Whatcom
County
North
Rotary
Northwind
August 3, 2006
MEETING TO ORDER: President Ken Richardson called the meeting to order at 12:26 and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Gary Tomsic gave the invocation.
VISITING ROTARIANS:
Stephanie Sadler from the
Bellingham
Club, and Graham Harris from
New Zealand
.
GUESTS:
Tim Villhauer
's wife Patty, Tony's friend Mark Nelson,
and
Sharon
's guest Jeanne McGee.
BIRTHDAYS:
Tim Villhauer on August 7th and Jim Bliss on August 8th.
ANNOUNCMENTS:
1. Whatcom Legal Assistance Fund thanked us for the $500 donation from the Fishing Derby.
2. The August 24th meeting will be a work party at the Ferndale Boys and Girl's club. The Fundraising committee will figure out lunch.
3. The August 31st meeting will be the official District Governor's visit to our club. Members are encouraged to bring a guest.
4. Bill Grace announced that with today's order of two more benches, he will be donating a total of 11, with proceeds to the
Metcalf
Teen
Center
.
5. Lex Ludtke: We need donations of Live Auction items and LOTS more volunteers to sign up on the sign-up sheets on the tables. There is NO CHARGE to attend the auction!
6. Julie circulated sign-up sheets for Fellowship Dinners. There will be a dinner hosted by Lori Pobuta and
Sharon Robinson
on September 30.
HAPPY BUCKS:
Phil Bratt
hopes to survive his 50th birthday celebration next week. Jerry Landcastle is $20 happy about the $1 million dollar donation to the Ferndale Library. Rich Jacobson gave $8 for the 8 days he plans to work in August. Mary Kanikeberg had two "Q" trips with 14 women - sounds like a wild time! Bill Grace was happy about the sale of his benches. Marlene Sexton is happy that her daughter is coming to visit. Lynn Seelye's phone call had Jake Smith scared that something bad might have happened, but it was only that both of
Lynn
's cars were stolen. What a relief! Randy Carr was happy that programs were happening, and that they caught some obscene amount of salmon in Tofino. Graham Harris was sad that even 50-year olds look young now. Rick Staeb was happy about cowboy golf in
Idaho
. Maureen McCarthy was sad at the loss of her faithful companion. Tony Cubellis was just plain happy. Jim McKellar was happy for an additional $4,000 in donations to the Metcalf fund today. Stan Brunner was happy or sad, maybe a little of both about the sale of their home of 52 years. They will be able to stay while they build a new home.
FINEMASTER:
Phil Bratt
took revenge on all who dared make fun of his age. Anyone under the age of 50 was fined. Rick Staeb was fined for his translation of Graham's statement. Greg Thulin for getting tax advice, and Jack Curnow either for giving it or for not billing for it. Marlene Sexton because
Phil Bratt
saw her and didn't acknowledge her presence (????), Maureen McCarthy for leaving bits and pieces of cookies on the tray, as well as for vacating the downtown bus terminal on the "bad end" of Railroad. Anyone who has ever played badminton was fined, because bird flu is creating a shuttlecock feather shortage. Bob Bowman,
Gary Tomsic
and Dan Parsons (among any others of "their persuasion") were fined for trying to eliminate the sales tax deduction. Anyone who owns an Acura was fined, because they are 6 of the top 10 cars stolen.
BANNERS:
Stan Brunner was not fined, because he knew that today was the anniversary of something to do with
Columbus
. The banners' theme was something to do with sizes; shapes and that they had nothing in common. or maybe that they were unusual materials. Mel Hollinger and Dan Parsons were given a pass for some partially complete answers on this one.
PROGRAM:
Joan Penny, Director of the Bellingham Festival of Music. Bellingham ranks second only to Santa FeNM, in terms of our per capita Creative Vitality Index, a measure of all the creative people and events we have in our community. Joan told us that the Festival has been working on both the creative and administrative aspects of running the Festival, including gathering feedback from the community. She stressed not only the magic of the music, but the economic relevance to the community, bringing in over $500,000 in revenue to the area. This year the festival will target audiences in Skagit, Snohomish and KingCounties as well as Canada, and will celebrate 250 years of Mozart.
Gary Tomsic pointed out that one of the opening concerts will be held in Blaine.
DRAWING:
Jim McKellar followed the four-way test in admitting that it was Stan's ticket drawn, but it did not win the jackpot.
Editor this week:
Sharon Robinson