President Cathy welcomed everyone to her first “meeting without training wheels” and thanked everyone for their support and encouragement.
Announcements:
We are looking for Website sponsors for the next Rotary year starting July 1st. Great opportunity to advertise your business and support Rotary. The cost is $300 for the year. Check our the current sponsors on our website by going to bellinghamrotary.org. There are 4 spots remaining.
July 15, 2019 Board Report:
The Board approved resignations, with regret, from Dan Cybula, Eric Richey, Bob Boule and Byron Manering
Cathy reviewed the responsibilities of the Board of Directors including consistent Board meeting attendance, study the material sent prior to the meeting to help things move along and contacting their committees assigned to them. She went over their assigned committees.
Next Board of Directors meeting is August 8, 2019 at the Bellingham Legal Center, 805 Dupont St., Bellingham
Major Projects Committee
Jim Wakefield requested that Club members submit any and all ideas for our next Major Project for the Committee's consideration. Click here for criteria.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Nathan Twining reminds members that this Friday night 19th of July, the club will attend the Bells game at Civic Field. For a cost of $24 (plus tax) you get the game, all you can eat and drink, and enjoy each other’s company. Let’s fill the ballpark. President Cathy will throw out the first pitch. See a bunch of you there. Contact Nathan to sign up.
Tom Grinstad announced a Vietnam Vets car show to be held this Sunday at 10am at Barkley.
Website and Phone App instructions:
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 or 264 (don’t recall now) 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 my computer at your request if you run into problems.
Please contact Sandee at 360-734-5532 or rcob@comcast.net if you run into any trouble.
Guests of Rotarians:
Lisa Saar introduced Jacki VanderVeble
Presentations:
None to be had this week...
Program:
Pete Theisen introduced today’s speakers, Jessica Hilburn and Betsy McFeeley, of Goodwill Bellingham. Together they have decades of experience with Goodwill and other nonprofits in the Pacific Northwest.
Education in preparation for the workforce is the primary focus of the services Goodwill provides. Adult literacy and how it affects employability was an initial focus of the presentation. Nationally, 36 million people struggle to read, write, and use technology above 3rd grade level. One in six young adults drop out of school each year. Enrollment at the secondary level is only about 59% in Washington. Within the Washington prison population, 75% are classified as low literate or as not having completed high school. Those who are illiterate are much less likely to be employed. Illiteracy cost the US $225 Billion each year in nonproductivity, crime, loss of tax revenue, etc.
The Goodwill Bellingham offers educational programs intended to improve literacy levels and other aspects of preparation for the workplace. It works closely with Goodwill Seattle (sponsor of the Glitter Gala fashion show). In addition to the well-known donation and 24 retail centers in Washington, Goodwill operates 24 training centers. In Bellingham the training center is located with the retail operation in Sunset Plaza.
A main source of revenue to support the education and training Goodwill offers is the “Cycle of Value” in which donated items are sold in Goodwill retail stores. Additional funding comes from corporations, foundations, and individuals, which means all services are free to those with barriers to employment.
Examples of the services offered in Washington include
Basic education(reading, writing, second language acquisition)
Training for retail sector entry level positions
Youth aerospace and maritime two-year programs in a few cities
Career and sector pathways
Wrap around services for students with special challenges like homelessness and domestic violence
At Goodwill’s Whatcom Job Training Center, about 900 people are receiving educational services, which include
High school GED and diploma preparation with certified teacher
Microsoft and related technical skills
Soft skills vocational preparation (with some programs that might of interest to many, like how do I ask for a raise and how do I behave in today’s Me Too workplaces?)
English language/TESOL preparation with cerified teachers
Each Goodwill in WA is separately incorporated and has its own board of directors. There are five operating in WA. Goodwills share a common national mission: Helping clients to remove barriers to employment. Each Goodwill seeks to respond to that mission and do so in a way that recognizes local needs
In managing the donations, the local Goodwill has a number of “salvage” partners, meaning they can accept almost all household items, clothing, and electronic devices. They even expressed tentative interest in Brian Griffin’s two old chairs.
If Rotarians want to help this organization, we are encouraged to shop, donate, gift, volunteer, hire a grad, and/or follow them on social media.
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