Flag Salute & Invocation by Marilyn Olsen
 
Visiting Rotarians: Andy Anderson (from the Big Club)
 
Guests:  Robbie Robinson, Giovanni (Joe) our Italian exchange students, Jim Long (former member), Addie Brown.
 
Short Program: Dannon Traxler gave a short report about our Aug 13th board meeting.  
 
Rotary Youth Exchange:  John Templeton introduced Giovanni (Joe) Melley, who will be here for the next year attending Squalicum HS.
 
Grape&Gourmet will be Sunday November 1, 2015 at Silver Reef!  4:30pm organizational meeting this Thursday at Bryant’s office (2211 Rimland Drive, 4th floor)
 
New member application:  The BBRC board has approved the application of former member Allan Stockbridge.  Allan is a broker with Kulshan Commercial Investment Real Estate, and his sponsor is Stan Dyer.  Any comments or concerns can be addressed to Scotty or Bill Geyer.
 
Glen with the Business Bucket: Andy Clay says Day for Girls and Celeste Mergens will have a booth at NW WA Fair - go see their booth, also please visit Andy’s new childcare facility ….
 
Bucks in the Bay
  • Bill Geyer excited to start work on a big new student housing project on Forrest street.
  • Bob Moles said $10K was given to clean water projects at four schools in Honduras;
  • Brent Walker gave shout out to Eddie Hansen who did an excellent early-morning talk for Brent’s employees about health and lifestyle;
  • Gordon Plume recent trip to a memorial service for stepmom, also was awarded an exciting contract to build a resort off the coast of Panama;
  • Curtis Dye welcome to his houseguest Joe (Giovanni), asking for help to entertain him during the coming months!
  • Bill Gorman nice dinner with Joe, recent trip to Cannon Beach;
  • Debbie Kiene welcome to Joe, and a trip to NW WA Fair;
  • Doug Wight with plug for the Pro-Am golf tournament Sept 17th at BGCC supporting Hospice, and he also talked about the current crisis of lack of rental housing in Whatcom County;
  • Tough month for Curt Smith, who attended memorial services for dentists Jim McCallum and Eric Moldver, and also for his son-in-law who passed away recently from complications from MS;
  • Jim Templeton encouraged everyone to consider home-hosting our student Joe;
  • Dick Stark with a wedding anniversary celebrated at Harrison Hot Springs.
Sergeant at Arms by Flo
Fines for John Templeton, President Bill, Anna, Marilyn and Debbie, Doug Wight and Jim Haupt.
 
Program
Bill Geyer introduced Rachel Vlasek from Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA www.n-sea.org).  NSEA is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated 
to restoring sustainable wild salmon runs in Whatcom County.  The main goal is to enhance, rehabilitate, and restore salmonid habitat throughout Whatcom County.  NSEA one of 14 such habitat “sister organizations” with whom NSEA collaborates in other communities in Washington.  
 
Work Parties
Community Engagement is critical to NSEA’s work in Whatcom County.  Community work parties take place in the fall and spring to plant native trees and shrubs in the riparian areas along local streams and creeks.  
 
Educational Programs
NSEA offers field-based environmental education programs for elementary through post-secondary level students and community members focusing on salmon, stream ecology, and stewardship.
 
Rachel also works to find grant funding for miscellaneous habitat restoration projects, usually about 5 to 7 each year: New bridges, planting projects, improvements for both landowners and habitat.  She is especially excited about the recent upgrades to Squalicum Creek with daylighting part of the creek and eventually routing it away from Sunset Pond and Bug Lake.
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Stowe Talbot