After welcoming one and all, President Steve shared with us this week’s quote from Paul Harris: Paint acts of kindness; every action has the potential to make ripples, one small action creating expansive impacts.
Invocation
In her invocation, Teri Treat prompted us to think about Rotary Districts that span national boundaries, including ours. Her advice to cherish our Canadian neighbors and especially those in our district, who, like us, are working to make the world and our communities better places, was well received by all.
MINISTER OF FUN:
Rob Olson continued the Rotary Feud with questions about life experiences in the fashion of Family Feud. We worked individually, maybe to increase yield, maybe to speed things up, maybe in deference to the ultra shy, I’m not sure.
HAPPY BUCKS:
I love happy, so I can’t restrain myself from sharing a couple of the stories we heard today.
George Halsell was more than happy—call it ecstatic—to fly to Fallon to serve as guest conductor for a youth band, which blossomed remarkably in the short time George worked with them.
Bob Morse celebrated a big birthday with family members, some of whom even flew in to take part in the celebration. Together, Bob said, they were able to roast him with pretty much all his screwups over much of his life. WOW. Wouldn’t you have loved to be a fly on the wall for that!
President Steve, after being called out by other birthday boys, acknowledged he is now one of the older members in attendance. Congratulations!
Guests:
George Halsell brought his wife Melanie
Nathan Twining introduced our speaker and Rotarian, Dr. Lee Harmon
Members on Zoom: Loch Trimingham, Shauna Naf, Marty Haines and Fred Kaiser
Club Events and Committee Announcements
May 12 Rotary Meeting date change:
The May 12th meeting will be changed from a noon meeting to a dinner meeting at Lombardi's, 21 Bellwether Way Ste. 112 with spouses invited at 6:00 pm.
We will hold a short business portion and then an evening of socializing.
We will meet in the private dining room with a Super Club Menu for $29.00 each with individual checks.
We must confirm numbers by May 5th so please register on this Clubrunner Event page. Below is the registration page.
There will be a board of directors meeting this Thursday, April 17th at 4:30 on Zoom. Contact Sandee for the link if you would like to attend.
Service Projects:
Photo above is the crew that volunteered April 12th for the Ken Imus Clean-Up Day in Fairhaven. In the absence of the busy Ward Naff, Shauna Naff congratulated the club on another successful community project, this time picking up in Fairhaven. Fifteen people from our club were part of the work party and managed to enjoy themselves too.
May 24th 12-3: Whatcom Memorial Day Parade we will march. Please Sign-up to get last minute meeting instructions on our Clubrunner Website Click here
May 25th we will have a Rotary booth in Fairhaven at the Ski to Sea event. Be sure and visit.
Club Announcements:
The 5050 District Conference is coming up 2-4 May at the Tulalip Event Center. The district governor has kept the reduced “early registration” price until 10 April. Take advantage of this. Register here
Nate Twining introduced Dr Lee Harman, a retired ophthalmologist and multiple Paul Harris award winner as our speaker. He is still a pilot and has been flying since the Vietnam War when he moved refugees, a presentation we’ve heard previously.
Lee began by noting that Bill Boyd just passed away; the details of his life as a Rotarian can be found in a recent Rotary Magazine.
Tip: our Rotary Membership numbers are on the label of our magazines in case we need them when interacting with Rotary International.
Lee cautioned us not to be complacent about Rotary and the causes we support.
Today, he wanted to tell us why we should give to RI and how to do so. He argued there is no better way to give than to give to Rotary International, contemporaneously or in a will/planned gift.
He also encouraged us to think if we rid the world of polio, all the things Rotary could do next. Lee’s a big fan of the Four Way Test, for the state, nation, world.
With respect to polio, he is still optimistic it can be conquered. He shared some interesting facts:
The polio virus can live in the ground for 10-14 days. If it can’t reproduce, it dies.
Of those afflicted by the virus, only one in 200 shows limb damage, but those individuals still excrete the virus into a sewage system.
This program has given 10 B drops to 3 B children
Cases are still being found in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and one other. The Taliban has banned vaccinations.
World Health Organization data is used to monitor success.
Bill Gates, whose dad was a Rotarian, is still matching gifts to PolioPlus 2 to 1, and like Rotary International, has made a long-term commitment to eradicating polio.
There are new vaccination options, including drops as an alternative or supplement to shots.
President Steve presented a super size check to Lee - a stand in for the $500 check that was sent to RI from the RCOB Foundation.
CLOSING:
In the standard fashion, President Steve sent us on our way to do good in the world.
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.
