Flag Salute & Invocation by Gordon Plume

Visiting Rotarians: Kris Palmerton (Sunrise RC).

Guests: Remy Talbot (mini Stowe), Angela Murray (Whatcom Volunteer Center).

Announcements

  • Dannon says New Generations Committee will be meeting today after lunch;
  • Kris Palmerton and Angela Murray talked about the Whatcom Volunteer Center and its mission. Bellingham/Whatcom is a very volunteering community, but it costs money to organize volunteering activities. They try to "curate" the volunteer matching, and engage local businesses.  They are trying to become more self-sustaining financially.  The Human Race is their main fundraiser, April 9th, at Zuanich Park, with food trucks, please come and race (or donate)!
  • We would still like to send 2 or 3 young people to RYLA. RYLA registration (online only!) will take place May 2-5, 2013 at Mt Baker Baptist Camp. Our club will cover the fee. Our club can sponsor up to four kids. Ages are 18-25. 
  • Bellingham Bay Rotary Foundation value as of 3/31/13:   $204,108.84.  Increase from 12/31/12:  $ 14,311.39!
 

Bucks in the Bay

  • Anna went to AZ, had a great trip, got some sun;
  • Mark Turner, hosted many kids in his photo studio last week, has designed a new iPhone app coming out soon;
  • Terry Brown something about final four basketball;
  • Kendall's sister got into the CPA program at UW, and Kendall's boyfriend got internship with Fluke;  
  • Brent Walker with news from former member Lynn (Jay) Templeton, now in Napa Valley:  http://napavalleyregister.com/calistogan/news/local/funding-a-dream/article_1d363f4e-9762-11e2-8275-001a4bcf887a.html
  • Jane Carten happy bucks birthdays and anniversary;
  • Bill Geyer testify that Easter Bunny exists! 
  • Steve Kimberly was in Jackson Hole, and thanks our club for the $9K donation to NWYS; 
  • Scot's son saw the Easter Bunny;
  • Dannon bucks for the Human Race, proposed to form team with Stowe and Christine?
  • John Templeton getting house ready for sale, found six of those old "clicker boxes" (used in one of our fundraisers some 10+ years ago);

Sergeant at Arms by Chuck Lutrell 
Fines for Anna, trivia fines for Mark Turner, Stew, Glendine, Karen H, Sue Sharp, Nick, Jane, Donna, Dannon, Bob Moles, the Palmertons, and Mimi. 

Program Bob says upcoming program about shuttle astronaut Wendy Lawrence will be very interesting.  Next week will be the director of Pure Water for the World.

New Member Talks

Margarita Vartanya was born in Novosibirsk, but her ancestry is Armenian and wine-making there.  15 years ago she moved to US following her father, a noted scientist.  She found Bellingham by accident.  She always wanted to build a winery, and decided to do it here.  She buys her grapes from Easter Washington near Pasco area.  During summertime she hosts concerts and events at the winery.  Her daughter is 27 and lives in San Francisco, son is a senior at Mount Baker HS and will be going to UW.  Margarita herself now has a MBA from WWU.  She currently produces 1500 cases per year, mostly red wines.  Vartanyan Estate Winery is off Noon Road near Mount Baker Winery.  

Kendall Pickerill (soon to be Olson) was born in Arizona and raised on Bainbridge Island, and was involved in Rotary there through father's membership since 2001. Her sister is at UW now, her father works with Sound Transit on the UW stadium station project and her mother works for an architectural firms with many projects in Honolulu. In particular, she and her sister helped organize that Rotary club's annual auction fundraiser / rummage sale. She attended a Rotary youth leadership training camp. Catered at Alexis Hotel in Seattle. Attended WWU undergrad (French and international business). Met her fiancé, Dan Olson, there. He is finishing school, will be interning at Fluke, and is a volunteer for the Mount Baker ski patrol. Last summer she drove across the country on two consecutive road trips, one family, one moving a friend. A neighbor recommended her to the Hotel Bellwether Hotel Sales Manager position, where she has tons of responsibilities. She is excited to be a part of Rotary and looking forward to getting more involved in our projects.

Respectfully submitted, 
Stowe Talbot