Esteemed President Peter T. welcomed all to the meeting, citing the number in rank of meeting from: existence; pandemic; and blended (virtual and in-person). He tried without success to dent the bell as he rang the meeting to order.
Book Review by Corey Chaplin "Facing the Mountain" by Daniel James Brown
"Facing the Mountain," a book by Daniel James Brown, is an account of Japanese American Heroes in World War II. At the advent of WWII, American Citizens of Japanese descent from Washington, Oregon, and California were imprisoned in concentration camps in Idaho, Utah, and Arizona. Japanese American citizens from the Pacific Coast area and from Hawaii were forced to sell their businesses and homes, and faced all manner of discrimination. Nisei (first generation citizens of Japanese descent) were initially denied the opportunity to enlist in the US Military, but eventually faced conscription, despite the fact that their families were imprisoned within the US.
The Hawaiian and Pacific Coast Nisei served in an all-Japanese fighting unit, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This team came to be regarded as one of the most capable fighting units in the European campaign. One notable event was the rescue of the "Lost Battalion," a group of some 250 Texas soldiers surrounded and facing certain death in the Italian campaign. The 442nd was sent on a seemingly suicidal mission to rescue this battalion, eventually losing 700 men in the successful effort to rescue the 200 Texans.
By some standards, the 442nd became the most decorated during the war. With 18,000 medals, 4000 Purple Hearts, 4000 Bronze Medals, and 21 Medal of Honor recognitions, the percentage receiving the MOH was the highest of the war.
Growing up in the NW, I have been exposed to numerous accounts of the WWII Japanese incarceration. This book brought me new understanding:
I hadn't previously understood the number of Japanese Hawaiians involved in the war effort
I hadn't understood that Hawaiians and Pacific Coast Japanese Americans were treated differently
I certainly hadn't appreciated the contributions of these men to our war effort
This book is written in the same gripping and engaging style as DJB's "Boys in the Boat," and it is a "must read" for anyone drawn to new understanding of this important chapter in American and Northwest history.
Club and Committee Announcements
Board Briefs December 9, 2021
President Peter has received numerous additional inquiries from members regarding mandating covid vaccines to attend our Monday meetings after Dr. Steve Ban’s presentation and the Board of Directors has determined that we will mandate vaccines effective January 3, 2022. This is an effort to protect our members and also follow RI guidelines “At Rotary, we are contributing to efforts to end COVID by mandating full vaccination a condition of employment and for entering our work premise.” Unvaccinated members will be encouraged to attend by Zoom. Please read the full mandate (Click Here)
Felicity Dye suggested that we go back to in-person Board meetings and offered her home. Other alternatives will also be checked into.
Resignations were received from Jim Wakefield and Bob Sytsma and accepted with great regret. The resignations led to a discussion on how to enhance our meetings to encourage attendance. President Peter feels we should concentrate on retention and expansion. Please let Board Members know if you have any suggestions.
The Board discussed purchase of a Portable AED for meeting location to be stored at Sandee’s (proposed by John Dunne and Steve Ban). The cost would run around $1,200 to $3,000. The board felt it was a good idea to protect members and will ask physicians in the club to investigate it further.
The Board approved signing a Four Points contract for use of the meeting room for January-March, 2022.
Next Board Meeting will be January 13, 2022
Major Projects
A short video was played to generate excitement for the club’s major project for the year: the Community Boating Center’s new boathouse. Let’s get behind this effort folks. This is an entirely voluntary organization. They need our help.
Football Pool
Mike Plenkovich reported on the results of the football pool from this past weekend's game: Sandee Lindhout, Mark Knittel, Ann Jones and Jan Marchbanks were the winners. Congratulations!
Going forward--no game next week. We'll have two college bowl games, WSU vs Miami, Sun Bowl, Friday, Dec. 31st. Then New Years's Day, the Rose Bowl, Utah vs Ohio State. Those numbers will be in next week's Tattler.
Bell Ringing
Dick Tucker reported on the successful bell ringing efforts at the three (Sehome, Fairhaven and Meridian) Haggen locations.
You will still receive an email from Sandee each week prior to the Monday 12:30 meeting if you are unable to attend in person (you can start logging in at 12:00 for short socializing) with the link for that privacy-protected meeting. If you have not done so, please download the Zoom app on your computer (you need a camera and microphone on it), iPad or phone. There is no cost to you. If you do not have either, you can also call in. On the invitation, there are US phone numbers you can call and enter the meeting ID number also indicated on the invitation. HERE ARE ZOOM INSTRUCTIONS.
Four Points is not requiring a Contract thru 2021 and need only 72 hours to cancel an event. We will continue to evaluate other locations for a permanent location. Lunch will be $22 for a sit-down meal. We must notify them by Wednesday at 4:00 pm each week prior to the Monday meeting as to the number of members attending. We are sending out meeting “Invite's” weekly and members are asked to sign-up ASAP. You can also sign-up by going to the event section of our website at bellinghamrotary.org. If you sign up for a meal at the meeting, you will need to pay the $22 even if you don't wind up attending the meeting after numbers are turned in. If you plan to attend but not eat, PLEASE indicate that on your sign-up so we don't overorder meals and still make sure there is enough seating.
Four Points also will not collect the payment weekly, so the Club will collect payments prior to the meeting or at the door.
We urge members of the RCOB to set up a Venmo account for ease in payment of Meeting lunches, Happy Bucks, Minister of Fun, Dues or donations to the club. Our account is @RCOB-Bellingham. If you do not have a Venmo account you can set up an account with your computer then download the app. on your phone (just Google "Venmo" and you will find all the information you need) You then attach it to a debit or credit card (a fee on your end) or attach to your checking account at no cost. Payment will be sent directly to the RCOB checking account. When you use it for the first time it may ask you the last 4 digits of the RCOB phone number which is 0282. Give Sandee a call if you need help. 360-734-5532
Other payment options are to bring a check in the correct amount to the meeting made out to RCOB or cash in the exact amount to speed up the payment process. There is also the PayPal option as usual and we are set to take payments at the meeting. We have a QR Code that you can simply click on to pay thru paypal also.
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 unless you have changed it. Sandee can see your Username from her computer but not the password. She can also change your password for you from her computer at your request if you run into problems.
Once you have originally created your User Name and Password you can download the ClubRunner Mobile app on your phone:
Please contact Sandee at 360-734-5532 or rcob@comcast.net if you run into any trouble.
Guests:
Catherine Riordan introduced her husband Phil Thompson who has helped to lead the County's Climate Action Taskforce.
Dale Rings and Chuck Snyder joined us from Arizona.
Other members who were on Zoom: Robin Halliday, Scott Wallace, Frank King, Corey Chaplin, Ken Marzocco, Nathan Twining, Steve Hager, Fred Kaiser, Doug Cole, Monty McAllister and Roland Trenouth.
Program:
Doug Cole via zoom introduced the speaker today, Chris Elder, senior planner with the Whatcom County Public Works. Mr. Elder opened stating he was going to try to bring some semblance of order to an “enormous can of worms”. That can of worms was formed when the County’s 2016 Comprehensive Plan established a climate impact advisory committee to propose a County response to address the growing climate change problem.
In 2019, this committee conducted extensive community outreach to try to understand the local views and needs regarding climate change. 2020 brought vulnerability assessments, (greenhouse gas emissions etc.) and put forth possible strategies and actions. And 2021 brought the Climate Action Plan. It underwent a public review process and was approved by County Council in November. Basically, the report discusses how to mitigate humankind impacts and how to use and adapt the natural environment to buffer our impact.
Our county’s greenhouse gas output is roughly three times the state average, due in large part to industry (read Cherry Point), agriculture and waste. The goal would be to have the impacts balanced by the natural environment by 2050 so Whatcom County would be net zero.
There were ten actions that it is hoped would get us there:
Strive for renewable energy (electricity) by solar and other means and establish a less centralized distribution system.
Reduce the emissions from refineries.
Provide financial tools and incentives for renewable energy.
Create public charging stations at county facilities and other locations.
Use the regional trails network for commuting etc.
Make climate change risk a part of all aspects of the comprehensive plan.
Prioritize wetlands restoration, increasing carbon storage and resilience.
Ensure stable land base for agriculture and renewable energy.
Increase the conservation easement program, ensuring open space and create a carbon credit market.
Expand a database hub so that county and city(ies) can work together more seamlessly.
Chris closed his presentation with the next steps the County will be taking.
Hire a climate manager
Create an action team within the county bureaucracy
Formalize agreements between the county and cities.
And implement the action plan
There were a few questions at the end, but I was too tired to copy them and the answers down.
Covid Report:
Gary Goldfogel called in the Covid report. As of Monday, 26 were in hospital, 11 at ICU level of care, 6 on ventilators. There was one mother/baby among the number.
Final Announcement:
Prexy Pete rang us out saying to do good and be careful out there. He sounds like the cop sergeant from that show…
