Northwind March 19, 2015

President Rocky called the meeting to Order and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Jim Blaney provided the Invocation for today.

There were no Visiting Rotarians.

Guests of Rotarians included Scott’s wife Marge, Dan brought his co-worker Eric.

Birthdays:  Stan’s from last week.

New Member induction:  Dale along with Greg Iwasaki, inducted our newest member into the club, Jill Iwasaki.  Welcome Jill.

Announcements:  Laurie reminded us that April 10-11 is the Whatcom County Youth Fair and in the past our club has participated as judges of various competitions. We’ll need 4-5 participants.

Dale updated us on the Career Fair activities.  Please contact Dale for your assignments for the Career Fair which could include the Sorting Party prior to the Fair, Day of the Fair Activities or Clean up immediately following the Fair.

President Rocky awarded Paul Harris plus Pins to Laurie and Scott, PH +1, and Stan, PH +4.  Congrats!

Dan announced at Trash Pickup date of March 28^th 10am at Bob’s Burgers in Birch Bay.  Come join this fun and worthwhile event.

Happy Bucks: Bill was trying to ward off the Fine Master by putting $5 in the box for his cell phone ringing during the meeting.  Jim Sands was happy to see his friend Bob Marvel as our program today. Rocky was $37 Happy about his wedding anniversary with Sylvia.  Greg was $5 happy to have his wife Jill as the newest member of the club. Sharon was $5 happy to have Jill in the club and to see our membership growing.  Ken was $10 happy to have Jill in the club and to have had lunch with his 87 year old mom and her best friend.  Tim was happy about his latest rubber duck version that he’s added to our growing Rubber Duck inventory.  Stan was $5 happy about his weeklong birthday celebration with his four daughters and $95 happy for reaching that birthday milestone.  Alina was $5 happy about her new job and see another woman added to the club roster.  Pati was happy to have Jill in the club.  Dan was glad he dodged a bullet by planning his wife’s birthday surprise party. Jake was happy to be the 1^st person to the meeting today.  Dale had a HB I.O.U. apology to Jill for missing last week’s meeting and Jill’s induction into the club. Scott was glad to see Jill in the club and said that while doing a make up at the Monday club, Suzi says hi to all.  Laurie was happy about Jill joining the club and that her husband was finally getting better after knee surgery and Alina’s new job.

Fine Master: Rick started off by turning Happy Bucks into fines. Even though Bill had $5 bucks trying to advert a fine when his phone went off, the Fine Master acknowledged the gesture however he tacked on a buck for the fact that the ring on his cell phone was so load, it caused people in the other part of the restaurant to turn and look.  Yes, Jake you have been early to our last two meetings but not so much for your attempted effort to improve you being on time, it’s more that you haven’t adjuster your clocks for Daylight Savings Time yet. Pati was fined a dollar for trying to wear another member’s badge. Sharon was fined for not yet creating a Whatcom County North quilt after two weeks at quilting school.  Pete Ruese’s attendance at a recent board meeting prompted a fine for other members who have not been to a board meeting in the last 10 years. If you haven’t yet helped Dale with the Career Fair, you paid a buck.  Then we settled in on the Theme of the Day, the NCAA Basketball Tournament.  If hadn’t filled out a bracket for this year’s tournament, you paid a dollar. Alina was fined for not knowing which Washington state schools were in the tournament.  Tim was fined for not knowing the mascot names for all   three Iowa schools that were in the Tournament. Laurie did know the Bison of North Dakota State were in the tournament. Dan was close thinking the team from Buffalo were the Bills when really they are the Bulls.  Other members were fined if not able to correctly identify the mascots from the various teams in the NCAA Tournament.

Banners: It was the Vernal Equinox.  Good Job Stan!

Program:  Laurie introduced Bob Marvel, Pastor at Cornwall Church.  He began by recognizing the good work of Rotary in our efforts to rid the world of polio and our motto of Service Above Self.  When he was 35 years old, he ran his first and what he thought would be his only marathon but since then has run 30 marathons including some ultra-marathons.  His wife also runs and has joined him in 18 of the marathons.  They were both running the Boston Marathon when the bombing took place.  As he turned 50 he decided he wanted to make an impact with his running and decided to run what he considers to be the ultimate of ultra-marathons, The Comrades Marathon.

This 56 mile race is up hill and goes from sea level to over a half mile of elevation gain.  This is the oldest of ultra-marathons starting in 1921.  It has total of 18,000 participates who must complete the race in 12 hours.  The impact that Pastor Bob has decided to make is to raise funds to help support the building of a Community Center in Khayelitsha South Africa. His goal is $2,000 for every mile of the race or $112,000.  This community has some of the worst conditions in the world. In the last 10 years the population has grown from 400,000 to over 2.4 million. With 50% under the age of 19.  Unemployment is 73%.  With this extreme poverty, coupled with poor community infrastructure, it has lead to immense crimes rates, gangs, violence, drugs as well as other societal ills.

With the funds raised, his Christian non-profit 501c3 corporation will partner with Cape Missions International to construct a Community Center in the heart of the city.  The center will house a church, clinic, pre-school and feeding center.   For more information on Pastor Bob’s project, you can go to www.beyondourborders.net

Drawing for the jackpot of over $470 was held but no winner so as they say around the state, “the pot continues to grow”.