Soundings 2/14/06

Posted by Stowe Talbot 
 
 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Flag Salute & Invocation by Barry Kramer

Guests:  Mike Blackburn, Dennis Murphy
Visiters:  Erika Geller, Rick Ellis

Announcements

  • Prospective new member (approved by board): Matt Groenig, Director of the Medical Group at St. Josephs Hospital, sponsored by Ed Zech. Please direct comments to Frank Zurline or Bill Unrein.
  • Fellowship events: Steve Brummel said 17 people currently signed up for Viking Basketball game next Thursday vs. Humbolt. Eddie reminded us about the April 1 event: Dinner at Giuseppe's, then jazz at Mount Baker Theatre.
  • Art Runestrand - Habitat for Humanity event on Saturday cancelled due to expected cold temperatures.
  • Denise Bosman - Grape & Gourmet committee meetings counts as "make-up". Next meeting March 13, 5pm at Giuseppe's.
  • Pure Water for the World: Three members of the Skagit Rotary club (Dave Ryberg, Mike Irving and Jim Stewart) presented our club with a check for $10,000, their club's first big contribution for an international project. Thank you Skagit Rotary!
 

Bucks in the Bay
Bill Unrein - thanks to Skagit Rotary for contributing to Pure Water project!
Robin Schmidt - announced the Boys and Girls Club's fundraiser "Kidsfest2006" called Regatta Royale Saturday March 25th;
Bob Moles - upcoming trip to Honduras;
Chuck Walters - daughter on teen court filmed by Seattle TV crew;
John Sleeth - trip to DC, getting stuck in snow and then airline delays;
Mike Kirkland - announced ribbon cutting ceremony today to open new wing at Hospital, 24 new beds;
Gerald Baron - trip to Puerto Vallerta;
Steve Kimberly - birthday and ski trip;

Sergeant at Arms by Cy Lindberg
Shannon's fish trip, hunters and those from Texas, John Sleeth, Curt Smith's passport, Huskies "Tequila!", Dr. Zech, those not attending City Government.

Program
Orphalee introduced Dennis Murphy, dean of WWU's College of Business and Economics.  As usual, Dennis gave a fascinating and fastpaced talk, which made taking notes difficult.  The talk, in general, concerned the changing world demographics and how it is affecting the country of France in particular. Past predictions of an ever-increasing human population and the resulting world catastrophes have proven false.  In fact, in many countries population growth has led to increased prosperity.  The problem in France is a low "native French" birth rate, high immigration, and a social / cultural environment that discourages assimilation of the new immigrants.  Added to this, France has the added problem of its "welfare state" system, which Dennis predicts will collapse within 50 years.

Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot