Soundings (1/31/12)

Posted by G. Stowe Talbot 
on Jan 31, 2012
 
 

Flag Salute and Invocation by Dave Harding

Visiting Rotarians: Ray George Dean Fulton, Jeff Caldwell (Heating Green, LLC), and Jennifer Sheldon (SBDC).

Guests: None

Homestays needed for incoming "Friendship Delegation" from Germany:  District 5050 is excited to announce a call for clubs to host a Friendship Exchange team from District 1870 in Germany. The team will be 10-12 Rotarians from May 22 to June 12, but homestays only needed for a few of those days.

The District Conference will be held June 1-3 at Semiahmoo, with pre-event golf tourney.

RYLA will start accepting applications for the RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards for young people ages 18-25) on Feb 1. The event itself will take place April 26-29 at a camp in Deming.  See Bill Geyer for details. 

Steve announced fellowship basketball event in 1 week: Thursday night Feb 9 vs. Alaska Anchorage. 

Student of the Month: Scotty introduced our SOM Ellie Stephenson and her parents Amy Knight and Jon Stephanson. Student advosor Steve Wiley interviewed Ellie at the podium. Ellie is a senior at Squalicum High School and involved in many extra-curricular activities: Young Life, summer camps, mentoring and volunteering. She is a dancer and dance teacher. Steve says Ellie is very self-directed. She would love to study business at college.

Our club's board of directors and the Membership committe have both reccommended the following two membership applications for approval; their names will be published in the Soundings for two weeks for any comment or concerns from the club membership:

  • Charlie Sheldon, the Executive Director of the Port of Bellingham. His previous employment was with the Port of Seattle as an executive in the Seaport, Airport and Marine Terminal divisions. He has provided leadership and management in all aspects of budget and capital planning, as well as facilities and fisheries management during prior work at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Charlie obtained a BS from Yale, and an MS from the University of Massachusetts. His interests included backpacking and rowing. Prior community service includes trail maintenance in Kitsap County and serving on the Chief Seattle Club Board. Charlie lives in Bellingham with his partner Ronda. Charlie was sponsored by Frank Chmelik.
  • Susie Betts, co-owner of Solutions Electrical, a local electrical contractor serving Whatcom County. She has worked as an apprentice electrician in addition to all the administrative work in growing her business since 2007. Previously she served as the NW Regional Sales Director for Arizona Beverage Co from 2003-07. Susie’s community service includes numerous Board positions, including Whatcom Women in Business, BIAWC, Whatcom/Bellingham Chamber of Commerce, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Whatcom County Food Bank, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Whatcom County and Whatcom County Medical Society Alliance. Susie resides in Bellingham and her additional interests include skiing, golfing, biking and scuba. She was sponsored by Lesa Boxx with add'l references by Stan Dyer and Christine Palmerton. 
 

Bucks in the Bay

  • Shannon says Ellie should go to WSU, thanks Stan for birthday card;
  • Stephanie Sadler is happy a new head of school has finally been selected for St. Paul's Academy:  Dr. Lily J. Driskill, Ed.D. will start next fall and Stephanie can retire!  Also, the school auction last weekend raised over $400K;
  • Bill Geyer reported on his yearly “site selection” visit to Cabo San Lucas;
  • Tim Krell skiing news 3 days in Whistler couple weekends at Baker, tomorrow leave for Bahamas cruise;
  • Mark Turner says it is "bubble-wrap appreciation day";
  • John Sleeth went to Sweedish hospital, and had a birthday;
  • Tonja Myers says hi to Art, her daughter sold 155 boxes of girl scout cookies, son Ian competed in music competition (cello) probably going to State!
  • Art thanked the club for all the attention while out, especially Stan! and told how he managed to break his femor bone, and how Dr. Wu fixed him.

Sergeant at Arms by Frank Chmelik 

Fines for Art, Eddie, members of gyms, those who made New Year’s resolutions, Bill Geyer, John Gargett, and Superbowl parties.

Program

New Member talks

Chuck Luttrell grew up in Minnesota farm country, left home at 17 to join the Navy.  He ended up in Pacific NW and attended Central Washington University.  After college he went back to Navy, serving another 25 years.  Back in 1996, he was in a plane accident which involved ejecting out of a plane at 600 mph; the ejection caused him severe physical damage and it took a long time to heal.  Chuck is married, has three grown kids (youngest still in high school), and lives in Sudden Valley. Although his family has been in Bellingham eight years, Chuck himself has been here full time only about a year due to his obligations with the Navy prior to retirement.  Since being full time in Bellingham now, he was hired on at Dawson Construction. He is looking forward to being a member of our club and giving back to ourcommunity.

Flo Simon was born in 1965 in Fort Polk, Louisiana. Her dad was in the service and mom is French. In 1966 the family was stationed in Germany and France. In fact, French was her first language. In 1977 they moved back to the States, to Lacey, WA where she went to high school. In 1985 after high school she transferred up to WWU, working at the King's Table Buffet to help pay for tuition. After college in 1989 she got hired on at the Bellingham Police Department. In the early 90's she even worked beside Todd Ramsay (who promised to make her his deputy chief if he ever became chief). Later, Randy Carrol arranged for her to continue her law enforcement training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VIrginia In 2006 she got promoted to lieutenant. When Todd was selected to Chief, he made good on his promise to bring Flo on as his deputy (along with two other deputy chiefs). Her areas of responsibility include patrol, detectives, motors, SWAT, Special Investigations and The Anti Crime team. Flo loves to travel, to BBQ and drink red wine. She thanked Anna for asking her to join Rotary.

Respectfully submitted,

Stowe Talbot