Northwind October 15, 2015

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

Your Editor in Chief provided the sunny Invocation.

There were no Visiting Rotarians, No Guests of Rotarians and No Returning Rotarians, No Birthdays or Anniversaries. Other than that, it was an exciting meeting.

 

Announcements:  There will be no meeting on October 29^th,  instead a club fellowship will be held at 5:15 at the Coach Cellars in Fairhaven across from Skylarks for a bit of wine tasting and commoradory. Bring your spouse and friends and have some fun.

The Foundation Dinner is 11/5 at the Northwood Hall.  Make sure Ken knows if you are coming or not.

 

Happy Bucks: Bill Grace started off with $5 of sorry bucks his phone going off twice during last week’s meeting.  Your Editor was $38 happy about his and Deb’s 38^th Wedding Anniversary.  Jake was happy we now had a microphone to hear our speakers.  Julie was happy that it was her last Tax Deadline before retiring at the end of the year.  Laurie was happy about the great weather for riding her horses.  Dale was happy about ICU’s annual Feed the Need Food Drive going on this week. Rollo had a sad dollar for our Seahawks and a happy dollar about the great weather.  Ken was $2 happy about his back feeling better after getting a shot, editor wasn’t sure if it was scotch or whisky.  Sharon was happy to have found all her Rotary pins.  Brian had $5 sad bucks as he was head south to Mexico for the winter. Marlene was $5 happy about dinner with Brian and his wife and a comedy night out.  Stan had a sad dollar for the fact that a heron had gotten the last of his golf fish. Pati was happy about the weather and the baseball playoffs.

 

Fine Master: Tim was well prepared as he strode to the podium and proceeded right around the room.  Marlene was fine a buck for sending last minute emails to the fine master.  Dale knew Tim’s mode of Operandi as everyone with a Rotary pin paid.  Everyone who did not attend the Monday morning Fund Raising committee meeting paid a dollar or hasn’t been to a board meeting this year.  If you had no tie on, you paid.  Since Tim’s Hawkeye’s were still undefeated, if you college team wasn’t, you paid. Stan paid a buck even though the banners were great.  Bill was fined for being so “freaky friendly” all the time. Dale was in violation of his own dress code and was dinged. Julie was fined for her efficiency of completing club business at the meeting.  Laurie was fined for suggesting equestrians and mountain bikers were a good fit. Brian was charged for his boat shoes. Linda for her bright Pink outfit.  Ken for his parking style, Sharon for her less than forceful ringing of the club bell. Jake was fined for not being the last one in today. Rollo for being the only club member with a full beard and Pati for requiring the fine master to chauffer her around town.

 

Program: Barbara Karabin and Eric Brown presented a very informative program on the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition.    wmbcmtb.org   The organization has been around for 29 years, formerly known as the WIMPS.  In 2005 they became a non-profit organization.  They have tons of volunteers who generate of 7,000 hours of work on trails each year with 15 trail days per year.  They have helped create and maintain over 43 miles on of trails on Galbraith Mountain. Their work has also included Larrabee State Park, Blanchard Mountain as well as Bellingham and Whatcom County Parks.

Their Mission is to preserve and enhance trails in Whatcom County through stewardship, education and advocacy.  Their programs include Education and Youth Involvement efforts.  WMBC has been working with school districts and youth programs in Whatcom County to engage youth in the sport of mountain biking through service learning projects and group rides.

WMBC’s Community Involvement includes Group Bike Rides, Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, and Shoot the Trails Video and Photography contest. Their Trail Maintenance and Stewardship include maintaining a Recreational Use Agreement with Polygon, the owners of Galbraith Mountain and is responsible for all trail maintenance and construction.  Their Advocacy Work includes ongoing involvement with groups like the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County Parks and other user groups like Whatcom Trails Association, Backcountry Horseman, Cascade Mountain Runners and Freeflight.

 

The Banners: The Theme was Columbus Day and Tim proceeded to ask Christopher Columbus trivia.

The Drawing: Rollo won the Door Prize and Laurie drew the six of spades.  The Pot continues to grow.