President Del opened the meeting and following the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation, Del had several announcements.
Rotary International has been a leader in the effort to eradicate polio worldwide for more than twenty years. When we began, there were 350,000 new cases of polio every year. In 2016 that number was 37. And to date in 2017, there have been only 5 reported cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where war has interrupted polio eradication efforts. Del informed us that for every dollar we raise for Polio Plus by the end of this Rotary year (June 26th), Bill and Melinda Gates will match it 2:1. Our Club’s donations will also go towards earning a Paul Harris Fellowship. We are strongly encouraged to participate at the highest level possible.
Please make checks out to Rotary International Foundation and mail to Sandra Lindhout, 2200 Vining St. Bellingham, Wash 98229
- We need nominees for our Service Awards. Please suggest nominees to Chuck, Teri, or Del.
- Scott Wilson just had a baby girl! (Well maybe Scott didn't actually have the daughter.) Del presented him with a Rotary onesie for his contribution to the RCOB Foundation.
Announcements:
Remember the Sunnyland Memorial Park clean-up this Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:00. See you there!!
It is time to update your Roster information and picture. You can do it yourself in our ClubRunner database or get the information to Sandee
Rotary shirts are available, in all sizes and in men’s and women’s models. Shirts cost $35 and in the future, Scott Wallace will handle sales.
Board Briefs May 11, 2017
President Del has requested that the June Board meeting be changed from Thursday June 8th to Wednesday June 7th still to be held at the Dorothy Haggen Building, 3rd floor.
He reported that the date of February 23, 2018 has been selected for the 2nd Las Vegas Night at the Mt. Baker Theatre.
The RCOB Blood Drive will be on October 9 2017. Solicitation for donors will begin two weeks
prior to that date.
President-Elect Teri presented a list of committees and is planning on changing the names of some and eliminating others. It was decided to let the new committee chairman select their own committee members this year instead of assignments to give it a try. If anyone would like to be Chairman or placed on a certain committee, please contact Teri.
Paul Grey, Co-Chairman of the International Service Committee. attended the Board meeting to present their 2017-2018 budget plans for consideration. They are requesting a total of $12,000 budget which includes $5,250 for the Laikipia Education Project. This is the project that Mark Knittel is associated with. The Board approved this project and a request for funding will be sent to the RCOB Foundation. The funds will most likely not be used until after July 1, 2017 for next year’s budget, but we want to be ready in case it falls into this rotary year.
NEW BUSINESS:
New Membership Proposals were approved by the Classification Committee and the Board of Directors:
Jennifer Moehl proposed by Dominqiue Zervas and Del VandeKerk to fill the classification “Architecture-Interior Design”
Isaac Burrows proposed by Mark Knittel and Dominique Zervas to fill the classification “Landscaping”
They will be eligible for membership June 5th unless a letter of objection is received by Exec. Sec. Sandra Lindhout, 2200 Vining Street, Bellingham 98229 on or before May 27th.
President Del would like members to fill out a form that will outline their Volunteer hours they do in the Community other than Rotary. Click Here
Guests of Rotarians:
Dominique Zervas introduced Izaac Burrows with Corion Landscape and Jennifer Moehl with Zervas Group Architects
John Inglis introduced his wife Donna
Monty McAllister introduced Felicity Dye with Inter-Connect Systems
Lynda Hinton brought her daughter Kirstin Hunt with Chicago Title
Andrew Evans introduced his son Gus
Presentations:
Tim Farris introduced the Service Fund Presentation by letting us know about the many ways Rotarians are helping out at Alderwood School. One of the projects that came to our Club's attention was Kids Need Books, spearheaded by Joe Nolting. Joe shared that 6,500 cardboard books for babies, picture books, and easy readers have been distributed to families and children in need so far. While most books are donated, our $1,000 grant will help purchase much-needed additional titles.
Teri Treat revealed that our Major Project for 2017-2018 was selected in honor and recognition of our 100th anniversary. Our big project will be to raise funds for our endowment, with the goal of reaching the $1 million mark!
Program:
Our program was new member talks by three of our new members. Colleen Baldwin was first, and shared with us the good news about her company, Whatcom Land Title, reaching its 35th anniversary, with a recent expansion to Lynden. Colleen started out her career in restaurant management, then moved to WLT in customer service - today she is the C.E.O. and owner. In her spare time she loves to read, has done scuba diving and likes to travel. Her husband Michael, is a culinary arts instructor, and her three children include an accountant, pilot, and architect.
Steve Hettick was next, and reminded us that he spoke to our group about his company, Ershigs, and it was while he was here for that presentation that he was drawn to our club. Steve and his wife Judy, have lived here for 20 years, and they have a 12 year old son. Steve was raised in Illinois, has a mechanical engineering degree, met his wife in Nashville, worked for some time in Chicago, and finally followed his father here to Bellingham; his father had been here for some time, and helped develop Bellis Fair Mall. Fun facts about Steve:
- wants to travel to: New Zealand
- animal he most wants to be: a bear
- favorite super hero: Thor
- 2 words that define him/aspirational goal: good dad
And finally, does Steve believe in ghosts? NO!
Hans Erchinger-Davis rounded out our presentations, beginning with explaining that his long last name was so that his kids will sound like little law firms; he has 2 children, 5 and 3. Hans is a 4th generation local, with a long family history here and what was the Garden Street Dairy Diner. Hans studied International Business in college and went on to grad school/seminary in Vancouver, B.C. He then spent time in film making, particularly documentary films. However, perhaps the seed for his current calling was planted when, as a young child, he went to dinner with his father at the Lighthouse Mission. He was entranced by talking with the men at his table. After his film making gig, he became the Chaplain at the Mission, where he stayed for 10 years, and then was recently hired as the Mission's new Executive Director.
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