Northwind April 11, 2013
MEETING TO ORDER:
President Laurie called the meeting to order at approximately 12:35pm and led us in the pledge of allegiance. Jim Blaney provided the invocation. President Laurie then had Bill Grace lead us in the Four-Way Test. Today’s greeter was Brian Finnegan, who didn’t even try to greet this editor.
RETURNING ROTARIANS:
Dale Holt enjoyed some sun and sand in Oahu.
VISITING ROTARIANS:
Bob Moles and Bill Kirby
GUESTS:
Ken Richardson introduced his wife, Sue; Tim V. introduced his wife Patty and also introduced former member Lex Ludtke; Dale introduced Sidney as his guest. Welcome all.
BIRTHDAYS:
None to report.
ANNIVERSARY:
None to report.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Dale updated the club on the success of the Career Fair. It couldn’t have been done without the hard work of all that assisted, and especially Dale. Good Work!
Reminder that Saturday, April 20, the Club has organized a highway cleanup. Contact Parsons if you haven’t signed up but are interested in joining the cleanup crew.
District Assembly was April 13.
We have a RYLA candidate – Marta Sherrit (sp?). This was the last item needed to qualify for the Presidential Citation, congrats to Laurie and the Club.
Bill Grace announced that the upcoming car show at Boulevard Park may be the last one held there given the problems the car club is having with the Parks Department. If interested in showing your car, please sign up because it’s limited to 220 cars.
Alina reminded everyone of the Quattro De Mayo party; sign up for the chili cook-off and let her know if you have any donations.
Tim V. – the Duck Derby is coming up. Please join him and others every Monday morning at Arliss to assist with the planning of this and other events.
HAPPY BUCKS:
Greg T. happy to have survived driving 2,000 miles with his family to visit various colleges. Scott W. happy about granddaughter visit. Lex L. happy to be visiting the Club (will you be joining us again?). Tim V. was happy to see Lex, happy to have Patty join him for lunch, but sad that the M’s can’t beat the worst team in baseball. Brad happy about an offer to work for the North Cascades Institute, so may be leaving the club (not happy about that). Sharon happy to see Lex, Sue and Patty and happy that her tax return was ready. Marlene had $34 for her 34th anniversary (congrats!). Rocky is glad to see Ken walking without a cane. Rick announced that the band for the May 4 party has a “mean” polka it will be playing. Bill G. volunteered at the Elk’s Club Saturday night and was named Elk of the Year (congrats). Ken is happy to be on both feet. Scott filed his tax returns and was notified another one had already been filed for him (uh oh) – good luck with that! Dale was happy to spend time in Hawaii and also happy he didn’t return with a beard after looking at the beard Rocky was styling. Max went to Kamloops for some skiing and happy about the job Dale did for the Career Fair. Alina had a thank you for Rick and Tim V. (can’t recall for what). Julie was happy there were only 4 days left of tax season and happy about today’s program. Mel announced he was happy to see Lex and offered to provide $25 if Lex returned as a member. Stan ran into Rose Sanders who referred to Stan as “just a kid”. Laurie had $46 for her 46th anniversary (congrats!).
FINES:
Tim V. acted as the Finemaster for today’s meeting. It started out innocently enough, but then became a history lesson.
Dale was recognized for a job well done for the Career Fair, but fined a $1 for his role in a commercial. Alina, Rick and Rick were also recognized for a good job; no fines levied against them. Bill was chastised for reading the 4-way test banner. Tom fined for his cell phone ringing during the meeting. Ray was thanked for buying Patty a glass of wine for lunch – no fine. Ken, Rocky and Marlene fined for sitting at same table. Gary T. had to pay the cost to be the boss; something about invocation.
Tim then held a history lesson in the form of a quiz asking each table a question. It is safe to assume that 90% of the following questions were answered incorrectly and when an answer was correct, it was shouted out from another member at another table that received a fine. Here were the questions:
- What happened in 1814 today? Napoleon Abdicated
- What treaty was Napoleon’s Abdication? Fontainebleau
- Where was Napoleon banished to? Elba
- Who was born in 1721 on today’s date? Moravian Missionary David Zeisberger
- Who got married in 1888? Henry Ford
- What was Truman remembered for in 1951? Firing McArthur
- What year was Apollo 13 launched? 1970
- What date did Apollo 13 reach moon? Trick question – didn’t
- What date did Apollo 13 return? 4/17/70
- Who was best actress in 1988? Cher
- Who played their first gig in NYC in 1961? Bob Dylan
- What concentration camp was liberated on today’s date? Buchenwald
- 1861 is the Anniversary of what? Start of civil war
- What happened on 4/16/1865? Lincoln shot (Thanks Tim, you just ruined the movie for Norm)
Banners: The theme today was “Blue”. The banners are all shades of blue – or, when you get the blues it is worldwide. Good job Stan!
PROGRAM:
Bob Moles introduced Carolyn Crowley Meub, the executive director for Pure Water for the World.
Carolyn has been involved in Rotary for 21 years. She is the executive director of Pure Water with its office located in Caroline’s house. It has received formal NGO recognition. Caroline has spoken at the United Nations and has been recognized on the floor of the US Senate. On March 12, 2012, the governor of Vermont declared that day to be pure water day.
The beginnings of Pure Water for the World stemmed from the work of a dentist in Southern Vermont. The dentist would travel to El Salvador every year to perform dental work in remote areas. This dentist began to notice that patients were suffering from water borne ailments and unless clean water could be provided, the ailments would continue. So, the dentist went back to his Rotary club to figure a way to solve the water issue in the El Salvador community he visited annually. The club realized the problem was greater than just it could handle and from there, sought additional help. Eventually from this effort, Pure Water for the World was created.
Presently about 25% of the planet’s population don’t have clean, safe drinking water. Double that number and that represents how many people do not have a toilet. Approximately 4,000 people per day die from water they drink.
The mission of Pure Water is to work in rural, dispersed areas that the local governments do not get to. Pure Water tries to focus on hygiene education (i.e. washing your hands); filter installation (bio-sand filters that are made and installed in villages); latrine installation (require villagers to assist in the construction); efforts to have the villagers work and assist in the product provided (they must pay a little money for the filters and they must provide “sweat equity” for the latrines); and the work at empowering women – water is a woman’s issue, they fetch it, cook and clean with it. If they have a sick child to tend to, then they can’t go and work at a job. If clean water is provided it will reduce chance of sickness in their children and free up the women to work.
Pure Water is providing a great service and we should be proud to have been a part of its work.
Thanks Carolyn for a great program.
DRAWING:
Rocky’s ticket number was drawn AND he drew the ace of spades! I believe there was over $350 in the pot, so if you need a few bucks, ask Rocky for a loan.
This Week’s Editor: Greg Thulin