Flag Salute & Invocation by Ralph Black
 
Visiting Rotarians:  None
 
Guests:  None
 
New Member Applications:  Three member-applicants were recently interviewed, and approved by the membership committee and the board:  Eric Dyrland (Farmers Insurance agency owner), Jim Haupt (Bellwether Hotel manager), Teresa Flinn (Peoples Bank, business services).  Please see President Christine or membership chair Phil X Hageman if you have comments or concerns.
 
Student of the Month:  Nick Caples introduced Andreas DeKoster, our SOM.  His parents are Renata and Dean.  Andy is captain of the Squalicum HS swim team, which beat Sehome HS and finished well at State.  Steve Wiley said Andy does a lot of volunteering, at Camp FirCreek, Hillcrest Church among other organizations; he is a top student and takes several AP classes; he even attends an extra-credit early morning class (at Meridian HS) called “environmental engineering”.  Andy will be giving his $100 to “Blue Skies for Children”.
 
Announcements
  • Eddie said all tix sold out for our next fellowship event this Saturday night:  Meet at 6pm at Table for dinner, then 8pm for the show at MBT.
  • Board meeting special session will be held this Thursday 27th at 5pm at Talbot/Barkley office to discuss and decide on recipient of major gift from the club.
 
Bucks in the Bay
  • Barry Kramer had a knee replaced (Mike Thorpe) last week!
  • Steve Spitzer travelling London, Miami, Victoria, happy bucks getting a hot tub delivered today;
  • Phil X Hageman proud of Holland for their Olympic medal count;
  • Curt Smith for a birthday (79!)
  • Paul Twedt had a great snowy Sunday, building an igloo with kids in the back yard;
  • Patty Leach happy bucks $100 to foundation, happy for the sun today;
  • Terry Brown has three big projects finishing up next month;
  • Celeste Mergens visited Rotary club in New Orleans - it was the 12th club ever established;
  • Bill Unrein thank you Doug Wight for clearing snow at Lake Samish roads;
  • Jill Reid thankful for today’s commute, invitation to 25th annual Kidsfest auction;
  • Steve Swan happy daughter got engaged, also kudos to Steve Brummel for his marketing efforts WWU sports (see Youtube footage of the half court shot at the buzzer that won the game against CWU: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT5Xpt-BGio&feature=youtu.be);
  • Kendall excited about her new job running the Bellingham branch of Copiers Northwest.  Kendall also invites everyone to attend Whatcom Business Alliance’s upcoming breakfast forum “Navigating the Affordable Care Act”, Thurs. Feb. 27, 7-9:30am at BGCC;
  • Mike Bates’ son left his job with SF 49ers to join the SF Giants baseball organization.
 
Sergeant at Arms by Stan Dyer
Trivia on Olympics and Rotary. 
 
Program
Brent Walker talked about our own BBRC Foundation.  Started in 2000 (under the initiative of John Templeton), and as of today we are at $245,000.  It is an endowment fund, which means all the contributions stay in and we only take out distributions.  So far only one distribution has been made (spring last year, to NWYS).  The great thing about the foundation is that it earns money for us without any effort.  
 
Bill Gorman talked about the Rotary International (RI) Foundation, a separate but also valuable Rotary resource.  RI Foundation currently at $923 million.  The funds are used in many ways; Peace ambassadors and scholarships, also matching funds at the local and internation level, also grants for PR (especiallyvaluable here in the US where Rotary is actually not very well known or understood).  Polio has been a $5B effort so far, (Rotary, in partnership CDC, UICEF and Gates Foundation).  Polio almost eradicated.  Need about $1.5B to finish the job; Gates Foundation is stepping forward with matching funds to Rotary.  
Bill, by the way, will be the incoming Asst. District Governor next year.
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Stowe Talbot