Soundings (8/9/11)

Posted by Stowe Talbot 
 
 
Flag Salute & Invocation by John Sleeth

Visiting Rotarians: None!

Guests: Jim Wells' son in law, Mimi's grandsons Oberon and Porter.

Announcements 

Board Meeting this Thursday 7:30am at Talbot/Barkley office - counts as a make-up!

Golfun (District 5050 annual golf tournament) will be at Lynden's Homestead course this year on August 19, from 11am (registration) noon to 5pm. Stowe Talbot and Henry Lee are representing our club, but we'd like a couple others to join us from the club - let us know if you can join our team!  For more info, see www.district5050.org/golf. 

The 22nd annual Viking Night Dinner and Sports Auction, presented by KeyBank, will take place Thursday, Sept. 15, at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the Western Washington University campus.

New Member Applications:  The Bellingham Bay Rotary Membership committee met after the regular Club meeting on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 to consider three prospective new members.  The Committee recommends the following three applicants for membership:

  • Courtney Imhof (sponsored by Denise Bosman), VP of Corporate Resources at IMCO Construction managing the HR department and overseeing the award winning company safety program. Courtney has been with the firm since 1989. Community service includes Jingle Bell Run (Arthritis Foundation), Relay for Life (American Cancer Society), St Paul Academy, rodeo fundraising and other various efforts with IMCO.
  • Marlys Bourm (sponsored by Donna Edquist), CPA, President of her local accounting firm, a long-time Whatcom County resident and WWU graduate. Community service includes maintaining a Foster Care License to house teens from Northwest Youth Services, and she has hosted several Bellingham Bell players for the past 3 years.
  • Paul Miles (sponsored by Eddie Hansen, with add'l references by Stan Dyer and Bill Geyer), Audio/Video and Security Manager for Express Electric.  He has been a Whatcom County resident for 12 years working in the electronics field.  Community service includes coaching youth baseball and serving as VP of Mt Baker Youth Baseball Association. 

Comments or concerns about any the the candidates can be forwarded to Bill Geyer or Anna Williams.

 

Bucks in the Bay

  • John Templeton's daughter a singer, she is now auditioning for the San Francisco Opera!
  • Barry Kramer three week road trip across US, didn't really enjoy the heat and humidity of the mid West;
  • Art Runestrandt turned a year older (so the club sang him happy birthday), and he is a GREAT grandpa!
  • Jim Wells for lots of missed meetings while enjoying retirement.

Sergeant at Arms by Orphalee

Fines for Art Runestrandt, Dave Harding, and then some House of Representatives "role playing".

Program

Dennis introduced Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo and Wendy Jones (chief enforcement officer).

The sheriff's office was founded in 1854.  There have been 36 sheriffs.  We are one of only 5 counties in WA with "elected" sheriffs.  The sheriff's office provides law enforcement in the unincorporated areas, as well as the cities.  They operate the jail system.  They coordinate search & rescue (about 60 incidents per year). EMS management.  Advocating for mental health treatment and reform.

Whatcom County coverage is divided into 4 geographic areas. 

There has been a 40% drop in crime rate over the last decade.  Has partly to do with crime dropping across the US, but also we've seen better law enforcement coverage in the county. Gangs are a growing problem.  

Traffic unit / motorcycles / boating safety / purchased a new fast patrol boat for Lake Whatcom. With the Neighborhood Deputy Program, crime has been cut by 60% around Everson and Paradise, also two deputies are now stationed in Pt Roberts.

New efforts at community outreach, through social media, sheriff's blog, Facebook and more communication with local communities:  Effective and inexpensive to implement.

Special Response Team.

Division of Emergency Management is now a shared responsibility with the City of Bellingham.

Bureau of Corrections:  The current jail is falling apart, needs to be replaced.  The addition of the "Interim Jail Work Center" buys us some time.  Jail work crews are utilized.

Need for new jail:  The main issue is how big it needs to be, now and 50 years from now.  Elfo thinks it needs to be 600 beds, one-story, control center in the middle, and be able to increase size without increasing staff. 

We also need to do more with improved mental health treatment options, since a good percentage of inmates have mental health issues.   

For more info, see www.co.whatcom.wa.us/sheriff/

I won the raffle.  Finally.

Respectfully submitted,

Stowe Talbot