President Teri Treat Opened with a completely uneventful opening. Don Anderson accompanied the members in singing The National Anthem. Al Archer (Run, Al, Run) provided the invocation.
Announcements: President Teri made the following announcements:
Coming up this Sunday is the Rise Against Hunger food packaging project at the St. Luke’s Health Education Center on November 5th from 9-4. Contact Lisa Saar if you have any questions.The goal is to package 75,000 meals. If you wish to contribute, checks made out to Rise Against Hunger may be sent to Lisa Saar. Click Here to Donate and Register to participate or go to our website home page.
The 2017-2018 Major Project this year is raising funds for the RCOB Foundation Scholarship Fund with a goal of raising $400,000. You will be receiving phone calls from the committees so be ready to pledge. Click Here to find the pledge card to return to Sandee.
Jim Vos announced that sign-up sheets are available for Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army on Dec. 16 and club members are encouraged to sign up. Jim also needs a few members to deliver coffee and donuts to the bell ringers that day.
Colleen Baldwin announced our upcoming Rotation Day is Nov. 27. The committee would like new host companies or organizations to participate. She will be sending a CVENT invite for everyone to sing up either as an attendee or a host. A box lunch will again be available for $13.
Del VandeKerk, our District Assistant Governor announced the upcoming Rotary International Foundation Dinner Nov. 18. More information is available on our website. Teri will be attending and is willing to share a ride.
Guests of Rotarians:
Del VandeKerk introduced Eric Richey, Whatcom County Deputy Prosecutor
Dennis Williams brought his wife and sister of Dave Blair, Robin Williams
Dominique Zervas introduced Heather Shepard, Attorney with Shepard Abbott
Monty McAllister brought Rob Volkamer, a former Rotarian
Dewey Desler introduced Pete Kremen, a Paul Harris Fellow and former Rotarian
Yvonne Cartwright brought Whatcom County Council At Large candidate Mary Kay Robinson
Rub Browne introduced wife Sheila, Morgan Clarke and Michael Heatherly with Law Advocates and Page Henkel-Chance a volunteer.
Mauri Ingram introduced Rachel Myers and Alena Feeney
Presentations:
Past-president Del VandeKerk indicated Eric Richey as a new member. His co-sponsor is Paula McCandlis. Eric is the chief deputy prosecutor for Whatcom County. In Del's induction he talked about the rich history of Rotary, not as a reason to join but as a reminder of what we will do in the future as Rotarians and how this will impact our community and our world for generations to come. Welcome Eric.
Program:
Gwyn Howat, executive vice president of the Mt. Baker Ski Area, presented the history and impact of the Ski Area on our community.
Referencing an article she had read about Positive Psychology, there were five areas she pointed out as critical to maintaining a healthy life. (1) Maintaining a positive mindset, (2) Engagement, (3) Relationships, (4) Meaning and (5) Achievement. Tying all of these together she showed a picture of the Mountain and the people there and how relaxation and exercise are paramount to maintaining the positive mindset as one leans in to nature. Also how the community has engaged to build up the ski area with the first lodge being built in 1920. It burned down due to electrical problems. Relationships are a cornerstone of the Ski Area. Pictures upon pictures of families enjoying life together without modern technology but building relationships by engaging one another and leading to achievement of trying to conquer the mountain.
No matter how long one has skied, the opportunity to overcome another challenge is always there leading to meaning.
As noted, the first lodge was built in 1920 but burned down shortly after. In 1978 the first two chair lifts were constructed and today there are eight chair lifts. The ownership is still local and everything possible is done locally to support our local economy. They employ over 300 and are proud of how long many of those employees have been with them. They build everything themselves and if you can you should watch the construction video on putting together the latest chair lift. Being one of only a handful of ski areas not owned by a conglomerate, they continue to invest in the community by being involved in teaching local students snow science, teaching nearly 1,200 students a year to ski, and being involved in research projects at local universities.
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