Soundings (11/8/05)
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Announcements:
* Grape & Gourmet: Everyone agrees it was a huge success, even improved from last year. Still some adjustments need to be made; more members actively volunteering during the event would have helped. Dessert room very popular, perhaps move to a bigger room next year. Wine sales a little disappointing. Final revenue numbers won't be known for a week or two. Barry given standing ovation for his work on this event.
*Art Runestrand: Saturday, Nov. 12th, will be the next opportunity to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. 8-4:PM, see Art for sign-up.
* Dick Stark announced we will need 24 volunteers for our annual "bell ringing" for the Salvation Army scheduled for December 17th.
Guests Rotarians:
Max Legg, Don Drake, Fred Sexton, Bob Trunek. Also, Carol Thomas (the new head of the Foundation at Bellingham Technical College).
Flag Salute and Invocation by Ron Hardesty.
Proposed Member:
Scot Swanson, an attorney with Belcher Swanson Lackey, has been proposed for membership by Lance Calloway, and approved by the membership committee and the board. If anyone has any comments or objections, please let Frank Zurline or Bill Unrein know within two weeks.
Bucks in the Bay
Bill Unrein - great G&G event, look forward to next year;
Phil X - for the event, and for two recently completed Pearson projects: Central Lutheran church, and First Presbyterian church;
Curt Smith - Thankful election day is finally here!
Patti Imhof - Argentina trip;
Gordon Plume - Aspen trip to fix a problem;
Dwayne McNett - for wife becoming a US citizen;
Pete Ritmueller - Canadian trip last wk, WSU equestrian team stayed at his house;
Art Runestrand - upcoming state swimming meet, granddaughter will compete in 4 events.
Anna Williams - glad campaign is finally over! Pitch for upcoming Hospice auction, they need auction items;
Mike Kirkland - ditto;
Cy Lindberg - new job at Country Wide Mortgage!
Frank Chmelik - for a recent Port deal: City to acquire a 49% interest in a 5.8-acre waterfront parcel adjacent to the Cornwall Avenue landfill cleanup site;
Sergeant at Arms - Robin Schmidt
Pete, Cy, Todd, Christine, ladies, pink shirts, Lynn T.
Program - Orphalee introduced Kelli Linville, our representative in Olympia for the 42nd Legislative District. Kelli was born in Bellingham, attended Bellingham High School, then received a BA and MA from WWU. Husband is Will Roehl, and they have two sons and two granddaughters. For 16 years she worked as a communication disorders specialist in the Bellingham School District. She is presently an owner and partner in Pacific Roasting Company. She has served in the House of Representatives since 1993.
Some of her committee assignments:
-Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force - Past President;
-Environment Committee, Pacific Northwest Economic Region - Chair;
-Appropriations Committee;
-Recently appointed Chairman of the "Economic Development, Agriculture and Trade" committee.
If I-912 (to repeal a 9.5-cent-a-gallon gas tax) fails, about $60 million in road improvements would be in jeopardy. In that case, counties might go to a system where they keep and spend all local contributions. Whatcom County would make out very well, more rural counties would lose a lot.
If I-330 and I-336 fail (she hopes they will), the legislature probably won't do anything for a year or two, but then would need to propose a more equitable solution for everyone.
Regarding taxes, she says businesses pay over half of all taxes that support public services, services that should be paid for by individuals. Our B&O tax system is unfair to business and should be amended or abolished. She supports an income tax for WA, but the general public is currently not in support of that.
Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot