Founding President Report

As you all know, Marie is in a Nursing Home (she has been there four years now). I have moved in with my granddaughter, Lindsay, whom some of you know as she helped us at Aqua Fest in our booth the first year. My house was just too big for me (2,785 square feet on a near acre of ground) to take care of. It was costing me $200.00 a month for yard maintenance and about the same for housekeeping ( I don't do toilets nor windows; of course the woman I hired didn't do them either). We decided that I would do better with her and save about $1,000.00 a month. In turn I give her $500.00 a month to help her with her budget (sometimes a little more).

I can't tell you how proud I am of your (our) club. You have accomplished more than I could ever have imagined, when those of us who chartered the club in 1991. Each of you can take special pride in the contribution you have made to your community. THAT IS WHAT ROTARY IS ALL ABOUT. I wish that I was there to be a part of it, of course that will never happen, however; be assured that I brag about your accomplishments at every chance I get, because these clubs are satisfied to be RINO's (Rotary in Name Only).

I will always believe that your weekly news letter is (was) the binding factor. Del Thompson can show all of you the amaturish effort I made to write the letter for a period of time. Now you have talented and gifted members who produce a news letter you can be justly proud of.

Vern tells me that your annual banquet is June 28. If the price of airline tickets is reasonable or the price of gas is down, I would love to make it this year. I have my old El Camino and Marie's 93 Cadillac, with 133 K miles, that I could drive. My new car was wrecked when I hydroplained with it in Montana last year. I did over $8,000 damage to it. I was able to drive it home and nobody got hurt, so I guess I can count myself lucky.

The Insurance Company insisted on taking it to their "approved" repair shop. When they were done (so they thought), I refused to accept it. It looked like it belonged in a junk yard. So they wound up with a Cadillac El Darado and I with a cash settlement. They would have been better off going through my shop and not selling the car at auction for 1,400.00. I am now in the process of looking for a low milage 2002 Cadillac Eldarado with a Nor-Star engine and all of the rest of the goodies I had on mine. I located one in Georgia, however after checking, found it had been in a flood and rebuilt - no thanks!

How many members do you have now? With your activities, you should be upward of 50. Be sure and emphasise bringing young men and women into your group, they have lots of good ideas and energy, which a progressive group, such as yours, can well utilize. Don't ever loose sight of the "Four Way Test". It is tried and true and has stood for many years.

Yours in Rotary,

John M. Fritton
Founding President
Rotary Club of Lake Stevens/Granite Falls

Editor's Note- Please take a moment to write and/or call John. His contact information is in the Membership Directory. If you aren't a member, please click on the Secretary's name at our web site to get his mailing address.