Northwind 1/10/08

Posted by David Engels 
 

Whatcom CountyNorth Rotary

Northwind

January 10, 2008

 

Meeting to Order :  President-Elect Tim Villhauer called the meeting to order at 12:36, and Tony Cubellis gave the invocation.

 

Visiting Rotarians :  Randy Bode (Mt Baker Rotary) and Mike Kirkland (BellinghamBay Rotary).

 

Guests :  Tim Villhauer introduced his guest Eleanor Kittelson, the Executive Director of Washington National Park Fund.

 

Birthdays :  Dan Baker on the 11th and Brad Peterson on the 12th.

 

Returning Rotarians :  Doug Thomas returned from a business/personal/golfing trip to San Diego, California.

 

Announcements :

-       President-Elect Tim Villhauer wants to set up committees for next year at the earliest possible date.  He is starting with the assumption that everyone will continue on with the same committee they are on now but if anyone wants to change let him know a.s.a.p.

-       Tim Carpenter reminded everyone that Gene Vickers (District Membership Chair) will be next week's speaker so please bring a guest.

-       Tim Carpenter announced the results of the BCS Bowl Pool: 1st Q winner Pete Kremen, 2nd Q winner Brian Finnegan, 3rd Q winner Dan Parsons and 4th Q winner Dick Donahue.  The WCNR Foundation received $226.25.

-       Paul Cooley announced the list of committee members for the upcoming Career Fair:  the list will be emailed separately or included in next weeks Northwind.

-       Dick Donahue announced that next Thursday at 11:15 the Fundraising Committee will meet.  Be thinking about a spring fundraiser.

-       Scott Wallace is on the Board of Junior Achievement.  He is inviting anyone interested to attend the Celebrate JA Breakfast, Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at the Bellingham Country Club.  For more information go to www.jawashington.org.

 

Happy Bucks :  Rome Sarwas wore a Green Bay Packer #15 Jersey (Bart Starr) but was quick to point out that he is both a Packer and Seahawk fan so he'll be happy no matter who wins - Go SeaPackers!  Lex Ludtke was happy for 22-years of marriage.  Lynne Seelye had given Dan Baker $30 to give to the club on his behalf and he read in the Northwind that Dan only donated $10.  The missing $20 can be blamed on a journalistic error (I'm sure my hearing was faulty).  However, Dan Baker, being an upstanding guy, gave $20 to keep his integrity intact.  Brian Finnegan was happy to have won one of the BCS Pools.  Addie Brown was happy for today's speaker because she loves to go backpacking.  Paul Cooley reminded everyone that this is mustache month and he shaved his mustache off for $20.  Doug Thomas is very happy for the #4 Cougars plus something about setting up a ping pong table for the Husky fans.  Mike Kirkland is happy for an upcoming article about the St Joseph Hospital Emergency Room.

 

Finemaster :  Scott "$5" Wallace was the Finemaster.  Anyone wearing a tie paid a buck.  If you had more than one cookie you paid a buck for each cookie over one.  All skiers paid a buck because of all the snow in the mountains.  Any Cougar Fan who didn't give any Happy Bucks had to pay a buck.  All Seahawk Fans paid a buck.  All Husky Fans paid a buck because of the Booster who pledged 100,000 "conditional" dollars to the Athletic Program.  Ken Richardson and Jerry Landcastle were each fined a buck for talking during Mayor Pike's presentation last week.  Chuck Tull was fined a buck for not helping out on something.  All Canadians had to pay a buck because they are responsible for pushing up gas prices?  The recent downtown power outage was blamed on Bill Grace (the place fell apart when he retired).  Marlene Sexton was fined a buck for being a Lummi Island resident and being a "witness" in a case involving a dog called Ollie.  Rome Sarwas fined $5 for not paying attention and for being a Packer Fan.  Brian Finnegan was fined $6 for winning one of the pools.

 

Program :  Tim Villhauer introduced today's speaker, Chip Jenkins, the North Cascades Superintendent.  Chip talked about the many outdoor activities one can enjoy in the NorthCascadesNational Park, which covers 640,000 acres, stretching from the Canadian Border to the north end of Lake Chelan.  His presentation included many slides of the beautiful sites one can view in the Ross Lake National Recreational Area.  The National Parks are celebrating 100-years in 2016 and they are implementing a Centennial Challenge: Over the next ten-years, raise $25 million, which will be matched dollar for dollar by the Federal Government.  Their principal partner is the Washington National Parks Fund.  Chip then introduced Eleanor Kittelson, who is the Executive Director of this organization.  The Washington National Park Fund raises significant private support to deepen the public's love for, understanding of, and experiences in Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Parks.  They want to ensure that Washington's national parks continue to be treasured as vital to our lives and the health of our planet forever.  $2,500 will fund the Teacher to Ranger to Teacher Program; $5,000 will develop the Cascades for Kids Program and $13,000 will fund the design and construction of the Diablo Lake Overlook Interpretive Shelter.  For more information you can visit their website: www.wnpf.org

 

Banners : The banners reflect snow in the mountains: "snow in the mountains - sun can't melt it - I like you and just can't help it".  Thanks Stan!

 

Drawing :  Larry Pollett had the winning ticket but no Ace.