Budget Report
President Cathy shared good news for Gary and the club: She is leaving office with the budget in good shape for next year. Another year begins in the black!
More Thanks and Gifts!
Outgoing president Cathy extended more thank yous, (youze?) including to incoming president Gary Goldfogel for assuming the presidency in July 2020.
Because of their special support, Cathy is giving gift certificates for dinner at the Bellweather to both past president Sandy McIntire and superwoman and the-glue-that-holds-it-all-together Sandee Lindhout. Cathy and Sandee admitted they haven’t stopped seeing each other since the virus began, meaning they really germinated in the same bubble, and thus wouldn’t be expected to socially distance. We are all thankful for that.
Cathy will also be giving Dunham wines to each of the board members (or maybe she said exiting board members, not sure. This is a high stakes detail to forget. Sorry. Love that wine!)
- Gary Goldfogel - President Elect
- Sandy McIntire –Past President
- Peter Theisen - Vice President & Program Chair
- Steve Gray – Treasurer
- Mike Diehl – Director outgoing
- Roland Trenouth - Director staying on
- Bruce Clawson – Director staying on
- Lisa Saar – Director staying on
- Sandee Lindhout - Exec Sec staying on
Changing of the Guard
Past president Teri Treat recognized Cathy for her bright spirit, warm embrace, and her height and all the inconveniences it has imposed on all of us. Cathy has been a good listener and tenacious extractor of happy bucks from people who used to consider her a friend. Her knowledge of football scores has been impeccable. The shift to virtual meetings because of the pandemic is one of the many things for which we’ll always remember Cathy. Teri asked Cathy to accept our sincere gratitude and congratulations as she joins the distinguished group of past presidents.
Sandy McIntire, wearing a Ranger or Mounty hat, (yuk, yuk yuk), from a country he did not disclose, subjected Cathy to a test that would determine her acceptance into the ranks of former presidents, a hurdle that is intentionally placed very high for reasons that were obvious when looking at the many former presidents who were in attendance at this Zoom meeting.
The test was tailored to Cathy’s strengths, but even 8 pull-ups, 9 no-knees-push ups, and 100 situps in a minute didn’t quite put her into the acceptable category. Fortunately her answer to a question about the Seahawks’ winning record was enough to bring her close or just over the line—it wasn’t clear—to “pass” the test and meet the requirement for membership in the elite club of RCOB past presidents.
A plaque and pin recognizing her service were given to Cathy from the club and delivered instantaneously inside her bubble by Sandee.
New President Assumes Position
At President Cathy’s invitation, new president Gary Goldfogel assumed leadership of the meeting, thanking Cathy and noting the peculiar and pandemic times we’re in, and his desire to ‘get back to normal.’
Incoming president Gary sees the biggest challenge for the club as being keeping our membership up, as it is for many organizations like ours. It won’t be an easy time as we face some challenges like finding a new place to meet given Norwood Hall’s closing and getting an adequate number of hugs while social distancing.
Gary welcomed the new Board for 2020-2021
- Gary Goldfogel – President
- Peter Theisen– President-Elect
- Paul Grey– Vice-President & Program Chairman
- Steve Gray – Treasurer
- Cathy Buckley – Past President
- Bruce Clawson – Director
- Lisa Saar – Director
- Steve Hettick – Incoming Director
John Pedlow – Incoming Director
COVID Update
Incoming president Gary and member Garrett Jeffery are on the front lines dealing with the COVID virus and offered their perspectives on the virus nationally and in Whatcom County.
Nationally, the number dying daily is at all time low, although the number of cases testing positive is rising.
Locally, few of the positive cases are needing hospitalization, although the numbers are increasing a bit. Some cases may be asymptomatic, possibly identified through contract tracing (go John)
The two ways we can get beyond the virus are still a ways off: Vaccines (lots in early phases of testing) and herd immunity (which is still just a hypothesis, awaiting tests to demonstrate that getting the virus makes one immune to future infections).
Garrett still is encouraging people to socially isolate and be safe. He no longer shares the view that parks are safe and so does not advocate visiting there given recent increases.
The hospital continues to be well-prepared for COVID patients should they need to come to the hospital.
Locally we are experiencing peeks (e.g., ship docking here). Whatcom County has a unique curve. There is concern about Skagit County although their increase is not as great as Whatcom. See the Dept of Health website for most recent stats.
Given careful study over the past months, researchers now know masks are effective tools as they minimize the spread of droplets, which is how the virus spreads.
Members’ experiences also confirmed the seriousness of the virus and the short (e.g., six weeks in hospital) and long term effects. We don’t want to get this virus!
If you’re sick quarantine was one final bit of advice.
For the final time in her presidency, Prexy Cathy rang the bell to adjourn the meeting. Couldn’t really tell from the screen if there was a tear (joy? sadness?) in her eye…
