Northwind 9/25/08

Whatcom North Rotary

Northwind

September 25, 2008

MEETING TO ORDER:  President Tim Villhauer called the meeting to order at 12:30 and led us in the pledge of allegiance followed by Pete Kremen who provided the invocation.

VISITING ROTARIANS:   Tony Cubellis announced our solo visiting Rotarian, George Tsakumis from the Vancouver club.

GUESTS:  None

BIRTHDAYS:  Happy birthday toTerry Dawn, September 26; Brian Finnegan, September 27; Rick Staeb, September 30; Dick Donahue and Josh Wilund on October 1.

RETURNING ROTARIANS:  Marlene Sexton returned from a business trip to sunny warm Montana.  

ACCOUNCEMENTS:

• Tim Villhauer announced that Dick Langabeer has resigned
• Group Study Exchange (GSE) program needs hosts this May for 2 teams: one from Western Australia and one from Ecuador. 
• Polio Plus dinner event October 9 in Chilliwack with Bob Scott (THE authority on polio eradication) speaking.  Contact Tim Villhauer for more information.

HAPPY BUCKS:  Addie Brown had a sad buck for last one in.  Phil Bratt was happy he attended a great Cubs game while in Chicago recently.  Roger Lehnert was happy that Ferndale ranked #2 in 3A football and that he got to listen to Finnegan and Bratt talk for 15 min about business.  Maureen McCarthy was happy about her recent vacation/trek of 50 miles down coastal paths in south Wales.  Ray George was thrilled that his company, Sign Post, received an award for #1 Tricks of the Trade in a recent Portland World Sign Association convention.  Jerry Landcastle was happy that the recent Seabee Veterans of America Convention was so successful.  Stan Brunner was happy about the first Blaine/Ferndale football game in 45 years (too bad Blaine lost in the first few minutes).  Scott Wallace was happy that his recent 3 hour layover in Seattle worked out so well.  Rome Sarwas caught the biggest fish on his tuna fishing trip, thanks to the absence of a fishing partner.  Julie Johansen was happy about the Boys and Girls Club ground breaking where the club handed over a check for $200,000 and that there would be no more fund raising.  Julie was also happy she had a great cruise on "Mental Floss".  Bill Grace reminded us how lucky we are to be in this club which has accomplished many major things.  Sharon Robinson was happy about attending last weekend's Rotary Leadership Institute in Arlington.  Tyler Cook was happy to return to normal life as his wife returns to good health.  Elizabeth Barnard was very happy to be alive after a horrible spin out with a friend driving.  Finally, Phil Bratt announced that he and Mel are opening a bank and welcome deposits.

FINEMASTER:  Our Finemaster, Greg Thulin started with a fine to President Tim for assigning Greg to the fine committee.  Elizabeth Barnard paid a dollar to get her keys back.  George Tsakumis was fined for being the first one in which Jerry Landcastle paid as a reminder that we all should be early.  Greg changed his fine theme to "Getting to know your Finemaster" and fined each following group:  All Whatcom County natives, all those who went to public college, all non-soccer parents/grandparents, those who can use lake Whatcom North Shore road again, all those who have not yet been president, anyone younger than Greg, and all those who have never passed kidney stones.

BANNERS:  None

PROGRAM:  Tim Villhauer facilitated a club meeting/discussion as this week's program modeling his brainstorming on the Good to Great book ideas of autopsy without blame and what are we passionate about.  Why are we members in the club?  What makes a good Rotarian?  Ideas generated for club improvement: great projects, good fundraising, good attendance, should be committee driven rather than Board proclamations, increase membership.  Meeting location change: meet in Ferndale, location may not matter as much as direction/vision.  We need a vision-to drive who to target for membership.

DRAWING:  Larry Pollett drew the winning Ace (for Jim Bliss).  Congratulations!