Northwind July 19, 2012

Posted by Sharon Robinson 
on Jul 19, 2012
 

MEETING TO ORDER:    President Laurie called the meeting to order at 12:30  ( I think) and thanked Derrek for being the Greeter and the Sargent at Arms.  Jim Blaney gave the invocation.

GUESTS:  Bill’s guest was his girl friend Chris.

VISITING ROTARIANS:  George Tskumis from Vancouver and Jeanne McGee from Mexico.

NO BIRTHDAYS or ANNIVERSARIES

RETURNING ROTARIANS: Dale went to Atlanta, Jim Sands went to Las Vegas, Rocky spent five of the last six weeks in California.  Ken is back, although he never really went anywhere.  Everyone was glad to return to Washington as it’s way too hot elsewhere.

IMPORTANT DATES: 

  • 7/24/12 International Projects Committee Meeting
  • 8/25/12 Running of the Ducks. 
  • 8/30/12 Humane Society Golf Tournament – see Laurie if interested

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Stan had an interesting story, not really an announcement, but one of those small-world things.  He described how his son Donald had found a connection to his cousin Donald on the internet because of the unusual name, Donald LaBowell.  (sorry I didn’t get the spelling, Stan).  The amazing part is that Donald the son actually has the baby ring of Donald the Cousin, who was lost in WWII. 
  • Tim C.  Get in touch with him about Golf Fun.  He has or will send an e-mail to all members.
  • Mel: Still has the Traveling Peace Arch and needs to organize an outing to Canada soon.
  • Bill announced that past member Jerry Landcastle is going to be moving to Arizona, if anyone would like to say goodbye before they go.

HAPPY ROTARIANS:  Ken is happy that he finally has gotten a nose job and he can breath and sleep much better.  Dale was happy for some family fun, including a picnic and his daughter’s soccer games.  Bill is happy to be teaching his young neighbor how to do wood carving.  Jim Sands is donating “all” his winnings from Vegas.  Brian is happy about 18 years of marriage.  Greg T. for a great boat outing and lots of crab caught.  Gary shared a very embarrassing story about his new laptop and technical abilities or lack thereof.  We won’t go into details here.  Bill had another happy dollar for his neighbors who survived camping in a metal camper and lightning storm.  Laurie was also happy about her husband’s fishing derby and crab catching.

FINEMASTERESS: Maureen

She started off by fining President Laurie because she made up the invocation schedule and didn’t know that Maureen was supposed to be filling in for Rick Staeb.  Brian was fined for hanging out at Starbucks, and for looking like a crazy person talking to himself and gesturing into empty space.  Groups were fined under the Wallace rule for: not having bug bites, not picking up raffle tickets, not being happy, and not weeding their gardens.  Of course those who did not eat purple food were fined as well.  Greg I. was fined for being WAY too tan.   Julie and Derrek were fined for wearing matching purple outfits.  Gary was fined for having a degree in technology and not being able to master his laptop.  Ken was fined for disrespect to the President (Laurie not Barack). 

Mel was fined for pulling a joke on Dale: “Could you pass the coffee?” Dale pours.  Mel says, “Oh, I didn’t want any, I just wanted to see if you could pass it.”  More groups were fined – everyone who has not participated in a service project, anyone who has not listened to music outside yet this year.  Maureen wound up by noting that it is 22.5 weeks to Christmas, but only 7.5 weeks to Maureen/Marlene’s shared birthday.

BANNERS:  The banners were a collection of real and fantastical creatures.

PROGRAM:  Club Assembly.  Laurie started off the assembly by reviewing the successes of the past year:

  • Fundraising: we raised $44,500 and gave grants totaling $38,000.
  • Hands-on projects: NSEA trees, Painting Boys & Girls Club, Highway cleanup, Youth Fair, Youth Service Awards, Career Fair.
  • Fellowship: Wine tasting, jewelry party, home parties & Cinco de Mayo.

 COMMITTEES:  Committee chairs have been selected.  Each chair is responsible for recruiting members to be on their committee.  Since our club is smaller than in the  past (38 members) everyone needs to do more than one thing.   Chart of board directors and committee chairs was passed out.   Brian and Greg T. volunteered to take over the open spot for Programs.

 GOALS: 

  • Retention of members.  Bill suggested contacting past members to encourage them to return.  He has a list of all past members on the master spreadsheet.
  • Get more members involved in activities.
  • Good programs
  • Friendliness, greeter.
  • Contact absentees, encourage them to come more often.
  • Improve public image
  • Fundraising – signature event plus a few smaller ones
  • Publicize events and projects
  • Social Media
  • Achieve Presidential Citation

 RLI – Rotary Leadership Institute: the club will pay for anyone who wants to attend the first session.

 Ken encouraged anyone who is interested to come to the Fundraising meetings at 7 am Monday mornings, at Arlises restaurant. They are general good fellowship not just fundraising.

Mel shared his opinion that we should look for specific projects to do, rather than to just give some money to a worthy organization.  There are many worthy organizations, but for our club to have more impact we should look for lasting projects that we can achieve, for example building the Food Bank.

DRAWING:  No winner.