Northwind 10/9/08

Posted by Winton Smith 
 

Whatcom North Rotary

Northwind

October 9, 2008

 

 

 

MEETING TO ORDER:  President Tim Villhauer called the meeting to order at 12:32 and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Tony Cubellis gave the invocation and reminded all of the many blessings we are given.

 

VISITING ROTARIANS:   Tom Eckert from Bellingham Rotary Club and our speaker today.

 

GUESTS:  Doug Bascom of H & L Aluminum.  Bill Grace brought his wife Kris.

 

BIRTHDAYS:  Many happy returns to Doug Thomas, Paul Cooley and Lex Ludtke.

 

RETURNING ROTARIANS:  None.  

 

ACCOUNCEMENTS:

  • President Tim Villhauer reminded us that District 5050 is sponsoring two events in November.  The first is a Membership Seminar on November 1.  There is room in the car for more.  The second is the District Dinner on Friday November 7, 2008.  Registration is on-line.  It will be a great evening and must make event for Rotary up and comers.

 

HAPPY BUCKS:  Tim Villhauer gave two Canadian Loonies for the stock market buying opportunity.  Bill Grace was happy for a vacation trip to Long Beach.  Bob Bowman was happy to point out that Jack Curnow and O.J. Simpson attended the same University.  Greg Thulin was happy about a surgical solution to Kidney Stones.  Scott Wallace paid for a new satellite dish moved from the boat just in time for a power and cable outage.  Lex Ludtke was just happy.  Jim McKellar is making like a snowbird and paid to say good bye until spring.  Max Legg paid $3 for a 5th Wheel trip to Yellowstone, Teton and Mt Rushmore.  Rome Sarwas made lemonade from lemons by buying stock.  Doug Thomas seconded that notion with a stock offer.  Dan Baker gave up $5 of table money from the rowdy table. 

 

FINEMASTER:  Phil Bratt stepped up to raise some Fine money and started with Bill Grace who blew his cover when he was trying to dig up some dirt.  Doug Thomas was fined for not knowing the significance of October 9th being the high point of the market one year ago.  Adoline Brown was fined for not knowing who sang "Not as good as I once was".  Julie Johansen didn't know and got fined too.  Laurie Lloyd did know Toby Keith.  Lex Ludtke was fined for not knowing who won the recent Nobel Prize.  Dan Baker guessed it was for Physics.  The answer was something to do with Green Fluorescent proteins and medical Stem Cells derived from a man's testicles (and that's as far as we are going with that!).  Those who live in Ferndale, Jerry and Stan, were fined for a Dog Emergency.  Winton Smith was fined because he had never heard of the Chicago Cubs Billy Goat Curse.  Doug Thomas was fined for his road being torn up.  Chad Chambers was fined because a GM salesman was pushed over a cliff.  Anyone with a Highbred car was fined.  Dan Baker was tapped again because he missed the number of UW student enrollment.   

 

BANNERS:  Stan's banner theme - Birds

 

PROGRAM:  Dick Nolan introduced Dr. Tom Eckert, President of Bellingham Technical College.  Tom outlined what BTC plans are for the next 5 years.  He had a great Power Point presentation with lots of facts and figures on the need for technical training, the shortfall of skilled workers that exist and the projections for even greater effort needed.  He pointed out the outreach programs like teaching English to Kendall Russians.  If you want to know about BTC, you should have been here because we all got schooled.

 

DRAWING:  Bob Bowman drew a card.  Not a winner.

 

Editor this week:  Winton Smith