President Cathy welcomed a hearty larger then estimated gathering to Monday’s meeting, attendance limited by the snowy weather. She lamented the Seahawks loss to the Packers, wished the playoff survivors well, and showing her trademark political savvy, hoped the “Tigers” won the NCAA football championship game between LSU and Clemson.
We were treated to a performance prior to the meeting by Brian Griffin's Ukulele Ensemble taking our thoughts to the islands instead of the snow outside. The group of players were Brian,Joan Airoldi (former member), David Culver, Chip Lauckhardt, Judy Coons and Delrene Gardiner. They traveled from Deming, Ferndale and Lynden to entertain us...Thanks everyone, very enjoyable!
Announcements:
Football Pool Numbers: AFC Championship - Tennessee Titans vs Kansas City Chiefs (Click Here) Sunday 1/19 at 3:05pm
NFC Championship - Green Bay Packers vs San Francisco 49ers (Click Here) Sunday 1/19 at 6:40pm
There will be no meeting next week due to the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday. Anyone who shows up will owe $5 happy bucks;
President Cathy announced that the Bell Ringers raised $3575 for the Salvation Army at the four Haggens stores on December 14.
Board Action:
It is with sadness that we announce the resignations of John and Donna Inglis due to interest in other areas. They were accepted by the board effective 12/31/2019
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Guests of Rotarians:
Mike Diehl brought his wife, Tracy and Bill Ziels, CEO and Executive Director of the YMCA
Tim Farris introduced Jason Conway, Exec. Director of WFC Rangers.
Jen Moehl introduced Paul Pelot, Disabled Veterans Case Manager with WorkSource
Brian Griffin introduced the cast of his Ukulele players: Jason Airoldi, David Culver, Chip Lauckhardt, Judy Coons and Delrene Gardiner
Presentations:
Take a Vet to Lunch: Jen Moehl introduced Anthony Whitesides, a five-year Navy veteran and recent graduate of WWU with a degree in Economics. At Western, Anthony worked in Veteran’s Services helping veterans obtain benefits. He plans to make his home in Bellingham and is looking for job opportunities here. Bio (Click Here)
Tim Farris presented a $1,000 Service Fund Grant to the Whatcom County Rangers elite soccer program, which has been active in the community for over 40 years. Jason Conway, Executive Director of the Rangers program, accepted the award. Jason said he has been a Rangers coach for 23 years, and also coaches the Bellingham United adult semi-pro team. Besides teaching the kids to play at a high level in a professional atmosphere, Jason stressed the program’s goals of instilling a sense of community and belonging, treating people properly, and respecting opponents, referees and everyone else on and off the field. Jason noted that these lessons follow Rangers players into their communities. He noted that the families of players pay back to the program many times over, showing their gratitude for the life’s lessons learned by their players. Jason said the grant will help them continue to provide scholarships and assure that the Rangers program remains open to all in the community.
Megan Stanfield received her first Paul Harris Fellowship award. Well deserved, we hope you wear it with pride, Megan.
Program:
Kathie Hardy gave her New Member talk, which emphasized her wealth of experiences. She has visited over 40 countries, scuba dived all over the planet, skied in the Alps four times, been a master gardener for 30 years (and has a ½ acre garden at her Birchwood home), installed solar energy in her home, been a beekeeper for years, and is an accomplished Celtic harp player (and has a CD available at her website) SalishSeaHypnosis.com
Professionally, Kathie has had an equally varied career. She has been an RN for over 40 years and recently went back to school to get her MBA. She has been an ER nurse for ten years at St. Joe’s. She is a volunteer advocate for sexual assault victims and is a suicide survivors support group facilitator. She is the founder of Salish Sea Hypnosis, and is a board-certified hypnotist with an office downtown. She got interested in hypnosis because it helped with her migraine headache pain which she had suffered from for many years. She has published a book on her experiences and is working on a second book on addictions and hypnosis. She said hypnosis is excellent for managing pain, to stop smoking or drinking, lose weight, sleep better, overcome claustrophobia, improve public speaking, improve sports performance and reduce stress. We welcome Kathie to the club and look forward to finding out more about her.
Mike Diehl introduced the main speaker, Bill Ziels, CEO of the Whatcom Family YMCA. Bill, already known to many as Debbie Ahl’s husband, emphasized the YMCA’s varied programs to benefit children and adults. The YMCA concentrates its programs and services in three areas:
Youth Development – The early learning program helps prepare kids for kindergarten; 650 kids participate in the after-school program; Girls on the Run and Trailblazers get kids involved in community service and running after school; youth sports programs until 2nd grade; and the Youth Institute, an educational summer program for 9th graders.
Healthy Living – This provides a variety of programs to improve community health, including programs for seniors (over 3000 attended last year); diabetes prevention; cancer survivors; family nutrition to prevent obesity in children; arthritis management in people’s homes; and two programs for persons afflicted with Parkinson’s.
Social Responsibility - These programs include safety around water, a free program where kids learn to swim; community outreach where the YMCA allows members of 20 nonprofit agencies to use its facilities; and its shower program, providing showers for homeless people.
Bill noted that the Bellingham YMCA is in an antiquated facility, and that the city lacks a social gathering community hub. The YMCA has approached the City about taking over and expanding the Arne Hanna complex at Civic Field. The YMCA’s proposed 50,000 square foot expansion would cost around $25 million. Besides providing that community hub, the YMCA proposal would expand the pool and youth offerings to better support teenagers. Selling its current land holdings downtown would be expected to net a large portion of that cost. It will be interesting to monitor this proposal in the coming years.
