Flag Salute & Invocation by John Templeton
Visiting Rotarians: None
Guests: Sean Cool (Geo Engineers)
Announcements
October BBRC board meeting cancelled, next meeting will be in November.
Bryant with Grape & Gourmet update: The event I Sunday 11/5, 5-8pm. Planning I going well, we now have 14 restaurants and 40 wineries! Four tickets and invoice were sent to each member; please pay to Bryant by check or credit card to BBRC, and obviously consider buying more tickets. The organizing committee meets weekly each Thursday at Bryant’s office (at 4pm ?). Also please by gift certificates for some of our restauranteurs - see Bryant. The event is Sunday Nov 5th. Bryant also announced the "Pre-Sale Wine Tasting" will take place THIS FRIDAY 6-8pm at Bryant’s house 4302 King Avenue. Everyone invited!
Mike Hammes with plug for this year’s Food Bank turkey drive. Looking for cash donations. Checks can be made out to Food Bank (501c3).
Business bucket by John Purdie: MBT has some great upcoming family shows, including Undersea Bubble Fantasia with two shows on Saturday 10/21 - see the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvOI23dtIkQ. Also, A Charlie Brown Christmas on 12/1.
Aaron Lemperes: Charitable giving application letter is available online on our Website, please recruit non-profits organizations to submit an application to us.
Membership Committee update with Scotty: He showed us the new format for our checklist that explains the application, the vetting and then integrating new members into the club. We need more members, so please bring potential applicants to the club.
Bucks in the Bay
- Tresha glad for the changing of the seasons;
- Tim Krell attended a nice fundraising event for BTC last weekend;
- Terry Brown football news;
- John Purdie 25th wedding anniversary, amazing weekend with meal at il Rufugio;
- Rob Bring with early Thanksgiving dinner;
- Brad Cornwell for Cougars (sad bucks for Ducks);
- Scott Walker missed meetings, he was in Napa CA last week and the house they stayed at is now gone;
- Mark Turner for National Coming Out Day (tomorrow)!
- Mike Hammes with more on the Turkey Drive, and the GP-site road work was awarded to Ram Construction!
- Chuck is an ISU Buckeye, proud of the football team;
- John Templeton great weekend in Seattle with son and grandkids!
- Eddie great weekend with no kids' soccer, and looking forward to the opening of his new Ferndale location (Oct 30th).
Sergeant at Arms by Eddie
Fines for various crimes, Cougar fans, Husky fans, misc.
Program
Brad Cornwell introduced Russ Kendall to talk about the Bellingham Farmers Market. Russ is a regular vender at the market, he has wood fired pizza oven on wheels, called "Gusto Wood Fired Pizza Catering" that offers mobile pizza catering. https://www.gustowoodfiredpizza.com
The Farmers Market started humbly in 1992 in downtown Bellingham on Railroad Avenue, but has grown to become one of the best markets in the country. The first year grossed $50,000 (now it's at about $2M/year). Mike Finger (Cedervill Farms), the market’s first board president, says the market is more than just a place to buy fresh produce and hand crafted products. He says, “It fosters a social life and acts as a gathering place for friends and family. Not only is it a place for locals to congregate, but the market is also a tourist attraction. The market brings many people to downtown Bellingham that might not come otherwise.”
A permanent structure was was built there (with help from the Bellingham Rotary Club) in the late nineties. From June through September the market operates every Saturday morning (and then goes to once per month during the winter). Farmer markets are important, because they keep the food economy diverse, and keep it local. The food there is typically fresher, with less transortation, less packaging, the food at the market is on average healthier, and it builds community (local interaction, business contacts).
The trends at the Farmers Market 2006 - 2016:
- membership growth 22%
- sales growth 32%
- gross sales $1.8M
Why do customers shop there?
- support local business;
- enjoy the atmosphere;
- access to fresh produce.
Guiding principles
- Mostly farmers;
- Innovations;
- Visibility;
- Diversity;
- Successful;
- Accessible;
- Have fun.
Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot