% of patients come to dialysis without seeing a kidney specialist prior.
This disease is silent, widespread and the public is unaware of it. Dr. Lombard gave a short course on the kidney, what it is and what it does. It’s one of those organs that keep you alive, unlike a seemingly useless appendix. There are several risk factors for CKD, and it appears this reporter has them all, (well – almost). Among them are age, 60+, hypertension and heart disease. But there is something you can do about this. You can find out if “you’re the one” go to go to www.minuteforyourkidneys.org and take a short quiz. There is also a urine test, and a blood panel that will indicate CKD.
This doesn’t mean you can do nothing. You can lower your risk for kidney failure in several ways: manage blood sugar and blood pressure, eat healthy and exercise, use medications, stop smoking, and avoid certain drugs; ibuprofen, certain antibiotics etc. I guess it comes down to being smart and living well.
Dr Lombard finished the talk describing the Mount Baker Foundation. It has three areas of focus:
Early childhood care, development and education
Upstream factors leading to chronic disease
Quality of life and quality of care for kidney disease and dialysis patients.
There was a short Q & A session.
Local Covid Update:
Dr Garrett Jeffery gave a short report on the status of Covid patients at the hospital. So far, knock on wood, they are not overwhelmed. Pres Gary shared his view on the statistics and impact on the community. There were several questions and comments about the availability and effects of the vaccine.
Program Recordings: We are now recording the speaker portion of our meetings:
Missed a meeting? Remember a great speaker but want to revisit the content? You can catch the recording on our Rotary Club of Bellingham YouTube page:
