Flag Salute & Invocation by Doug Wight
 
Visiting Rotarians: Kris Palmerton (Thursday Morning Club?), John Griggs (from the Big Club).
 
Guests:  Bob Bray (Dairy Distributing, Inc), Jane’s guest from Saturna Capital, Glen’s grandson, Jonah Palmerton, Ellen Sheen and Charlotte Archer.
 
Announcements
  • Bob Moles:  Thanks Doug Wight for donation of the laptop!
  • Thanks Eddie for organizing the crab feed, Margarita for the venue, and all those who cleaned up after the event!
  • Terry Brown with update on Brewers:  It is this Sunday, check the list for your assignments, we still need more volunteers, we have 31 brewers and 80 beers.  The weather forecast is for sunny hot weather!
  • John Griggs announced that the Rotary Club of Bellingham will be hosting a new fundraiser event called the Wacky Wickets Croquet Tournament, Aug 10th, 1:30-6pm at Hovander Park.  See the link HERE.  Orphalee has agreed to head our first BBRC team of 5 people!
  • Bill Gorman talked briefly about his recent in-service trip to Honduras with the YES program, LINK ABOUT THE PROGRAM HERE.  He went with eight high schooler juniors from Skagit County and another trip leader.  YES is a  junior-year service project, with online application.  Each participant needs to raise $1500 themselves, plus their sponsor club puts up another $2000. The YALE program is part of their service year, volunteering locally in their community, plus an eight-day international in-service trip. In Honduras, Bill’s group planted 500 avocado trees, installed new cistern and water filters, and helped with other improvement projects, and even participated in the school there.  On Aug 13th, Bill will do a full program about his trip.
Three membership actions:
1. Jeff Clement has been approved by the board as a new member for your input.  Jeff owns Hemisphere Solutions, a local information technology consulting company.  His sponsor is Eddie Hansen and his classification will be IT Consulting.  This is the second week for his name to be published.  If you have any questions or comments, please contact Bob Moles or Bob Becker.
2.   Michael Reams has completed the member selection process and will be inducted in the next few weeks.
3.   Some sad news is that Steve Spitzer has decided to resign from the club.  His business travel has grown to the point that he just could not keep up.  His continuing business success is our loss.  We expressed our appreciation for his past service and participation.  We emphasized that he will always have a Rotary home with us when he wishes to return.
 
Bucks in the Bay
  • Phil X Hagemen thanks Mike Hammes for leadership on Food Bank expansion project!
  • Paul Twedt anniversary weekend with wife in Vancouver;
  • Charlotte Archer great to be here, thanks to the BBRC club and all our support;
  • Duane McNett reintroduced John Griggs, the Griggs family has over 108 years of service in Bellingham, 4th generation! 
  • Terry Brown missed the crab feed to go to Eastern WA, saw some of the fire there.
  • Bryant Engebretson teased John Griggs about the croquet tournament;
  • Patricia Leach engagement of daughter, missed meetings;
  • Curt Smith needs a person or two to help sell his Brothels book at Brewers;
  • Mark Turner finished his office move out to Slater Rd;
  • Scott Walker told story of getting a warrant in the mail (by clerical error), missed meetings (Napa and Dallas) attending meetings for his industry association;
  • Frank Chmelik looking forward to cooking at Brewers, will miss Dennis!
  • Lesa Boxx lots of missed meetings, went to Montana, West Glacier, rafting, Chelan;
  • Dannon Traxler was up in Vancouver (ate at Blue Water Cafe!), her sister visited last weekend to run Ragnar Relay;
  • Kendall Olson went for hike near Lk Samish, found a malnourished German Shepard puppy, may adopt her.
Sergeant at Arms by Eddie
Fines for Doug Wight, Scott Walker, Jim Haupt, Bryant Engebretson, Curtis Dye for signing up and not paying for Crab Feed.  Paul Twedt, various tables.
 
Program
Dannon introduced Gary Jensen, Mayor of Ferndale, since 2008.
Gary says he has makes big effort for community outreach.
Jori Burnett, Ferndale’s Community Dev. Director, said Ferndale is called “The City of Opportunity”.  Although the city had perhaps lost some of that focus, they are now trying to refocus that opportunity under the Jensen administration.  Growth is positive, as long as the good parts of the community are preserved.
In 2014 the population is 13,000, up from only 5,300 in 1990. This is a very fast rate of growth, but they have achieved that without a loss of community identity.  This has been accomplished partially as a result of the lack of single family lots in Bellingham proper.
Ferndale tops the annual growth rate of Whatcom cities:
  • Bellingham 0.65%
  • Lynden 1.47%
  • Ferndale 3.25%
Recently Ferndale even approved a 157-unit subdivision for high-end homes.
But a sustainable approach is needed for growth.  Ferndale has carefully raised permit fees to better match the actual growth impact of development.
 
Sales tax “leakage”:  Currently Ferndale only gets 18% of proportional sales tax revenue from its citizens (i.e. 82% “leakage”), while Bellingham gets over 400% per capita.  But Ferndale is starting to get better balance with more retail options in town.
They are planning diligently for the future with new park plans, downtown plans, phased annexation, etc.
Sam Taylor, City Clerk & Community Information Officer, said Ferndale doesn’t have enough places to bring the family, and therefore keep more tax dollars in the community.
 
Star Park: This proposed project is now in process.  It will be a 12,000 sq ft kids’ park, with a regional draw, very handicap accessible, will be located next to the river, near Riverwalk and the B&G Club facility.  So far it’s been a very successful fundraising effort to fund it.  They still need volunteers, and need to secure materials and tools.  Link about the park here.
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Stowe Talbot