Rotary Club of Bellingham Tattler - JANUARY 8, 2024
Tattler Reporter Catherine Riordan
Tattler Editor Tom Grinstad
Photographer: Aaron Booker
Hans Erchinger-Davis
Lighthouse Mission
Update
Opening Welcome:
President Doug rang the bell and welcomed us all with his usual contagious enthusiasm and sequence of engaging activities. (An editor's aside: Thank you Doug for the variety and personal attention you bring to our club. )
Guests:
Aaron Booker introduced his son Augustus
John Moffat introduced speaker Hans Erchinger-Davis
Rick Kaiser introduced Molly Serrato and Paul Pelot
Felicity Dye brought Kaitlyan Gilmore with Archer Halliday, PS CPA's
Members on Zoom: Steve Hager, Monty McAllister, Jack Westford, Dick Tucker, Nancy Jordan, Mike Bradburn, Brad Burdick and John Moffat
Club Events and Committee Announcements
Happy Birthday to J.V our Exchange Student from Curitiba, Brazil. He will 18 on Friday Jan 12th. It will be the coldest birthday of his life! It was 38C in his hometown yesterday. 100.4F (it’s summertime there, of course)
Happy 84th to Marty Haines. Isn't it so amazing that his doctor called to wish him happy birthday? We were amazed until we learned his doctor is Monty McAllister's son, at which point we thought, "of course."
Steve Ban is making the trip of a lifetime to Zimbabwe, visiting Victoria Falls, and visiting Rumbi and taking her to being her second year at University of Cape Town.
We will NOT be holding a meeting next week, January 15th for Martin Luther King Day.
Our next meeting, January 22nd will be held at the Syre Center in the smaller room 107/108. Meal will be catered and a link will be sent to sign-up if you want a meal.
The regular Board of Directors meeting for January 11th has been changed to January 18th on Zoom at 4:30. Contact Sandee if you would like to attend for a link.
Dave Blair reminded members to get their Major Project Pledge in soon for the Light House Mission Medical Clinic. Our goal is 100% member participation. Right now we're at 72% so the committee has had to start making those dreaded reminder calls to those who have yet to pledge. Click here for the form. They're waiting to schedule the Leadership Circle Event until all the gifts are in. President Doug thanked Dave and Dennis for their leadership of this project.
We have been informed that long time member, PaulHanson, is now living at Brookdale Senior Living and would welcome visitors. It is 2600 Old Fairhaven Pkwy, Room 64. When entering, sign-in and someone will direct you. His room is at the end of the hall left of the dining room.
ROTARY MOMENT BY NATHAN TWINING
Nate was successful in coming up with a topic that was relevant, engaging, and revealing, as he aspired to do. Nate came to the PNW in 1982, as his parents were finishing their time with the military, settling on Lake Louise Road, where a barn with 700 SQ feet became their home. They lived close to and drank from the creek for three years. They raised animals for food and companionship. Nathan had an early trauma associated with one of the animals, named Beanie Weenie. Ask him about that. His dad ran a bunch of small businesses and established a wonderful childhood for his four children.
As a professional at Financial Plan Nate advises people on using and growing their financial resources. One of the things he offers is an analysis of his client's Money Scripts, their "subconscious beliefs about money" that stem from people's childhoods. Nate's childhood rendered him "money vigilant," implying money should be saved and credit avoided. See link above to see what your money script might be.
TAKE A VET TO LUNCH PRESENTATION BY MOLLY E. SERRATO
Molly began her service by enlisting in the Army. She spent time at two very different U.S. bases: Oahu and Fort Leonard Wood, as well as an Army base in Korea. Her B.S. degree is in psychology and master's in Occupational Safety and Health. She has had many training and leadership experiences including as platoon leader, battalion adjutant. She is retired from the military and is looking for a position in operations. In her brief talk and response to questions in an innovative format dreamed up by Rick Kaiser, she demonstrated great confidence, listening skills, and the ability to "command" an audience. This Tattler reporter hopes someone finds her a position suitable for her many talents.
A Short History of Nearly Everything by essayist Bill Bryson.
In this book, Bryson popularizes science and science history in light-hearted yet ultimately detailed manner. For those of you who like popularizers of science such as Carl Sagan and Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Bryson's writing style will seem instantly familiar. Bryon weaves our best understanding of the beginning of existence, the expansion of the universe, coalescence of our solar system, the formation of and evolution of life, and the acquisition by human beings symbolic language, advanced tool-making capabilities and a globe-spanning civilization.
Although it may not be well-known today, viewers of the British Broadcast Corporation’s 1978 series called Connections hosted by science and technology popularizer James Burke will recognize in Bryson a skill at crafting an engaging narrative that, despite Bryson’s work being an essay on the history of nearly everything, contains many twists and turns and even surprise endings. It is also written in a lightly teasing style, that will poke fun at many in Bryson’s cast of historical characters. If you take the opportunity to read A Short History, I don’t doubt that you will come to remember 19th Century British geologist William Buckland as “he of the flowing gowns.”
It is easy to be spellbound by A Short History, a book that is an approachable read while at the same time being enormously informative. Bryson is the author of several other books, and I also highly recommend The Mother Tongue – English and How It Got That Way, a history of the English language written in an as amusing and approachable style as A Short History.
Weekly Payment Reminder
VENMO:
@RCOB- Bellingham.
Give Sandee a call if you need help. 360-734-5532.
CASH / CHECK:
Yes, we still take these and saving on fees is appreciated.
Hans shared a bit about his father's engaging him with people living without homes when he was young. His fascination with those life stories and experiences continue today in his leadership role for the Lighthouse Mission and its campaign for a new building and expanded services. Throughout his presentation, he called out the RCOB's support of the new medical/psychological clinic and the multi-faceted role it will play across various phases of treatment.
Hans helped us to see how very broad the approach to Intervention needs to help those without homes to move beyond the many barriers, trauma, etc. Initial intervention of course is not enough with the Recovery stage being an essential but very time-consuming process; a process that can be successful when accompanied by hope, grace, and tough love. When someone can work through the entire program, there is an 80% success rate regarding sobriety. See diagrams for the range of services offered and new services (in red).
In response to a question, Hans talked about the limitations of the Housing First movement. Evidence does not support its validity, with many deaths still occurring under that model. Many homeless people need help with the serious challenges they face, maybe foremost, for many, managing drug issues. Having other people around is an important part of addressing those challenges for many people. He sees 'housing next' alongside scaffolding as a more productive approach based on his decades of experience. He sees more systematic data collection regarding input and outcomes as desirable, for the future.
In response to a question about the gift of The Willows, Hans said that they are in the final states of selling that property to support programming locally.
In response to another question, Hans explained The Mission cannot manage a stream of used clothing and furniture. There are other organizations in Bellingham that do a good job with that.
Closing:
Doug thanked those assuming responsibilities for the meeting and other RCOB functions, and encouraged us all to help straighten 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.
Click on the button below for the the clothing catalogue, with the Order Form on the last page. Fill out the order form, turn it into Vinson Latimore at a meeting or email a scanned copy to embroidery@choicesscrubs.com.
