President Brad opened today’s meeting as cheerful as ever, noting we had a full agenda. Don accompanied us by playing The Star Spangled Banner, and Paul Grey offered a lovely invocation.
Brad reminded us that due to Rotation Day, there is no meeting at Northwood Hall; don't show up or you will be very lonely. See the link above for your assignment; if you need to be reassigned because you’ve already been to that business before, call Lori Leavitt or Dale Rings.
Slate of Officers and Directors
Brad then announced the slate of officer nominees for the 2015-2016 Rotary year:
President: Chuck Snyder
Treasurer: John Holzheimer
Program Chair: Teri Treat
Two of the following four members will be selected for the Board of Directors:
Scott Hume, Sandy McIntyre, Nathan Twining, Dominique Zervas
EBay News
Claiming to be the first committee with its own theme song thanks to Don Anderson, Del Vandekerk gave a report from the EBay committee. The committee just sold a BBQ for $850! Current items for sale on our EBay site include 300 square feet of Mediterranean tile, an Ab Cruncher, a Stairmaster, and an Ab slider/glider (if you want all three exercise machines, I bet you could get a discount…).
Work Party
The Stimpson Family Nature Reserve Workparty is this Saturday, November 22, 9:00 - 12:00. All are invited, including spouses and families. Call Tim Fisher for additional information. See you there!
Major Project
Our major fundraiser, Sun House, received a nice promotion from President Brad, reminding us that Whatcom County will match up to $100K of what our Club raises to put towards this important facility.
A concerned Rotarian visited the Board to convey comments by a few members, all of which have been concerns of the board and discussed recently. Members are reminded to bring any of their concerns to the Board at any time. Working together is what makes us the greatest Rotary Club in the county.
Member Retention:
Can’t hear – this is an issue that is being worked on
Quality of programs
Feel they don’t contribute any longer
Replace those members who do leave, ie WWU, Hospital (the Retention Committee already attempts to do this)
Attempt to bring past members back into the club (this is also already in motion)
Concerns were also raised regarding retaining our new members. Chuck Snyder suggested that we have mentors for the new members for a couple months. Teri Treat commented that we have a very diverse membership and new members should be reaching out to the membership also. We have good things going!!
Equal financial membership support of projects by members
Government and non-profit sectors seem to be overwhelming the business type classifications.
Membership indoctrination hoops, are there too many? We have already limited the indoctrination system greatly this year, although the New Member Breakfast Orientation format is still important to educate new members. The Committee is trying to hold quarterly meetings, if a certain member finds the monthly meetings difficult to attend. They are also no longer mandated to attend a Board meeting, but encouraged.
Minister of Fun is not working, as many members are afraid they will fail at trying to come up with something which is “fun” or “unique”. It was suggested that we give committee members the option to use either the traditional fine format or the new Ministers of Fun format.
KAFE Radio Station will be highlighting RCOB for the month of December and President Brad has made a list of topics to touch on: Sun House and the total of over $200,000 we have raised over the last decade; RCOB Foundation Scholarships of more than $40,000 annually; Global Grant in Buffujja, Uganda; Wacky Wickets and Salvation Army Bell Ringing.
NEW BUSINESS:
Letters of resignation were received from Dan Powell because of job change and Kris Hamilton due to personal issues. Both were accepted with deep regret and encouraged to return if things change.
Leaves of Absence were approved for John Huntley until 6/30/15 & John Moon until 12/31/14 because of business commitments.
Letters of Appreciation:
Note of appreciation from Squalicum Baseball team for scoreboard and L screen donation of $1,000
Whatcom Community College Foundation letter and note from the 2014-2015 Rotary Club of Bellingham Scholarship recipient, DaNika Nogle.
NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014
Guests of Rotarians:
Tim Farris brought John Dunne
Arlie Norman introduced Lindsey Vereen
Dominique Zervas brought Allen Stockbridge with Kulshan Commercial
Students of the Month Guests: Theatre
Marilyn Mastor introduced Bellingham High School Student of the Month, Anna Crowley and her parents Sonia & Cornelius Crowley.
John Griggs introduced Sehome High School Student of the Month, "Trip" William C. Jakeman III and his parents Kristie & William C. Jakeman II.
Brad Burdick introduced Squalicum High School Student of the Month, Hailey Shannon and her parents Lori and Ed Shannon.
Presentations and Program:
PRESENTATIONS
Students of the Month
Our Club was treated to a particularly articulate and mature group of students this month, whose primary claim to fame is their involvement in drama and theatre. But as we learned, they are all very well-rounded.
Anna Crowley – Bellingham High School
Marilyn Mastor began by calling Anna a “delightful person who knows her own mind”. Anna is on the Honor Roll, is a National Merit Scholar, an AP scholar, involved in the technical side of theatre (sound and lighting, for example), participates in the Engineering, Environmental, German, and Drama clubs, is a calculus tutor, part of the Edge Youth Group, and has served on two mission trips. She is interested in a career in Biomedical Engineering.
William C. “Trip” Jakeman III – Sehome High School
John Griggs informed us that Trip grew up in Florida, and in 9th grade moved to Bellingham. He is on the Honor Roll, a member of the Swim Team (including the 2012 State Champions), volunteers at the Marysville Food Bank, had the lead role in the spring play as a sophomore, and also played the lead role of Hamlet in his junior year. He is the Vice President of the Thespian Society, and currently is taking Physics, English Literature and Composition, Psychology, Trigonometry, and Humanities. AND he maintains a 3.8 GPA! Trip has been accepted at Louisiana State University, and is applying to Florida State and University of Florida.
Hailey Shannon – Squalicum High School
President Brad introduced us to Hailey, who currently is enrolled in AP Geography, English Literature and Composition, U.S. History, and Biology. She represented her freshman class as an Associated Student Body member, is a member of the National Thespian Society, is President of the Drama Club, Culinary Club, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Choir Club. Hailey is moving beyond acting by directing their current play, “Our Town”. She is also a cross country runner, is involved in Relay for Life, mentors freshmen, and has done a mission trip to L.A. Her hobbies include singing, acting, writing, and traveling. Hailey would like to go to Knox or Willamette University.
Minister of Fun
Dale Rings, today’s MoF, put a very clever and funny program together for us. Calling it “Turkey Day Trivia", Dale asked four questions, each with multiple choice answers. By show of hands, Club members had to select the answer they thought was correct. If you got it wrong? Guess what…a dollar on the table. This reporter couldn’t write fast enough to get all the multiple choice answers down, unfortunately, because they were funny – but I did get the correct answers. And here they are…
Q: Who made Thanksgiving a national holiday?
A: Abraham Lincoln (I didn’t get that one)
Q: What is a 12 week old turkey called?
A: A Fry Roaster (didn’t get that one, either)
Q: What year was the first NFL game on Thanksgiving Day?
A: 1934 (nope)
Q: How many towns in the U.S. have the word “turkey” in their name?
A: 4 (making me 4 dollars poorer)
PROGRAM
New Member Talks
Rick Kaiser
Rick had all kinds of information that he didn’t want to share about himself so it was amazing how much we learned! In what this reporter hopes is chronological order, Rick’s history includes: teaching oceanography and scuba diving; being a sail boat rigger; and working for Rocket Research, Anvil Corporation, on the North Slope in Alaska, and for AIS in Bellingham.
Rick and his wife Ann have 6 children and 13 grandchildren. Rick proposed to Ann at the Puyallup Fair on the Ferris Wheel. She said “no”. So, one year later, he tried again. Puyallup Fair, Ferris Wheel…and this time got a “yes”.
Rick and Ann enjoy serving their community in a variety of ways, wherever they happen to reside. On the North Slope, in addition to working in the oil business, Rick tuned all the local pianos and also counted ravens at the local landfill (ask him about that one). He and Ann work as reading aides at Silver Beach Elementary School, and are involved with the Mt. Baker Theatre and Whatcom Museum. They have funded a scholarship for Bellingham Technical College students, and Rick volunteers in high school computer science classes. He left us with this thought, which he definitely exemplifies – People are not rich for what they own, but for what they give.
Lori Leavitt
Lori began by telling us that she loves conversation. And she loves community. She also loves learning, puts each of these passions to good use, as she offers “nimble practices to grown up companies”. Momentum is important to her as she helps leaders get “unstuck”. Lori coaches both individuals and groups, in addition to developing software.
Lori was born in Massachusetts, and as a child moved to Central Washington where she grew up in Ellensburg. Her sister is a nurse, her brother inherited their father’s insurance business. Lori holds an accounting degree from Central Washington University, and an MBA from University of Washington. She has earned certificates from both Columbia University and Wharton.
It’s obvious how much Lori cherishes her daughter, Emily, who is 23 years old. Emily graduated from Seattle University with degrees in Psychology and English, which she is putting to good use in social service. Traveling is another passion of Lori’s. Her favorite trip was to France, where she lived for two years. Her most adventurous trip was to Namibia.
John Moffat
John’s theme was “How did I get here today?” He grew up in Scarsdale, N.Y., where his family was friends with Claire vg Thomas, of Lynden fame. He credits Claire for instilling in him a lifelong love of music. His family traveled across northern United States to Lynden when he was a boy, and drove up to Mt. Baker. It was that experience that led him to decide he wanted to live in Bellingham.
John was a junior at Princeton University during the Vietnam War. On December 1, 1969 the first draft lottery was held, and he feels fortunate to have been passed up. But he vowed to give two years to serving his country in a venue other than the military. He made good on that vow in his last year at Duke Law School when he became a VISTA volunteer attorney. He was placed in Mt. Vernon, WA, representing low-income people. In 1980 he worked in the Skagit County prosecuting attorney’s office, and in 1986 finally got his wish and moved to Bellingham.
John and his wife have two sons: Dan, aged 28 and Ken, 26. Ten years ago son Dan was recognized by our Rotary Club for Drama, and was presented by John McPherson. Small world! John participates on a number of community boards including the Legal Aid for Washington Fund and the Festival of Music. He sings in the Whatcom Chorale and the Festival of Music chorus, and interviews potential students applying to Princeton. Having retired July 1, John is happy to be in Bellingham and looks forward to contributing through Rotary Club of Bellingham.
.jpg)
