Soundings (11/1/16)

Posted by G. Stowe Talbot on Nov 01, 2016
 
Flag Salute & Invocation by Bill Geyer
 
Visiting Rotarians: None
 
Guests: Josh’s guest Sean Stimac (Project Manager at Exxel Pacific), and Brad’s guest Eric Chambers (with NCCE)
 
Birthdays:  Stew Ellison
 
Rotary Anniversaries: Steve White and Addie Brown.
 
Announcements 
 
Dinner 5050 Foundation Dinner will be November 12, and our club will comp 7 more tickets to members who want to attend!
 
First Thursday Rotary Happy Hour will be at Hotel Bellwether, on Thursday Nov. 3 at 4:30pm.
 
Curtis & Bryant update on Grape & Gourmet: (Sunday 11/6/16 at Silver Reef Event Center).  General admission tickets (6:30-8:30p) $90/each.  VIP tickets (5pm-8:30) $125/each (early entry + extra discount in the wine store + exclusive raffle).  This our club’s biggest fundraiser.  Each Rotarian is expected to buy at least $360.  Still need volunteers for various jobs.  Preorder wine pick-up the previous day (Saturday) 12-2pm at Silver Reef at the back truck bay.
 
Business Promo minute:  Steve Swan with kudos and respect for our Bellingham Police Department. Steve participated in a ride-a-long last week and was so impressed by the officers and their attitude and grace under pressure.
 
Bucks in the Bay
  • Dannon fun trick or treating;
  • Trisha thank you for all the program suggestions - keep the ideas coming;
  • Phil X Hageman with a 60th birthday
  • Steve Beringer missed meetings while in Hawaii;
  • Paul Twedt with a joke;
  • Bob Moles with a medical scare yesterday;
  • John Purdie 62 students in the Interact Club, supervised a Saturday (Interact) event at Bloedel Donovan Halloween fundraiser;
  • Pete Wolkin's 97 year old grandma passed away;
  • Pete Rittmueller with some World Series bucks;
  • Mike Hammes with another Turkey Drive solicitation (checks to “Bellingham Food Bank”, about $15/bird);
  • Tonja Myers said come see her in a show (Seeds of Change) at MBT Walton Theater THIS COMING Sat/Sun, matinee and eve;
  • Stew Ellison is now 59! and he has had some other Rotary and work anniversaries;
  • Debbie Kiene got a few trick or treaters, also plea for volunteer greeters for our meetings;
  • Curt Smith has a necktie older than Phil X.
 
Program
Mike Hammes (and Bob Moles) talked about their latest trip to Honduras to work on the next phase of the “Bathrooms to Classrooms” project.  Revisited the school where the bathrooms were built two years ago, still in great shape.  This year they worked on and built a new classroom / teacher workshop.
 
The school’s water cistern was redesigned to go underground and secured from pilferage.  They also visited some other schools in the areas.
Also visited the Pure Water for the World water projects in Trojes, near the border with Nicaragua.  BBRC has supported several Trojes school projects (latrines and hand washing stations).  
 
Mike reviewed our club’s international giving:
Action for Africa $5K
Child Slavery $5K
Juan Cueva $10K
Santa Cruz School (Honduras) $5K ready to go.
Local Child Slavery and other local projects $10K (ready to go).
Pure Water projects (our $10K was doubled to $20K by PWW)
 
Good work, Mike!  He is looking for help with this committee.
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Stowe Talbot
 
Steve B wins the raffle!