Weekly Tattler September 13, 2021 (Sep 13, 2021)

WEEKLY TATTLER PHOTOS

Catherine Endicott - North Cascades Institute

J. J. Oxford, President Assistance League - Del VandeKerk & Diane Norman

Bellingham

September 13, 2021

Opening Welcome:

President Peter is getting the hang of hitting the bell – it rang clean and true to start the meeting. He ran through the usual facts about the number of the meeting, how many Covid meetings and the back-in-person meetings.

Book Review: No Review this week - Stay tuned for Chuck Snyder review next week.

Club and Committee Announcements

Steve Ban proudly announced that Area G (our area) of District 5050 soundly thrashed the other areas in the Rotary blood drive challenge. Steve was sure it all hinged on this club’s donations. There were 28 participants and many made numerous blood donations. Should this become an annual challenge the Rotary Club of Bellingham will rule…

Mike Plenkovich has kicked off the Football Pool with sign-ups at the door - buy 2 squares for $40 and the first games will start early October. If you can't attend a meeting please let Sandee and/or Mike know and we will get you signed up.

Board Briefs September 9, 2021

The new membership proposal of Corey Chaplin, proposed by Steve Ban and Andy Day, to fill the classification of “Consulting Engineer-Retired” was approved by the Classification Committee and the Board of Directors.

He will be eligible for membership September 27^th unless a written objection is received by Exec. Sec. Sandra Lindhout, 2200 Vining St., Bellingham 98229 on or before September 25^th.

The Board accepted the resignation of Debbie Ahl with deep regret and will be encouraged to rejoin when her workload lightens.

Current Clubrunner sponsorship ads were discussed on how to encourage members to sponsor. Shauna suggested using the sponsors logos in other areas of club promotion, etc. Sandee and Shauna will discuss.

Nominating Committee selection for the 2022-2023 Rotary Year.

This committee consists of Immediate Past President and Chairman, Gary Goldfogel, Current President Peter Theisen and President-Elect Paul Grey; It is time for the nominating committee to start its work.

The first step is to select two members in good standing and Gary Goldfogel selected Shauna Naf and Steve Gray.

Names were suggested by the board to fill the 2 Director and the VP/Program Chairman positions. The nominating committee will take it from here.

Timing is as follows:

November 15^th - 3 weeks prior to elections present the slate of officers to the membership

December 6^th – Elections

Hands on Projects: Any suggestions from members will be greatly appreciated.

Peter Theisen will contact the current Environment and Social Committee Chairman to see if they are thinking about any hands-on projects and smaller social events.

Paul Grey said Roland Trenouth is working on getting a new meal distribution going but covid is delaying progress.

Shauna Naf suggested getting involved with the Mountain Bike Coalition to see if we can be of any help now that the parking lot construction is getting underway. Peter will contact Eric Brown. We also actually were designated to take care of a portion of the trail that has easy access.

Paul Grey suggested that we work with the tribes and Doug Cole will contact the new Herald reporter, Natasha Brennan.

Shauna Naf and Doug Cole also suggested that we find a way to help Afghan refugees. There is a Seattle-based organization – International Rescue Committee, started by Albert Einstein, that is attempting to help in many ways. Shauna had joined a presentation by them today and the needs of arriving Afghan refugees are immense, including youth advocacy, housing, gift cards, and backpacks. She suggested we investigate the possibility of purchasing and filling backpacks. She will look into it further.

Further discussions were tabled until the next Board Meeting, October 14^th.

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Weekly Meeting instructions:

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:

iphones https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/clubrunner/id434696377?mt=8

Androids https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.doxess.clubrunnermobile

Here is a link for you to take a look at the app:

https://www.clubrunnersupport.com/article/1399-video-clubrunner-mobile-app-for-clubs-district

Please contact Sandee at 360-734-5532 or rcob@comcast.net if you run into any trouble.

Guests:

Dale Rings zoomed in from Arizona.

Other members who were on Zoom: Monty McAllister, Scott Wallace, Ken Marzocco, Rick Haggen, Larry Halgren, Dennis Williams, Monty McAllister, Sandy McIntire, Rob Olson, Loch Trimingham, Kathy Hughes, Mark Knittel and Doug Cole.

Steve Ban again introduced his guest, Corey Chaplin, who has been proposed for membership in the RCOB.

President Peter Theisen introduced Tresha Dutton, Mike Bates and Kathy Hiyane-Brown to introduce a Mentoring Program thru Whatcom Community College that all of the Bellingham and some of the County Clubs are participating in.

John Dunne introduced his wife, Joy, Diane Norman (Arlie Norman's wife) and Arlie's grandson Alex Benson

John also introduced JJ Oxford, President of the Assistance League, who was on Zoom

Presentation:

President Peter presented two Paul Harris Fellowships to members. Arlie Norman achieved his 2nd Paul Harris Fellow after his death and the pin was presented to his wife, Diane Norman. Del VandeKerk has achieved his 3rd Paul Harris Fellow. Congratulations!!

John Dunne, Sponsor introduced our latest service grant recipient to the Assistance League of Bellingham. This is an affiliate of the National Assistance League. J. J. Oxford accepted the award for the League. The Bellingham chapter began in 1986. Their efforts are comprehensive, ranging from assisting the homeless and underprivileged, to providing nutritional help, to education, and to housing. There are opportunities for volunteering with this organization.

Volunteer Mentorship Opportunity:

This fall Whatcom Community College is launching its first bachelors of applied science (BAS) in business management degree. This degree is specifically geared for the workforce needs of businesses that make up the majority of Whatcom county's employers. Bellingham Bay Rotary is leading a mentorship program with the college, and is asking for volunteers. Mentors will work with students in an Organizational Leadership & Teamwork class winter quarter 2022. The mentorship program will be approximately 8 weeks long, occurring between January-March 2022. Details about the time, days, and topics would be mutually agreed upon between mentor and student.

If you are willing to participate in this short, vocational service mentorship program, please contact Mike Bate (mikebates9@aol.com<mailto:mikebates9@aol.com>), past-president for Bellingham Bay Rotary or Tresha Dutton(tdutton@whatcom.edu<mailto:tdutton@whatcom.edu>), past-president and current faculty at Whatcom Community College, by the end of September, 2021.

Please also contact President Peter or Sandee if you are interested!

Program:

The program today was given by Catherine Endicott of the North Cascades Institute. The Institute began in 1986. Their mission is to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature. This is done using many programs of the Institute, based at their North Cascades Environmental Learning Center.

This Center’s campus is an outgrowth of the renewal of the Seattle City Light’s operation on the Skagit River. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission renews the three-dam power generation on the river. One of the conditions of renewal was construction of the center, which the Institute runs for City Light. The campus is a great facility and if you have not visited, you should. It encompasses a mess hall, a library, classrooms, labs, overnight lodging, an amphitheater and more.

Some of the programs include: Mountain School, the Mount Baker Snow School, Forest School, Youth Leadership and family getaways. The mountain school program started in 1990 and can educate 2,500-2,700 kids per year in a three-day exposure. The kids learn about the plants & animals in the N. Cascades the first day, the geology the second day and the people/environment interface the third day. The Forest School takes third graders from the Bellingham School District to the Gordon site (near Lake Whatcom) to introduce the native environment to the students. Youth Leadership takes +/- 70 9^th-12^th graders on intensive backpacking or canoing excursions to study the N. Cascades.

Of course, the Institute had to adapt to pandemic restrictions, and many of the offerings were cut back for the past year or so. For more information the website at ncascades.org is helpful. It’s a lot better than this reporter’s futile attempts to inform.

Covid Report:

Gary Goldfogel gave his Covid update at the end of the meeting. He was almost pessimistic. The hospital had 36 Covid patients as of this morning, fully 1/3 rd in ICU level of care. Dr. Gary would like to see a comparison of recovered patients with a second infection vs. vaccinated breakthrough cases. As far as he knows this has not been done yet. So get jabbed, wear a mask, and be careful out there.

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September Rotary Anniversaries - Thank you!

J.C. Hickman Member Since 1987	Kathy Hughes Member Since 2002	Greg Baker Member Since 2011	Nathan Twining Member Since 2012
Chip Lauckhardt Member Since 2012

September Birthdays - Happy Birthday and Enjoy!

Ward Naf
Jim Cunningham
Herb Ershig
John Harris
Nancy Jordan
Jan Marchbanks
Steve Gray
Sara Maloney