Flag Salute & Invocation by Jill Reid
 
Visiting Rotarians:  Kris Palmerton, John Stewart, Randy Axelson
 
Guests: Steve Sexton (Bryant E's guest), Dick Stark’s wife, Abby Gates (Bill's guest), Chris White, and Debbie Kiene’s husband. 
 
Announcements
 
Next week’s meeting go to BTC room G103B, not Northwood Hall!  
 
Board meeting at Stowe’s office Thursday afternoon 4:30pm (all are welcome)
 
Sunrise Rotary Fundraiser:  Cigars and Spirits Festival, May 31, 6-10pm at Silver Reef - tix available there, $60/ea.
 
Terry Brown heading up Brewers with Steve Brummel assisting.  Date is July 27th!  Tickets available soon.
 
Charitable Giving  Christine handed checks to Mount Baker Dental Society (Curt Smith) $2500, also check $1900 to Boys & Girls Club (Jill Reid) received our donation.
 
Still one week left to fill out the short online survey (10 minutes) about your Rotary experience.  It will help the District and our club to improve they way we conduct our business.  Go to www.district5050.org click “Take this Survey” (right side).
 
Bucks in the Bay
  • Stan said donations today go to Interact Club’s Mothers Day basket project;
  • Phil X excited that Pearson Construction awarded Food Bank project!
  • Rod Bring for a new grandson! His second!
  • Tonja Myers busy, finished role in Women of Lockerbie, sung Beethoven in her choir, also a surprise annual inspection at St Francis passed with flying colors!
  • Dean Fulton excited to host BBRC on BTC campus next week, also really enjoyed the Ira Glass show last weekend at MBT;
  • Bill Gorman went to District 5050 Conference and happy to report Orphalee was recognized for her service, thoughts for Dennis Archer;
  • Curt Smith said our club was the original donator to the Mt Baker Dental Society (way back when), update on his puppy;
  • Steve Kimberly Ciao Thyme Dinner (May 21, 6pm, $190 pp), still a few spots open, also tonight is Dine Out for Maple Valley Inn;
  • Dick Stark’s oldest daughter sang opera at the Frye Museum last weekend;
  • Jill Reid invites everyone to a community roundtable on Tuesday May 20 at the Kentucky B&G Club;
  • Debbie Kiene is now with Umqua Bank (which merged with Sterling), and a 35 year wedding anniversary spent in Napa, CA;
  • Bryant Engebretson for Mothers Day;
  • Eddie for Mothers Day basket project, and a recent New Orleans getaway with Rhonda.
Sergeant at Arms by Eddie
Fines for attorneys, those who haven’t served SAA, fellowship committee, Mothers Day, thoughts for Dennis Archer.
 
Program
Bill Geyer introduced Lynn Dayton from the Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council, a volunteer organization dedicated to saving lives through rescue and mountain safety education.
 
The BMRC was organized in 1955 after two mountaineering accidents occurred on Mount Shuksan within a very short period of time, demonstrating the need for a responsive rescue capability. The original twenty man team has grown to forty members, who since 1963, have been affiliated with the national Mountain Rescue Association. BRMC works with the Whatcom Sheriff's Office on a volunteer basis. Their primary area of involvement is northwestern Washington State, from the Canadian border to the North Cascades Hwy.

How does it work?  A call to 911 is connected to the Whatcom County Sheriff's office Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordinator, and sets in motion an organized series of events.  The SAR coordinator contacts BMRC operations leaders, who in turn organize the operation. Unit members are paged using the latest technology and a team is committed.  Team members provide all of their own equipment and arrange their own transportation or coordinate at the SAR Building on Smith Road.  An operation base is usually established at a trailhead, where the SAR vehicles are waiting with radios, first aid supplies, litters and other specialized rescue equipment.
  • In addition to rescue activities, BMRC conducts outdoor safety education programs and trains extensively.
  • Typical events?  Medical problems, lost people, overdue people, recovery of a body or crime scenes.
  • Who do they rescue?  Outdoor enthusiasts, missing children, vehicle accidents.  
  • How many?  25-30 missions per year.
  • When do they occur?  Summer is busier for rescues.
  • Where do they occur?  Most around Mount Baker.
  • BMRC’s annual budget comes entirely from individual donations and United Way funding.
Respectfully submitted, 
Stowe Talbot