President Del opened the meeting, followed by Don Anderson accompanying members singing “America the Beautiful.” Phil Gubbins gave an Irish Blessing for the invocation.
Announcements:
Your humble editor did not make it back from P.T. (Port Townsend) in time to witness the meeting so he is going on faith that the erstwhile reporter had all her facts together.
An announcement regarding RYLA was made by Rich Bower. RYLA is a Rotary leadership program for youth ages 18 – 30, and this year’s RYLA will be held May 25 -28 in British Columbia. The club is looking for youth to sponsor for this leadership conference. There is online registration available – contact Mauri Ingram or Kathryn Deets for more information.
The regular Monday, April 10, Rotary meeting will be held at Bellingham Technical College with lunch prepared and served by BTC Culinary Arts Program students at a cost of $12.00 An accurate count of members and guests planning to attend is needed for this event by Tuesday April 4th. Members are asked to sign-up on the sheets on the table at a Rotary meeting or email Sandee regarding their plans to attend.
Bob Trunek announced that our Club has the funding for the second water project in Uganda. The project has $35,000 funding, $10,000 of which came from our Club and the remainder from matching monies from the District and RI.
Guests of Rotarians:
Students of the Month - Theatre
Kathi Hiyane-Brownintroduced Haley Holmgren from Bellingham High School and her parents Robert & Harriet Holmgren
Greg Baker introduced Emma Oppenheimer from Sehome High School and her mother Michelle Oppenheimer
Andrew Evans introduced Tristin Holmes from Squalicum High School and his parents Terrell and Ami Holmes
Dominique Zervas brought Bobbi Gallina with Divine Baby and Izaac Burrows with Corion Landscape
John Dunne introduced Sally Baird - Retired child and adolescent psychologist
Presentations:
The students of the month for March were honored for their outstanding achievements in the area of theater. Cathy Buckley’s program introduction included congratulating the students for their achievements.
Kathi Hiyane-Brown introduced Haley Holmgren, theater student of the month from Bellingham High School. Haley, a junior, was described as an outstanding, vivacious, creative and energetic student who is being honored for her behind the scenes theater work, including costume design and make-up. In addition to her work in theater, Haley is involved in a wide range of activities at her church, a Member of Art Club, and Vice President of French Club. She has a wide variety of interest and hobbies, with a special interest in Science and hopes to become an astrophysicist.
Emma Oppenheimer, Sehome High School theater student of the month, was introduced by Greg Baker. Emma started in Sehome theater productions as a Freshman and has been involved in a wide range of theater activities including making props, building sets, acting, singing, and directing. She is currently directing “21 Chump Street”, a musical which will be performed at the State Thespian Festival, making history for the first Musical WIP (work in progress) performed by Sehome. Emma plans to go to college and double major in theater and literature but is yet to decide where – a local university, Whitman in Walla Walla, or a school in New York City.
The Squalicum High School theater student of the month, Tristin Holmes, was introduced by Andrew Evans. Starting in drama as a Freshman, Tristin has been an actor, set painter, assistance director and student director. An outstanding student, Tristin has taken a large number of Advanced Placement classes. In the Fall, Tristin plans to attend the Cornish School of the Arts in Seattle.
Program:
Sandy McIntire introduced our speaker, Barbara Demorest, of Knitted Knockers.
Knitted Knockers are special handmade, knitted or crocheted, breast prosthesis for women who have undergone mastectomies or other procedures to the breast, and who have not had or cannot have reconstructive surgery. Traditional breast prosthetics are usually expensive, heavy, sweaty and uncomfortable. Knitted Knockers on the other hand are soft, comfortable, beautiful and when placed in a regular bra they take the shape and feel of a real breast.
A major goal of knitted knockers is to connect volunteer knitters and crocheters with cancer survivors. Knitted knocker volunteers provide these prosthesis free to those requesting them. Barbara, a cancer survivor and one-time knitted knocker recipient, retired from her CPA position to spend time networking with volunteers and developing programs to make knitted knockers available to cancer survivors.
Currently, forty states have volunteer groups providing and distributing knitted knockers in their own communities. This program is successful because of its “caring factor.” Knitters provide their own yarn, give their time, and pay postage because they know what they are doing is life changing. Recipients know knitters are doing this because they care.
Barbara also told a very moving story of being invited to Rwanda, where she and two friends had interesting and emotional experiences introducing the knitted knockers program to that African country.
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