Soundings (5/4/10)

Posted by Stowe Talbot 
 
 

Flag Salute & Invocation by Leena Kirschman

Visiting Rotarians: Ray George, Larry Rainy, Rick Stahb, Jerry Sneider, Ann Jones and Jeanne McGee.

Guests: Steve Brummel's friend Eric from Farmers Insurance.

Announements
Tonja reminded us that the District Conference will take place May 14-16 in Marysville at the Tulalip Resort Casino.

Lance says he Stephanie Sadler, Stan Dyer, Bob Becker and Leena Kirschman will be evaluating and interviewing scholarship candidates for the six (6) $1,000 scholarships. We will meet on Thursday, May 13 from 9 AM - noon at Squalicum High School in the Skyhouse Conference Room.

Zachary was just in the Dominican Republic, went to a couple clubs there.  Very interesting. Zach brought back a couple flag/burgees.

 

Bucks in the Bay

  • Tonja spent Saturday driving son to Deming so he could participate in rehersals and concert for orchestra;
  • John Templeton missed meetings, says real estate is BACK!
  • Mike Kirkland celebrated 40th wedding anniversary
  • Dick Stark had a birthday 76!
  • Zachary missed meetings for birthday, anniversary, and Brewers is right around the corner!
  • Bill Gorman and spouce will celebrate their anniversary in NY next week, hotel is right where the SUV was left in Times Square!
  • Joel Hile 74th birthday, plus some missed meetings due to health issues;
  • Leena Kirschman says Lesa Boxx lost her mom last week;
  • Cy Lindberg has $ for a FEW missed meetings, went to Mexico, then Florida to transition mom to assisted living facility, then Houston;
  • Steve Kimberly says former club member Jim Olson passed away yesterday;

Sergeant at Arms by Ken Oplinger
Fines for bankers, Cy for his Facebook postings, anyone who flew out of Bellingham's airport, Curtis, golfers, no Rotary pins, trivia on current events. 

Program
Lance introduced Matt Velguth of http://www.thebikeshop1.org Matt graduated from college in Wisconsin and after wanted to work with at-risk youth.  His first bike shop project was in Labrador, CA for native Americans.  The non-profit program trains kids to work on bikes and all the skills and work habits that go along with that.  Bike shop programs have been created in inner cities, low income neighborhoods, native areas. 

He and is wife arrived in Bellingham last fall (from Portland, Maine), and set up a bike shop up and running as of last month.  Kids get permission from parents to attend the shop, then they can come in and work on their bikes for free.  Reinforcing responsibility.  A lot of the kids do not have much parental supervision, and the neighborhoods typicall lack good places for them to spend time.  So Matt tries to locate these bike shops in these neighborhoods. 

In Portland Matt worked with up to 500 kids.  He puts together weekly (Sunday) riding groups, groups based on age and ability.  Some of the kids eventually get into competing in triathalons.

Matt has learned that if you can get involved with kids before the teen years, you have a good chance to head off the bad behavior.  It's harder to turn around a 16/17 year old that has gone delinquent. 

The bike shop is located on Stirling Drive in a donated container.  Financial support comes from direct donations, which he hopes will grow as the word gets out.  Budget will be about $51K/year.  The "ride kitty" is a fund that the kids accumulate through the purchase of parts ($1/ea) and bikes ($10/ea), and that they can spend on weekend rides (hot chocolate, breakfast, ferry ride, etc.).  For Matt this is a full time job, and his own kids are 14 and 8 years old.  He would like to duplicate this program in other cities someday. 

Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot