Flag Salute and Invocation by Flo Simon

Visiting Rotarians: None

Guests: Steve Spitzer's wife Rita

New Member Applications:  Five member applications were approved by the membership committee and board, before they are admitted these five applicant names need to be submitted before the full membership for comment or objection.  If you have any objection or comment, please report to committee chair Bob Becker or President Christine Palmerton:
  • Andrea Clay (Sponsor Henry Lee; interviewed by Bob Becker, Phil Hageman, Bill Geyer).  Co-owner of Clay Management in Lynden, classification:  Health Services.  
  • Jill Reid (Sponsors Leena Kirschman, Stan Dyer, John Templeton; interviewed by Bob Becker, Stan Dyer, Bill Geyer).  Newly appointed Director of Bellingham Boys & Girls Club branch. Classification:  Youth Development.  
  • Celeste Mergens (Sponsor Henry Lee; interviewed by Bob Becker, Stan Dyer, Bill Geyer).  Founder and Exec Director of Days for Girls International.  Classification:  Youth Services. 
  • Patricia Leach (Sponsors Patti Imhof and Brent Walker; interviewed by Bob Becker, Stan Dyer, Bill Geyer).  Transfer application from Bellingham Rotary; member since 2008.  Whatcom Museum Director.  Classification:  Museum Management. 
  • Ralph Black (Sponsors Bill Geyer, Terry Brown, Mike Hammes; interviewed by Bob Becker, Bill Unrein, Bill Geyer).  Co-owner of Alliance Properties.  Classification:  Property Development.
Announcements
  • Brewers by the Bay THIS Sunday July 28!  Buy your tickets!  Terry still needs more volunteers, especially second shift pourers!  We are expecting 31 breweries with 71 beers.  Brewer’s posters are available, please contact Donna Edquist.  Also Stew Ellison needs a few volunteers on Friday the 25th 5pm at Lake Padden GC to clean glasses.
  • NO MEETING NEXT TUESDAY Thursday Aug 1, 6pm fellowship event:  Bellingham Bells baseball game!  Please RSVP to Christine (if you want a cheaper tickets).
  • Thank you to Margarita and Eddie for a fantastic wine event at Vartanyan Estate Winery.
 
Bucks in the Bay 
  • Bill Boyd celebrated anniversary at Sunkadia, and had awesome time at crab feed!
  • Steve Spitzer for missed meetings, was in Sweden went sailing there, then jury duty in Seattle, then East Cost where it was steamy hot;
  • Dean Fulton with plug for BTC Gala Dinner and Auction 5-9pm on October 26th, needs sponsors and attendees!
  • John Sleeth had to install some double doors for his wife; 
  • John Templeton loves the people in this club, Festival of Music wrapped up 20th successful season;
  • Steve Kimberly amazing bike ride, then to Oregon coast;
  • Curtis Dye thanks Eddie and Margarita for crab feed, planning trip to Italy with Rick Steves;
  • Tyler Byrd's son is registering for kintergarden!
  • Gordon Plume went to family reunion in SC, and proud of son the aspiring author!
  • Margarita thanks everyone especially Eddie for the crab feed, please come back any time!
  • Tim McEvoy missed meetings, hired Matt Groenig, celebrated anniversary at Heathman Hotel recently;
  • Bill Gorman said John Sleeth's wife received MVP award from Chamber of Commerce;
  • Kendall thanked Eddie for crab feed, happy bucks for strawberry festival on Vashon Island last weekend;
  • Eddie thanks for the successful turnout at crab feed, special thanks to Bob Becker, Tyler Byrd, Bob Moles, Jim Johnson, and Stew Ellison for cleaning the crab!
  • Christine son graduated with degree in biz admin. and accounting - a double major, he was also offered job at Larson Gross AND moving into new house! 
Sergeant at Arms by Barry Kramer
Fines for Flo, Bill Boyd, Stew Ellison, Dannon, Anna and Scotty for no-show at crab feed, John Sleeth and Tresha, Eddie, Kendall, Curtis, this day in history.
 
Program
Bill Geyer introduced Ted Carlson, director of Bellingham Public Works.  Ted came to work in Bellingham in 2007 as assistant, then became director in 2009.  A UW grad. 
Public works has 240 employees, three divisions (engineering, operations, natural resources).  Budget ($124M per year, which represents half of the City's entire budget).  They plan their projects based on the Comprehensive Plan (20+ years), also 6-year transport plans, and then annual budget cycles.  
1. Transportation - funded by (fuel tax $1.6M, sales tax $8M and transport benefit district $4.5M).  Bellingham has 300 miles of streets, 97 traffic signals, 4,000 street lights.  
2. Utilities - 400 miles of distribution mains, 9 pump stations, 14 reservoirs. With water, we want to plan out 100 years+.  Protecting the watershed. Bham has senior water rights only less than Lummi and Nooksack tribes.  Capital plans:  Pre-treatment plant ($15M, screen house ($2M), annual main repairs ($2M).
3. Sewer (wastewater) - all goes to post point treatment plant - which is currently being reengineered and expanded ($55M).  
4. Stormwater (rainwater) - receive grants through the Dept. of Ecology, projects include Padden Creek daylighting ($3M), Squalicum creek daylighting ($1.7M), north end regional facility ($2.2M).
5. Waterfront sub-area plan - planning out 10, 20 50+ years.  
 
For a copy of Ted's Powerpoint slideshow, contact Bill Geyer at billgeyer@comcast.net
 
Barry wins the raffle!
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Stowe Talbot