Posted by G. Stowe Talbot on Mar 26, 2019
Flag Salute & Invocation by Mark Turner
 
Visiting Rotarians: None
 
Guests: None
 
Announcements
 
2019 Brewers by the Bay - JUNE 8th:  This year's Brewers by the Bay event will be on Saturday, June 8th. Tickets will be available soon, as will the sign up sheet for help the day of the event. Brad Cornwell is leading the committee this year, so if you have questions contact Brad at brad.c@rmcarchitects.com. 
 
Mt. Baker Fellowship Day - 1st weekend of April:  Inga Dressler is organizing a fellowship opportunity up at Mt. Baker for the first weekend in April. Check with Inga (ingadrechsel@gmail.com) to find out which day the event will be happening (Saturday or Sunday) and how to get involved. This is a family oriented event so spouses, kids, friends are welcome!
 
2019-2020 Slate of Officers
This year's nominating committee is pleased to present the following Slate of Officers for consideration:
Past President - Tresha Dutton
President - Brad Cornwell
President Elect - Mike Bates
Program Chair/VP - Lance Calloway
Treasurer - Henry  Lee
Secretary - Tony Freeland
Director - Anna Williams (2nd year of 2-year term)
Director - Carlye Gillespie (2nd year of 2-year term)
Director - Sean Stimac (1st year of 2-year term)
Director  - Steve Beringer (1st year of 2-year term)
Director - Ian McCurdy (1st year of 2-year term)
 
Student of the Month
John Purdie introduced Cindy O’Brien (advisor at Squalicum HS), who then introduced our SOM, Paige Censale.  Paige is a senior at Squalicum, an outstanding student, the senior class president, and an outstanding member of the State winner debate team.  She helped lead an organization called Students for Action (an organization with student safety in mind, led and created by students of the four Bham high schools).  She also participated in the Bellingham Police Explorers program.  She is still unsure about college plans, but is hoping for a spot at the Air Force Academy!
Bucks in the Bay
  • John Purdie for gratitude, missed meeting last week, and offered MBT tickets;
  • Martin Meade missed a month of Rotary, a busy new teaching assignment at WWU, also in process buying a building for his business, AND his daughter was invited to the free-ride skiing championships at Kicking Horse, Canada.
  • Bob Moles $ for Foundation, proud grandpa bucks;
  • Tim Krell wedding anniversary in Vancouver BC, also jury duty;
Sergeant at Arms by Tony Freeland
Fines for misc. trivia.
 
Program
Mike Bates introduced Jeff Giesen and Devin Vilar from the North Cascades Institute
Jeff Programs is the Associate Director of the institute. NCI is 33 years old, Jeff been there 20 years, the Learning Center is way up Hwy 20 on shores of Lake Diablo, but the administration office is closer to town in Sedro Wooley. Saul Wiesberg created NCI in 1986 while an employee of the Parks Service. The initial focus on adults but quickly shifted to kids and students.
 
North Cascades Institute inspires and empowers environmental stewardship for all, through transformative educational experiences in nature. Since 1986, NCI has helped connect people, nature and community through the hands-on study of the natural and cultural history of the Pacific Northwest. 
 
Values:
  • Shared experience in the outdoors strengthen communities;
  • The natural world is an inspiration;
  • Life-long learning should be accessible to all;
  • Diversity is a source of strength.
When the local dams/watersheds were up for license renewal in 2005, some of the fee ($12M) went to build the Learning Center.  So, it was then that NCI got into the business of hospitality and was able to expand their facilities.
 
Some programs:
  • Base Camp is learning and lodging on WEEKDAYS, or during the shoulder season;
  • Conferences and Retreats, family getaways, etc.
  • Graduate M. Ed program;
  • Mountain School is for 5th graders for public school students Skagit and Whatcom Counties (3,000 kids per year).
  • Mt Baker Snow School on Mount Baker for public school kids Whacom County, snow science on snowshoes (300+ kids);
  • Youth Leadership Adventures - 12-day trips for high school kids, teaching skills and leadership (70+ kids);
  • Kulshan Creek Neighborhood program;
Come up and visit us the Learning Center.  https://ncascades.org/ 
 
Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot