Northwind February 4, 2016

Call to Order:  President Sharon called the meeting to order, led us in the flag salute and provided the “emergency” invocation that is normally carried around by Julie.

 

 

Guests: Margaret accompanied Stan today.  It is always good to see her.

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries:  No birthdays this week, but Julie celebrates 22 years in Rotary (1994) and Marlene joined on Ground Hog’s day in 2006, (10 years!)

 

Announcements:  RLI  (Rotary Leadership Institute) will be on March 19^th in Mt Vernon.  Go to the 50/50 website to register.  This is important for every Rotarian and really provides good tools for growing and sustaining a club.  Dale announced that the Career Fair is still looking for some presenters.  (They changed Banking to Financial Services to open the field.)  The brochures will be printed next week and the Career Fair will be on 31^st in Settlemeyer Hall at BTC.  We have 540 students registered but waiting for a few High Schools to sign up.  Tim discussed the Duck Race scheduled for August 27, 2016.  This year it will be held in Ferndale on Main and 3^rd Streets.  It will tie in with the Street Festival and lots of tickets need to be sold!!  We are still looking for Corporate Sponsors, so get to it!  Sharon shared a thank-you from Lydia’s Place.

 

Happy Bucks:  Bill started the ball rolling with HB for the 125^th Anniversary of the Elks club.  (He made a display case for the Officer’s jewels.)  Julie was $5 happy to see Margaret and for the 1^st time in 40 years that she gets to take a vacation in February.  Ken was also happy to see Margaret and the 14 others who managed to attend the meeting.  Eric was $3 happy that he closed a deal at the very moment he was called on.  Sharon states she is increasing her IOUs, thereby helping a small club do well.  Linda was happy to have dinner with Julie’s sister-in-law, (an old friend from Puyallup), and Pati was happy for her good conversation with Linda and also happy about the upcoming Super Bowl.  Dale was happy he heard the Rotary Announcement on the radio and Stan was happy for his visit to the MT Baker club where 3 women were present.  (It is only 2016!)  Bill was happy that WCNR voted Julie in as the first female member 22 years ago.

 

Finemaster:  Jim B. started things off with English humor, or so he said!  He immediately fined Tim $2 for not getting the Northwind out on time.  Anyone under 90 years old was fined $1 and anyone that was non-native Washingtonian was fined.  Anyone who graduated from Bellingham High School (Ken and Julie) got fined and if you are a motorcycle rider in shorts (Ken) a fine of $1.  Anyone who lives or works on “Double Ditch” road was fined $1 (Rollo.)  Next finemaster (Feb. 11) is Greg I.

 

Banners:  Stan did a great job with Palm Tree banners. Thank you, Stan…the banners are always fun!

 

Program:  Pati introduced our speaker, Jeff Hienrichs who has been a fire-fighter for 16 years.  He was here to talk about “Operation Warm,” a county-wide program which supplies new American made coats to kids.  (By supplying American made coats they have helped to save jobs at a textile plant in GA.)   He described the guidelines for distribution, which consist of finding schools in the county where at least 60% of students are getting free or reduced lunches and then select the grades and give coats to the whole class.  In 2016 they will be needing 300 coats for a Kendall school and Operation Warm is always looking for businesses to partner with.  A good discussion was had concerning how WCNR could be involved, as well as the Ferndale Schools.  Great program!

 

Drawing:  The door prize this week was a set of wrought iron hooks donated by Stan’s daughter, Jakie and won by Sharon.  Deb had her first ever winning ticket, but drew the Ace of Clubs rather than the Ace of Spades.  The pot grows!  Next week buy a chance at winning $405.50  (The Jackpot is now $811!!)