Soundings (12/16/14)

Posted by G. Stowe Talbot 
on Dec 16, 2014
 
Flag Salute & Invocation by Debbie Kiene
 
Visiting Rotarians: None
 
Guests: Wade Springfield, Josh Barrett
 
Pesident  Bob Moles announced the slate of BBRC Rotary officers for 2014-15, the election next week:
  • Bob Moles - Past President
  • Dannon Traxler - President Elect
  • Curtis Dye - VP / Program Chair
  • Stowe Talbot - Secretary
  • Mike Werner - Treasurer
  • Additional 2-Year terms directors:
  • Mike Hammes - Director
  • Flo Simon - Director
The slate was recommended, a motion was made, seconded voted on and passed to accept the slate as proposed.
  • Thanks Henry Lee and the Salvation Army Bell Ringers (December 20th).
  • Fellowship event: Tonja reminder for the Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles show on January 20th at 7:30pm (optional dinner gathering at Table Restaurant at 6pm):  There are 10 tickets still available at $49 each - that’s a 20% discount.  Send Email to Tonja if you can join us.
  • Brent Walker with a pitch for the BBRC Foundation.
  • Recognition of Shannon, Eric and Susie of Northwood Hall, and a presentation of a check to them.
  • John Templeton talked about the potential for restarting the ​international exchange student program.
  • Student of the Month: Mike Bates introduced Tyler Ho is the SOM.  Michelle Neilson is his counsellor. Tyler won the Squalicum HS “character award”, has taken almost all the AP classes available, travelled extensively.  He is interested not only in academics,  but also community service and travel.  He loves working with kids especially.  Volunteering activities have included coaching at Sportsplex, a Wednesday night bible club, and organizing the Bellingham Brain Cancer Awareness walk which raised a lot of money for research.
 
Short Program:  Jill Reid Short gave a quick recap of issues discussed at our last (November) board of directors meeting.  All are welcome to these meetings, which take place every second Thursday at 4:30pm at the Talbot/Barkley Company office.  Next meeting will be Thursday January 8th.
 
New Member Induction:  Lance Calloway introduced our newest member, Josh Barrett.  He is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors.  He grew up in New Mexico, and attended U New Mexico.  He moved to Bellingham in 1989.  A former pro snowboarder, when he is not up skiing he coaches kids’ hockey at Sportsplex.  He is married with twin 3-yo boys.  Orphalee conducted the official induction service.  Congratulations and welcome, Josh!
Glen Groenig announced that we will now have a “vocational bucket” each week, where you can donate to the bucket and promote your business or event.  Proceeds will go to finance the BTC scholarship.
 
Sergeant at Arms by Flo Simon
Fines for trivia on Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
 
Bucks in the Bay
  • Bill Gorman $100 to BBRC Foundation in dedication to SJH;
  • Kendall running for the presidency of the first WA Rotaract club, there will be an organizational meeting about the potential Rotaract club on Thursday Jan 15th, 6pm at Bellwether;
  • Mimi with request for volunteers to help with Salvation Army toy drive;
  • Dannon for upcoming birthday, her twins are sooooo excited about Christmas, house remodel might be complete by March;
  • Eddie Hanson thanks to Salvation Army toy drive successful;
  • Stan Dyer $500 to BBRC Foundation !
  • Steve White heading south for the winter, see you all in the spring;
  • Tonja;
  • Tim Krell with a story of twin left shoulder slings;
  • Stowe with fond memories of his father, remembered in a recent Herald article: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/12/12/4023610/jim-talbot-helped-grow-bellingham.html;
  • Mike Hammes went to Seattle event and saw Rudy Giuliani speak, although didn't agree with everything that Giuliani said, he enjoyed the talk; Mike proposed that we all should practice tolerance to diverse political views.
  • Jill proud of Sedro Wooly;
  • Stew Ellison recent trip to FL Keys;
  • John Templeton $100 to BBRC Foundation thankful to club;
 
Program 
New member talk by Jeff Clement.  Jeff was born in Galveston, Texas, then moved to Virginia when he was 5, then to WA when he was 12.  He has always loved to ski.  After graduating from Western, he gravitated to the Internet technology field, originally getting hired by DIS Corp.  Then he moved to Colorado to follow his passion for skiing and to work at a resort there.  He met his future wife while living in Colorado, and then they moved to Bellingham after a few years.  Now they have two young sons, Jack and Tyler.  Jeff has worked for StarCom Wireless, American Medical Response, and even as the CIO for for Nooksack Tribe Lynden Casino.  Jeff now runs Hemisphere Solutions as its CEO.  Hemisphere provides both on-site and cloud-based services that run on the Microsoft platform.
 
Marilyn wins the raffle.
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Stowe Talbot