Northwind 10-19-06
Whatcom County North Rotary
Northwind
October 19, 2006
MEETING TO ORDER: President Ken called the meeting to order at 12:37and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Deb Wiggs gave the invocation.
VISITING ROTARIANS: There were none.
GUESTS: None of these, either.
RETURNING ROTARIANS: Once again, none.
BIRTHDAYS: Dick Nolan celebrated his birthday on October 6th and Patty Quanz celebrates hers on October 21. Happy Birthday Dick and Patty!
ANNOUNCMENTS:
1. Since the District Governor had to cancel again this week, he will be coming to our Foundation Dinner, either November 9 or 16th.
2. Bill Grace noted that updates for the Roster, with our three newest members are on the tables. Also, he is circulating a draft roster for corrections.
3. Tim Villhauer mentioned the availability of the "What is Rotary?" card to be given to prospective members.
4. Sharon Robinson gave a reminder about the Hollinger Memorial/Adelante Fund Raiser to be held Wednesday, October 25, 5:30 at Metcalf Hodges Conference Center. Lex added that the Adelante website is helpful in explaining what they do.
http://www.adelantefoundation.org/
5. Jerry Landcastle announced that there will be a work party on Saturday at the Ferndale Soccer fields to install irrigation systems.
6. The Foundation Committee will meet after today's meeting.
HAPPY BUCKS: I think Bill Grace was stretching pretty hard for something to be happy about this week, but he came up with Brussels Sprouts. Rick Staeb was happy for 29 years of wedded bliss, which is completely different than being wedded TO Bliss. Several people were both happy and sad about things to do with Huskies, Cougars, and Trojans. At some point Jack Curnow was challenged to a bet, but he (wisely) declined. Paul Cooley was happy about Lex Ludtke's refer truck, but it's not like it sounds.Really. Jerry Landcastle put in another thinly disguised plug for help at the soccer fields. Tim Villhauer was moderately happy about his picture in the paper, but not enough to avoid the fine master. Bob Bowman is sad that Marlene is away and he actually has to take care of his own dog for a change. Scott Wallace wondered if he could get a makeup for attending a Cougar Game and it was generally agreed among the (Cougar) membership that this was acceptable.
FINEMASTER: Dr. Roger Lehnert was Finemaster today. Dan Parsons was unable to figure out what he was missing, since he had both his head and other essential parts of the anatomy. After appropriate humiliation regarding things that should never be on a key chain, he was able to buy it back. President Ken was abused yet again about the Lummi Ferry. When will it end???Other remarks were made about the honorable U. S. Congress which will not be repeated here. Since neither Julie nor anyone else vaguely related to the Mortuary business was in attendance, Jake was somehow penalized for the fact that Men for Mortuaries have seen fit to publish a calendar. No one filled us in on how to order a copy, so we'll have to wait for Julie to return, I guess. Bob Bowman got President Ken into yet more trouble for not offering a senior discount on the ferry. Gary Tomsic couldn't remember who the new superintendent of schools in Blaine was, and didn't wear black and orange on Fridays. At least not enough to please the reigning fine master. Max Legg wisely declined to answer a possibly offensive joke about a particular ethnic and gender minority. The fining then deteriorated into a horribly confusing discussion of black and brown gloves which no one could understand but for which many were fined, as is the prerogative of the Master. Finally, Phil Bratt was fined in retribution for past fines he had levied.
BANNERS: In the spirit of a day in which there were no visitors, no guests, no returning Rotarians, and nothing to make Bill Grace happy, the selected banners had no particular theme. But they looked really pretty up there on the wall.
PROGRAM: New Members were called upon to give their New Member Talks.
Dick Nolan spoke about growing up in Tacoma, attending the University of Washington and his working career. It turns out his father was right, when he told Dick he couldn't stay working for the same company for 25 years. Instead he put in several interesting five-year stints in the banking industry. He then transitioned to his current business of real estate and told a few amusing anecdotes about the beginning of that career. He has now been with Fairhaven Realty for 8 years. Dick also told us a bit about kit cars, one of his current hobbies.
Elizabeth Barnard was born in Fort Ord, CA, but spent much of her childhood in Japan. This often confuses people, she said, since she is actually not Japanese, but half Chinese. She attended WWU where she nearly got a degree in Psychology, but decided she was wasting her parents money (she said it, I didn't!) so decided to go to work in the jewelry industry. She enjoys her work very much and has received the rating of Registered Jeweler as well as completing many specialty studies in diamonds and colored gems. She is now a manager at Ben Bridge Jeweler in Bellingham. In the midst of all that she also found time to go back to WWU and complete her English Literature degree.
DRAWING: Jim Bliss? The same guy who was carrying around the ticket jar??? Hmmm. Something smells fishy.
Editor this week: Sharon Robinson