Soundings (7/16/13)

Posted by G. Stowe Talbot 
on Jul 16, 2013
 

Flag Salute and Invocation by Stan Dyer

Visiting Rotarians: Marylinn Harrington Knoxville TN, Monte McCallister from the Big Club.

Guests:  Karen Burke from DVSAS (which has two upcoming events: Golf fundraiser this Thursday, Nov 2 gala fundraiser), Jill Reid from B&G Club.

New Member Applications:  Five member applications were approved by the committee and board, before they are admitted these five applicant names need to be submitted before the full membership for comment or objection.  If you have any objection or comment, please report to Bob Becker or President Christine:

  • Andrea Clay (Sponsor Henry Lee; interviewed by Bob Becker, Phil Hageman, Bill Geyer).  Co-owner of Clay Management in Lynden, classification:  Health Services.  Board approves.
  • Jill Reid (Sponsors Leena Kirschman, Stan Dyer, John Templeton; interviewed by Bob Becker, Stan Dyer, Bill Geyer).  Newly appointed Director of Bellingham Boys & Girls Club branch. Classification:  Youth Development.  Board approves.
  • Celeste Mergens (Sponsor Henry Lee; interviewed by Bob Becker, Stan Dyer, Bill Geyer).  Founder and Exec Director of Days for Girls International.  Classification:  Youth Services.  Board approves. 
  • Patricia Leach (Sponsors Patti Imhof and Brent Walker; interviewed by Bob Becker, Stan Dyer, Bill Geyer).  Transfer application from Bellingham Rotary; member since 2008.  Whatcom Museum Director.  Classification:  Museum Management.  Board approves.
  • Ralph Black (Sponsors Bill Geyer, Terry Brown, Mike Hammes; interviewed by Bob Becker, Bill Unrein, Bill Geyer).  Co-owner of Alliance Properties.  Classification:  Property Development.  Board approves.

Announcements: 

  • Crab Feed July 18 THIS THURSDAY! at 6-9pm and Vartanyan Winery (1628 Huntly Road, just off Mt Baker Hwy & Noon Rd), already 65+ people signed up!  Eddie needs volunteers to help set up the food.  Please bring your own lawn chairs if possible (to supplement the existing benches and tables).  $25 / person for the food, Margarita will donate some of the wine rest will be for sale there.  There will be music too!
  • Brewers by the Bay on Sunday July 28!  Get your tickets!  Terry still needs more volunteers!  Brewer’s posters are available, please contact Donna Edquist.  Also Stew Ellison needs a few volunteers on Friday the 25th 5pm at Lake Padden GC to clean glasses. 
  • G&G focus group meeting tonight 5pm at Bellwether.
  • Thursday Aug 1 fellowship Bham Bells baseball game!
 

Bucks in the Bay 

  • Bob Becker for week in Chelan wine tasting! Brought Christine a bottle of Naughty Boy!
  • Tim Krell wife's family was here for a few weeks;
  • Gordon Plume for 12K Chucknut Run last weekend, for the 70+ age group Gordon was beaten only by (his nemesis) Gale Phueller;
  • Jill Reid thanked our club for our recent donation to B&G Club;
  • Sue Sharpe had a stem put in recently in heart valve, so get your check up regularly
  • Dick Stark river rafting, and sold his boat!
  • Paul Twedt loves this weather, golf marathon fundraiser for the Firs needs sponsors if anyone interested;
  • Donna Edquist Applied Digistal makes wine labels too!
  • Denise Bosman missed meetings, promoted to PR manager for the US for Natures Path;
  • Mark Turner mountain bucks backpacking with son, goats galore, some rock climbing;
  • Stan Dyer bucks for our foundation, missed meetings while in CA, funny anecdote from a Kuwanian;
  • Glen Groenig missed meeting for training and taking over the 
  • Kendall Pickerill will be married in 43 days!  Been getting some sun in the islands remodeling her cabin there.

Sergeant at Arms by Barry Kramer
Fines for Eddie, Sue, Flo and Sue, people who haven't signed up for volunteering at Brewers, etc.

Program

Bill Geyer introduced Trudy Shuvaloff Executive Director of the Whatcom Dream (http://www.thewhatcomdream.org), "Reaching Dreams Through Financial Literacy", teaching financial skills to help families get out of poverty.

"The Whatcom Dream is a 501(c)3 non profit organization, founded in 1999 in the Roosevelt Neighborhood, committed to helping people reach their dreams through financial literacy. The mission is to lower the poverty rate in Whatcom County by offering affordable financial literacy classes and counseling on an ongoing basis at various locations throughout the county.  The vision is to see individuals and families gain knowledge, skills and opportunities that will help them provide stable and sustainable futures for themselves. The financial skills classes are unique in that the curriculum and content is values-based. They teach people to create a budget based on their true core values.

What does poverty look like in in WC?  15% lives below the federal poverty rate, that is 32,000 people.  

Types of poverty:  Situational poverty, and generational poverty.

What do these people need? Hope, opportunities for self-improvement, new life skills for sustainable lifestyles, encouragement to focus on what is right with them not what is wrong.  Only 6% of the poor normally receive counseling.  Whatcom Dream teaches and does workshops where they are invited:  Jail, workshops, one and one financial coaching is offered too.  They offer a mentorship/leadership program.  Teach middle class rules and behaviors.  

The organization would like to expand their board of directors with business leaders and program graduates.  Many students enter program with feeling entitlement and victimhood, but leave with sense of self responsibility.  You can contribute to the cause by sponsoring a class, participate in their fundraisers, etc.  

Tim Krell wins the raffle!

Respectfully submitted, 
Stowe Talbot