Soundings (9/11/07)
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Visiting Rotarians: Jim Hines (Bonnie's husband), John Moles, Jim Voss, Bill Grace, Eric and Val Hayburn from Melbourne Australia.
Guests: Nancy Steiger, CEO of Peace Health Whatcom County
Announcements:
Board meeting tomorrow (Wed) 7AM at Best Western Lakeway Inn.
Stephanie Sadler gave update on youth committee: The first Rotario Dinner will be Sept 22 at 4pm, hosted by Lesa Boxx and Kathy Cheldelin at Boxx Farms, $75 per couple, up to 30 guests!
Tonja still needs applicants for the Feb 2008 "Group Study Exchange" trip to Philippines. For young professionals. District gives some subsidy of a few hundred dollars. Deadline for applicants is next week!
Bucks in the Bay
Orphalee thanks for Husky football win
Bill Boyd for birthday and missed meetings;
Ed Zech commented on rumors of merging Peacehelth and Madrona;
Robin Schmidt thanks for Rotarians who helped with "missioning ceremony" yesterday at hospital;
Chuck Walter for trip to NYC;
Ron Hardesty for 10 days in Michigan;
Mike Kirkland for Oregon Ducks victory;
Bill Geyer announcing 7pm social gathering "campaign kickoff" at Bellwether for City Council campaign (sorry I didn't hear the date)
Gerald Baron for trip to Emmy Awards in LA to support son who was nominated for an Emmy!
Donna Edquist money for Foundation;
Scot Swason for trip to Montana, and braeaking ground on house!;
Bob Jones ?
Steve Spitzer's daughter and son moved up to Bellingham from CA, also reminder about invitation to hear Lenny Wilkins speak at B&G Club Breakfast Oct 25th 7:30 AM;
Jim Hines from the big club welcomes friends from Australia;
Frank Chmelik for weekend cruise on Bob Becker's boat.
Sergeant at Arms by Lynn Templeton
Fines for Mike Kirkland, thanks to first responders, Couger fans, Husky fans, Mariners attendees, Robin Schmidt, John Templeton, Dennis's tie, Stew Ellison's tie, Stan and Dennis, Ron Hardesty, Gary Barnett, Dr Ed, Mimi's convertible, presidential trivia.
Program
Cy Lindberg introduced Hart Hodges, economics professor at WWU. Hart looked at three topics that "challenge conventional wisdom":
Green tags: renewable energy chits. Is it the best use of our dollars? We in in the Pac NW have little power plant pollution impacts, so why spent that money here? If you want to reduce impact, green tags might not be the best way. WWU buys green power, but recently students discovered there may be better ways of spending this money.
Food Miles: How far away the food you buy is produced? Conventional wisdom is buy local. Actually only 2% of cost is transportation. Sometimes we focus too much on intermediate step rather than overall broader goal.
Focus on young workers: Whatcom county has bigger set pop growth in the 40-65 age group. Concern is that we aren't attracting young workers. We miss that we could be focusing more on that cohort. We now how fewer workers in their 30's. Our demographics are the same as everywhere. Where are 30-yr olds? Maybe we don't have the higher-paying jobs. We need to take advantage of what we've got.
We are often ineffective because we take steps that appear beneficial, when in reality there are better ways to achieve our greater overall goals.
Hart has identified "peer communities" (like Burlington, VT) that we can look at to compare ourselves and find better solutions.
Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot