Posted by G. Stowe Talbot on Sep 26, 2017
Flag Salute & Invocation by Doug Wight, with kind words about former club member Art Runestrand, worked for many years School District and then GP, memorial service for him this Saturday 3pm at Emmanuel Bible Church, 2000 W North St, Bellingham, WA 98225. http://molesfarewelltributes.com/tribute/details/1958/Arthur-Runestrand/obituary.html 
 
Visiting Rotarians: None
 
Guests: Donna Gibbs (The new VP of University Relations at WWU), Bryant’s new coworker, Nicole Gilmore (Taylor Shellfish) and Stephanie Morrell (from Bellingham Bells).
 
Announcements
 
Brewers by the Bay netted the club $37K!
 
Sunday Nov 5th is GRAPE & GOURMET, the organizing committee meets weekly each Thursday at Bryant’s office (at 4pm ?).  Please see the envelope with your 4 tickets and $400 invoice.  Also please by gift certificates for some of our restauranteurs - see Bryant.
 
Membership update:  Scotty thanked those who have sponsored new members. Please everyone consider inviting new members into the application process for club membership.
 
Student of the Month by Mike Bates:  Our first honoree is Olivia Benner (parents Steve and Sarah). She has taken classes in business, finance and marketing, and many honors and AP classes. She has done the mentoring program for freshmen students.  Participates in the Lemon Club and is the ASB VP at Squalicum HS.  Many other community activities and much volunteer work. 
 
Lydia Place Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (with cider press) for their new facility expansion, 4-7pm Thursday 9/28, 1701 Gladstone Ave.
 
Please sign up for raffle and invocation duty.
 
Business Promo by Michael Tilly:  Minuteman Press is celebrating its 25th anniversary (Michael bought the business three years ago). If you use his firm for printing (biz cards, flyers books books shirts sign banners etc.) he will donate a percentage back to BBRC Rotary.
Bucks in the Bay
  • Curtis with kind words for Art Runestrand;
  • Harte went racing on a track with variety of BMW M-cars at the Shelton race track;
  • Orphalee with memories of Art;
  • Phil X Hageman with $’s in memory of Art;
  • Curt Smith withe memories of Art;
  • Bill Unrein for wedding anniversary, and memories of Art, also missed meetings;
  • Erik Dylan for wedding anniversary, now they are empty nesters!
  • Steve White just back from Yakutat, AK for fishing!
  • Tim Krell $’s for SOM Olivia Benner;
  • Patrick Drum enjoyed summer in Bellingham, now off to traveling!
  • Dannon happy bucks weekend in Mazama, WA with kids and many many friends;
Program
Brad Cornwell introduced Patricia Gilmore, education coordinator from Taylor Shellfish Farms, a 5th. generation shellfish farm.  They grow and harvest clams (Manila), geoducks (a form of clam), mussels and oysters.  Washington state is the world’s leading producer of shellfish, and Taylor the largest producer here. The biggest farm, and company headquarters, is in Shelton, WA. They have about 24 farms in total, mostly South Puget Sound. One hatchery in Hawaii, and a distribution facility in Hong Kong.  The native oyster for Puget Sound is called the “Olympia”, but now most everyone grows the Pacific oyster, which is from Japan, but not invasive, and larger in size.  They hand harvest and hand plant same way since 1800’s.  At Daybob Bay they have a large hatchery building, they have found it more effective to raise the larvae there in tanks. They also grow the oyster food there: natural algae grown in tanks.
  • Clams: hand planted into the mud, cover with net, grows for about 2 years. 
  • Oysters dominate the industry, either in the beach or in bags lying on the beach.
  • Mussels needs deeper water, clusters hang from raft.
  • Goeducks: native clam,  “dig deep” - 6 years to grow full size for harvest.
All are filter feeders, which helps the eco system. But they face ever more frequent water quality issues / pollution - usually from bacteria and E-Coli from local rivers and streams flowing into the Sound. Another issue is ocean acidification: CO2 from sky gets into sea and changing the chemistry of the ocean water, more acidic water inhibits proper shell formation.  They have an expanded larvae production in Kona HI where sodium carbonate is added to the hatchery water to help shell growth.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot