Soundings (9/26/06)
Visiting Rotarians: Pete Kremen, Sharlene and George Delgado
Guests: Matt's mom Ann, Rod Something (Jim Well's guest)
Announcements
Barry: We had a successful board meeting last week which focussed on ideas for better fundraising. Some alternatives discussed:
1) A beer and food event at Depot Market some Sunday evening about the first week of June;
2) or, an ongoing Ebay auction of items that members would like to give away or donate to the cause.
Sandy Berner, director of the Whatcom Center for Early Learning, thanked our club for its support over the past two years. Last year we gave $5,000 which went to painting the WCEL facility (called "the big blue house"). It now looks wonderful, and is located at the corner of H and Girard Streets.
Barry Kramer for great dinner rotario last Friday;
Mimi Ferlin for a weekend of football, also just back from South Africa;
Lance Calloway for getting hitched - congratulations Lance!!!
Bob Moles for fly fishing in Alaska;
Terry Brown for moving daughter into the WWU dorm last weekend;
Ron Hardesty for motorcycle ride in Anacortes, and for winning the songwriter slam competition!
Curt Smith for Husky's ranked 36th;
Christine Palmerton for great dinner at Kramer's Friday;
Sarah Rothernbuhler thanks Kramers for dinner;
Ed Zech for Kramers putting on a wonderful evening, 4-part series on PBS in October featuring (among other hospitals) St Joseph;
Dean Brett thankful for several election results, and urged everyone to vote for competence when picking a judge (if candidate is getting lot of campaign money, be wary!);
Steve Brummel thanks for successful Viking night fundraiser (scholarships) $130K raised;
Jim McCallum retiring today from medical practice of 40 years. Congrats!!!
Chuck Olson for Husky win last weekend, daughter bought house in the islands;
Art is unhappy about Dr. McCallum retiring;
Sargeant at Arms by Dean Brett
4 out of 9 WA supreme court judges are women, 4 of the recent 8 presidents won with minority of popular vote,
Johnson won 61% popular vote, 2nd most popular was Nixon (versus Goldwater), and third Regan. In 2004, 98% members of congress incumbants won! Highest paid government job in WA State is Tyrone Willingham - coach of Huskies football.
Program
Matt Rose gave a talk and slide show on his recent trip to China.
Masschusett Hospital (Boston) sponsored trip to China
First, in Bejing he met up with his friend who works as vice Mayor of area in Bejing (15 million population total). Pollution and environmental problems very severe. Next, he went to Hu Bei Province has 60 million people (biggest town is Wuhan with 10 million) - the province famous for the Three Gorges dam and Yanztee river. The Chinese Healthcare system - rapid development from third world to modern economy. Project Hope Mission: Assisting a nursing school.
In general, the Chinese infrastructure is massive, built very quickly over the past few years, and in general is characterized by good quality. The Chinese recycle almost all construction materials. Chinese trade:
$244 billion exports,
$41 billion imports.
The new road, highways, apartment buildings and most of the infrastructure are all excellent quality and well designed.
Oil demand in China rose 45% in last 5 years! Which means more car accidents, yet China has no EMS system yet.
Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot