Soundings (5/6/08)

Posted by Lesa Boxx

Flag Salute & Invocation: Barry Kramer

Visiting Rotarians: Elizabeth Grant, Bellingham Rotary

Guests: Ken Opplinger's mother Kathy; Jane Carten's son, Will; George Bowen with Squalicum students, Debbie Granger and her replacement, Hana Schutz.

Announcements
Short board meeting after today's club meeting.

If you haven't signed up for lunch or golf or both for next Tuesday's meeting at Lake Padden Golf Course, you are highly encouraged to do it and soon by Eddie Hansen. Lunch begins at Noon, 1st tee off is at 12:30.

Lance Calloway reminder regarding Dinner at Hearthfire and "Male Intellect - An oxymoron" at the Mt. Baker Theatre on May 17th. There are 29 people signed up. Please let Lance know ASAP if you would like to join the group. He has already purchased the tickets for "Male Intellect".

Ron Hardesty: Wednesday Lake Padden Men's Golf has room for a couple more players if any male is interested.

Orphalee reminded us of the District Congress May 16 - 18th.

Orphalee showed our appreciation to Debbie Granger for her involvement with the Student of the Month, and Debbie thanked the club. She is taking a permanent "leave of absence" from Squalicum and wants everyone to know how much she appreciates the club. She will be replaced by Hana Schutz (not sure of the last name)

Student of the Month: Aria Duquerno. She mentors tennis students and is involved with Bellingham Children's Center. Plans to attend BTC's Culinary Arts program with the vision to open her own Bakery. She enjoys her work with children at the Bellingham Children's Center. Her favorite volunteering efforts is the Hope House Street Ministry where she helped hand out lunches and blankets to the homeless. Aria doesn't take anything for granted and she thanks the club for Student of the Month. George Bowen presented Aria's award and Honorarium. George also presented flowers to Debbie Granger for her 7 years of work and thanked her for her efforts. Debbie added a donation to the foundation as her thank you to the club.

Induction: Stan Dyer introduced Jim Johnson to the club. Ron Hardesty performed the induction. Welcome to the club Jim Johnson. Stan informed the club that in his 47 years with Rotary he has sponsored 78 new members. Way to go Stan!

Bucks in the Bay:
Orphalee -Chamber trip to India & Nepal and her appreciation of what we have here in the US
Ron Hardesty- Weekend at daughter's graduation from WSU. Mike Kirkland - 38 years of Marriage
Mary Humphrees BTC's 50 year celebration and raising $75K
Dan Moore- missed meetings and 6th grand baby. Thank you to Cy for announcing Remodeler's Tour last weekend great Rotary turnout.
Ken Opplinger - Sold out Ski last Friday
Zack Jones - 3rd wedding anniversary; 14 days in Dominican Republic and 34th Birthday.
Phil Hageman - Something about Dutch; wait to look at Food Bank for 2.5 weeks, road improvements.
Terry Brown - 9 days in Hawaii and 9 rounds of golf.
Mimi - Saga of Brooks Manufacturing. The bad batch of chemicals has been irradiated. Brooks has spent over $300k before complaints happened. Not happy with the City or Mark Asmundson.
Bryant Engebretson - New business is up and going. Missed meetings and sister's visit from far away with children.

Sergeant at Arms:
Barry Kramer. Eddie for his sign "Life is good without it we would be dead". Bryant Engebretson - claim of no time off, what is with the picture in Napa? Harold Scott - Phone rang. Jane Carten - Welcome back, no fine, just a welcome back and is Will going to be a future Rotarian? Historical Mommy facts table to table. Only table getting it right was "How old was the oldest mother to give birth?" Answer: 64 years old.
Fact: youngest mother to give birth? Answer: 5 years 7 months old.

Program:
Stew Ellison introduced Susan Bradbury on Micro Lending in Mongolia, Burundi, Africa; Israel, Pakistan and Gaza. Micro Lending helps women who have nothing... Susan spoke to the UN in March regarding Micro Lending and the roll of women in the pathway to peace in warring nations and how women are trying to work together in those nations and how important dialog is.
Micro Lending empowers women to help themselves out of extreme poverty. $50 US goes a long way in these third world countries. Susan has been to many countries and has seen first hand how a little bit of US dollars can go a very long way and how much it is appreciated. Most all of the loans have been paid back or are in process of being paid back and then cycle through new loans to others.

Respectfully submitted,
Lesa Boxx