Whatcom County North

Rotary

May 3, 2007

MEETING TO ORDER:  President Ken called the meeting to order at 12:30 and Tony Cubellis gave the invocation.

VISITING ROTARIANS:  From Bellingham Bay Rotary we welcomed Bob Moles.  From Bellingham Rotary we welcomed Bill Elfo, Fred Sexton and Jim Voss.  From Sunrise Rotary we welcomed Lynn Masland and from Vancouver Rotary we welcomed George Tsakumis.

GUESTS:  Dick Donahue introduced his guest, Chad Chambers (who will be inducted as a new member today) and Bob Moles introduced his guest Sandra Garra who is the President of the Honduras Rotary Club.

BIRTHDAYS:  Scott Piper celebrates his birthday tomorrow.

RETURNING ROTARIANS:  Bill Grace is returning from Tucson, Arizona, where he enjoyed hot sunny weather and Larry Pollett is returning from a vacation in Cabo San Lucas, where he attended their local Rotary Club.

ANNOUNCMENTS:  

President Ken announced the following: the Rotary District Conference is being held May 31 through June 3 at Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa in British Columbia, Canada; our club installation dinner is scheduled for the evening of June 28; there will be no meeting on July 5^th; and the Board is endorsing an effort by Rome Sarwas to set up a fundraiser in memory of Jerry Chambers, with anything above cost ultimately going towards the Dick Metcalf Memorial Project.  The fundraiser is a concert to be held June 23^rd at the Mt. Baker Theater and would feature the Roy Orbison Group and the Whalers.  The cost to hold the concert is $20,000 and a $15,000 deposit is needed up front to guarantee the performer's attendance.  If half the tickets are sold the cost is covered.  If there was a "sellout" our club could receive $35,000.  No corporate sponsors have stepped forward so the members are being asked if they would be interested in covering the deposit.  Remember, if half the tickets are sold everyone gets their money back.  If anyone is interested please contact Rome Sarwas, Dick Donahue, Jake Smith or Rick Staeb.  They will hang around after the meeting if anyone is interested.  (I hope I got all this right!)

Bill Grace announced the following: there are Ski to Sea Posters on each table; Stan Brunner's "get well" card is being passed around; and recent Roster changes are on the tables. 

Dick Donahue is donating Mariner baseball tickets for 5 games (I didn't get the dates) using a "silent auction" format.  Each game includes four tickets plus parking.  Minimum increases of $5 and proceeds will benefit the Dick Metcalf Memorial Project.

Tim Villhauer inducted our newest member Chad Chambers.  Welcome Chad!

PROGRAM:  To honor our Speaker's time commitment, today's program was held early.  Rome Sarwas introduced today's speaker Pat O'Day.  Most of us remember Pat O'Day as a former DJ of KJR, Seattle, which was "the" Rock N Roll Station in the Northwest in the 50' and 60's.  Pat told several funny and interesting anecdotes about his time in Radio and his time as the "Head" of Concerts West, which handled nationwide tours for Rock N Roll Groups like just about everyone who had top ten hits during that era.

HAPPY BUCKS:  We ran out of time so there were no Happy Bucks.

Finemaster:  Phil Bratt was today's Finemaster.  The first fine of the day went to our newest member Chad Chambers.  Suzy, who is not a member, forgot to put up today's Banners, but her fine was paid by President Ken.  Bill Elfo was fined a buck because his cell phone went off, then Phil launched into something about the low speed limit on H Street Road, to which Bill punted to our own Gary Tomsic.  Brian Finnegan was fined a buck for his cell phone going off during the meeting plus $5 for something about a Real Estate Commission.  Anyone who has children in the Ferndale School District, (Brad Peterson, Rich Jacobson and Patty Quanz), were fined a buck because of the benefit they receive from the school buses using Lynden's manure for energy.  Larry Pollett was fined for bringing back a tan from Cabo San Lucas.  Gary Cordrey, Tim Villhauer, Dick Donahue and Tony Cubellis were each fined a buck because the Stock Market is reaching record territory.  Phil also included himself because he has done well himself off the stock market surge.  Maureen McCarthy was fined a buck because the WTA has benefited greatly from the surge in gas prices, which has increased rider ship. 

Banners:  There were no banners today.

Drawing:  Jim McKellar won today's drawing, but he did not draw the winning card.

Editor:  David Engels