Northwind July 12, 2012
MEETING TO ORDER: President Laurie called the first meeting of the new year to order at 12:30 and thanked Sharon for being the Greeter. Past President Gary gave the invocation, requesting guidance and leadership for the incoming board and officers.
GUESTS: Guest of Max Legg: Brad Tuininga, Development Director at Bellingham Technical College Foundation. Guests of Tim Villhauer: Frank Ellers, Matt Mc Masters, Traci Bjorklund and Pati Villhauer.
VISITING ROTARIANS: George Tskumis from Vancouver.
NO RETURNING ROTARIANS BIRTHDAYS
ANNIVERSARIES: Jim Sands, Two years, Ken Richardson 13 years, and Gary Snyder, 28 years.
IMPORTANT DATES:
- 7/17/12 Board Meeting
- 7/24/12 International Projects Committee Meeting
- 8/25/12 Running of the Ducks.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Chuck Tull has sadly decided to resign from the club, due to the strain of commuting from Oak Harbor. Chuck has been a member since 1986, was President in 2009-10, and was always a willing and cheerful volunteer. He will be greatly missed.
- Next week – 7/19/12 will be a club assembly meeting
- Have you been to the website?? If not, you should check it out. Duties for all committees will be posted there.
- We received a thank you note from our Youth Service awardee from Blaine.
- Tim Carpenter is still recruiting members for the International Service Committee. All are welcome. Meetings will be Tuesdays at 5:00 pm. Next meeting will be 7/24/12
- President Laurie put Tim C. in charge of Golf Fun because he always is. It will be at Homestead here in Whatcom County this year, so we should have a good participation turnout from the club.
- Mel announced that he has the Traveling Peace Arch, and needs to organize a cross-border mission to return it to a club in Canada. The idea is to encourage fellowship between the two countries in district 5050.
- Tim Villhauer encouraged everyone to sell Duck Tickets. Derrek is in charge of giving out tickets and collecting money. The committee will be setting up some selling dates at local venues. All are welcome to the Fundraising committee meetings at 7 am Monday mornings, Arlis’s restaurant.
HAPPY ROTARIANS: Tim V. for the sun, our speaker, and surviving two days in the Bellingham airport courtesy of Alliegient Air. Greg I. for eight days in Cancun. Marlene for the opportunity to fly out to Friday Harbor. Sharon for the opportunity to greet some of the club members as they arrived. Maureen for the new Rotary Year and good wishes for President Laurie. Bill thanked outgoing President Gary and was also happy for the sun and his knees surviving. Nancy had thanks to the outgoing and good wishes to the incoming officers and board members. George gave a happy $100 to congratulate Laurie celebrate his 47th anniversary and to celebrate the birth of his granddaughter, who will be named Zoe, which means Life.
Norm shared a bad scare that affected his seven-year old son, he was discovered to have a tumor, which turned out to be benign. Greg Thulin was happy that his 16 yr. old son was able to attend tennis camp on the Oregon Coast, without any airport problems. The cost of insurance now that he’s driving is another story, however. Jake celebrated the new year, and noted that our Past President shares a striking resemblance to the actor currently playing in “On Golden Pond.”
Tim C. gave happy bucks to see that Gary T. actually showed up today, Bill gave another buck because he was happy that his whole table was happy. Gary T gave happy bucks for Laurie’s incoming year, and thanks to Ray and the club for the Blaine sign that was given to him as a gift for his year of service. He will be displaying it in the Blaine Visitors center.
Ray was happy that his new property and Party Pad is almost finished and ready to rock and roll. Fishing season on Alta Lake is open and there are triploids available for the taking. (I have no idea what those are? Three children that look alike?) Don’t plan on seeing Ray next week.
Did you know there are three people, including a visitor with the initials G.T.? Neither did your editor. I hope I have not mixed up your antics with the wrong GT. Maybe all three of you should have a Gin/Tonic and forgive me!
FINEMASTER: Max Legg was our first fine master of the year, and a fine fine master he was indeed. He fined Tim C. for arguing about the Golf Fun assignment, Julie for not knowing who won the All-star game, Ray for some signs… (?), Anyone wearing long sleeves, shorts and/or flip flops. Ken was fined for giving the first assignment of the year to Max then not showing up. Jake was fined even though he DID know who won the homerun derby at the all star game. Gary T. fined for a great year as president, Tim for filling a whole table with Edward Jones people, the Rowdy Table regulars for abandoning their regular table, Marlene for knowing what pertussis is (whooping cough). Derrek also fined for All-star knowledge, and Maureen for guessing the banners.
BANNERS: The banners were in celebration of the sun and summer finally arriving.
PROGRAM: Our Program was Marcus Brotherton, a journalist and professional writer, known internationally for his collaborations with high-profile public figures, humanitarians, inspirational leaders, and military personnel. Marcus resides here in Whatcom County.
Marcus talked about the amazing people he has had the opportunity to interview and write about during his career and twenty-five books, which include Shifty’s War, the Band of Brothers, Company of Heros, We Who Are Alive, and others focusing on the heros of World War Two.
He read several inspiring quotes and passages from each of the men profiled in band of brothers and shared the wisdom that he has distilled from these men. He sums it up as advice to live boldly, or to lead bold lives. There are three key traits that he found in his subjects, the willingness to commit to a worthy cause, to commit to excellence, and to commit to determination.
The few quotes we had time to hear whetted our appetites for more stories, and books were available for autographing and purchasing.
DRAWING: Tim’s guest had the winning ticket but did not draw the ace.