Whatcom County North Rotary
Northwind
January 18, 2007
MEETING TO ORDER: President Ken called the meeting to order at 12:35 and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Deb Wiggs gave the invocation.
VISITING ROTARIANS: Ron Kelly from Mt. Baker Club, Shannon Terrell and Robin Schmidt from Bellingham Bay Club, Bill Elfo from Bellingham Club and George Tsakumis from the Vancouver Club.
GUESTS: Visiting Rotarian Robin Schmidt introduced her guest Josh Wilund, Director of the Ferndale Boys & Girls Club.
RETURNING ROTARIANS: None
BIRTHDAYS: Bill Grace is celebrating his birthday today and Jake Smith led us in a chorus of Happy Birthday.
ANNOUNCMENTS:
President Ken announced that a Rotary Vanity License Plate will be made available if at least 35 interested Rotarians step forward. If you have interest please let Ken know.
Doug Thomas announced that there will be a short strategy meeting on the Dick Metcalf Memorial Project immediately following today's meeting.
HAPPY BUCKS:
Mary Kanikeberg had $5 happy bucks because Larry Pollett got out of his drive-way before she did. Bill Grace was $5 happy the temperature rose above freezing and for good health on his 63rd birthday. Julie Johansen had two happy bucks for recently celebrating her 8th anniversary and skiing somewhere fun. Dick Donahue had a couple of happy bucks for his recent move and recognition that its amazing what you can accumulate over the years, and he had an extra happy buck because he turned 64 and had the courage to sign a ten-year lease. Doug Thomas had a couple of happy bucks for the upcoming WSU basketball game, which he will be attending. Deb Wiggs was $2 happy because she's going to be "on the road again" and she will miss us all. Marlene Sexton had two happy bucks because she just bought two tickets to San Diego. Lex Ludtke had $21 happy bucks for his 21st anniversary and because he went to Pullman to watch the Huskies lose to the Cougars.
FINEMASTER: Today's Finemaster was Roger Lehnert. He immediately fined Phil Bratt $2 for whining at the table. Dick Langabeer was called on to pay up a $20 IOU and for missing his Finemaster duties last week (for which he apologized). Before being fined, Jack Curnow told Roger how happy he was that his granddaughter had just started school in the Ferndale School District to which Roger replied he wasn't sure that was something to be happy about. Jack escaped a fine but was asked to pay up his $5 IOU, which he grudgingly paid. Deb Wiggs was also asked to pay up a $5 IOU from a former Finemaster. All Cougar fans were asked to stand and pay $2 for WSU beating UW in basketball then Doug Thomas was asked to pay another dollar for complaining. Everyone having future plans to travel to a warmer climate was asked to pay a buck. All UW fans were asked to stand and give "sad" bucks for such a poor performance against the Cougars. Rick Staeb was asked where KAFE 104.3 gets their temperature information for Ferndale. Rick wasn't sure but thought it probably came off the Internet. Since Roger felt the radio temperature was at least 5 degrees from reality, Rick was fined $5. Gary Tomsic was fined $2 for being "sassy" about the Blaine Schools being open when Ferndale was closed. Pete Kremen was fined $2 in a no-win situation about the Lummi Island Ferry rate increase. Pete claimed the County Council made a sincere attempt to balance revenue and expenses but that explanation fell on deaf ears. Jim Bliss was going to be fined $2 for badmouthing the Finemaster but he gave such a heartfelt apology the fine was rescinded. Max Legg was fined $2 because he couldn't name the head basketball couch or the equipment manager for Navy. Larry Pollett was fined $2 for guessing that the first toy advertised on T.V. was the Slinky when in fact it was Mr. Potato Head. Winton Smith was fined $2 for not knowing that "nano nano" came from Mork & Mindy. World travelers Doug Thomas and Phil Bratt were each fined $2 for not knowing that Ord referred to the Chicago International Airport, because it used to be an orchard field, (I'm not sure I got any of that right). Finally, Gary Tomsic and Greg Iwasaki escaped fines because one of them knew that Bobby Knight has an outstanding "arrest warrant" in Puerto Rico.
BANNERS: There were no banners today.
PROGRAM: Today's program was a panel of "experts", from our own club, who gave us a presentation on technology. The panel consisted of Rick Staeb, Greg Iwasaki and Phil Bratt. Rick Staeb talked about how new technology has impacted the broadcasting industry. Greg Iwasaki talked about the "technical" side of technology. Phil Bratt talked about the history of technology and where it's headed. The presentation was informative and thought provoking.
DRAWING: Deb Wiggs had the winning ticket but she did not draw the Ace of Spades, so the pot grows.
Editor this week: David Engels