Soundings (9/1/09)

Posted by Stowe Talbot 
 
 

Flag Salute and Invocation by Mike Kirkland

Visiting Rotarians: Jeanne McGee

Guests: Ed Truman (guest of Byron) Jeff McGinney (guest of Eddie)

Announcements

Tonja Myers said District 5050 Governor Larry Jubie will talk to our club next week.

Bob Moles gave an update on International Service.  He is proposing a switch of focus from water to education.  In particular, he wants us to consider the rebuild of some restrooms at a school in Honduras (app. 850 kids).  The club will contribute $12,000 and we will need to raise an additional $18,000.

Stowe gave a rundown of the Clubrunner website. We bought our Website about 5 years ago, and pay about $100-$200 per year for Clubrunner to maintain and host it.  Many clubs in the US and Canada use Clubrunner, including our District 5050.  To log in for first time: firstname.lastname.265 with password of 265 (if that fails, Email stowetalbot@mac.com), then change your login name and password.  Stowe has given members different levels of access or "permissions", depending on how much they use the site.  His hope is that boardmembers, committee chairs and event chairs will use the site more.

We have a new member application for Leena Marie Kirschman; she is a mortgage adviser at "Neighborhood Mortgage". Her classification would be mortgage broker. Sponsor is Steve Spitzer. Please Email Brent Walker if you have comments or concerns.

 

Bucks in the Bay

  • Tonja Myers – Took kids to wildwaves, thanks Bill Gorman for stepping in last week.
  • Eddie Hansen – Thanks Lisa Boxx and Christine Palmerton for a great event at Boxx Berry Farm.
  • Doug Wight – Update on Hospice House fundraising. Have raised $3.3mm so far. The upcoming Hospice Pro-Am golf tourney at Padden Sept 17 is almost sold out, but there are still two team spots available. Also room for additional sponsors of course!  Thanks to Sarah Rothenbuhler for sponsorship by Birch Equipment Rentals.
  • John Templeton – Went to farmers market with daughter and had a fun time at the Boxx Berry event.
  • Bryant Engebretson – Went to Minnesota. Grandfather past away. Went to Wrigley Field in Chicago. Next week going to San Diego.
  • Christine Palmerton - $5 for missed meeting. Thanked Rotarians to came to the Boxx Berry event. Raised $1,745 for local food bank.
  • Jane Carten – Paid IOU from last time. Had fun trip to Ireland with husband.

Sergeant at Arms by Bill Unrein
Fines for Stowe, Tonja and Mike, those in the banking industry are grateful to health care industry for taking the heat off them, Mimi, $4 fine for Husky football fans, $3 for Cougar football fans, Stan and Eddie, Byron Sprague, Jim McCallum, and mid-west slang trivia, and finally "cowboy wisdom".

Program
Tonja introduced Tony Larson, publisher of the Northwest Business Monthly, and former owner of Bellingham Bells baseball team.  Tony talked about the Tea Party and "Tea Partiers".  Current political and economic events seem to be compelling more people to get involved in the political process; people who often never participated in the process before.  April 15th was the first "Tea Party" event, about 3,000 people showed up along the Guide Meridian.  Tony said the movement is about much much more than just taxes.  According to its website, the Bellingham Tea Party's mission is "to reverse deficit spending and the concentration of power in central government, in order to preserve states' rights and individual liberty for future generations."

Mis characterizations about Tea Partiers:  Media has most often characterized them as "angry mobs".  The group has been called racists, and worse.  Tony stated the need for a more open and honest discussion about taxation and government power.  Tony read through some of the banners and signs that people had made at the April 15th Tea Party.  Also Tony let us know about an upcoming event, September 11th in the evening, at Mount Baker Theater:  "An evening to remember those that lost their lives on September 11, to show respect for our Founding Fathers and to honor what makes America great...WE THE PEOPLE".

Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot