Soundings (11/14/06)
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Flag Salute & Invocation by Stephanie Sadler
Visiting Rotarians: Jim Voss, Adam Finfur
Guests: Chris Mead (RMC Architects), Jack Estrada (SJ hospital).
Announcements
International Committee meeting after today's lunch.
Grape & Gourmet: final wine sales
Board Meeting Tomorrow! Wed the 15th , 7:30 AM at Mt Baker Room at Best Western Lakeway Inn. Matt Rose: Membership meeting after today's lunch.
Denise Bosman: Thurs 5:30 PM at Big Fat Fish recap meeting Grape & Gourmet $71,000 total (minus some outstanding expece bills).
Bellingham Bay Foundation: Brent Walker -gave us update on our own club Foundation Please consider putting bucks in bay as "club foundation", as tax-deductable entity, let's grow it to $100,000.
Our Student of the Month is Maritsa Desoto. She is a very persistant, hard-working individual. Cuilminating project is to start a mariachi band. She is a gifted musician (violin), has received numerous honors, she runs cross country, participates in the Storm mentor program, is involved in drama group, and has logged 275 volunteer hours. Maritsa talked about performing music for seniors in retirements centers as therapy. Also performs in the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra. Thank you, Maritsa, for all your work in the community!
Bob Moles reminded us that we are the major sponsoring club for Copan club. He also invites all of us to go to Honduras in February.
Dave Nichols is a new client at Blue Horse gallery, check out his work there!
Mike Kirland, race around San Juan Country, lost some sails;
Patti Imhof had a 35 year wedding anniversary, going to Hawaii next week;
Bill Geyer's father was veteran in North Africa, Bill also gave update on food bank: We have committed $150K from our club, and Bill also made pitch to City Council for City to support it too;
Art Runestand: Squalicum Storm women's swim team achieved 7th in State, and Kelli Runestrand competed in ALLState swim events!
Tonja Myers' son is participating Bellingham Theater Guild's production of It's a Wonderful Life;
Cy Lindberg welcomes Ken Hoover;
Dick Stark for 2 weeks in Cabo, also election results;
Bob Newell for alma mater Stanford and football victory over Huskies;
Robin Schmidt thanks for successful B&G Club breakfast fundraiser, especially for Todd Ramsay and all the police help setting up;
Sergeant at Arms by Bryant Engebretson
Fines for Robin, Zachary, Eddie, tentants of the TalbotBuilding, Tim, Bill Geyer, Brent Walker, Dick Stark, Matt Rose and Denise Bosman eating Chinese deer horn wafers.
Program
Tim McEvoy introduced Ken Hoover, professor at WWU.
Ken talked about poverty and rethinking the solutions. Economically, Ken argues that a rising tide does not necessarily lift all boats, at least not since 1980. Today, the rising economic tide is only lifting the richest. Government programs have cut the poverty rates by about a third; not as good as in other Western countries.
Asset poverty: This is where the long term wealth lies, and situation is getting worse. One quarter of US population is asset-poor. If you take away home equity, 40% of Americans are in asset poverty. This poverty goes on racial lines. US Govt spends $300 billion annually to enable nonpoor households to accumulate assets. Asset accumulation is often beyond the reach of the poor. Also low income people trying to accumulate assets often face limits in public assistance programs.
The solution: Ken says we need to broaden our understanding of poverty to start to combat the problem. He feels the solution involves empowering the poor with self-worth, and a sense of community.
Links to Web: www.wwu.edu/~khoover/
Ken.hoover@wwu.edu
Respectfully Submitted,
Stowe Talbot