Northwind 7/12/07

Whatcom County North Rotary

Northwind

July 12, 2007

MEETING TO ORDER:  President Greg Thulin called the meeting to order at 12:30 and Rick Staeb gave the invocation.

VISITING ROTARIANS:   Jim Sinclair from Mt. Baker Rotary; Graham Harris from Bellingham Rotary; Pete Ruese from Sedro Woolley Rotary; and Gus Metz from Spartambo, South Carolina.

GUESTS:  Tim Villhauer introduced his guest, Taylor Wade; Graham Harris introduced his guest, his son Matt; Leah Macaleer introduced her guest Delanor and Chad Chambers introduced his guest Rich Bruland.

BIRTHDAYS:  None

RETURNING ROTARIANS:  Jim McKellar returned from a trip to L.A. and Santa Barbara and he's in no hurry to fly again anytime soon.

ANNOUNCMENTS: Dues Statements have been sent out and are due now; Gary Cordrey is resigning from Whatcom County North Rotary; next weeks rotary meeting will be held at Central Elementary in Ferndale; Tim Carpenter announced that sign up sheets for volunteers for the rummage sale are on the table so please sign up a.s.a.p.  Also, family members are welcomed to participate as well and items are needed with collection to begin next Tuesday. 

HAPPY BUCKS:  Tim Carpenter was not happy his septic tank overflowed and the bill was too high but it's now been fixed.  Jim Bliss was happy for the sunny day.  Dan Baker was happy for Tim Carpenter heading up the rummage sale.  Graham Harris was happy to see old faces.  Leah Macaleer was happy for her grandma's 90^th birthday.  Bill Grace was happy his surgery went through okay.  Winton Smith was happy for a trip to Jasper Wyoming and Lake Louise.  Paul Cooley was happy his employee, who was involved in the bad car accident, is back to work; happy to attend a recent "Tragic Hip" concert; and $20 for his wedding anniversary.  Sharon Robinson was happy for the "change of guard" and a thank you for Ken Richardson's service as president this past year.  Ken Richardson was happy to have had a fun year as president of the club.  George Tsakumis was happy for visiting relatives but sorry he missed the installation dinner and happy that Bill Grace recovered well from his surgery.  Jerry Landcastle is happy for the Boys and Girls Club Auction.  Bob Brown is happy that Graham Harris is here today.  Max Legg for something about no guns and weapons in Sedro Woolley.  Doug Thomas had $20 for Tim's efforts regarding his daughter?  Jack Curnow for his son joining him as a partner.  Phil Bratt for his son getting married this summer.  Greg Thulin for the new rotary year ahead and everyone stepping up.  Marlene Sexton, our new secretary, for being able to refer attendance matters back to Scott Wallace.  Brad Peterson for missing the last rotary meeting and happy for Rome Sarwas' efforts at the recent Roy Orbison Concert.

FINEMASTER:  $2 for everyone wearing a tie.  $1 for everyone who had more than one cookie.  $1 for everyone whose cell phone rang/vibrated or did anything else during the meeting.  All Blaine residents were fined a buck for the border official who got fired for something about a wall.  $1 for all Lynden School District residents for impact fees on county dwellers.  $1 for all Blaine residents because Blaine was ranked in the top 5% by Newsweek.  All weather watchers for the "hot weather".  $1 for President Greg for the last minute call to be Finemaster.  $1 for all lake watershed dwellers for the fire district putting in a Heli-pad.  All contractors for all the road construction during the summer.  All stock owners for the Dow Jones reaching new highs.  Brad Peterson for being the last one in.   

BANNERS: represented the record setting temperatures we experienced last week.

PROGRAM:  Our speaker was Dale Rings, "a planner" who talked about the Academy for Life Long Learning, which is linked with WWU.  The organization is 10-years old, beginning in 1997 with the idea of promoting learning in retirement.  The idea came from the WWU Provost and is affiliated with their summer programs.  The organization is completely independent, with its own Board and it is fiscally sound.  The program offers 25 new courses covering anything of interest to retirees.  Please contact Dale for a catalog if interested.  Average attendance is 30 to 60 with half the faculty coming from WWU and half from the community.  Membership is not necessary but if a member then you get a 25% discount and full access to WWU.  Membership is $65 per person per year or $110 for a couple.  They had 308 members last year and 600 names on the catalog mailing list.  They have a large volunteer staff.  Some of the courses offered are Life Writing, Russia Today, Hooked on Oil, Nano Technology, The Universe and Everything In It, China on the Move, to name a few.  For more information go to www.extendeded.wwu.edu. 

Drawing:   Two of Hearts, no winner