Soundings (3/29/05)

Invocation and flag salute by Denise Bosman

Second Notice! Proposed new members for our review:
1. Donna Edquist (Applied Digital Inc.)
2. Christin Palmerton (Marine Charters)
3. Mark Larsen (Bellingham Technical College Foundation)
If you have comments about any of these individuals, please see Anna or Dennis.

Auction (Anna) Despite the small attendence, a wonderful evening that may net close to $25K. Thanks to all who attended and helped out.

District Assembly on Saturday, April 9th, at Kwantlen University College 12666 - 72nd Ave, Surrey, BC. Please consider attending. Our club will cover the cost. See Ron or Orphalee. Details on the assembly and maps, see Website at www.district5050.org.

***Grapes & Gourmet planning meeting TONIGHT (Wed. April 30th) 5PM at the BW Lakeway Inn board room. This will become our main annual fundraiser. See Barry Kramer for more information.

Scholarship Interviews for Squalicum High School Students are soon. If you are interested in being on the interview panel contact Bill Gorman.

Rotario Dinners: please see Sarah R.

Todd Ramsey: "Tournament for the Children". Our club will be initiating the first of a yearly fundraiser golf tournament at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club: September 22 (a Thursday) 1PM shotgun start. Two divisions: Scratch and Hacks. Proceeds to charities that deal with children.

We'll invite clubs from our District in BC abd WA. Goal is to raise $10K. Todd needs people to help with raffle, publication, organizing, etc.

Debbie Granger introduced the "Student of the Quarter", Jenna Schwartz, a senior at Squalicum HS. Jenna is a very good student who has volunteered hundreds of hours at the YMCA climbing wall as an instructor. She also helped set up the student internship class. She wants to study at either WWU, CWU or EWU. Her goal is to be a teacher. Congratulations Jenna!

Ron - For successful auction;
Orphalee - For excellent auctioneering by Frank Chmelik and almost $28K raised;
Anna - For her heros Jim Olson, Kathy and Frank. It's our last dinner auction! Long live Grape and Gourmet!
Bill U - For auction and adequate money in the coffers;
Mike K - Everyone should get a living will, durable power of attorney, attend one of the "Five Wishes" workshops to find out more about this topic;
Barry - Thanks to Bill, Ron and Anna;
Pete R - Played hooky last Tues to ski in sunshine and powder at Whistler;
Steve K - mother-in-law recovery from gall bladder surgery to celebrate her 90th BD;
Tim J - 50th BD and cruising in the Sound;
Ed Z - BD card from Stan, daughter's visit home;
Eddie - For tequila?
John T - Has no $ left after auction.

Program intro by Barry: Lee Gorsuch recently retired chancellor with University of Alaska Anchorage. Long-time Rotarian. Lee gave us a breif history of Alaska and a synopsys of the current issues driving the economy there. Alaska is a huge state with enormous resources, yet very unknown to most Americans.

Historical periods:
-1900-1940 Age of Exploitation;
-1940-50 World War II, much of today's infrastructure was built, ports and roads.
-1950-70 Period of Statehood and independence;
-1970-90 Period of population and economic growth during the oil boom;

Today's big issues are ANWAR; a proposed new gas pipeline which would be the largest construction project ever in North America; Ted Stevens is 84 years old and has provided billions of $ to state; fisheries; a proposed missile defense system based in AK. Alaska's Permanent Fund has over $30 billion and kicks off $1 billion to its residents every year (almost $1500 per person).