Northwind 10/5/06
Whatcom CountyNorth Rotary
Northwind
October 5, 2006
MEETING TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 12:40 by President Ken Richardson who led us in the pledge of allegiance. Winton Smith provided the invocation.
VISITING ROTARIANS: Jim Bliss announced the visiting Rotarians including Dewey Dessler and Larry Ziels; visiting from the Bellingham Rotary Club. Mimi Ferlin and Jim Wells were visiting from Bellingham Bay Rotary Club. Jim noted appreciation for Paul Cooley's delivery style but could not replicate it.
GUESTS OF ROTARIANS: Patty Quanz - guest of Dan Baker.
BIRTHDAYS: Doug Thomas on the 9th and Paul Cooley on the 10th. Happy Birthday!
RETURNING ROTARIANS: Chuck Tull is back from a family trip to New Jersey, New York and Connecticut where he attended an Eric Clapton concert. He spent time with siblings, and his daughter who lives in San Diego but was visiting in New Jersey and he enjoyed the fall colors on the east coast.
After the meeting President Ken reminded me that I had been away a couple weeks and "honestly", I could not remember where I had been (this s\b a Doug Thomas story). I was in Anchorage for a week and had a wonderful trip. Bob said the fishing was the best he has ever experienced and that is saying a lot! The weather was wonderful, the glaciers beautiful, the whales were within a stones throw of the shore and I think my mind\life just has too many things in it to actually have forgotten this so quickly!
ANNOUNCEMENTS: One announcement from the floor:Jim McKellar is leaving for his annual trip south and reports another $500 today for the MetcalfTeenCenter. The total to date is $125,000 which is the halfway mark with two years to go.
On October 25th at the MetcalfHodgesConferenceCenter, 770 E Holly at 5:30 P.M. we are having a gathering and info-mercial for the Hollinger Micro Lending project in Honduras. Please come and bring friends. We need a head count for the food and wine so RSVP to the website micro_credithonduras@yahoo.com. The web address is on the invitation you all received at home. This is a club sponsored event put on by the World Projects Committee. If you missed the committee meeting you can make it up by coming and bringing friends. You also get makeup credit for attending as well as a more thorough presentation of the project not to mention good food and wine. Mel is making a matching donation of $25,000 and we need to match his donation. Please put it on your calendars, bring spouses and friends and please, please RSVP.So far we only have one person who says they are coming.
HAPPY BUCKS: Randy Carr was happy for another $1,000 pledge from the dental community and the 5 year anniversary of his return to Bellingham. He was also sad that he no longer will have Jim McCallum around the office to share all that female energy. Poor Randy! Jim is fully retired as of last week and Randy must do all the work now! Bill Grace was happy that he and Kris used their time share on a Washington beach where the temp was 80 degrees and blue skies. Global warming is turning Washington into California! He also announced the swap meet this weekend in Monroe sponsored by his car club. He encourages us all to attend. Marlene Sexton was happy to have her parents (Bob and Audrey Bowman) returning soon and the animals are all alive and well. Scott Piper was happy for a new grandson. Sharon Robinson was happy for the "Sand in the City" sand castle competition last weekend down at the Marina in the parking lot. Did some architect firm win? Rich Jacobson had bucks for the Lynden\Ferndale football game where the "right" team won. Jim Bliss was happy about a trip to Arizona where he saw a USC\AZ game; I think there was something about WSC but not sure where that was going. Dan Baker was happy to have his friend Mimi Ferlin in attendance today and a safe return for her and John from somewhere. Mexico maybe? Rome Sarwas was happy he did something (could not hear what) without Jake's help. Rose Abbaspour was happy about a boring turned exciting in extra innings Mariner game she attended and Dan Parsons was happy his teamwas ranked 28th in the country. On the charts at least. Jim McKellar paid a buck to say goodbye until Spring because he and Nona are snowbirds for the winter. Mel was happy he knew the banners and Chuck Tull was happy to see his San Diego daughter in New Jersey. I forgot to be happy for a great trip to Anchorage (see above) so I owe a buck.
FINEMASTER: Randy Carr was fine master today and immediately fined the committee chair for not notifying him of his duties. This will be a voluntary fine as he can't remember who the chair is (Phil Bratt, or was that last year?). Dan Parsons and Tim Villhauer were fined for their "business 401K" talk at the table when Randy wanted to talk "Husky's". Lex Ludtke forgot to be happy for the drop in gasoline prices and the impact that may have on his trucking business although somehow a $2 fine does not seem sufficient! Rich Jacobson had to buy back his credit card, which was left at the check-in desk. The last member in paid a fine but not sure who that was and Jim Wells (we never fine guests) was fined because his son failed to show up for an appointment this morning in Randy's office. Larry Ziels (we never fine guests) was fined because Randy is envious of his friend and Larry's son's great job in Florida as a fishing guide.
BANNERS: Several fines were assessed for failure to guess the banners. The banners commemorated our club's 33rd anniversary. There was a picture of the charter members, formed 10/4/1973, along with banners that were donated by those members during that first year.
PROGRAM: Pete Kremen introduced the program today. Julie Farrell is new to the community and to her job at DVSAS (Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services) which is the old Crisis Center. Julie had a long resume of qualifications for her job and comes from Yakima (by way of Ontario?) where she was a Rotarian. She is currently working towards an MBA at WWU while working full time for DVSAS. Her message to us today was intended to raise our awareness of domestic violence in our community and to recognize it in the workplace. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and there are several events throughout the month that will draw attention to this problem in our community. Julie showed a video with interviews of victims, volunteers, health professionals and police in WhatcomCounty that clearly highlights the problem is local. The police detective interviewed said that a large percentage of all police investigations are DV related and that it is happening in all parts of our society. The stories of the victims and the other people interviewed were compelling and personalizes the problem as ours. There is stigma and shame attached to abuse that causes DV to be a "not talked about" problem. Julie talked about the great resource DVSAS is to the people in our community and the impact of their educational outreach. DVSAS works cooperatively with other service providers and has an educational program in the middle schools, teaching young men and women about what healthy dating and healthy relationships look like. Some statistics she shared were disturbing; 24% of all women between the ages of 18 and 65 suffer from domestic violence. The impact of this violence in the workplace translates to 37% higher absenteeism from female employees with late arrivals, leaving early and missed days of work. There are signs to be aware of as an employer and we can bring DVSAS into our workplaces for training programs on safe work place environments. We can call Julie Farrell and she will be happy to set something up.
DRAWING: Rome Sarwas drew today but no ace of spades, yet.
Editor this week: Julie Johansen