Flag Salute & Invocation by Nick Caples
 
Visiting Rotarians:  None
 
Guests:  Ken Bell, Angela (who runs the Idea Lab), Alan Stockbridge.
 
New member Induction:  Phil X Hageman re-inducted former member Matt Groenig, who is back in Bellingham as the new CEO of McCoy Oil.  Matt has been living in McCall, ID for a few years.  Good to have you back, Matt!
 
Announcements
  • Donna asks everyone to consider signing up for the next fellowship event March 1st (Saturday night):  Dinner at the Table, then pop next door to see "Tao Phoenix Rising" (part Japanese drumming, part Cirque de Soleil) show at MBT.  
 
 
Bucks in the Bay
  • Eddie had a great Dec/Jan, from the trip to Australia to the Seahawks games;
  • Mimi Ferlin returned from three week trip of Thailand, Malaysia, Bali (on an organized UW alumni tour), now off to the desert;
  • Lesa Boxx’s daughter-in-law is a page for Sen. Erickson;
  • Tonja Myers' granddaughter, Elliot Marie, has been voted the cutest baby (Bham Herald photo contest).  And, Tonja just learned that a second granddaughter is on the way!
  • Aaron Lemperes about a recent “guys’ weekend” trip;
  • Steve Kimberly skied at Revelstoke;
  • John Templeton also has a cute new baby (grandson);
Program
Bill Geyer introduced Dan Robbins, our new Port of Bellingham commissioner (there are three commissioners total).  Dan has been involved in many successful companies over the years, a grad of BHS, WWU, a veteran, a volunteer for SCORE, and has always been very involved in the community.  
Dan did not really enjoy being a candidate (lot of work), but loves being a commissioner; it is such an interesting position.  However, it has been quite an interesting change in environment, the contrast between the private sector into the public sector.
Some recent issues:
  • implementing an annual review of Port staff employees;
  • POB will be soon assigning a master developer for waterfront;
  • general aviation leases for the airport;
  • marine trades;
  • importance of the tribes in Port decisions, make them part of the process in decision-making;
  • Commission meetings coverage on TV? or better just internet?
Next week's program: Terry Brown and Brad Cornwell will talk about architecture in Bellingham.
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Stowe Talbot