President Del VandeKerk opened another busy meeting with the raffle of the Major Project pledge tickets. Two bottles of Dunham Cellars Wine and two tickets to a performance at the Mt. Baker Theatre were among the prizes. He announced that 75% of our Club members have pledged and/or contributed so far.
Announcements:
Salvation Army Bell-Ringing is December 17th and Click Here for the schedule. Important instructions from Jim Vos is to call your partner to make sure they are coming and you aren't alone.
The Next District RLI (Rotary Leadership Institute) will be held January 21, 2017 at the Mount Vernon Best Western. Rotary will pay your tuition. Simply register and notify Sandee for reimbursement. Click open to register.
Rotary Las Vegas Night is February 11, 2017 at the Mt. Baker Theatre. Nathan Twining reviewed the planning of the event and asked for members’ firms to sponsor various aspects of the evening’s activities. This event will fund our new International Student Exchange and contribute to the Service Fund. The event is described on the Club’s web site and the committee is meeting to finalize additional details which he will present soon. Save the date of February 11, 2017 to attend at the Mount Baker Theatre. You can now go to our website at bellinghamrotary.org home page to get more information. The committee distributed Sponsorship Forms for anyone interested in being a Sponsor. Click here to view.
Mauri Ingram and Katherine Deets, Co-Chairpersons of the New Generations & Youth Committee are asking members to take the survey below. Your input will help us create opportunities that best fit Club members' preferences in supporting the children and youth in our community.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5BVB3NRMauri also announced that we are now taking applications for the 2017 Rotary YAIL: “Youth Adventures in Leadership”. Your applicant needs to be between the ages of 17-24, and have some connection to Rotary. Our Club will cover the expenses. Please call Mauri or Katherine for more information.
Nominating Committee Report:
Past President Chuck Snyder, Chairman of the Nominating Committee announced the following slate of officers for the 2017-2018 elections next week, December 12th.
President: Teri Treat
President-Elect: Sandy McIntire
Vice President/Program Chair: Cathy Buckley
Treasurer: John Holtzheimer
Board of Directors: (vote for 2) Monty McAllister
Paula McCandlis
John Moffat
Bob Trunek
December 8, 2017 Board Briefs:
Bill Gorman, Assistant DistrictSecretary attended our Board meeting to report on recent Rotary Council on Legislation changes to the RI Constitution and ByLaws. They are making it a lot more flexible with attendance and make-ups, accepting E Clubs as make-ups, only required to hold a minimum of 2 meetings per month, Rotoractor’s can be Rotarians and attendance requirements are up to each club.
Chuck Snyder has volunteered to study the changes and make recommendations to the Board.
He also mentioned that Rotarians working with youth will need to have criminal background checks ran on them. Clubs should appoint a Youth Protection Officer. We are close to having Youth Exchange Students arriving and this would be needed for everyone in a house hold that is 18 or older.
Bill also reported that they are looking at redistricting, or changing the zones in the district.
Susie Thomson-Sines, RCOBF Treasurer, attended the Board meeting to report on the RCOBF June 30, 2016 year end financials. She has also submitted our annual 990 tax form. Thanks to Susie for preparing this pro bono and also all the work that she does for the RCOB Foundation.
Membership:
The letter of resignation received from Justin Guillory was accepted with great regret due to attendance issues.
A letter of resignation was also received from long time member Margaret Curtis. She has moved to Texas and will joining Rotary there shortly. She will be greatly missed.
Guests of Rotarians:
Rick Kaiser introduced Jim Zoeynel with Mt. Baker Theatre
Visiting Out of Town Rotarian:
Bryan Hennezsy from Fidalgo Island Rotary
Presentations:
Welcome Steve Hettick, our newest Rotarian. Steve was proposed by Teri Treat and Dominique Zervas to fill the classification "Metal & Composite Manufacturing" He is the COO of Ershig's Inc. Teri Treat introduced Steve and Past President J C Hickman did that portion of the induction.
Program:
Sandy McIntire introduced our speaker, Lt. Niki Woollin of the Salvation Army. He is originally from Australia, and has been a member of the Church all his life. He graduated from the College of the Evangelical Arm of the Universal Christian Church, became a Lt, and he was in charge of two previous areas in the United States before taking over in Whatcom Country.
The international organization began in 1865 as a response to churches at the time who not only did not help the poor, but wouldn’t let them attend Sunday services. William Booth and his wife and children organized the group as an "Army," using the same nomenclature for its members, from Cadets to Generals. Evangeline Booth’s slogan, “ No reward is so good as doing the most good for the most people in the most need,” became the motto of the world-wide-organization.
They began here in Bellingham in 1890, calling it an “invasion,” with the goal of going out into the community to feed the hungry, walk with the addicted, house the homeless, and donate clothes and toys to the children. Almost 10 percent of Americans volunteer in some tangible way.
They also operate Camp Lummi, serving up to 30 children a week, staying in small cabins, playing on the beach, hiking, swimming, discovering sea life, and all eating together - three meals a day, with "seconds" allowed.
Last Christmas, bell-ringing in Bellingham brought in $37,000 for toys, $36,000 for winter clothing, and $24,000 for food. Eighty-six percent of the money raised here is given out here, a huge percentage. Their overhead is tiny compared to most charities. Lt. Niki makes $24,000 a year, and the U.S. National Commander of Salvation Army makes $36,000.
You can adopt a family and/or buy a pin in one of three amounts ($20, $50, or $100) and wear it, so that you needn’t feel guilty about not putting something in every single Red Kettle.
Lt. Niki then answered questions from Club members.
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