Flag Salute & Invocation by Josh Barrett
 
Visiting Rotarians:  None
 
Guests: Erica Charbonneau (B&G Clubs), Dan Barry (Heritage Bank), Ian Johnson, Sophie Byrd (Tyler’s wife).
 
Dannon read some more from our club’s history 2004-5, Ron Hardesty was president. 
 
Announcements
 
Four weeks from now (April 11) our lunch meeting will be at Whatcom Community College.  Please sign up and choose a lunch from the menu choices.
 
On May 2nd State Attorney General Bob Ferguson will be our speaker.
 
Nick Caples says RYLA registration is now open (young people, ages 18-25 years old, May 25-28) - we are looking for one or two candidates to sponsor!  Nick is a graduate himself and would be glad to chat with any prospect.
 
April 1 will be the District Assembly in Surrey BC.  We looking for up to five members to attend.
 
Steve Kimberly announced the annual Ciao Thyme fundraiser dinner to raise money for the international committee.  Cost $200/person, half of which is tax deductible donation to the committee:  June 1st at Ciao Thyme.
 
Scotty is soliciting membership applications! If you know someone who is a good fit for the club, let’s get them in for a visit.
 
Business Promo Minute
  • Tyler Byrd is going to be running for Whatcom County Council (District 3 - East County), his major goal is helping business and entrepreneurship.
  • John Purdie from Mount Baker Theatre thanks Bellwether for last week's BBRC fellowship dinner event at Bellwether and the Ladies of Laughter show at MBT, also a plug for the upcoming 100th birthday party celebration at MBT, 6pm April 29th Saturday, $100 person. Maybe get a BBRC table organized?
 
Bucks in the Bay
  • Dannon fellowship event last week was fantastic, thanks to Tonja and Jim Haupt among others!
  • Tim McEvoy told the story of the founding of the family company McEvoy Oil 85 years ago!
  • Bill Gorman had fun throwing some pots last week (he is former professional potter);
  • Tim Krell for the passing of Ken Imus and a hockey story.
  • Debbie Kiene - update on Interact Club service projects, and news on grandkids;
  • Patrick Drum is back from many travels, with a burgee from the RC in Kuala Lumpur;
  • Erica Charbonneau thanks Tim McEvoy for the invite today, and a plug for B&G Clubs’ Gala at Silver Reef April 28th, 15% of the organizations annual revenue is raised at this event;
  • Steve Kimberly with Gonzaga basketball bucks (and S. Dakota State U bucks);
  • Eddie for some ski trips, Jeff Clement and his kids are REALLY good skiers, and story of property woes.
Sergeant at Arms by Eddie 
Fines for misc. misdeeds incl. March Madness, skiing vacations, sunshine, and St. Patrick’s Day.
 
Program
Tresha introduced our speaker, Ray Deck, who talked about his organization, Skookum Kids.  This is an organization started by Deck and fellow colleagues three years ago.  It’s first initiative was Skookum House: A volunteer-staffed facility that cares for children entering (or transitioning into) foster care. With the children able to come to the Skookum House during their first week of foster care (open 24-hours a day, 7 days a week), this buys critical time for caseworkers to find the children the right long-term placement. The hope is that no child from our community would ever be placed in haste.
 
More recently, they embarked on a second, expanded initiative called Respite Care.  This is a way for Skookum to provide foster families time off from their foster care duties to occasionally go out of state, or just take a break from the fostering duties. In this case, Skookum will recruit, train, and conduct home-studies for families interested in offering short term foster housing for kids on an “as-needed” basis. These families, may (or may not) then take the next step to become full-time foster parents. This is a service found in very few other communities.
 
Skookum also recently bought Perch & Play, a local indoor playspace for kids, and café for adults.  
 
Lesa Boxx takes the raffle winnings.
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Stowe Talbot