President Paul Grey Mike Plenkovich - Take A Vet to Lunch
Book Review - The White Spider, a mountaineering story
Rotary Cruise June 27th to Eliza Island hosted by Dick Tucker
Miracles of Life
July 11, 2022
Opening Welcome:
President Paul rung the bell to start the first meeting under his rule. As part of what will be his regular approach to the presidency, Paul started with a “president’s moment” in which at the beginning of our meetings he plans to reflect on our club and Rotary as ways to engage and refresh excitement among members. This moment will not include costumes, so as not to compete with an earlier president’s approach to the presidency. President Paul noted his aspirations for 100% participant engagement by the end of the year, and growing excitement and fun.
President Paul described a field trip undertaken by some members of the Board to Whiterock to meet new RI President Jennifer Jones. As environmentally conscious Rotarians, they rode up in Steve Ban’s zero-emissions Tesla. At the event, Felicity managed to talk to each of the 120 or so Rotarians in attendance and to land an invitation for three of the RCOB members to a small after party, leaving Steve Ban to join the beach cleanup on behalf of our club. Thanks Steve. ;)
RI President Jones was deeply engaged at the event, shaking hands with most attendees. In her prepared remarks to the group, she reminded them of the importance of clubs maintaining apolitical and areligious stances to avoid controversies which are upending civil discourse these days.
President Paul was impressed with President Jones’s openness and warmth and appreciated the fellowship expressed by the group as a whole.
Book Review:
Peter Thiesen reviewed the book, The White Spider, a mountaineering story. The book was his grandfather’s who was an avid mountaineer during his life. He loved the mountains and did some of the most challenging climbs in the Alps. In his lifetime, mountaineering was more than the climbs, but involved an outdoor lifestyle and a bit of anti-establishment stance. Men who were recovering from the stresses of war would seek out the mountains and mountaineering adventures.
This book, by Austrian Heinrich Harrer, details the first successful ascent of the north face of Eiger in the Swiss Alps. It is a near vertical wall of rock and ice. Turning back was not seen as a viable option. In addition to details of his harrowing 1938 trip, Harrer describes the socio-cultural context of mountaineering, ethical dilemmas, and gives traveling guidance. The Dalai Lama apparently sought out Harrer’s advice on challenges during his lifetime.
Peter recommends the book as interesting and engaging.
Club and Committee Announcements:
Nathan Twining announced the Rotary Golffun Tournament happening on 26 August in Lynden. There is a lunch included and a dinner afterward. Nathan said you don’t have to be a serious golfer to join in. Contact Nathan for details. $125 entree.
President Paul said there will be an International Service Club Meeting after next week’s luncheon meeting.
He also announced that there will be a Board of Directors meeting today, Thursday, July 14th at 4:30 on Zoom. Please join us, contact Sandee if you are interested to get the link.
Steve Ban, current program chair, thanked those who had responded to his request for discussion questions for County Executive Satpal Singh Sidu, who will be our guest at our next meeting. He has received plenty of questions so far.
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 n 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 cannot do 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.
Four Points is now requiring a Contract thru March 2022. We will continue t 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 "Invites" 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 the 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 di ctly 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 scan and simply click to pay thru paypal also.
Website and Phone App instructions:
Here is a tutorial on how to login for the first time. (Click here) Go to belling mrotary.org first. In order to login you need t know your user name and password in your Clubrunner account. The user name is Your first name.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:
Steve Ban introduced his speakers Carol Hendricks and Debbie Bodal
Dave Blair introduced his guest, David Nelson, candidate for District Court Judge
Paul Grey introduced Assistant District Governor, Christine Palmerton
Roland Trenouth introduced Take a Vet to Lunch guest, Alan Hall and Work Source Vet Case Manager, Paul Pelot
Chuck Snyder visited us from Arizona on Zoom.
Members attending on Zoom: Scott Wallace, John Moffat, Monty McAllister, Steve Hager, Jodi Borrelli, Catherine Riordan and Kathy Hughes
Presentation:
Take a Vet to Lunch visitor, Alan Hall - Computer Support Tech II (Click here for bio)
Mike Plenkovich noted that is has been five years since our club established a veteran focus, including the Hire a Vet program. Mike reminded members that it is fully appropriate for members to contact non-Rotarian friends of theirs who might have positions for these vets. Today’s vet was Alan Hall originally from Forks. Alan attended WWU in the very successful premed program but had to withdraw due to health issues before completing. He enlisted in the Army, and served in the health division in DC. After leaving active duty he lived in NY then WA, completing LPN and then a computer and network technology programs at Bellingham Technical College. As his father ailed, he became his full-time caretaker. He does Improv locally as a hobby. Presently he is looking for a service-related job related to his intersecting interests in computers and health.
Program:
Carol Hendricks and Debbie Bodal updated us on an international program RCOB has heard about and supported previously. (RCOB at $5K is just one of the regional clubs that have joined in to support this project.) The program, Days for Girls Eswatini, focuses on supporting the educational and supply needs of girls surrounding menstruation and sex education (e.g., AIDS, HIV). Kits are supplied to girls in designated partner villages. Carol and Debbie described an active partnership with the PNW and African clubs and a successful economic development effort. Sewers are hired to make the washable menstruation pads. Presenters shared some impressive statistics surrounding the production and use of the kits produced in conjunction with the project supported in part by two Rotary Grants, the first of which was in 2019. Kits are made in homesteads and distributed at schools.
During the pandemic the sewers made masks—almost 20K of them.
They’ve expanded the initial program to include boys who were feeling left out. Now an educational program, Men Who Know, is provided to boys, emphasizing respect, responsibility, and disease prevention. They are introduced to sex trafficking and how that might be curtailed. In this and all the programs they do, local residents are the leaders, trainers, and any paid staff.
Sustainability of the project has been a concern since its inception. Will the project continue past Rotary funding? Purchase and use of the kits by other women’s health programs could be key in sustainability. Some of that has occurred to date (4K of the 20K kits produced). They are orchestrating a fundraiser for October to support this project. The goal is to keep the sewers sewing, making supplies available. They have partnered with international organizations like Oxfam and the ministers of agriculture.
The project fits well within the new Rotary Action Group (RAG) on women’s health. They also are broadening their scope to provide hand washing stations in 19 schools with a district grant.
President Paul announced RCOB is giving them an additional $1500 for this project.
