Northwind 8/30/07

Whatcom County North Rotary

Northwind

August 30, 2007

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

VISITING ROTARIANS:   Jeff Price from Mt. Baker Rotary; John Moles from Bellingham Rotary; Larry Farr from Sunrise Rotary and George Tsakumis from Vancouver Rotary.

GUESTS:  Bill Grace introduced his Brother-In-Law Frank.

BIRTHDAYS:  No other birthdays this month.

RETURNING ROTARIANS:  Patti Latham returned from a trip to Hawaii.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Tim Villhauer announced those individuals in our club with 100% attendance: Marlene Sexton 2 years, Tony Cubellis 5 years, Ken Richardson 8 years, Bill Grace 20 years, Scott Piper 22 years, Gary Snyder 23 years, Jim McKellar 26 years, Jim Bliss 30 years, Dick Donahue 32 years, Stan Brunner 32 years and Mel Hollinger with 35 years.  Congratulations to all of you.

Greg Thulin announced the upcoming Board Meeting on September 13^th where the future of the rummage sale will be discussed.  If you have any thoughts or comments about the rummage sale please contact any board member.

Jim McKellar announced that the annoyance is almost over (his words not mine).  Make your damn calls!  We have 160 prospects, very good prospects, and he urges us to take a name or two or three and make the contact.  The committee has received some "in kind" contributions for materials.  Also, Jim had recently sent a financially distressed company a letter requesting a contribution and received back a check for $500.  He would like to wrap up the fundraising effort by the end of September.

President Greg announced there will be a Foundation Board Meeting immediately after today's meeting.

Tim Carpenter announced there will be a Foundation Committee Meeting following next week's regular meeting.

HAPPY BUCKS:  Stan Brunner had $64 happy dollars for his 64^th wedding anniversary.  Bill Grace had happy bucks for his visiting Brother-In-Law, for Stan and Margaret's 64^th wedding anniversary and something about watching round hay bales being made.  Jack Curnow for having a good client in Vancouver and for the Finemaster disarray.  Tim Carpenter for being able to ride a bike because the busses take too long and an endorsement for Larry Farr who is running for City Counsel.  Mel Hollinger for Stan and Margaret's 64^th wedding anniversary and for a friendship that goes back farther than that.  Jim McKellar had one final pitch for the prospect cards in the back of the room.  Paul Cooley for skydiving in Montana and having his picture appear in an international skydiving magazine.  Tim Villhauer for a long weekend in Austin, Texas and for experiencing good Tex/Mex food.  Sharon Robinson for being nominated professional woman of the year.  Congratulations Sharon!!  Elizabeth Barnard for her two families coming together.  Max Legg for spending ten wonderful days in Okanogan with his wife.  Rose Abbaspour for being able to spend up to nine-months with her three cousins but sad bucks because she will be away from the club for nine-months.  Marlene Sexton for her upcoming trip to California for a wedding and to visit her kids.  Lex Ludtke for his Father-In-Law's involvement in making a statue called the "Embrace", which is at the Mt. Vernon Oncology Center (I hope I got this right).  Greg Thulin for spending last week in Sun River and Larry Farr for something about sugar packet payments.

FINEMASTER:  Max Legg filled in as Finemaster.  Tim Carpenter was fined for making a derogatory remark about the WTA.  Pete Kremen for wearing a tie.  Lex Ludtke for the story about the statue.  Evidently Lex's dad was a baker so Max was wondering what the statue was made of, to which Lex responded that Tracy Powell designed it and it was made of granite.  Bill Grace for looking at hay bales.  Jack Curnow for the derogatory comment about the Finemaster being in disarray.  He then gave anyone who wanted to an opportunity to levy fines on other members but there were no takers so the Finemaster concluded his duties. 

BANNERS:  There were no Banners today, but in place of them Stan displayed a photo montage commemorating his 64 wonderful years married to Margaret.

PROGRAM:  Our speaker today was Julie Shirley, the Executive Editor of the Bellingham Herald.  Julie said this is an exciting time to be in the Newspaper business.  She came to the newspaper business with a background in sociology with a goal of developing a sense of community rather than just news scoops.  She manages 45 people and her primary responsibility is to set the future direction of the Bellingham Herald.  The paper was previously owned by Gannett and is currently owned by The McClatchy Company.  They also publish the Whatcom Magazine.  For more information you can go to their website www.bellinghamherald.com.    

DRAWING:  No one drew the Ace of Spades.