Soundings (3/17/15)

Posted by G. Stowe Talbot 
on Mar 17, 2015
 
Flag Salute & Invocation by Curt Smith
 
Visiting Rotarians: None
 
Guests: Michael Tilly (PakMail), Kendall’s guest Scott Rene (former owner of Blue Sea Systems), Carlye Gillespie (Archer Halliday)
 
Calendar 
  • Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) this Saturday March 21 in Surrey BC 8AM - 3PM.
  • District Training Assembly, April 11, 8AM - 3PM.
  • District Conference April 30 - May 3 at Tulip Resort and Casino
  • Ciao Thyme dinner for support of our club’s International Projects will be Friday May 8th (time TBA), register and pay in advance.
  • RI World Convention June 6-9 Sao Paulo Brazil.
Fellowship:
April: Mt Bakery Winery Dinner with John Templeton (date TBA)
May: Rotario with Imhofs (5/22), CiaoThyme International Committee dinner (5/8)
June: Bellingham Bells Baseball with Nick Caples (date TBA)
July: Crab Feed with Eddie (4/16) and Brewers (7/26)
 
Attendance at these events, or any committee meeting, is eligible for attendance make-up credit.  Please report it to Stan D or Stowe T.
 
John Sleeth said the RYLA deadline is extended until mid March. Let John if you have a nominee/attendee.
 
Kendall on proposed Rotaract club: Nine current member/applicants, but we need a few more, so Kendall is still seeking referrals for young people under age 30 and tell her!
 
New member application: The BBRC membership committee and board have both recommended for approval the application of Carlye Gillespie, CPA with Archer Halliday, and sponsored by Christine Palmerton.  This notice will be submitted to membership for the next two weeks for comments or concerns, which can be addressed to Bob Moles, Harold Scott or Jill Reid.
 
Short Program by Mike Hammes who reviewed the main topics at last week’s board meeting. 
Then Jill Reid reported on Social media efforts:  BBRC now has a new Facebook page (called “Rotary Club of Bellingham Bay”), whose goal is to further engage members and spread the message about what we do.  The FB page also helps recruiting new members. Please let’s all make an effort to keep up on the page, add and share posts. Jill hopes to get several members to be the page administrators.
 
Business Minute
This week, Stew Ellison announced that his company, UBS Financial Services, is sponsoring a couple of upcoming seminars:  Tonight's is about financing for long-term care.  Later next week there will be one on strategies that will affect social security. 
 
Bucks in the Bay
  • Steve White is back in town to celebrate grandson’s birthday, and also to see another, brand new, grandson.
  • Kendall talked about upcoming B&G Club Gala;
  • Aaron Lemperes helps out with the Engeti Refuge Ministry, he put in a plug for their upcoming “Dare to Dream” Gala, maybe we put together a BBRC table?
  • Phil X missed meeting last week with a very high fever, but feeling better now;
  • Jim Johnson back from Philippines, St. Patrick is the patron saint of slaves!
  • Terry Brown grandchild just born!
  • Lance Calloway for volunteer soccer coaches, for the upcoming soccer season!
  • Glen Gloenig accompanied his grandson, who is a photo model for Nike, to Oregon, and while there Glen got to hang out with James Harden the basketball player for a couple hours;
  • Mark Turner recent anniversary trip to Hawaii, but very rainy.
Sergeant at Arms by Flo Simon
Fines Teresa Flinn and Eddie, and St. Patricks Day trivia.
 
Long Program 
Dannon Traxler introduced Rhiannon Bardsley from Northwest Youth Services. Shannon started volunteering many years ago in Seattle at a teen crisis line.  She had always wanted to create better, safer lives for young people. She has been head of NWYS for eight years now. NWYS performs outreach to street kids, to get them into housing and a relationship with NWYS.  She related several stories about kids.  NWYS is only able to serve / house about 80 kids, but there are typically another 80 to 100 kids on the waiting-list. NWYS worked with 819 youth total last year. 13 - 24 year olds. PAD project housing, vocational programs, outreach, teen court program. This year’s plans for NWYS:
  1. They want to build additional housing (studio apartments, and a day-only drop-in center) next to the PAD project on State street;
  2. Looking to build up the financial reserves up to $60k; 
  3. Participate in the “End Whatcom County Homelessness” campaign.
Respectfully submitted, 
Stowe Talbot