Flag Salute & Invocation by Andy Clay
Visiting Rotarians: Rich Bowers from the Monday Bellingham Club.
Guests: John Purdie’s guest Amy Blackwood, Stan Dyer’s son Steven.
Announcements
Birthdays for John Purdie and Steve Brummel.
Board Meeting Thursday Sept 14th 4:30pm at Tradewinds Capital board room 211 Rimlnd Drive #401.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new Lydia Place expansion, 4-7pm Thursday 9/28 1701 Gladstone Ave.
The (Monday) Bellingham Club is celebrating its 100 year anniversary, and they will be hosting a commemorative dinner - all are welcomed to buy tickets and attend.
Business Promo Minute: Wendy Heister talked about the Westview Rotary Club (her home club in Houston) with updates on hurricane and flood disaster relief.
Rotary International is also involved in the flood relief effort and here is where to find out more: https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-districts-collect-emergency-funds-hurricane-harvey-victims
Bucks in the Bay
- Stan said he and Carrie will be donating $500 for disaster recovery;
- Curtis with $250;
- Steve Brummel birthday (and wife’s);
- John Sleeth 52 wedding anniversary
- Erik Dylan thanks Frank Chmelik, Mike Hammes and John Huntley for putting on the tremendous BBQ fundraiser for Boys&Girls Club;
- Shannon Terril for couple weeks on the boat, with kids, fishing in the islands;
- Mark Turner camping over the weekend Twin Lakes area;
- Tresha Dutton doing some house projects;
- Brad Cornwell friends hiking the “Pac NW Trail”, also back to football season GO DUCKS;
- Stephanie Sadler kudos to the President of Rice University (Houston);
- Inga Dreschel’s son is off to 2nd grade!
- Bob Becker newly homeless (or more accuracy between houses), and some $ for disaster recovery;
- Dannon started some more remodeling to new office space;
- Steve hosted grandkids, some successful crab fishing, and going back to school to be a certified dog handler for Brigadoon Service Dogs!
- Lesa Boxx was gone most of August in motor home with Jim, covering over 3500 miles including a lot of Montana;
- Steve Swan very happy bucks now officially RETIRED!
- John Templeton upcoming birthday;
- Andy Clay’s family in Houston safe!
- Debbie Kiene with $ for hurricane recovery, a neighborhood street party;
- Scotty with $ for disaster relief (some extra $ via Doug Wight), and his mom is 96 and struggling with health issues but maintains a great attitude through it all;
Sergeant at Arms by John Purdie
Fines for misc. misdemeanors.
Program
Brad Cornwell introduced Rich Bowers (exec director) and Gabe Epperson (conservation director) from Whatcom Land Trust.
Whatcom Land Trust is a small nonprofit that works with local landowners to help protect the natural values and resources of their property. The Mission of the WLT is “to preserve and protect wildlife habitat, scenic, agricultural and open space lands in Whatcom County for future generations by securing interests in land and promoting land stewardship.” Since 1984, WLT has preserved over 20,000 acres of land in every corner in the county.
Rich talked about the the importance of the WLT mission to future generations in Whatcom County. He also referred to this recent article by David Brooks (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/25/opinion/this-american-land.html?mcubz=3&_r=0) about the importance of land to the American psyche.
Gabe talked about the WLT strategic conservation plan. Sometime WLT buys land, but more often they help maintain conservation easements, as well as promote stewardship and education.
What is a conservation easement?
A: A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement between a property owner and a land trust or other conservation organization, in which the land owner donates to the land trust specific property rights in exchange for the land trust’s promise to protect the conservation values of the property forever. The land owner retains ownership of the land with the ability to sell it or pass it on to heirs, and may receive an income tax benefit from the easement donation. For example, one might give up the right to build additional residences while retaining the right to grow crops. Future owners will be bound by the terms of the easement. The land trust is responsible for ensuring that the terms of the easement are honored.
Why land preservation? We want to protect some of the strategic places in WC because of population growth and development pressure - both here in the county as well as pressure from Vancouver and Seattle. WLT’s strategic focus is along the rivers, in floodways, along shorelines and in the farmlands.
Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot