This weeks Book Review will be in person Monday, July 26th on "Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James by Bob Diehl
Opening Welcome:
President Peter Theisen opened the meeting, our 4,700th , which is only our second in-person version (technically a hybrid) since the pandemic has waned. Our in-person RCOB meetings were stopped after the March 9, 2020 – more than 15 months ago. In recognition of this contract, President Peter made a contrast of his own: Dick Tucker in a nice suit and tie (the pre-pandemic uniform) compared with shorts and a nice tan worn by Bob Diehl (a pandemic approach that persists with some).
In theme with our speakers today, President Peter also made a comparison with the Tour de France, just completed in Paris, with our own Tour de Whatcom. Talk about different speeds! Congratulations to all the riders, whether in France or Ferndale!
Club and Committee Announcements
1. We are looking for Website sponsors for the next Rotary year starting July 1st . It is a great opportunity to advertise your business and support Rotary; cost is $350 for the year. Check out the current sponsors on our website by going to Bellinghamrotary.org. We have 3 spots remaining, Thank you for those that have renewed their sponsorships!!
2. Major Projects Committee Co-Chairs John Dunne and Andy Day informed members that the committee will meeting next week, July 26, in the same room right after the regular membership meeting.
3. Paul Grey will start asking for Service Grant Applications and hopes to hold a committee meeting July 26th. He added Doug Cole and John Moffat to the committee. He also noted that the fund currently has $10,000 +/- due to some carryover from the last Rotary year. Paul reminded members who wish to sponsor grant requests that they must fit into one of the seven Rotary International areas of focus.
7-15-2021 Board Briefs
Peter would like to see book reviews continue and it was suggested that we use them at meetings when the agenda is not full as a back-up and limited to 5 minutes, otherwise it will be in the tattler. Sandee will coordinate with the book reviewer.
Whatcom Community College mentor program with other Whatcom County clubs is being organized for Winter Quarter of 2022. Looks like it is one on one contact with students, and they are looking for a total of about 26 Rotarians, likely 4 or 5 from our club. Peter would like to have a presentation to the club for 5 minutes in the fall. It is Peter’s understanding that all the Bellingham clubs and Whatcom North have agreed to participate.
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 has 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 my 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 Cory Chaplin, welcome back!
Lynda Hinton introduced the new officer at the Salvation Army, Lt. Chase Tomberlin-Green to Bellingham
Doug Cole brought former member, John Stewart and Hillary Higgins
Dale Rings zoomed in from Arizona with Chuck Snyder
Presentation:
Jodi Borrelli spoke to the Club (again, after being our last guest speaker last year) this time as one of the Club’s newest members. Jodi gave an inspiring and impassioned set of remarks as she introduced herself, offered insights about her prior addiction and recovery, and talked about her new Harm Reduction efforts connected with LifeGuard Digital Health. Jodi is a co-occurring disorder counselor and a steadfast and energetic advocate for those suffering from addictions and severe mental disorders. Jodi has an AS from Whatcom Community College and is working on her BS from Western. Welcome Jodi. Be sure to get around to all the tables – real and virtual – so you can be welcomed.
Program:
With Doug Cole introducing, Ken and Francie Gass presented a slide show and talked about their 6-week ride across America, “Our recent adventure of a tandem bike ride from San Diego to St Augustine”.
In a shared and fun presentation, Ken and Francie alternated in telling the looooong tale of riding a tandem cross country (literally…across country) from West to East Coasts. Ken gave the hard facts first: 2,804 miles over 44 days (39 riding days) at an average pace of 14.7 miles per hour and average distance of nearly 72 miles per day. This jaw dropping journey and physical feat followed route in the Southern Tier of states from San Diego, CA to St Augustine, FL. It took nearly a year of training (a perfect COVID quarantine activity!), quite a bit of coordination, a test of their collective mettle and a deepened marital and riding partnership. An example of coordination was the COVID vaccine. After the trip was confirmed to happen, Ken and Francie had little time to secure vaccinations. In fact, they left for San Diego just two days after their second shot. No mention of side effects, which is taken as a good sign.
Theirs was a supported ride, sponsored by Cycle of Life Adventures. There were seven riders in the group (four men, three women), in addition to the tour operators. Average rider age was 66 and the Gass’s were the only ones to ride a tandem. Speaking of which, the “Momentous Green Goddess” – a tandem built by Co-Motion Cycles is Ken and Francie’s sweet ride. She is a highly specialized and very special emerald machine: collapsible, built solid, with a belt drive system and internal gearing, Kevlar tires, double butted steel frame, big disc brakes and tons of attitude. This is the other end of the spectrum from the flyweight carbon race bikes that Ken uses to put on thousands of miles each year. With all the gear and riders, the Green Goddess weighs in at 340 lbs. and features a captain (Ken), stoker (Francie), gear for the day such as water bottles, snacks, sunscreen and butt gel. The riding team themselves featured very clear and direct communication between them in order to negotiate traffic, avoid road hazards and point out sites to see. As natural introverts, this proved most of the conversation between Francie and Ken while riding each day.
Featured in the slide show (photos by Francie) were inspiring pictures of desert valleys, rural byways and lovely hills. Also featured were the lesser experiences of high winds, scary bridges and rough and tough Texas roads – if one can call them that. And of course, pictures of their group as they enjoyed their post-ride endorphins and meals together.
The Gass’s expressed their gratitude for several aspects of this adventure: For the tour operator and their fellow riders, for the privilege of having time and resources to make such a ride, for their physical effort which proved up to the task, for the chance to opt out of the “buzz feed” of daily news and all media, and most of all for their heightened sense of being a team even though Francie and Ken are each their own person. Very inspiring!
Covid Report:
No report given this week.
Program Recordings: We are now recording the speaker portion of our meetings:
Missed a meeting? Remember a great speaker but want to revisit the content? You can catch the recording on our Rotary Club of Bellingham YouTube page:
