Opening: President Del opened our afternoon by telling our club about three people whose birthdays are today. Nelson Mandela was born on July 18th in 1918, John Glenn in 1921, and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, born in 1950. A nice bright note to start the week!
After the induction, President Del thanked John Dunne, Brad Burdick, Nathan Twining, and Greg Baker for playing “Hail to the Chief” for him on his first official day as Club president. Del had one suggestion, though – next time practice first.
Announcements:
Tattler Sponsors
The Club is looking for 6 additional Website Sponsors for 1 year at a cost of $250.00. Go to the website at bellinghamrotary.org and check out the rotating current ads. They are all linked to your business website. Current sponsors have had a number of views. Contact Sandee if you are interested.
Golf Fun
John Macpherson invited everyone to participate in fun golf event. This year’s event will be held August 12th at Hazelmere Golf Club (in Surrey, B.C.). The cost is $110 for a scramble format, with dinner following the golf. If you’d like to participate, let John or Nathan Twining know. For further information consult our ClubRunner website.
Attendance Committee Recommendation
Please try to make up meetings when traveling. If you cannot make up a meeting just mail in a postcard from your out of town location and that will be considered a makeup.
Nathan Twining got up to talk about the objective of our Social Committee. The committee’s goals are to hold one event each month, and they are looking for suggestions from members. The events should be things that our spouses would enjoy, and that potential members could be invited to. If you have any input, let Catherine Riordan know.
This past week’s Board Meeting included the following items:
•discussion of the process and the timing of this year’s fundraising event;
•Wacky Wickets has been cancelled, and a new fundraiser will be held on February 11th, 1917. Save the Date! More to come on what the mystery event will entail…
•The resignation of Kevin Allen was regretfully accepted as he is moving to the Bremerton/Silverdale area.
Today’s “Rotary Minute” was all about apps, and no that doesn’t mean appetizers.
It means “applications”, those little buttons on your phone/tablet/computer that allow you to do all kinds of fun things. The app discussed today is the Clubrunner app. When you download this to your phone, you can access everything you’ve ever wanted to know about our club, including members and how to get ahold of them.
Because it is electronic, it is easily updateable, which our roster is not.
President Del encourages all of us to download the new app. To find it you can simply enter “Clubrunner app” on Google and you will be taken to a website that will allow you to access it. Easy peasy. Really. If you have questions, you can ask Sandee, Del, or Mark Knittel.
Guest of Rotarians:
Dominique Zervas introduced Michael Heatherly, Exec. Director with LAW Advocates
Chuck Snyder introduced Meridian students Akshpreel Kaur, Shivpreet Brar and teacher Steve Lawrence.
Jack Mulhern introduced Kendall Olson, President of the new local Rotaract Club
Irwin LeCocq brought his best friend and wife, Frances
Presentations:
A Service Fund Grant of $1,000 was awarded to LAW Advocates, submitted by Dominique Zervas. Executive Director Michael Heatherly accepted the check, and gave a brief description of the organization. A non-profit organization, LAW Advocates offers free legal services to people in Whatcom County. Lawyers donating their time serve the homeless, work in family law, and give other legal advice. The money received from our Club will go to support a program called Kinship Custody Clinic. This program enables family members of kids whose parents can’t or aren’t taking care of them properly to assume the status of legal guardian in order to put the children on insurance policies, enable medical professionals to discuss medical issues without compromising HIPPA laws,
allow schools to communicate with them regarding progress, and other issues that require that status to raise a child. The service is only applicable to uncontested cases. You can view a video of just such a case on the LAW Advocates website, lawadvocates.org.
Our newest member, Pat Hughes, was inducted today. Pat was proposed by Nathan Twining and Yvonne Cartwright, and holds the classification “Consulting – Non Profit “.
Pat is the Vice President and Lead Grant Writer at Hi-Tech Services located in California, and recently moved from there to start an office in Bellingham.
Nathan introduced Pat, and Past-president J.C. Hickman did the official charge of membership.
Programs:
Today’s program was presented by Aimee Frazer from Wild Whatcom.
This non-profit started in 2004 when Aimee was a mother, a teacher, and a “cultivator of connection”. She wanted to put a program together that would help kids explore what it really means to be successful – far beyond a career, or financial status. Her key points in creating what became Explorers Club included:
•How to help shape people who are self aware…
•Who have a strong sense of responsibility…
•Who understand integrity and build on it…
•Who speak and act with authenticity…
•Who perceive their community’s needs and commit to serve as a joyful habit…
•Who collaborate, built on trust…
• and who have a deep connection with the environment.
What began as spontaneous outdoor explorations with her own kids and some neighbors, Explorers Club grew quickly and became Wild Whatcom in 2010. There are now 16 groups of 13 boys, and 16 groups of 13 girls, and has expanded into Whatcom County Schools.
Wild Whatcom received a “No Child Left Inside” grant from the state of Washington last year which will allow them to participate in 6 Title One elementary school’s second grade classes every week.
Wild Whatcom develops stronger self esteem, and deeper commitment to stewardship of all kinds. The first kids who participated in Explorers Club now are using empathy and integrity to serve their communities as adults.
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