Northwind 11/29/07

Whatcom County North Rotary

Northwind

November 29, 2007

MEETING TO ORDER:  President Thulin called the meeting to order at 12:32, and Winton Smith gave the invocation.

VISITING ROTARIANS:   Mike Kirkland from Bellingham Bay Rotary Club, Jeff Swanson from Issaquah Rotary Club, John Moles from Bellingham Rotary Club and George Tsakumis from Vancouver Rotary Club.

GUESTS:  Lynn Seelye introduced his guest Carolyn Casey, today's speaker.

BIRTHDAYS:  Scott Walker celebrates his birthday this Sunday.  Happy birthday Scott!

RETURNING ROTARIANS:  Marlene Sexton returned from a trip to San Diego where she visited family.

ANNOUNCMENTS: 1) President Greg Thulin announced on behalf of Jim McKellar, that this is the last push to raise funds for the Dick Metcalf Memorial Project.  A total of 125 identified prospects have not yet been contacted and he urges all of those members assigned those prospects to please do so a.s.a.p.  2) Chuck Tull announced that sign-up sheets were on all tables for the Bell Ringing scheduled in December.  3) Bill Grace asked all members to bring non-perishable food items to next weeks meeting and he'll take them to the Ferndale Food Bank.  He also announced that December 7^th is the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day and if you know any survivors please encourage them to attend the Elks Lodge at 2:00 and participate in the festivities.  4) Tim Villhauer awarded a pin to Dick Donahue for 32 years of perfect attendance.  5) Dick Donahue announced there will be a fundraising committee meeting next Thursday.  Also, he is trying to arrange for a group to attend an upcoming Sonics game on Saturday December 29th.  He will need a minimum of 15 to make the trip a go.  6) Dr. Lehnert announced that the Ferndale High School Band will be performing at our club on two successive Thursdays beginning December 6^th.

HAPPY BUCKS:  President Greg Thulin was happy to receive a Paul Harris Fellow award along with Paul Cooley and Marlene Sexton.  Scott Wallace was happy for the Cougar win in the Apple Cup.  Winton Smith is happy for the windy weather and all the work it is creating for his company.  Larry Pollett is also happy for the WSU win over the UW.  Dick Donahue was happy for Scott Wallace (didn't hear why) and the Cougar win.  Tony Cubellis is happy to have to wear sunglasses.  Rome Sarwas is happy for Aluminum Chamber Boats staying here.  Pete Ruese is happy to celebrate another birthday.  Marlene Sexton is happy to win the Paul Harris Fellow award plus something about wedding gowns and Pina Coladas.   Bill Grace was happy to donate a downed tree to his neighbor for a fence.  Sharon Robinson missed the Foundation Dinner but is very happy to just be walking.  Dick Donahue is very happy for a new 7.5 lb granddaughter.  George Tsakumis is happy to be back in town.  Bob Bowman is happy for Marlene's Paul Harris Fellow but sorry he has to take care of his own dog.  Roger Lehnert is happy for Jake Locker but happier for WSU's win.  Rick Staeb was happy to travel to Michigan for T-Day.  Paul Cooley is happy for completing a Human Relations class and interviewing Max Legg for an opposing political view.  Tim Carpenter was happy for the Paul Harris Fellow winners

FINEMASTER:  Phil Bratt was the Finemaster today.  Tony Cubellis was fined for wearing sunglasses indoors; Roger Lehnert for failing to win a perfect attendance pin; Brian Finnegan for violating the no cell phone rule; the Cougars who didn't express their happiness; Husky Fans for Jake Locker being Freshman of the year; Gary Snyder for not being on the hospital board because a hospital on the East Coast performed three brain surgeries on the wrong side of the brain; Mel Hollinger for being a Blaine resident and having to deal with water issues; Roger Lehnert because Fourth Grader's have slipped from 4^th to 11^th in the world and for his "what do I care" attitude; Dan Parsons for the Huka Bar opening this afternoon; Tim Carpenter and Larry Pollett for being two bicycle riders on Samish wearing tight clothing resembling Speedos; Sharon Robinson for not answering a question about the Rotarian Magazine correctly; Lynn Seelye for not knowing that the Bill Gates Foundation had donated $100 million to help eradicate polio; and Bill Grace for not knowing where the 2008 Rotary Convention is being held.

BANNERS:  Pullman, Apples and an upside down world.

PROGRAM:  Carolyn Casey, a long-time employee of the Port of Bellingham, talked about Bellingham's changing waterfront.  Carolyn reviewed the history of the waterfront from lumber companies to land fills to GP occupying 137 acres since 1912.  The City and Port of Bellingham acquired the land, with plans to cleanup the contamination, change the land use designation and attract public/private investment to develop the property.  The plan, as it currently stands, is to designate 41-acres to a Marina, 63-acres to Right of Way and Parks, 17-acres to the City and 17-acres to private development.  The investment required will be $197 million from the City, $137 million from the Port of Bellingham and $880 million from the private sector.  Their development principals are to rebuild the tax base, strengthen downtown, transition to mixed use with residential, support development of the marine industry and create new public amenities.   

DRAWING:  Bob Bowman drew the Queen of Hearts.