Northwind August 21, 2014
Call to Order: President Rocky called the meeting to order and led us in the flag salute.
Invocation: Gary T. provided the invocation.
4 Way Test: Said silently to ourselves.
Visiting Rotarians: None
Guests: Tim’s loving and lovely bride, Pati. Welcome!
Returning Rotarians: Dale returned from a fun family reunion in Manzanita.
Birthdays & Anniversaries: none
Announcements : RDD is fast approaching, see emails for assignments. All tickets must be to Sharon by Friday. (Since the RDD has already occurred, I will skip what needed to be done). Next: A description of what the Board has been up to: Money to Brigadoon Therapy Dogs, ($5,000), $1,000 each to WCC and BTC. Ferndale High got some money for Band Uniforms, Bellingham Food Bank received $15,000 for a county wide distribution center. This brings the total to $29, 450. Any other requests for money should go to Sharon and the committee will review every 3 months. Next: A description of “Rotary Etiquette” was handed out to use with new recruits and will also be put on the website. (Thanks go to Julie for finding this). Discussion of membership and that we have lots of good potential members. Get names to Dale. Greg I. had a request for a “sweat” [hands on] project. A crew is needed to assemble playground equipment at a Ferndale elementary school. Greg will get the dates and put it on the Clubrunner.
Happy Bucks: Jake had $51 happy bucks for that many years of marriage. Congratulations and it only took him the first year to learn the rules! Bill was happy about the club vision. Tim was $5 happy for a visit from his son and meeting the girlfriend, who is a nice lady. Also happy he and Pati got to see King Felix pitch. Laurie was $5 happy for 2 days with family at a cousin reunion in Vancouver, WA. Rocky was $10 happy for Golfun and the Duck Race. Stan was $75 happy for his oldest daughter’s 70th birthday and his 71 wedding anniversary. Congrats Stan and Margaret! Jim Blaney was happy he was not hurt seriously in a fall that left him with a map of South America on his rear-end. He was also happy he sold his roadster to his son-in-law. Dale was $5 happy that Stan did not have to have a shot-gun wedding 71 years ago. He was also happy that his daughter is a section leader in the marching band. Pete was happy Lynn is home from the hospital after stomach surgery. Laurie had another happy buck that Jim B. did not have to miss a meeting due to his fall and that he still has perfect attendance.
Finemaster: Tim V. fined everyone who did not bring in a RDD article from the Herald. Jim B. was not fined for being a “hipster”. Bill was fined $1 and encouraged to learn the “Readers Digest” version of telling a story. Dale was fined because ICU is paying to be a Duck Sponsor. Julie was fined for not “cracking the whip” on Dale and himself for not getting checks to her in a timely manner. Ken was fined, in absentia, for last week’s diatribe. (He also apparently should learn the Reader’s Digest version). Sharon was fined for her postings of vegetables on Facebook. Marlene was not fined for her first of many 60th birthday parties. $1 fines for: Anyone not wearing Rotary garb. Anyone who has not taken a vacation this year. Anyone who had not picked any fruit or vegetables. Anyone not going to the Duck Race will pay $2 and Anyone who did not sell at least $200 worth of tickets, fined $1.
Banners: Stan’s Banners indicated Hawaii statehood on August 21, 1959…as explained by Rollo and Bill. Thank you, Stan! (Popular opinion is that we are glad to have the banners back!)
Program: Sue Blake from WA University Extension discussed water challenges for Whatcom County. She gave a synopsis of what they are working on now and the many programs designed to meet the needs of the communities, as well as find the solutions to some of the problems. For more information, there will be a “Water Week” in September to celebrate our water resources and highlight what different groups are doing. The organization has many programs such as a “Speaker Series” bringing together knowledgeable people to help find solutions. They offer trainings on Irrigation systems for commercial agriculture. Landscaping programs start in September and a State of the Bay symposium is open to all on November 13, 2014. More information can be found at the Website: WSU Whatcom County Extension
Drawing: Sharon won the door prize, (bottle of wine donated by Rollo) and Julie was not able to draw the Ace of Spades. Jackpot continues to grow!!