Flag Salute & Invocation by Mark Turner
 
Visiting Rotarians: None
 
Guests: None
 
Announcements
 
Christine awarded Chuck Luttrell the “November Member of the Month” award!
 
Proposed Slate for 2014-2015 Rotary Year:
President Nominee (President Elect)  -  Bill Geyer
Vice President (Program Chair)  -  Dannon Traxler
Secretary  -  Stowe Talbot
Treasurer  -  Mike Werner
Director (2 year term)  -  Terry Brown 
Director (2 year term)  -  Donna Edquist 
Director (2 year term)  -  Glen Groenig 
Director (1 year term)  -  Mike Hammes
 
Student of the Month
Mike Bates announced this month’s SOM, Sarrah Truong (parents Bich and Phuong, sister Hannah).  Michelle Nielsen, Squalicum Counselor, said Sarrah is amazing, as a student leader and volunteer. Sarrah thanked our club, and talked about tutoring students, working at Hope House, wants to get a civil engineering, and chose to give her $100 stipend to the Boys&Girls Club.  
 
Bucks in the Bay
  • Christine P trip;
  • John Templeton proud of the Truong family;
  • Stowe Talbot for birthday;
  • Tyler B for successful entrepreneurship event;
  • Tonja Myers article in Whatcom Magazine;
  • Eddie parents’ 50 yr wedding anniversary;
  • Curt Smith for Husky’s Oregon State football victory, hocking his Brothels book; 
  • Phil X passes on thanks from Mike Cohen from Food Bank;
  • Scotty make up bucks missed meeting while on a Danube cruise in Europe;
  • Kendell O went skiing already, supports the Food Bank, see the Christmas trees at Bellwether Hotel;
  • Paul Twedt’s kids were baptized last week;
  • Bryant E missed meetings, will be leaving tomorrow for start of ski season;
  • Margarita for missed meetings, glad to be done with the harvest, Thanksgiving celebrated in Russian style;
  • Bob Becker Husky bucks;
  • Glen G missed meeting, now heading to Hawaii next week!
Program 
Bob Moles introduced Summer Cronk from the Technology Alliance Group (TAG) for Northwest Washington.
Originally worked in Pittsburg then moved to Bellingham.  Passion for technology.  Director (and sole employee) of TAG since 2011.
(Summer recommends the program Prezi - an alternative to Powerpoint)
TAG’s mission is to support the growth of local technology companies, and was founded in 1999.  In 2006, it received funding from Port of Bellingham to survey Whatcom County tech needs, and those funds allowed them to hire an executive director.
TAG has 10 board members, and 134 member companies.
TAG organizes programs and events, a job board, advocacy (at local level), awards, scholarships ($20,000), and education.
Whatcom County struggles with the paucity of tech jobs (relative to King County) and the  lower average tech salary here ($4,100/mo) compared to King County ($6,600/mo).
However, the education element in Whatcom County is among the best in the country.
TAG works closely with the Bellingham Angels group.
You can sign up for mailing list on their website (www.tagnw.org)
 
Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot