Northwind April 18, 2013
MEETING TO ORDER:
President Laurie called the meeting to order at approximately 12:32pm and led us in the pledge of allegiance. Tim V. provided the invocation once he used his reading glasses. President Laurie then had Derek lead us in the Four-Way Test. Today’s greeter was Tyler who was unable to greet anyone as his presence at the meeting was lacking.
RETURNING ROTARIANS:None.
VISITING ROTARIANS:Shannon Terrell and Martin Howers.
GUESTS:Tim V. remembered to introduce his wife, Patty; Tim also introduced Blake, who is the manager of the Barkley Starbucks and who provided the coffee for the Career Fair. Rocky introduced his mother, Faye. Welcome!
BIRTHDAYS:
None to report.
ANNIVERSARY:None to report.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:Reminder that Saturday, April 20, the Club has organized a highway cleanup. If interested show up at the Bob’s Burgers & Brew at the Birch Bay Mall around 10:00am.
District Assembly was April 13. Rick, Rollo and Laurie attended and enjoyed the day; they learned a lot and brought back some great ideas for Norm’s presidency.
The Board announced that it has agreed to donate on behalf of our Club, $1000 to Pure Water for the World’s project in San Antonio Honduras. This is a matching grant program, so our donation will be matched dollar for dollar.
Norm announced that the Family Fun Fest on Saturday went very well; everyone that showed up seemed to be enjoying themselves and it was a success.
Ken reminded everyone that June 13 we are having our installation dinner with a new twist – it will be a family picnic at Northwood Hall. Please sign-up and bring the whole family.
There will be a Clubrunner invite going out to all members relating to the
Quattro De Mayo party, please sign up. We still need auction items and if you are up for the chili cook-off let Alina know.
Tim V. – the Duck Derby is coming up on August 24. There will be a meeting after today’s lunch to discuss.
HAPPY BUCKS:
Greg T. happy to have survived an association meeting held last Saturday. Norm was happy about the success of the Family Fun Fest. Scott W. also happy about Family Fun Fest, as well as taking granddaughter to tulip festival. Ken was happy to see his Aunt Faye and Blake at lunch today. Jim S. was happy to be up and around walking without pain killers. Bill G. indicated that if you are partaking in the trash pickup you can purchase “grippers” from Harbor Freight for $2.50. Julie will not be at the lunch meetings for the next month; now that tax season is done she is taking off to New Zealand for 3 weeks. Rocky is happy that Rollo knows how to shuffle cards (????). Gary T. thought the Family Fun Fest was a true Rotarian event and happy to be a part of that; he was also happy that he just signed up for Plan B of Medicare. Maureen was happy about the Family Fun Fest – thought it was very fun and very moving. Rick C. is in disbelief that his oldest will be attending high school next year when it feels like he just graduated (time flies). Marlene enjoyed the Family Fun Fest. Dale happy to see Blake and thanked him for providing the coffee for the Career Fair; Dale was also happy that his daughter’s team is first in division for the state cup. Stan and his wife Margaret received a private tour of the new Ferndale police station from the police chief – no, he wasn’t driven there in the back of a squad car. Tim V. happy to have Blake and Patty as his guests today and also happy about the Family Fun Fest.
FINES:
Marlene acted as today’s Finemaster. She immediately fined Tim V. for not wearing his reading glasses around his neck for use at a moment’s notice. Scott W. has a plaque at BTC that he hasn’t seen yet, so received a $1 fine. Anyone with teenage kids was fined $2 – apparently a couple of 17 year olds robbed an individual, took their iPhone and when they discovered it was an older model, returned it because it wasn’t good enough (juvenile delinquents with standards, who’d of thought?). WWU grads were fined – apparently currently students have terrible job interview techniques (“want a new job because I’m going to get fired from my current job”). If you have replacement parts in your body, that is a $1. If you were not at the District Assembly or the Family Fun Fest - $1. Rick the Elder (Rick Staeb) fined $1 for never using the Cinco de Mayo dinner purchased at last year’s event. Ken R. fined for cell phone going off (in morse code). If you haven’t donated or procured any donations for Quattro de Mayo event, $1.If you haven’t stood in the snow or rain watching a kid’s sporting event in past 2 weeks, $1. If not wearing Rotary pin, $1. Bill G. fined for leaving “pointy things” unattended in front of Richardson family. Julie fined for upcoming NZ trip.
Banners: The theme today is duplicate banners. The banners are duplicates from the same clubs; some are the same club but different designs (on same panel), others are same clubs, same designs but located on different panels. Good job Stan!
PROGRAM:
President Laurie introduced Lea and Aaron Newcomb who spoke today about human trafficking. Lea is the executive director of the Engedi Refuge. Aaron began speaking about how he and Lea became aware of the issue and effects of human trafficking about six years ago. After learning more about it, they began to focus on the victims.
Aaron provided the definition of human trafficking:
THE ACT OF: Recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, obtaining a person for labor, services, or commercial sex acts.
BY MEANS OF: Force, Fraud, or Coercion
FOR THE PURPOSE OF: Exploitation, involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, slavery or any commercial sex act involving a minor
The discussion today focused on the commercial sex industry. Eighty (80%) percent of trafficking involves this; ie prostitution. About 1/3 of the prostitution in the US involves minors. Approximately 61% of the “johns” (customers) are married, have children, respectable jobs and are “church-goers”. Truckers are particularly vulnerable to becoming “johns”; they are on the road a lot and many truck stops have pornography outlets.
Approximately 89% of the prostitutes are female. Most (75%) are controlled by a pimp. They are “marketed” through the internet, sex clubs, massage parlors, etc.
Prostitution itself is made up of individuals where 85-90% experienced childhood sexual abuse; 85% have experienced being homeless; 92% surveyed want out. Minors who are arrested for prostitution are still treated like criminals and are more afraid of their pimp than police officers. Less than 20% of customers are ever arrested. Eighty percent of prostitutes did not choose to become one. The average entry age into prostitution is 13 years. The vulnerable are targeted. Currently there are reportedly 300,000 minors being exploited on the streets in the US.
Aaron indicated that there are approximately 80,000 men buying sex in Seattle on a daily basis. On the streets of Seattle, there are approximately 500 minors engaged in prostitution. Most “hook-ups” occur between the hours of 10:00pm and 3:00am.
Engedi Refuge has established a victim center to assist those who have been a victim of human trafficking and prostitution. It does not mix victims; ie it will not accommodate victims of domestic abuse to live alongside victims of prostitution - it only accommodates the victims of prostitution.
Engedi Refuse also has a learning center with a three phase program: (1) Life Skills Foundation; (2) Educational/Vocational Skills; and (3) Spiritual Foundation.
Extremely informative program. Thanks to both Lea and Aaron for educating the Club on this unfortunate issue facing our society.
DRAWING:
Derek contributed four Bellingham Slam tickets, so the individual whose ticket number is drawn not only receives and chance to win the pot, but will receive the Slam tickets. President Laurie’s ticket number was drawn, but she did not draw the ace of spades.
This Week’s Editor: Greg Thulin