Northwind 8/7/08

Whatcom CountyNorth Rotary

Northwind

August 7, 2008

MEETING TO ORDER:  President Tim Villhauer called the meeting to order at 12:30.  Gary Tomsic gave the invocation.

VISITING ROTARIANS: Elizabeth Barnard announced the Visiting Rotarians.  We welcomed George Tsakumis from Vancouver, Graham Harris from New Zealand and Eric Vanerstrom from Dan Parson's fantasy football league (and Mt. Baker Rotary).

GUESTS:  Ken Richardson was accompanied by his wife Sue and his daughter Robin and her partner Lisa.  Addie Brown's guest was her husband Kerry. 

BIRTHDAYS:   Tim Villhauer August 7^th and Jim Bliss August 8^th.  Happy Birthday to both of you!

ANNOUNCMENTS:       

1.  Dick Donahue reported on the Bay2Bay and the focus on getting riders.  The registration fee of $50.00 has been extended to August 18^th.  There is a sign-up sheet to subsidize riders, so if you know anyone who wants to ride, but cannot afford the fees, please let them know this and encourage them (and others) to ride!  We were encouraged to carry around brochures to give to businesses as well as any bicyclists that we see.  We want the word out that this will be an annual event as well.

2.  Sharon Robinson announced that members are encouraged to give $100 to WCNR Foundation toward Paul Harris Fellowships.  You may give your check to Gary Tomsic.

3.  Bill Grace handed out the new Rosters and even has a large version for those who need bigger print.    

4.  Tim Villhauer announced the Swinomish Rotary's Boutique Dinner and Auction and passed around a sign-up sheet .

HAPPY BUCKS :  Bill Grace was happy the Rosters are done.  Tim Villhauer was happy for members serving on the Board and Foundation.  Brian Finnegan was happy to receive a text message from his wife announcing that she was "being forced to eat crab on her parent's boat".  She has our sympathy.  Rome Sarwas was happy that he and Jake were going to go salmon hunting.  Jim Bliss was happy to have another birthday and looks forward to the next 10.  George Tsakumis had $5 happy bucks but the reason got lost in translation.  Addie Brown was happy that Kerry was able to join her and that they had a meeting with their builder to discuss the budget for their house.  I suspect that meeting will take some of the "happy" away.  Sharon Robinson was happy that the Board Members didn't complain about waiting outside for the Board Meeting.  Maureen McCarthy had happy bucks for Bill Grace's work on the Roster.  Phil Bratt was happy to be back from Las Vegas where it was 108 degrees.  Jack Curnow had apology bucks for his comments last week regarding Larry Pollett's suit.  Larry wore shorts today and Jack had an opinion about Larry's legs.  Graham Harris had the same translator that George Tsakumis used but I did catch that he looked at the roster and according to their picture, nobody had aged in the 13 years he has been gone.  Scott Piper was happy about the Olympics and for the running skills of Tim Carpenter and Graham Harris.  Bob Bowman didn't want to argue with Graham but he is sure that Jim Bliss is a lot older than he was.  Jake Smith had happy bucks for a visit with his granddaughters and exploiting them for child labor.  Ken Richardson was happy to have family visiting and his niece getting married on Saturday.  He also identified Jake's description of "intelligent lawyer" as an oxymoron. 

FINEMASTER:   Phil Bratt was the Finemaster today and he started off with Jake Smith for breaking child labor laws.  Sharon Robinson, who Phil likes to call Shannon, and Jack Curnow were fined for their hesitancy to sit at Phil's table.  Brian Finnegan was fined for not knowing the noteworthy event that happened with Allegiant Airlines.  Eric Vanerstrom was fined (despite the rule that we never fine guests).  Fines if you had not yet purchased tickets for Chicago (who Phil likes to call The Eagles) or Randy Travis.  Bob Bowman, Dan Parsons, Maureen McCarthy and Gary Tomsic were all fined if they hadn't followed Obama's energy plan and checked their tire pressure today.  Pete Kremen could pay if he was feeling like a Dem.  Since Maureen had her wallet out she was fined for the WTA plan of playing music to move the "bus station crowd" down the street.  Members were fined if they were wearing shorts and being too comfortable.  Jack Curnow was fined for the gorilla group found in Central Africa.  Leah Macaleer was fined because at 5 months her daughter is sleeping through the night.  Jim Bliss and Rich Jacobson were fined as there is no connection with their pictures in the roster and real life.  And, President Tim Villhauer was fined for sharing a birthday with Phil's wife. 

BANNERS: The Banners represented the Olympics starting tomorrow (8/8/08).  Maureen was the first and most prominent voice to get it.  Congratulations also went out to George Tsakumis as the Olympics didn't start in Greece. 

PROGRAM:           Art Choat (Head of Operations at the Port of Bellingham) discussed the proposed changes at BellinghamInternationalAirport, which is the fastest growing airport in the Western U.S.  He discussed the four phase parking expansion as well as new and added flights.  BIA is the 3^rd largest airport in Washington (behind SeaTac and Spokane) moving us from a Primary Non Hub to a Primary Small Hub giving us more federal finding.  It sounds like great things are in the works for BIA and we thank Art for keeping us informed of the changes.

DRAWING:   No winner!