Northwind March 3, 2016
Posted by Rick Staeb
on Mar 05, 2016
President Sharon called the meeting to order and your editor gave the “spring time” oriented invocation.
Visiting Rotarians: Debbie Ault Bellingham Club
Guests: Ken’s wife Sue and Eric Battle’s friend Michael Fahey
Returning Rotarians: Laurie Lloyd after 6 weeks of recovery from knee surgery. Dan Parson returned for his monthly meeting. Sharon was returning from her quilting bee extravaganza.
Announcements: Jill and Brian both have birthdays and Rotary anniversaries this week.
The District is looking for a Secretary for the Rotary Year 2016-17. The District Conference is set for April 28-May 1st at Semiahmoo.
Dale announced that the Career Fair was on track and he’s still looking for about nine presenters.
Tim announced that the Duck Tickets will be available for sale soon. Additional sponsors are still welcome.
Happy Bucks: Pati was happy about the Stop Hunger Project Event. Deb Wiggs was happy about Debbie Ault visiting our club and their parallel lives and career paths. Dale was happy about his weekend at the PETS conference and Rotary’s upcoming theme for 2016-17, “Rotary, Serving Humanity”. Tim was $3 happy about the 42,500 meals they packaged at the Stop Hunger event, Dale’s Career Fair organization skills and that Edward Jones was again listed as one of the top ten places to work. Julie was $2 happy about the wine tasting social and the Stop Hunger project. Bill was happy about the recent rain causing the pollen count to go down and the wine tasting social. Laurie was glad to be back to the club. Ken was glad to see both Laurie and Dan at the meeting. Sharon was $10 happy to be back after missing two meetings and appreciative that Dale filled in for her and sorry she missed the Stop Hunger gathering. Dan was glad to be back and with his oldest turning 13 this week, happy to know raising children got easier once they entered their teenage years. Stan was thrilled that he still had goldfish after the meraudering heron had pilched his fish pond. Your editor was happy to see our guests and visitors and to be back after missing two weeks. Eric was Happy that his daughter was moving out of Baltimore.
Fine master: Ken strode to the podium and immediately began inflicting financial pain. $2 to Eric for still having a red badge. $2 if you missed the Stop Hunger event and the opportunity to see your beloved Fine master in a hair net. $2 if you didn’t know today was the day that President Hoover signed the bill that made the Star Spangled Banner our national anthem. $2 if you didn’t know the cover of the Rotarian magazine this month. A couple bucks if you didn’t know that RI had a Facebook page.
Banners: Stan’s theme was about Bob Grey who was sponsored by our club on a Group Study exchange in the early 80’s who has had some recent unfortunate circumstances with his wife’s health and a recent fire at their home.
Program: Jason Martin Director of Operations and Guide of the American Alpine Institute, headquartered in Fairhaven. 
Jason supervises the guide staff, develops course curriculum, manages land use permits and oversees AAI's social network. In addition to his work at AAI, Jason is currently on the Board of Directors for the American Mountain Guides Association, serves on the Mt. Erie Climbing Committee for the city of Anacortes, participates in the annual Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE) conference and volunteers for the Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council. He serves as the technical director for the annual Red Rock Rendezvous climbing festival and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Las Vegas Climbers Liaison Council. Jason has guided in Red Rock Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park, the Cascades, the Sierra, the Alaska Range, in Canada's Coast Range and in the Andes of Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru.
Jason gave a quick overview of American Alpine Institute and how they have operated since 1975. They provide a wide variety of service to their clients around the world in 16 different countries. Their main focus is Mountain Education which includes courses on Rock Climbing, Ice Climbing, Avalanche training and Rope and Mountain Rescue. He’s climbed Mt. Baker 43 times as well as many international locations. Jason fielded many questions and noted that 75% of Alpine accidents occur on the way down from the summit. AAI
AAI has been a leader among mountain schools and guide services in the incorporation of Leave No Trace environmental ethics and practices into courses and guided trips. AAI's president Dunham Gooding served on LNT's National Leadership Council and was instrumental in getting the members of the American Mountain Guides Association to adopt LNT as their environmental program.
AAI has devoted significant time to work with members of Congress and the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and BLM in shaping priorities and policies for outdoor recreation and funding for public lands administration.
AAI is dedicated to protecting the environment and to the fostering of safe and conscientious outdoor recreation. The Institute uses a significant portion of its staff time and financial resources to further develop the safety and professionalism of the American guiding industry, to augment protection of the natural environment, and to foster and maintain outdoor recreational opportunities that use the land without leaving a trace. For greater detail on the American Alpine Institute, visit their website:
Drawing: Bill Grace won the Door Prize and Sharon had the chance at the drawing but no luck so as they say around the state, “the pot continues to grow”.