This Week's Program

Thursday, April 26, 2018 11:45 a.m.

Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center

"ABC - Always Be Connecting"

Presented by: Greg Kettner

Greg Kettner delivers interactive presentations for a variety of audiences who leave inspired and empowered to transform the world around them His funny and engaging stories are drawn from his personal life experiences and daily activities we all suffer through. For over 10 years Greg has entertained over 10,000 people across the United States and Canada.

After an accomplished twenty-one year sales career, Greg decided to follow his passion to help inspire people with humour and make a difference in the world. The itch was scratched during and an impromptu comedy show at SAP's Annual Sales Kickoff in Las Vegas in front of 3,500 co-workers when he was asked replaced a well-known comedian who missed the mark during his set.

His speaking engagements are entertaining and his inspires his audiences with talks that include “Think Outside The Pizza Box”, “How To Get Lucky” and “ABC: Always Be Connecting!” which are focused on leadership, networking, customer service and being the very best you can be.

Greg’s corporate clients that include Coca Cola, SAP, Trane, Ford, Fraser Health, Sun Life Financial, Miss World Canada, Vancouver Canucks and the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games and many more. Greg has also been featured Sirius XM Radio, Shaw TV, CBC TV & Radio, CTV Vancouver, and Women’s Network.

Greg has a Bachelor of Science Business Administration degree from Walla Walla University and loves to volunteer and help others in need. He’s helped raise over $55,000 for various charities that include Movember.ca, Prostate Canada, Rotary International, Jest For Joy, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of BC and Kayak for a Cure.

Greg lives in Walla Walla, WA (Napa North) with his amazing wife Becky and their beautiful daughter Rachel.

Rotarian of the Month - April

President Pam Cress (right) introduced our Rotarian of the month (left):

“Our Rotarian of the month for April has been a member of this club since 2004 is a Paul Harris Fellow and is known for his local and world-wide service activities. Not only does he work for the underprivileged in this community, he is literally a rock star in his home village in Nigeria where he returns every year to provide medical care to rural communities. It is a privilege for me to award the Rotarian of the month pin to Dr. James Opara. This club and this world are a better place because of James. Thank you for making a difference.”

Fellowship Hike

Posted by Justin Dalke

Paul Harris Fellow - Martin

Rotary Foundation Chair Larry Hoof (left) presented Paul Harris recognition at our April 5, noon meeting:

“Whenever we celebrate the recognition of a Paul Harris Fellow, we also reflect on the amazing results created when Rotary Foundation contributions turn into providing water cisterns in Mexico and Africa as well as a Splash Pad and playground equipment in Walla Walla to name just a few of the many remarkable Rotarian projects made possible with Foundation dollars.
Today, ...I could easily overwhelm you with the accomplishments of our newest Paul Harris Fellow. There is a lot to learn about her, but we only have so much time. Perhaps we can ask her to stay after the meeting to fill you in on some of the details I miss.

Having grown up in Sumner, Washington, she gained an appreciation for the good life of a rural community. And she demonstrated early academic achievement in 2000 as Valedictorian at her high school. While attending Washington State University, one of her extra-curricular activities was that of Varsity Cheerleader. She made the President’s Honor roll five times, was the Graduating Senior of the Year in the Department of Foreign Languages, and has been active with the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society since then.

In 2005, she was a World Health Organization Delegate for the annual Mock United Nations conference in New York. While acting as a representative of the country of Pakistan, she caucused and voted accordingly on the topics of Polio eradication and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This was well before she became a Rotarian in 2013.

After graduating college, she worked as a flight attendant with Alaska Airlines for five years, even while seeking her doctorate at the University of Washington.

After moving to Walla Walla, she joined AAUW, the Junior Club and this Rotary club. Perhaps you’ve seen her planting trees, taking attendance or helping out at Aloha. She is also active with the Providence St. Mary Foundation Executive Committee, serving as Secretary. And yet, there is so much more….

You may wonder: How does she find time to also be married to her best friend and be the mother of a two year old while running her own business? Maybe you have had the singular experience of how she lights up the room while you are sitting in her dentist’s chair.

Now is the time to let out a cheer for Patty Martin, a Paul Harris Fellow!”

Paul Harris Fellow - Corn

Rotary International Committee Chair Larry Hoof (left) presented Paul Harris recognition to Jan Corn at our March 29, noon meeting:
“Whenever you get out to one of the many Chamber of Commerce events, you will likely see her. Perhaps it‘s because she is a fellow small business owner. Or maybe because she has served on the Chamber’s Board of Directors. I think that she really enjoys her work and being social.
Fact of the matter is that she is passionate about this community, and loves the volunteer and supportive spirit embodied here.

She has volunteered at Providence St. Mary Hospital and the American Cancer Society through the "Look Good Feel Better" program for cancer patients. She was also a founding member and Board Member of "Just Us Girls Sharing", (JUGS). Currently she is also involved with a local political group "Network of Exceptional Women", whose goal it is to mentor women who would like to run for local political offices and boards. She is so well regarded in her field and so well connected, that she is a panelist at the Chamber-hosted Women in Business luncheon next month.

In addition to her time with the Chamber, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Community Council, the Walla Walla Community College Cosmetology Advisory Board, and currently this club: Walla Walla Noon Rotary.

Active since joining in 2005 in many of the fundraisers we do such as Aloha, she helped to create the first “Small Trees Big Impact” effort to brighten up the Christmas holiday and generate more money to support club scholarships. Not only has she been coordinating the programs for our weekly meetings, she is our current club Vice President. And with over 20 years of experience with the Sweet Adeline’s, she boldly leads us in song on days like today!
Generous with her time to so many causes, also generous with her contributions to the Rotary Foundation.

Hurray! Jan Corn is a Paul Harris Fellow for the second time!”

Sherwood Endowment Scholarship Award

Club President Pamela Keele Cress (left) received a Donald Sherwood Endowment Scholarship Award from Past President Terry Teske (right) at our March 22, noon meeting.

Terry’s introduction to the award:

“In the mid-1970s Don Sherwood donated $10,000 as seed money to begin the Rotary Don Sherwood Endowment Scholarship Fund. This fund is often confused with the Don Sherwood Endowment of Walla Walla – not the same thing.
The idea behind the fund was to start an endowment that would donate money to the three area colleges annually.

Today that endowment’s current value is $405,000 and some change. And that is after this year’s annual donation of $17,344.68 was taken out making the 3 donation checks this year a little more than $5,780. Generally the spending rate for the fund is about 4.5% annually.
At its inception the fund distributed a little higher percentage to Whitman College than to WWCC and Walla Walla University but many years ago the board voted to make the distributions equal to all the colleges.

You might ask how has the fund grown over the years? Good investment, bequests, several grants and the many Rotarians who have donated $1,000. Many club members have achieved this award relatively quickly but most have chipped away at their contribution of a $1,000 over many years.
Today I am pleased to award to Pam Cress the Donald Sherwood Endowment Scholarship Award.

Congratulations Pam!”

Aloha!!

Aloha fundraiser was a raging success! We hope to report on the amount raised at the meeting this week. We had several Rotarians taking photos! Larry Frank was the first to share his batch of pictures. Please enjoy them at https://larryfrank.smugmug.com/Rotary-Club-of-Walla-Walla/Aloha/Aloha-2018/i-7bmKqQQ

You can then Right click on the large picture and Save As… to your hard drive. Ignore the buy picture button at the top of screen. That is only if you want smugmug to print a picture and mail it to you. Anyone can right click and save.

If you took any photos that you would like to share, please email them to Pam or Candi.

A Reason To Celebrate

Thursday the 26th is "Thank you Thursday"

All too often in our lives we find ourselves in utterly thankless situations. We have dedicated our heart and soul to various projects and goals, only to find that, in the long run, these efforts are utterly pointless. Or so that’s what we’re led to believe by the level of gratitude we receive from others. Thank You Thursday is a great opportunity to start making positive change in this situation by recognizing those in your life who make things easier, those who love you, and those who just make your day better by tossing you a smile and a friendly hello.

History of Thank You Thursday
In situations from interpersonal to corporate, a show of gratitude can make a huge difference in the happiness and morale of those involved. Productivity can be improved by showing those who work for you that their efforts matter, simply by thanking them and showing them the full gratitude for all they’ve done. When it comes to interpersonal relationships, there’s a lot of hurt and misunderstanding that can be waived away with a simple “I’m thankful for you and all that you do.” Thank You Thursday was established to remind us that there’s always an opportunity to thank someone, and that gratitude can happen on any day, for any reason. This one’s for those who need the excuse and a reminder.

Originally inspired by the inspirational work of Jon Gordon, Thank You Thursday was established both to embrace the power of positivity, and to show the boost you can give to another life and how such a simple act can even improve the life of the one showing gratitude Jon Gordon is a motivational speaker who has published multiple books on how to improve attitudes, morale, and the end result of doing so. Fortune 500 companies like Campbell Soup and Wells Fargo and sports teams alike have benefitted from his lessons.

How To Celebrate Thank You Thursday
Quite simple really, celebrating Thank You Thursday requires little more than recognizing the amazing people in your life. Grab donuts to thank you team, or pass out cards for a personalized touch, or even just give a word of praise for those who make your life or business run smoothly and bring a smile to your face. It doesn’t take long, and Thank You Thursday will show you the results if you just take this one opportunity to voice the gratitude you feel. So get out there and be thankful, and maybe you’ll even find out who’s thankful for you.

Board meeting

All Rotarians are welcome to attend Rotary Board of Directors Meetings at the Marcus Whitman Hotel on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, from noon to 1 PM. It’s a good way to complete Blue Badge requirements or make up a missed meeting. The group meets in the board room on the second floor.

Our next meetings will be held Mondays, May 7th and May 21st.

Attendees do need to order lunch in advance, if they choose. Contact Chris at dosm@mwhcc.com for the lunch menu and to place your order. The $15 fee can be charged to your Rotary account.