Northwind 12/6/07

Whatcom CountyNorth Rotary

Northwind

December 6, 2007

Meeting To Order :  President Thulin called the meeting to order at 12:31, and Gary Tomsic gave the invocation.

Program :  Today we had a very special treat. Roger Lehnert introduced the Ferndale High School Marching Band to play for us its Christmas musical program. The Ferndale High School Orchestra will be with us next week, December 13^th, and the Ferndale High School Choir will be with us the week after, December 20^th. You don't want to miss these wonderful performances. The full band was present, and was under the lead of Mr. Steve Menefee, the band director. Accompanying Steve to assist with the conducting duties was Mr. Cory McHenry, a student teacher from Western. The band started with a lively song for which the band won this year's state band competition. Next, the percussionists, keyboardists, chimes and Xylophone musicians played Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and they did a beautiful job. Mr. Cory McHenry introduced and conducted the third Christmas piece of Italian inspired music. The program wound up with the band playing a melody of Christmas pieces by Leroy Anderson entitled Christmas Festival. The club is blessed every year in having these very fine young folks from FerndaleHigh School come and play for us. Thank you Roger very much for arranging these programs, and please express our sincere thanks to Mr. Menefee and the entire band.

Visiting Rotarians :  George Tsakumis was with us today. It's always a pleasure to have George in our midst.

Guests :  Bill Grace was accompanied today by his lovely wife, Kris.

Birthdays :  None that anyone will admit.

Returning Rotarians :  Doug Thomas returned from a business/vacation/pleasure/family gathering trip to Cabo.

Announcements :  The next Board of Director's meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. in the Zervas Board Room.  Sign-ups for this year's Salvation Army bell ringing times are still going on, and all are encouraged to join in.  Doug Thomas urged everyone to finish making their final contacts for the Metcalf Project.  Dick Donahue is in the process of gathering interest from those who may want to attend a SuperSonics' basketball game on either Friday, December 21^st or Saturday, December 29^th.  A separate email to club members has been sent out with additional details. The club will not have a meeting on Thursday, December 27^th.  President Thulin is planning this year's club social to coincide with our December 20^th meeting.  He will confirm this at the December 13^th meeting.  Bill Grace is still collecting canned food donations for the Food Bank.  You can still bring in donations to the December 13^th meeting and Bill will see that they get to the Food Bank.

Happy Bucks :  Rome Sarwas for 33 years of marriage to Darla.  Dick Donahue was happy about the Cougs win.  He was also happy about Mel Hollinger being named the Bellingham/Whatcom County Chamber of Commerce "Man of the Year." Congratulations Mel.  Dick also mentioned that his mother in West Chehalis had to be evacuated from her home.  She is 87 and Dick said that she didn't want to go.  Gotta love the American spirit.  Bill Grace was happy to be able to escort one of the local Pearl Harbor survivors to a recognition lunch at the Elks Club on Friday.  Jack Curnow is happy to be off to Florida to complete the dive trip he started about this time last year. This year Jack keep your feet away from car tires.  Brian Finnegan is in the process of moving into his new building near the BarkleyMedicalCenter.  He is having an open house next Thursday, December 13^th at 5 p.m.  As mentioned earlier, Mel received the local "Man of the Year" award. Mel said he came to Blaine in 1939 as an educator and boxing coach.  He said he was grateful for the award after 68 years of community service. Dan Parsons gave $20 since the Huskies' season is over and he can now count on more steady winnings in his offshore investment interests.  Doug Thomas was happy for his parent's 50^th wedding anniversary.  Congratulations to Stu and Mrs. Thomas.  Doug was also happy for the recent trip and cruise that included 21 Thomas family members.  No doubt Doug held training sessions on how to conduct a modern day business trip.

Finemaster :  Tim Carpenter was today's finemaster, and as usual was in fine form. First, Tim conducted some club business to have the board vote to give today's fines and happy bucks to the Food Bank.  Tim was irritated (an attribute of a really good finemaster) that Brian Finnegan stole his thunder about announcing the completion of Brian's new building.  Lummi Bob was also mentioned for some mysterious saying, something like "Who-know" or "Who-now."  I didn't quite catch this inside quip.  Dan Parsons was fined for wearing an identification badge other than his Rotary Badge.  All those with visible or hidden tattoos were tagged.  Tim fined Keith, one of our new members, just cuz.  Yours truly was fined for a recent announcement about new hires at Moss Adams.  Phil was fined $2 for something to do with Doug.  Doug was fined $5 for not being here enough.  Those still holding new member badges after 3 months were tagged.  Mel was fined $2 for finally living long enough to get the "Man of the Year" award.  Patience is a virtue.  Tim fined Roger $3 for something to do with music selection.  Everyone at the rowdy table was fined $2 each.  Fines were levied against those not yet having signed up for Salvation Army bell ringing duties.  Everyone with shoelaces was fined $1.  Others also contributed on a second call for donations to the Food Bank. Way to haul in the dough Tim.

Banners :  Stan Brunner presented one banner to remember Pearl Harbor, and to remember the beginning of FDR's famous speech which took place on December 8, 1941: "Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan".  Thank you Stan for this reminder of how precious our freedoms really are.

Drawing :  Jim Bliss drew the Nine of Diamonds.