Northwind 12/14/06

Whatcom County North Rotary

Northwind

December 14, 2006

MEETING TO ORDER:  The meeting was called to order at 1:00 by President-elect Greg Thulin who led us in the pledge of allegiance.  Winton Smith provided the invocation.

VISITING ROTARIANS:  Marlene Sexton announced the visiting Rotarians including Rook Van Helm and Ron Vekved from the Mt. Baker Rotary Club, Robin Schmidt from Bellingham Bay Rotary Club and George Tsakumis from Vancouver, BC.

GUESTS OF ROTARIANS:  Stan Brunner brought Margaret to hear the Christmas music provided today by the Ferndale HS orchestra.

BIRTHDAYS:  No birthdays this week or at least none noted. Sorry if we missed you.Ken will make up for it next week.

RETURNING ROTARIANS:  Hilary Baumstarck returned from a trip to Honolulu to see U2 in concert, where Pearl Jam opened.  Sounded like it was worth the flight!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Prepayment of meals will be implemented beginning January 1, 2007.  This was a board resolution passed at this mornings Board meeting.  The expected fee will be $100 per quarter, due and payable at the first meeting of each quarter.  No credit will be given for make ups at other rotary clubs or meetings missed.  Visiting Rotarians and guests will pay the regular $10 per visit. Coffee only (for non-club members, members qualifying for the rule of 85 or honorary members) will be a $5 minimum.  A separate explanation will be sent by email.

The meeting on 12/28 will be election of officers and a holiday fellowship time.  The Officers and directors nominated for the fiscal year 2007-2008 are as follows:

President Greg Thulin; President-elect Hilary Baumstarck; Secretary Gary Cordrey; Treasurer Gary Tomsic; Directors: Randy Carr; Maureen McCarthy; and Paul Cooley.

Directors remaining in their positions are Tim Villhauer, Sharon Robinson, Dick Donahue and Jim Bliss. Ken Richardson will serve as Past President.

Lori Pobuta has resigned from the board of directors and from the club.  Lori thanked the club for many friendships and volunteered to help with any projects or events.

Robin Schmidt came today to report on the status of the new Ferndale Boys and Girls Club building.  The feasibility study is moving forward and our member Rick Staeb serves on the committee for the B&G club board.  Lucky for us, he can keep us informed of the progress.  Robin thanked the club for all we have done to raise funds for the MetcalfTeenCenter.

There are two District 5050 opportunities coming up that we can register for on-line.  The first is the Regional Polio Plus dinner on January 19, 2007 at the Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel.  The keynote speaker is Dr. Bob Scott, chair of Rotary's Polio Plus committee.  Fee is $80.  The second one is the Regional Rotary Foundation Seminar on January 20, 2007 at the Delta Hotel, fee is $40 and it starts at 8:30 AM.  Dr. Scott will again be the speaker and it is advised that all club TRF chairs, TRF committee members, all presidents and all president-elects should attend this seminar.  There will be 9 districts represented.  Register on line at District 5050 web site.

Paul Cooley reminded us of next week's program, Lisa Martin with The Netza Project, a children's education program in Mexico.  Lisa is from the Bainbridge club and is seeking our club's participation with Bainbridge club in supporting her work.  The web site is www.netzaproject.org if you want to check it out before the meeting.

HAPPY BUCKS:  Today's Happy Bucks are dedicated to the Salvation Army.  Next Thursday's Happy Bucks will be Christmas tips for our food servers, so come prepared.  Tim Carpenter was happy for the fine slate of incoming officers and directors with some grumbling about former directors or direction?  He was also happy for Roger Lehnert bringing us the holiday program from Ferndale HS orchestra.  Gary Tomsic was happy the "holiday tree" emails finally came to an end.  If you were not in that loop, don't ask.  Paul Cooley expressed Randy Carr's happiness about not having to ring bells this year.  Rook Van Helm was happy he would be ringing bells somewhere today or tomorrow or whenever and something about no steaks or eggnog.  What was that about?  Tim Villhauer paid to tell us about being "hailed" upon inside his shoes, inside his car.  I ran to my car during that brief hail storm, so I expect what he says really did happen.  Randy Carr paid to "ring Paul's bells" for his comment about Randy.  He was also happy about our music program today and mentioned his grandfather would be proud.  FYI, Al Carr (Randy's GF) was the head of the Ferndale music program for many years.  Gary Cordrey was happy about something.  This is not an easy job so please, all you critics, volunteer for newsletter duty!  Scott Piper was happy he went east to visit his grandchildren, one of whom had a "melt-down" either in the air or at the airport and disrupted air traffic for 1.5 hours.  That will make a grandpa proud!  Jake Smith was happy that being from Lynden makes other folks "clueless" as well, referring to Rook not knowing what day it was for his bell ringing.  Rick Staeb paid happy bucks for our program today as he remembered his high school musical programs.  Stan and Margaret Brunner just bought a new house and are moving.  I did not hear where, but they are excited to move, after 50 years(?) in the same home.  Dan Baker had bucks for the Salvation Army, Greg Thulin the same plus happy about the slate of officers and directors and something about the Sea Hawks.  Ron Vekved was happy because he has attended our club several times recently and has not been fined.  Phil took care of that later.

FINEMASTER:  Deb Wiggs was supposed to be Finemaster today (MIA)and did not find her replacement, so an automatic $5 fine for her.  Phil Bratt stepped in for a few minutes and fined Ron Vekved as a guest.  What a setup.  Jake and Rook were fined for Lynden cluelessness.  There were a few fines related to the program for lack of attention to the men woman ratio and attire.  Maureen McCarthy was highly observant and rescued us from fines.  Tim Carpenter was up next and fined Jerry Landcastle for his recent publicity and public relations "issue".  He also fined Scott Piper for a too short tie.  Scott Wallace fined Pete Kremen for attending so many Monday Rotary Club meetings and that he "loves Monday club"or so he told them at a recent meeting when he was attending there.  He is not really sure which club he belongs to.  Randy Carr fined Paul Cooley for his "inappropriate comments" about not wanting to ring bells for the Salvation Army.  He really did want to ring bells and then he fined everyone $2 for Salvation Army because we are not bell ringing this year.  The first time in 32 years.  Max Legg fined Stan Brunner for not being happy enough about his house sale and the great tax break available to him under the current tax code.  Dick Nolan was fined for badge rummaging, so if you can't find your badge next time, blame Dick.  Chuck Tull was fined for "no bell ringing" for the Salvation Army.  Larry Pollett fined Rick Staeb for the FM stations being off the air for 69 hours during the storm.  He fined Winton for roofs blowing off in the wind, and Dick Donahue had belated happy bucks for EasternWA basketball teams.  Gonzaga and WSU?

BANNERS:  It was something about snow days and missed meetings and then the football game between South Carolina and Notre Dame and the helmets came into it somewhere.  I am not sure whether Phil Bratt's reading of the explanation was convoluted or I was spacing.  Sorry Stan.

PROGRAM:  Ferndale HS freshman orchestra played holiday music.  Cat Wilkinson directed, introduced by Roger Lehnert.

Drawing:  Rome Sarwas drew the 3 of diamonds.  The pot grows.

Editor this week:  Julie Johansen