Northwind December 15, 2011

Posted by Rick Staeb 
on Dec 15, 2011
 
CALL TO ORDER:  President Gary Tomsic called the meeting to order at 12:30, leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Jim Blaney gave the invocation encouraging us to remember those with heavy hearts.  We all recited the 4-way test led by Greg Thulin.
 
GUESTS: 
Bill Grace's bride of 44 years, Kris joined us today.
 
VISITING ROTARIANS:  
Bob Moles from Bellingham Bay was our lone Visiting Rotarian.
 
RETURNING ROTARIANS:
Max Legg was returning from Honduras and Bill Grace was back and just glad to be back to Rotary.
 
BIRTHDAYS:
Peter Kremen on the 28th and Derek Thorton on the 29th.
No anniversaries this week for Club Membership.
 
ACCOUNCEMENTS:
  • Remember if you signed up for bell ringing at the Blaine Cost Cutter, it's this Saturday 
  • District membership seminar is scheduled for March 17 in Mt. Vernon.  The cost is $45 including lunch.  Let Gary know if you are interested.
  • Dec 15 Happy Bucks to Susie, Eric and crew at Northwood Hall
  • Tim Villhauer still working on our Jan. 5th speaker, a member of the Band of Brothers.
  • Tim Carpenter passed along to President Gary that former club member Tom McDonald passed away with a memorial service for him today at 1pm.
  • A Board Meeting will be held next Tuesday at 4pm at the offices of Metcalf Hodges.  All welcome. 
No Meetings December 22nd or the 29th. If you don't get enough bobbles and shiney stuff for Christmas, see Julie and Marlene about their Jewelry Show on January 30th at the Metcalf Hodges offices.  Promises of fun for all with munchies along with beer and wine. 

HAPPY BUCKS: (all to be the Northwood Staff today)

  • Timmy V $100 for the great music and certainly our great staff at Northwood Hall.
  • Brian $50 ditto
  • Julie and Laurie Lloyd combined their funds for $100 to thank the staff
  • Norm threw in $40, Marlene $85,Tyler was in too along with Maureen for $20 for the crew, the music and having Bill Grace back
  • Bill Grace was real happy to be eating great tasting food after 3 weeks of hospital grub
  • Sharon was happy as she often is
  • Max was happy to have survived 50 MPH Zipline trips through the Jungle of Honduras
  • The festive happy feelings were abound during this holiday season with lots of Happy Bucks form Greg I, Gary S and Rome too
  • Derek and Nick were full of new member happiness
  • Randy was happy Bill was back, that he almost gave Maureen a ride to work, that even though he was late for the meeting he made it unlike Paul Cooley
  • Stan, Mel, Jim B and Rocky were all happy about the season and the staff of Northwood Hall.
  • Marlene threw in a last few Happy Buck for the official announcement of her new T-shirt was now standard dress code for the office.
FINEMASTER:
Maureen McCarthy, did her very best to add to the coffers in an effort to show our club's thanks to the staff of the Northwood Hall.  She began immediately by fining certain members of the audience who were not following the rules of "Not shouting out answers" to the Fine Masters Holiday oriented questions.  The Wallace Rule $5 along with the McCarthy $6 Rule were in affect.  The Banner Theme was brought up early on the Fine Master's agenda.  Tyler, Norm and Rollo were all fined for not knowing the theme as "Happy New Year" spelled out by the banners.  Nice Work Stan.
If you weren't spending some holiday time with small children who you could send home after the party, you paid a buck.  If you were traveling somewhere warm for the holidays, you were docked a few dollars.  If you sent out Christmas cards with no "real live hand writing" (printed news letter and mailing labels) you paid towards the cause.
Brian had the 7 Swans a swimming correct answer, Randy or Norm new the name of the Bill Murray remake of a "A Christmas Carole".
Derek was fined for not already have his month old daughter out running last week for the Jingle Bell Run.  
If you weren't ringing bells for the Salvation Army this weekend, you paid a buck.
Randy Carr was fine for not only being late but for driving by Maureen on her walk to work but not offering to give her a ride.  His excuse was the fine master's aversion to being seen in a gas guzzling, fume belching Chevy Suburban.
 
BANNERS:  Happy New Year
  
PROGRAM: 
Wrapping up the Tri-fecta of holiday musical performances of Ferndale High School, the band under the direction of Steve Menefeer (with 40 members from grades 9-12, most of the "little drummer boys) performed to the delight of Whatcom County North Rotary members,  a variety of beautiful holiday  and band pieces.  It gave us a moment to pause, enjoy the sounds of the season and remember our former club member, Roger Lehnert who began the tradition of these enjoyable performances.
 
DRAWING: Brian Finnagan drew the King of Hearts and as they say on Lummi Island, "the pot grows"!
 
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to everyone!