Soundings (10/19/10)

Posted by Stowe Talbot 
 
 

Flag Salute and Invocation by Christine Palmerton

Visting Rotarians: John Rouch and DC Morse

Guests: Hilary Parker (NW Business Monthly), Mark Turner, Scott Moon (Cornwall Church)

Rotary trivia: There are two clubs in Antarctica.

Mary, back from Mexico, with an update on G&G ticket sales.  35 VIP tix left - please sell those tickets!  Tickets available at all Eddie's chiropractic offices, and Applied Digital Imaging.

Barry Emailed out the list of "pre-order G&G wines".  Due by next Tuesday the 26th!  After that, the full retail price will apply.

Bob Jones trying to fill out the remaining volunteer spots for G&G event.

Leena K is still soliciting items for the G&G silent auction.

 

Bucks in the Bay

  • Bill Gorman glad the election season will be over soon!
  • Phil X is a registered independant, and he reminded us that this week is the Bellingham Food Bank food drive;
  • Barry for a birthday and annicversary 238th!
  • Lesa Boxx for missed meetings while in Italy;
  • Jane Carten happy bucks for Saturna being mentioned in Kiplingers Newsletter recently!
  • Sue Sharp had $ for Foundation, the WWU golf teams did great this year, remembers Sister Catherine McInnes, who led St. Joseph Hospital for 23 years;
  • Dr. Curt for Husky victories;
  • John Templeton enjoyed spending some time in Seattle with son and daughter-in-law, thanked Rep. Larsen for help with his daughter-in-laws immigration status;
  • Lance Calloway his soccer club raised money and donated food to Food Bank;
  • Mike Hammas been gone a lot with some out-of-town jobs, food bank stats:  200K lbs donated monthly, 650 families received donations each month, $750 will provide all the milk needed for one month by the food bank;
  • Mary for a couple weeks in Cabo, daughter at Shoreline Community College, and next week BTC is celebrating a scholarship breakfast;
  • Steve Swan talked about the great thinks happening at WWU this year, like record enrollment, students of color at all time high, thanks Rick Larsen for work getting funding;
  • Donna E reminded us that the annual B&G Club event next week at Bellis Fair Mall;
  • Mark Turner talked about the success of his book;

Sergeant at Arms by John Sleeth
Fines for Huskies and Cougers, trivia on pianos, trivia on Rotarian magazine, trivia about our Website, and other misc. fines!

Program
Bill Gorman introduced Rep. Rick Larsen, representing WA 2nd Congressional District. 

Rick said he appreciated the recognition from John Templeton, but says his staff really deserves the recognition for solving those small but important issues that his constituants bring to him.

Current economic news: Locally the Whatcom County unemployment rate has been dropping since the summer, but it's still too high.  Boeing will be replacing its hanger, which will result in hundreds of new jobs.  Also, good news that BPA will extend to Italco the current power contract until 2012 giving them more time to negotiate a new longer term contact.  New SBA loans going to small businesses have been helping them to hire more personel ($52M was awarded to 150 businesses locally).  Proposed Gateway Pacific project: Rick will be helping them trying to get the necessary approvals for that.  Economy is recoving, albeit too sluggishly.

Changes to foreclosure law? One proposal he is working on would require that banks keep a part of every loan they make before they bundle and pass those loans on - keep some skin in the game. 

Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot