Northwind 8/9/07

Whatcom County North Rotary

Northwind

August 9, 2007

MEETING TO ORDER:  President Greg called the meeting to order at 12:30 and Pete Kremen gave a unique invocation which was prefaced by some of the more dismal events that have happened on this day in history: the second atomic bomb dropped on Japan, the resignation of Richard Nixon, and the Manson family murders.  He moved on to lighter topics, however, in asking God to help with the garage sale decision in His spare time.

VISITING ROTARIANS:   Patty Latham introduced Graham Harris from New Zealand, from the Bellingham Club: Earl Settlemeyer, Ron Jepson, Dewey Dessler and Fred Sexon, and from the Mount Baker Club: Ron Kelly and Randy Bode.

GUESTS:  Our only guest was Nona McKellar.

BIRTHDAYS:  Our only birthday was Jim McKellar, on August 14.  Jim will be 81 years young â¿¢ Happy Birthday Jim!!!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  (1) Next week is the District Governor's visit.  Let's make it a festive event, bring spouses, and dress accordingly.  (2) Regarding the garage sale â¿¢ the board discussed but is still talking to members and gathering input.  (3) Golf Fun â¿¢ signups are due tomorrow â¿¢ speak to Tim Carpenter or Randy Carr.

HAPPY BUCKS:  Bill Grace, of COURSE was happy.  Today it was about his trip to SnoWater, and about having so many visitors at his table.  Dick Nolan was happy, we think, about reading us a letter of reference recommending a potential employee.  Bob Bowman continued to blame Ken for being the Ferry Godfather â¿¢ how long can this go on?  Leah Macaleer announced that they are expecting in February â¿¢ Congratulations!   Doug Thomas was happy for the contributions of Jim and Nona McKellar and Julie Johansen to the Metcalf fundraising effort. 

Tim Villhauer was happy that the price of gas here is so low â¿¢ Compared to Scotland, anyway.  Greg Thulin and George Tsakumis were both very happy to see Dr. Snyder.  Probably as happy as he was to be here â¿¢ since the obituary of a Dr. Gary Snyder of Bellingham was recently published.  That unfortunate soul was 59 years old, and we were not sure if Dr. Snyder could actually have been that old, anyway.

FINEMASTER:  Tim Carpenter was the Finemaster, and he let us off relatively easy today.  He did fine Tim for his (and other board members') continued Maureen/Marlene confusion.  Marlene is the new board secretary.  Maureen is also on the board, but is not the secretary.  Pete was fined for the grim invocation.  Scott Piper was fined for allowing guests Ron and Earl to sit at the same table.  Dewey and Fred were going to be fined for the same reason, but were let off with just a dollar for smart-talk instead.   Mel Hollinger was fined for wearing suspenders outside his shirt.  Leah and I were wondering where ELSE you would wear them⿦ but let's just leave that one right there⿦shall we?

Jim McKellar was fined for describing Nona as HIS helper, when most of us know it is really the other way around.  Bob Bowman was going to be fined for being the last one in, but he was let off because of that stupid ferry excuse again.  WHEN will it end?!?!   Gary Snyder was fined for sitting at the wrong table and confusing the Finemaster.  Somewhere along the line, Gary made sure to point out that the obituary was wrong.  Doug Thomas paid the fine, in gratitude for having Gary not only with US, but at their table.

Then Doug was fined for the false modesty of not congratulating himself as part of the Metcalf team.  We can only imagine how much more he would have been fined if he HAD congratulated himself!  Dick Nolan was quite rightly fined for reading the letter of reference and then Graham was fined for being unintelligible.  He had a witty reply but it was unintelligible as well.

BANNERS:  The banners were absent, as was Stan.  Hope all is well with him.

PROGRAM:  A discussion of the status of the Metcalf Teen Center fundraising effort was the topic of the day.  Doug noted that we have over $129,000 in contributions and pledges now.  Some of the larger potential donors will not weigh in until the construction of the project is imminent.  Josh answered some questions about the total cost of the new building.  It will be around $3.5 million.  One million will be from a state grant.  The Direct Contact portion of the campaign consists of three parts: (1) The committee of volunteers made direct contacts with a selected group of prospects (2) We will follow up with contacting those who have not yet been contacted, or who have not replied (3) All members will be asked to work on contacting a new list of prospects which have been laid out on the table.  Members should pick up the name of any prospect which they feel comfortable contacting.  Jim McKellar suggested three components of the approach to this new group:
(1) Send a personal letter on your own, or your company's stationary, (2) include a copy of the new brochure, which includes a mock-up of the dedication plaque with names of current donors and a tear-off reply card, and (3) if you are so inclined, include a copy of the very nice letter that Sandy (Metcalf) Alves wrote regarding the project.