Soundings 1/16/07
Flag Salute and Invocation by Dick Stark.
Visiting Rotarians: Susan Zoeller, Fred Sexton, John Moles and Dick Nelson.
Guests: Cameron Hulbert (John's son)
Announcements
There was a good article about our Pure Water project in the District's newsletter "Peace Arch Journal". By the way, if you want to receive an Email copy of the "Peace Arch Journal" (monthly), let Barry know.
Stephanie Sadler: Next Rotario dinner at the Imhof's is now FULL. Theme will be "Hunters and Gatherers". Date is Thursday, January 25th.
Bob Moles: Reminder that the Skagit Valley Rotary club's big dinner/auction is coming up on Saturday February 4th, 2006. It is called the "Wild Game and Seafood Dinner / Auction". The Skagit club donated $10,000 for the purchase of a pick-up truck for our Trujillo project. Let's show our support to them! Does our club want to buy a table? See Bob Moles.
Brent Walker and Jim Wells introduced new member Rod Bring. He was born Bellingham, attended Bellingham High and WWU. He's a former teacher and coach at Sehome HS. He started the company Employee Benefits Planning LLC which has six employees in two offices (here in Bellingham and in Skagit County). Rod has 2 grown kids.
Bucks in the Bay
Barry Kramer - Sun Peaks trip, very cold, but great snow;
John Templeton - left over fines from last week;
Bill Boyd - missed meeting while in Maui over holidays, also son accepted to Western;
Stephanie Sadler - St Paul students very successful in recent chess tournaments;
Bob Moles - thanks to all who gave to his last request funding for "Pure Water" operating expences;
Curtis Dye - trip to San Diego last week, very cold there!
Eddie Hansen - happy for having tickets to the recent Seahawk-Bears game where he won some $, but sad that Seahawks ultimately lost.
Scotty - 63 birthday bucks for the Foundation;
Terry Brown - weekend at Mission Ridge;
Bryant Engebretson - weekend at Big White;
Sergeant at Arms by Bryant Engebretson
Fines for Matt Groenig, Bob Becker, Stephanie Sadler, Scott Walker, Bill Boyd and Todd Ramsay, John Hulbert, Ed Zech. Martin Luther King trivia: Born 1929, his first church was in Montgomery, AL, He has a phd from Boston University, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, New Hampshire was last state to recognize MLK day, Illinois was first state to recognize MLK day.
Brent awarded the (Grape & Gourmet) "Best of Show" trophy to Don White from Skylark Café.
Program
Three New Member talks:
1) Matt Groenig: grew up in Yakima, dad homesteaded 40 acres apple farm there. Matt lived in Idaho, then moved to Bellingham to work as the director of St Joseph Medical Group; He has three kids ages 12, 8 and 6 who are attending Lynden Christian. His hobbies include outdoors activities like hiking, hunting, etc.
2) Scot Swanson: Lance and Mimi supported him to join Rotary. He is very involved in soccer and coaching. Recently married. His twin brother is a dentist, his older brother works at same law firm with Scot and their father. He went to Sehome HS and then WWU. Big soccer success there. Then attended law school, worked at a firm in Everett for a while, then moved back to Bellingham two years ago to work at his dad's firm. Scot specializes in condominium and construction work.
3) Tim Krell: Thanks to Scott Walker and Frank Chmelik for the Rotary introduction. Tim is originally from the mid-West. His early employment was in the title business. In 1990 he moved to Spokane and worked at First American Title, where he met his wife. Two kids born while working in Seattle. Moved to Bellingham couple years ago. Hobbies include soccer, skiing and hockey.
Dennis wins raffle.
Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot