Soundings (1/30/07)
/tn_bulletin.jpeg)
Visiting Rotarians: (introduced by ROBIN SCHMIDT) From the Whatcom County North Club, PETE KREMEN and STAN BRUNNER; from the Mt. Vernon Rotary Club, LARRY FARR and from some unknown beach Rotary Club, in the State of Florida, GEORGE CHESTER.
Guests & Other Well Known Dignitaries: None!
Announcements
President to be, ORPHALEE, presided as President during the absence of one BARRY KRAMER;
Pure Water Project Annual Fundraising Luncheon to be on Sunday, 6 May 2007, at the Bellwether
A reminder that additional names were needed for those Rotarians that are interested in having a special license plates created in Olympia, to sign one of the petitions that have been placed on each lunch table---it was noted that your signature attached thereon does not commit you to purchase one of these future plates if, in fact, that ROTARY Plate is approved.
Get set to have a great time during the next Rotario Dinner, and that will be during the month of February -- those dinners are a great way to raise funds for local Scholarships as well as a means to become better acquainted with fellow Rotarians -- a specific time, date and location will be announced at next week's meeting. (The all inclusive Staff of the well known SOUNDINGS felt that the date is 23 February at the Robert Jones mansion, and that the March Rotario Culinary Specialty will be on 24 March at the TIM McEVOY mansion with a St. Patrick's theme (only one week late on 'Wearin' of the Green'!!).
LYNN TEMPLETON paid a buck or two for missing a couple of recent meetings, and another buck and a quarter because he was about to leave the meeting early today! (LYNN, that is a $5.00 item for leaving early!);
STEVE KIMBERLY tossed in a Franc or two for some reason or another that was missed by the writer -- probably something or another to clear up a past situation of note;
SHANNON TERRELL for 12 years of marital bliss;
MIMI FERLIN gave some 'Green-Backs', then praised the IMHOF family for a great Rotario Dinner; and she also gave an update on the City of Bellingham's intention of condemning about 3 acres of their property on Iowa Street for City use. another one of those Eminent Domain things that can easily ruin a business---keep us posted, MIMI and maybe our membership can step in with some assistance. And finally, MIMI praised STEPHANIE SADLER and her School for the great Auction last week;
BOB YOST tossed in some dollars to commemorate the numbers 31 and 61---did he say that his Anniversary was 61 years and his birthday amounted to 31??!! (BOB, give us the real 'skinny');
CHIP H offered a few dollars and four rolls of TP for his recent absences as well as the great safety record his company has had during the past 12 months. That OSHA can be tough at times!;
BILL GEYER, reported ,as he placed a few bucks in the pot, some good information regarding the Food Bank Project, and his group needs any Fund raising assistance that is available.
STEPHANIE SADLER reported on a most successful Auction last Saturday that raised some $315,000 gross for St,. Paul's Episcopal School --- STEPHANIE, did you say that Rotary would get our usual 10%?--- (STEPHANIE, will you please get involved with our November Grapes & Gourmet bash?);
PATTI IMHOFF made note (with some attached dollars as a witness) that her Construction Company managed to get second place in the amount of work done in the State of Washington---and, she thanked all who came to her home for the Thursday (last) evening Rotario Dinner
MATT ROSE paid us some dollars to thank PATTI for the great dinner. (Say, those many accolades indicate that that kind of Rotary activity must be something great);
JOHN SLEETH put in a check because he was one year older and more in debt!!
SARAH ROTHENBUHLER stood up and said that the food at the IMHOF'S place was wonderful, and she especially liked the Moose Balls ---you naughty person, those were Moose Meat Balls (we didn't catch how much that one cost;
Sergeant at Arms by ROBIN SCHMIDT
Whomever has the trailer w/ Snowmobiles, confess and put up TWO BIG ONES;
KATHY C and STU have been 'caught' sitting at the same table two weeks in a row---NOW, that is downright terrible!! And the cost, a Dollar;
CHIP H, a dollar for not using the St. Paul's School for his child's education;
SCOTT WALKER for spending too much on radio ads, a dollar fine!!;
ALL CLUB DENTISTS and parents with small kids -- put in a dollar because ROBIN spent two hours in the dental chair (and that would be upside-down, no less), during a very traumatic ordeal;
Former JUDGE NICHOLS for wearing spandex---well, that report was erroneous, and the one who finked falsely on DAVE N was former president, BILL U (aka UNREIN The Fink);
B ENGERBRETSON for getting a speeding ticket -- well, that was not exactly correct, so if you want to get the REAL SKINNY, discuss it with BRYANT in confidence---whatever, put up a buck on the table.
Historian ROBIN then queried a few as to some notable dates in America's history, and since everyone flunked the questions, a few bucks were collected.
Program
We managed to bring in a new member last week by the name of ROD BRING, and before his Club Dues check was cashed, he did the program!!! Now if that isn't having Moose Meat Balls, I don't know what is!! The subject of the most interesting and informative program was on Health Savings Accounts ROD has his own Company, Employee Benefits Planning, LLC, and it has been around for a number of years. Offices are located in Bellingham as well as in Burlington/Mt. Vernon. The discussion was accompanied by a slide show as well as very interesting hand-outs that managed to elaborate on this very interesting subject. If you are interested in being involved with this Health Saving idea that is now in its 8th year, contact ROD, and he will bend your ear -- great program, ROD.
Information of Note
We have two Rotary Foundations in our Club --- the first is our own Bellingham Bay Rotary Foundation that we can contribute to at any time. Once that Foundation reaches $100,000, we will be able to distribute monies for Community Projects -- and we are all encouraged to donate to that Foundation at any time. It now has around $50,000, and is growing.
Another Foundation is the Rotary International Foundation, and monies contributed to that Foundation go for such worthwhile projects as the eradication of Polio, Clean Water Projects, Literacy Programs, Wheel Chair Projects, International Scholarships, other identified projects that individual Clubs may receive and other concerns usually generated by world-wide tragedies.We hear about this Foundation thru the PAUL HARRIS Fellowships and the PH Sustaining Fellowships As of 30 January 2007, our Club has donated to that Foundation some $219,087.29---we have 97 Paul Harris Fellows credited to our Club, and have some 46 Active and Honorary members who are PH Fellows---the other 51 PH Fellows (97-46=51) are for family members, Club recognitions, members who are no longer in the Club or for members who are multiple PH Fellows. There are many members who have nearly reached the PH Fellow goal, and we would encourage you to consider becoming a PAUL HARRIS Fellow. If you would like to know how far along you are in becoming a PAUL HARRIS Fellow, you may feel free to contact our President BARRY or me (STAN DYER) at 398-7398.
Submitted by
STAN DYER
An Addendum
What's with these lengthy words? First we had FLOCCINAUCINIHILIPILIFICATION (and that means an estimation of something as valueless---of little or no value; trifling)---then on 1/30 we saw HIPPOPOTOMONSTROSESQUIPPEDALIOPHOBIA (and that means afraid of long words!)---and I always thought that ANTIDISESTABLISHMENTARIANISM was the longest word in the English Dictionary (and that means opposition to the withdrawal of State support from an established Church-Anglican). If you know of a word that is more than 36 letters, just let us know!!