Flag Salute & Invocation by Jill Reid
 
Visiting Rotarians: None
 
Guests: Terry’s guest Peggy Riley
 
Calendar 
May 8th, Friday, Ciao Thyme dinner for support of our club’s International Projects will be Friday May 8th (time TBA), register and pay in advance with Steve Kimberly, $190/ea; 
May 24th, Sunday 6-9pm: John Templeton will be hosting a wine & cocktail tastings evening at Fireside Bistro (put it in your calendar, $75/ticket, please let John know);
June 2nd lunch meeting and tour at Bellingham Cold Storage;
June 6-9 RI World Convention in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
June: Bellingham Bells Baseball with Nick Caples (date TBA)
July: Crab Feed with Eddie (7/16) at Vartanyan Estate Winery, and then Brewers (7/26)
August 8th Rotario Dinner at Gordon Plume’s.
 
Glendine's daughter has some serious medical problems so she will be going on a six month leave of absence from BBRC.  Meanwhile, Paul Twedt is now back from his leave of absence! 
 
Kendell Olsen attended Sean Hogan’s “Rotary Engagement” seminar last weekend, they brainstormed many ideas for attracting and keeping Rotarians, particularly the under-40 crowd.
 
Short Program 
Mike Hammes talked about the international committee’s five initiatives:
  • Action for Africa - Tim McEvoy $5K to build a new classroom;
  • Child Slavery - Jim Johnson, Nepal $5k; and local human trafficking effort - Anna Williams $5K
  • Juan Cueva “Bathroom to Classrooms” project - Mike Hammes Phase II - $10K
  • Pure Water “Adopt a Village” - Donna Edquist and Michael Reams - $10K
  • Santa Cruz school - Mike Hammes;
Fund raising for all these continues!
 
Vocational messages by Matt Groenig and Bryant Engebretson 
 
Bucks in the Bay
  • Bob Becker back from five months in CA desert and some $ for the Copan project;
  • John Templeton on the upcoming fundraiser at Fireside Martini and Wine Bar;
  • Bill Unrein missed meetings, his company just combined with another firm;
  • Paul Twedt with kids’ quotes on Mothers Day, think about the moms in your life;
  • Stephanie Sadler;
  • Stew Ellison with a plug for an upcoming UBS Financial Services seminar next Monday 6pm at MBT how to deal with your Social Security;
  • Dean Fulton did the Vancouver Marathon last weekend (in a record 3h28s!) 
  • Curtis Dye’s daughter graduating from college in Virginia, and an update on his house construction, 3 or 4 weeks until they move in!
  • Jill Reid thanks for all those who contributed to the B&G Gala Auction very successful (combined) event;
  • Donna Edquist thanks Carlye for contributing glassware to Brewers event, also her daughter graduating soon from Hawaiian University, also excited about international projects;
  • Debbie Kiene with some great life milestones;
  • Michael Reams $100 to Baños project;
  • Jim Johnson opportunity for volunteer trips to Nepal this summer if anyone interested;
  • Frank Chmelik went shrimping with wife for his wedding anniversary;
  • Eddie Hansen update on Rhonda’s surgeries, her recovery going well.  
Sergeant at Arms by Eddie Hansen
Fines for EVERYONE.
 
Long Program
Bob Moles introduced Derek Long. Derek is the founder (2002) and executive director of Sustainable Connections. www.sconnect.org. He grew up in small town in northwest Ohio, studied business, travelled after college, ended up in Seattle, couple years worked for fair-trade-related dot com in late nineties bedore making the move to Bellingham. Derek talked about the activities of Sustainable Connections. Shared their recent strategic plan:
  1. Know How - encourage “People, Planet, Profit” philosophy in businesses; (see B-Lab impact Assessment at sconnect.org and see link there). Also organizes special events like the Future of Business speaker series;
  2. Market Growth - website and SC staff as a useful resource for members; food and farming program, marketing connections. “Think Local First” campaign.
  3. Business Engagement - examples include the “Green Building Nerds Group” monthly group, and also NW Washington Chef’s Collaborative.
  4. Public Policy - promoting public policy that supports sustainable products, services and business practices. The Community Energy Challenge.
Respectfully submitted, 
Stowe Talbot