Northwind May 12, 2011
May 12, 2010
WHATCOM COUNTY NORTH ROTARY CLUB
NORTHWIND
MEETING TO ORDER: President Extraordinary Marlene called the meeting to order at about the right time. Gary T. gave the invocation. Tim C. stumbled through the recitation of the 4-Way Test.
GUESTS: The only guest was nonetheless a good one – Sue Stremler, with Tim C.
VISITING ROTARIANS: George Tsakumis and possibly others.
RETURNING ROTARIANS: No one came back. It was undeterminable whether anyone left.
BIRTHDAYS: Someone, somewhere, but apparently no one from the club. But remember, the note taker was trying to simultaneously entertain a sincerely inquisitive guest.
ANNOUNCMENTS: Marlene went to the district conference where she was presented with our club’s Presidential Citation with Distinction. WCN was one of only nine clubs in the district to be so honored, and the only club in Whatcom County; there will be a foundation (Whatcom County Rotary Foundation, not club foundation committee) board meeting at 5:00 p.m. on May 18th, followed at 5:30 by the club board’s meeting. Both will be held at Metcalf, Hodges. All are welcome, and encouraged; Pete R. was soliciting help with rounding up a bank for the Youth Service Awards, and Melanie handled it – remember, the YSA
Awards ceremony is Thursday, May 19th. Be there by noon, the presentations begin at noon-thirty; Tim V. announced (1) the Bellingham Herald P.R we got on May 7th - the article about woodcarver Earl Green and his carved canes for worthy purposes, financially supported by our club, and (2) a graceful, personally crafted thank you note from Debbie VanderVeen whom we assisted through the Whatcom County Youth Fair; a thank you note was received from the St. Luke’s Foundation, acknowledging our gift of $1,000 on behalf of Sue Sharpe, who designated that recipient in lieu of an honorarium for her splendid work leading our Strategic Planning Session; Tim C. reminded the membership about Golfun, coming up August 19th. Contact Tim for further details; Gary T. mentioned something about a budget committee, the details of which escaped me. Finally, Gary T., in his capacity as President-Elect, passed out a list of proposed committee assignments for next fiscal year (July 1st). Let Gary know if you don’t want a particular assignment, or want additional assignments.
HAPPY BUCKS: Bill for blood – including a request that the donation go to the credit of an individual he named, but that I was unable to catch. See Bill for details; Ken was just happy (about time); Gary T. for his upcoming trip to the International Convention in New Orleans. Apparently all participants will be supplied with a raft, rations and a first aid kit; Dale for the Mighty Canucks and his daughter being picked for a Rangers team (that is the local premier soccer association, for those of you who don’t recognize the reference); Chuck the Tongue-in-cheeked for the good weather; Derek for his participation in the Haggen to Haggen Fun Run (and, hey you guys, lay off the weather complaints. Blame La Nina (tilde omitted, I couldn’t find it right off on my writing program); and Tim V, or II if you are counting, and wife Patty, also H2H Fun Run.
FINEMASTER: Greg, a/k/a Vlad the Impaler, dished it out: Tim C. for something unfair and unkind; Ken for not buying Greg coffee; Julie and Bob for not buying his dinner; Tyler for a bad muffin and not buying Greg’s groceries (it’s all about him!); Canucks supporters or nonsupporters – it didn’t seem to matter which; anyone traveling out of the country, excluding Canada; not buying flowers for Mother’s Day, irrespective of whether you had either; and Laurie for her attenuated relationship to a drunken Oregon broadcaster.
BANNERS: Big and little, square mileage.
PROGRAM: Our program today was presented by Karen Ssebanakitta (pronounced “Sebanakitta”), who is the Director of Oncology and Palliative Care for PeachHealth, and thus oversees Hospice and Hospice House.
In the approximately six months Hospice House has been open, there have been approximately 200 patients, not all of whom succumbed to ill health, but whom were able to be stabilized and returned to their homes. The typical patient has terminal cancer (about one-half), and is provided with comfort and medical care without having to be placed in a rest home or an intensive care hospital facility. The goal is to allow for a natural death with dignity, and to honor the mystical experience of death. Hospice House is an available alternative for those who do not, for various reasons, spend the last days of their life at home.
Admittance to Hospice House requires a physician’s certification that death will occur within six months, and also requires the consent of the patient, who must understand that death is imminent and irreversible.
Karen also described the facility, staffing, and patient care.
Karen thanked the local Rotary Clubs, including ours, for our donations to allow Hospice House to become a reality.
DRAWING: No big winner.
ON A MORE NEGATIVE NOTE (with respect, I’m giving you a piece of my heart, not a piece of my mind*): Last month’s Peace Arch Journal reported Whatcom County North’s attendance as tied for dead last at 50%. I suspect that is inaccurate, resulting from a reporting or processing mishap. Nonetheless, a reminder that attendance is critical to the success of the club, and also critical to a positive personal experience in Rotary.
Scribe this week: Tim Carpenter
*Credit: Natasha Bedingfield