Tattler Newsletter April 30, 2018 (Apr 30, 2018)

April 30, 2018

Opening

President Teri opened the meeting acknowledging RCOB legend Don (fingers) Anderson who is celebrating his 35^th year providing musical accompaniment for Rotary programs. Don’s contribution to the club was recognized by members with a standing ovation and later by individual members during happy bucks. In contrast, President Teri asked RCOB Members who have joined the club in the past two years to stand. It was an impressive number of individuals who appear to be responsible for the more youthful look our club is taking on

Announcements:

Major Awards Nominations:

These are being accepted by the Executive Committee for the Will J. Griswold Club Service Award, the David C. Morse Sr. Community Service Award, the Michael K. Mischaikow International Service Award, and the Karen W. Morse Vocational Service Award. They will be presented at our regular meeting on June 25th. Details are available on the tables, website, or from Sandee. Turn in nominations to Del Vandekerk, President Teri, President-Elect Sandy McIntire, or VP Cathy Buckley.

Stimpson Family Nature Reserve Work Party - May 5, 2018:

There is a work party on Saturday, May 5 from 9:00 am to 1:00 p.m. to help assemble a trail foot-bridge at the Stimson Family Nature Reserve, 2076 Lake Louise Road. A European/Continental Breakfast with coffee will be served between 8:15 and 9:00 at the trailhead parking lot. Contact Tim Fisher to sign up.

Exchange Student Student Visa needed:

One of our outbound youth exchange students, Gnoc Chau, needs to obtain a student visa from the Spanish Consulate in San Francisco. Her family has limited financial resources. In order to save her and her mom the cost of round-trip airfare, I have arranged with the consulate to allow one of our Rotarians to submit her written visa application in San Francisco. This has to be done between the end of May and the end of July. If anyone is planning to be in the Bay Area during that time and would be willing to submit the application, please contact Steve Ban.

Guests of Rotarians:

Cathy Buckley introduced Randy Hodgins, Vice President-Office of External Affairs and Victor Balta, Senior Director for Media Relations with the University of Washington. She also brought longtime friend and U of W graduate Janet Rhoades.

Presentations:

It doesn't fall under the heading of presentations but, Happy Bucks returned after a few weeks of hiatus and many members took advantage of the opportunity to share their happiness with the membership.

Program:

The program for the day was offered by University of Washington President Ana Marie Cauce. She was introduced by Cathy Buckley. Ms. Cauce began at UW as an assistant professor in 1986 specializing in adolescent risk resiliency. She began her presentation by commenting on the connections between the UW and Whatcom County including that WWU leads the state in sending over 300 students to the UW each year. As Washington State’s “Medical University”, the UW is number one in rural medicine which is a big part of their accomplishing the UW mission to be the greatest in the world in terms of turning ideas into impact. She also cited the university’s Nobel Prize winning work on dark matter, the development of a phone app that checks an individual’s lung function, recent initiatives regarding growth management, opioid addiction, homelessness and population health assessment strategies, and the institution’s commitment to graduate more students with STEM degrees as other ways they are turning ideas into impact. Another way the UW makes an impact is through the Husky Promise which has provided over 40,000 students with tuition free education since it began 10 years ago. 150 students from Whatcom County are currently benefiting from the Husky Promise. Ms. Cauce said she has remained motivated over her 30 years at the UW because she loves how the university changes the community in positive ways. She did a great job in not offending any cougar supporters, and she has a very cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.