President Margie Burnett
"Good morning, Bellevue Breakfast Rotarians!" President Margie Burnett called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. at the Glendale Golf and Country Club.
John Martinka & Steve Lingenbrink
The greeters were Past President Steve Lingenbrink and John Martinka. Martinka was substituting for Paul Chapman.
Steve gave the invocation and led the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag, and John introduced visiting Rotarians and guests. Among the visiting Rotarians, of course, was Frank Young (Bellevue Rotary Club), who was his usual generous self. Other guests included Sue Henry, Ann Norman, Kathleen Francis, and Emily Inger.
Morris Kremen
Morris Kremen, representing Rotary First Harvest for HoJo (Howard Johnson), requested that members please join the next Work Party, to help reach the BBRC’s goal for 2009-10, which is 175 volunteers. The next opportunity to volunteer is Saturday, October 24th, at the Food Lifeline Warehouse in Seattle, and November 14th, at the Northwest Harvest Warehouse in Kent. So far 29 BBRC members have volunteered this new Rotary Year.
Interesting Gift for President Margie
John Martinka & Steve Lingenbrink present President Margie with her "wine."
After returning from the wilds of Wisconsin, in search of future BBRC International Service Projects, John Martinka and Steve Lingenbrink stumbled upon an anomaly that even they were not prepared for. There, in the far northern reaches of the United States, they found a wine (and we all know Margie loves her wine) that even Margie could not drink. The two presented the flattened German wine bottle to Margie’s knowing smile. She then spied the partially clad woman on the label who was receiving a spanking over the knee of lederhosen-clad gentleman. Laughter erupted.
October is Vocational Service Month
Rotarians have put Service Above Self for more than a century. Observed each October, Vocational Service Month spotlights Rotary club projects related to this avenue, offering an opportunity for clubs and districts to use their professional skills in service projects. Through vocational service, Rotarians serve others through their professions and promote high ethical standards. In honor of Vocational Service Month, members are encouraged to apply the skills and talents we use in our professions to our club’s service projects.
Second Story Theater Sponsors Block Party
Paul Osborn & Caitlin Frances
Paul Osborn, dressed as a zombie, promoted the upcoming season of The SecondStory Repertory at Redmond Town Center. SecondStory Managing Director Caitlin Frances said the highlight of the season opening is The Block Party that will take place on Saturday, October 24th, at 4:00 p.m. You can learn the Michael Jackson “Thriller” dance from the Redmond Zombies, who are teaching most weekends to prepare for The Block Party. Click here for more information.
In a recent email to President Margie Burnett, the traveling Colleen Turner said:
Colleen Turner, making up in Barcelona
I had lunch with the Barcelona Petralbes Rotary this afternoon and it was a lot of fun. I sat at the "international" table with members who were currently living in Barcelona but were Dutch, Israeli, and German. At this table, English was widely spoken. The Dutchman was grateful for my presence because he has been living in Barcelona for only six months and is still struggling with Spanish. Over lunch, he was very happy to speak English, since it is much easier than Spanish for him.
During the meeting, they were initiating a new woman member. Judging by the attendance at lunch, there aren’t many women in this club. However, I did sit with one of the woman members who happened to be an economics professor at the University of Barcelona. The whole table laughed when I asked her what she thought of Obama’s economic policies. Leave it to me to get into politics.
During the meeting, I heard from an exchange student who had just returned from the United States. During her speech, she kept mentioning the word “frio,” which means cold. It must have been quite a shock for a girl from sunny Barcelona, being shipped off to upstate New York for an exchange program!
Proposed Members: Carter, Lutes, Norman
Michel Carter is an experienced videographer who worked for KING-TV for 15 years. Currently, he is the owner of MBC Video in Redmond and is a certified legal video specialist (NCRA). He can document all the significant events of your life! His proposed classification is "Video Production," and he is sponsored by Colleen Turner. Michel is the Ambassador Chairman of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, and he and his wife Rachel live in Redmond with their children Jason and Brian.
Lennie Lutes is the CEO of Arscentia in Bellevue, a firm specializing in graphic design and printing. He previously worked for Van Dyk Business Systems for 14 years. Lennie's proposed classification is "Graphic Design," and his sponsor is Paul Martin. Lennie serves as secretary at Stevens Hospital Foundation, and he lives in Lynwood with his wife Ann and their children Jolene, Shanna, and Stacy.
Ann Norman is a CPA, Tax Accountant, at Norman & Kitto PLLC in Bellevue. For community involvement, Ann volunteers for the Boy Scouts and is active in her church. She enjoys bicycling, hiking, skiing and swimming. Ann lives in Bellevue with her husband Jeff, and she has two children, Christopher and Camille, who are in college. Her proposed classification is "CPA Estates & Trusts," and she is sponsored by Lee Smith.
Contact Membership Committee Chair Chris Rasmussen with any questions or concerns regarding these applications.
Rotary Sponsors Exchange with Bolivia
Rotary District 5030 and the Rotary clubs of Seattle, South King County, Bellevue, Renton, Kirkland, and other Eastside communities are seeking business and professional people ages 25-40 to apply for a cultural/vocational exchange program next year. The exchange with Bolivia will take place from April 11 to May 8, 2010.
The Group Study Exchange is a longstanding program of Rotary International. It offers an all-expense paid experience with home stays with Rotarian host country families, vocational visits, and an opportunity to exchange ideas and customs with counterparts. Applicants must live in Rotary District 5030, which basically corresponds to Seattle and its suburbs. The exchange is not open to Rotarians or their relatives.
Rotary Clubs around the world have worked towards advancing understanding, goodwill and peace since Rotary’s beginning in 1905. Local clubs are encouraging young business people to join these efforts by taking part in a month-long Group Study Exchange in Rotary District 4690 in the spring of 2010. Applications are currently being accepted by all clubs in the 5030 district. The exchange is open to non-Rotarians only.
Since its inception in 1965, the Group Study Exchange (GSE) program has provided grants for countless teams of men and women in the early stages of their business and professional careers to travel abroad and share vocational information with the representatives of their respective professions in another country.
Team members spend four weeks studying the host country's institutions, economy and culture, while observing how their own professions are practiced abroad. More than 500 exchanges between paired Rotary districts occur each year, advancing the program's ultimate goal of promoting international understanding and goodwill.
Rotary districts select teams comprising of four non-Rotarians and one Rotarian leader, engaged in different business and professions. Each of two paired districts sends and receives a team for a four-week study program.
While visiting abroad, GSE team members follow a carefully planned itinerary, including visits to government and cultural institutions, schools, religious and historic sites and other points of interest. In addition, each member spends at least three days studying and observing the practice of his or her profession in the host district.
The foundation grant funds round-trip air transportation for each team member. Rotarians provide lodging in their homes, meals and group travel, allowing the opportunity for participants to become acquainted with the customs and culture of the people in their host districts. District 5030 does not require language proficiency to qualify for the team.
The exchange is designed to develop professional and leadership skills, and to better prepare participants to address the global needs of their own communities when they return.
Kelly O'Rourke, who took part in a recent exchange in Thailand, was surprised by her experience. “The program was described as an opportunity to experience a country through the 'back door' of Rotary. That is exactly what happened. Our team met people, saw sights and had experiences that would not be available to even the most well-seasoned, well-researched traveler.”
Bob Kaercher, chairman of the GSE committee, regards the program as an opportunity to dig beneath the surface - not only to see the sights, but to live with people of each host country to learn the challenges they face every day.
Team Members
- Print and fill out an application
- Submit your application for the Bolivia GSE Team by October 19, 2009
- The District GSE Committee will conduct an initial interview session with applicants on Saturday morning, October 24, 2009. Ten finalists will be selected for individual interviews.
- Individual interviews will be held on the evening of October 27th, 2009.
- Four team members and two alternates will be selected.
Applications for team members are due on October 19. Complete information and application forms are available here.
The BBRC Group Study Exchange Committee representative is Dr. John Armenia. (Ph 425-868-4282). John is also chair of the Eastside GSE Committee.
John Martinka encouraged members to accept the invitation to the Wine Tasting on October 17, at the home of Paul and Shannon Chapman. Click here to RSVP.
John also reminded members of the November 13 Good Luck/Bad Luck Anniversary Party in the Marina Room at the fabulous Woodmark Hotel in Kirkland. Click here to RSVP online.
"An Update on The Programs & Initiatives Of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation," Lisa Verhovek, Community Relations Manager, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Lisa Verhovek
Kaj Pedersen introduced speaker Lisa Verhovek, Community Relations Manager for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Lisa joined the Foundation in 2008, with over 20 years in the philanthropy industry, and she is the Communications Director of Philanthropy Northwest. A graduate of California Polytechnic State University—San Luis Obispo, Lisa is also a member of Seattle’s Century 21 Advisory Committee.
With support from Community Relations Assistant Lacey Birk, Lisa used the video PowerPoint titled, “Inequity to Hope” to tell the story of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Lisa pointed out right away, “The Gates Foundation takes on large scale problems around the world. The Gates legacy is giving back, e.g., its partnership with Rotary International to support Polio Plus, the Green Revolution, and the world’s clean water problems.
Verhovek pointed out that “Rotary is an incredible partner with the Gates Foundation.” Because of this partnership, the world adopted in 1988 a goal of making polio the second disease to be eliminated, after smallpox. Bill Gates wrote in his annual letter, “The United Nations Fund for Children and the World Health Organization led the charge. Rotary International has been a primary supporter of the work, and we wouldn’t be anywhere on this without their efforts. Many people probably think polio has already been eradicated, because it gets so little press coverage, especially in rich countries. But there is still a significant amount of polio in four countries, with most of the cases coming from India and Nigeria. Eliminating it will require continued investment. Many people had hoped that it would be eradicated by now, but it has proven more difficult than expected. Researchers have learned that in some parts of India, kids need to receive more than eight doses of the vaccine before they are protected.” As a result of this need to continue the partnership, Verhovek noted that the Gates Foundation has contributed $355 million since 2007 and has initiated a challenge grant of $255 million that is being matched by $100 million in donations by the Rotary Foundation and praised Rotary for its tremendous commitment.
Verhovek noted that the Foundation has served as a catalyst for educational change, the global investment in developing countries, and major contributions to biomedical research in the northwest and global health.
Ms. Verhovek pointed out, “We believe that ‘all lives have equal value’ and that all issues are impervious. We are optimistic, and we are committed to turning optimism into results. We advocate and support innovation for the purpose of taking on an issue and getting results.”
For more information go to the Gates Foundation website.
Courtesy of Wally Mahoney
In a hospital's Intensive Care Unit, patients always died in the same bed, on Sunday morning, at about 11:00 am, regardless of their medical condition. This puzzled the doctors and some even thought it had something to do with the supernatural. No one could solve the mystery as to why the deaths had occurred at that time on Sundays, so a worldwide team of experts was assembled to investigate the cause of the incidents.
The next Sunday morning, a few minutes before 11:00 am, the doctors and nurses nervously waited outside the ward to see for themselves what the terrible phenomenon was all about. Some were holding wooden crosses, prayer books, and other holy objects to ward off the evil spirits.
Just as the clock struck 11:00, Pookie Johnson, the part-time Sunday custodian, entered the ward and unplugged the life support system so he could use the vacuum cleaner.
• • •
A woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen shaking frantically, almost in a dancing frenzy, with some kind of wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current, she whacked him with a handy plank of wood, breaking his arm in two places.
Up to that moment, he had been happily listening to his iPod.
