Northwind January 12, 2017

Posted by Sharon Robinson on Jan 12, 2017
 
 
Call to Order:  President Dale called the meeting to order and led us in the flag salute. 
 
Invocation:  Marlene gave an invocation from Mother Teresa. 
 
Visiting Rotarians: Nancy Jordan from the Bellingham Club
 
Guests:  Sharon's guest was Jennifer Moel, designer from Zervas.
 
Anniversaries/Birthdays:  None noted.
 
Returning Rotarians: None noted. 
 
Announcements/discussion: 
  • Duck Sponsors:  The thermometer shows that we have $7,750.00 in prize sponsorships so far. 
    • We can’t print tickets until we have enough sponsors to cover the prize costs.  Our new goal is $20,000 by the end of February.  Dale promised to go to all the Ferndale banks himself. 
  • January 19th Ferndale Chamber Awards Event.  Our club is nominated for non-profit of the year.  Club will try to have a full table.
  • March 30, 2017 -  Career Choices Career Fair:  Guy Frances has been confirmed as keynote speaker.
  • May ??, 2017 - Youth Service Awards
  • August 26, 2017 -  Duck Race
 
Happy Bucks:   Dale is happy that we have four schools already committed to the Career Fair, Blaine, Meridian and Sehome. Sharon is still happy about her puppy, and the warmer weather, as are many others.  At least the weather part.  Julie is happy that her house remodeling project is finally complete.  Finally! Dale is happy to e going to Hawaii March 4 - 18th, and not missing the Career Fair this year.  Pati is happy for having speakers lined up, Bill is happy to be back to good Health.  Jim was happy for the aviation related talk and mentioned some of his own experiences in WII. 
 
Finemaster:  Fines were brief or at least my recording of them was.  Those targeted were wearers of shorts (gosh, wonder who that could be?), supporters of the Seahawks, those not wearing pins or badges, those who finagled rides and the ridees. Wouldn't that be riders?
 
Banners:  The banners were from the most warm places Stan could find.  He thanked Rick and his move to Arizona for the inspiration.
 
Drawing: No winner.
 
Program:  Alan Snowie spoke about Canada's aviators and their history in WWI.  He is part of a group called Vimy Flight, a grass-roots organization with a passion for First World War aviation history.  They are a highly experienced group of ex-military pilots with a combined flying experience of over 230,000 hours.  They are preparing to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge, which took place on April 9th, 2017  celebration in 2017.  The celebration will begin with a bi-plane fly-past over the Vimy Ridge Memorial in Vimy France, and will continue by returning to Canada and crossing the country over the summer to celebrate Canada's 150th year of nationhood.  He mentioned their hope that the young Air Cadets could participate in the flight but the logistics were too complicated.  They do however offer scholarships to cadets.
A Nation Soars is a trilogy of documentaries activities and educational initiatives on how aviation changed the course of the First World War, and Canada's Heroic involvement in the war.   The films are narrated by Dan Aykroyd.    
 
Allan gave further information about Canada's role in WWI, the type of planes used, and the Commemorative flight that is planned.
 
Websites with more information are:
A Nation Soars  www.anationsoars.ca Has information about the films, Drawn to Victory, Wings of Courage, and Flight Path of Heroes.  Each film has its own page.
 
www.Vimyflight.ca has more information about the pilots and planes that will take place in April to commemorate the battle.