 Vol. 12, No. 27, January 17, 2000 |
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Vol. 12, No. 27, January 17, 2000 |
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Tour Of Safeco Field After a delicious buffet breakfast in the Diamond Club, the attendees were split into two groups and guided through areas where the general public never goes. Sarah and Adee were the tour guides and they knew their stuff. Stops on the tour included the visitors’ locker room, where a five-minute video took the group on a quick tour of the Scoreboard Control Room, the Mariners’ Locker Room, and the Retractable Roof Control Room. Next stop was the Terrace Level, where 4,500 spectators have plush upholstered seats leading from a place for eating and gathering with friends. The Rotarians visited a Suite which could accommodate about 25 people. All Suites around the stadium have both inside and outside seating. We were told that Suites are available on a one-day basis, for as low as $1,300 and as much as $3,000 ,depending on the number in the party.
Down to the press box for the next stop, where the offer was made to produce the next issue of Reveille. All members of the tour entered the field of play during a fairly steady rainstorm. The grass, which was not suffering from drought, looked perfectly healthy. Once on the field, one could see how this stadium was crafted as a baseball-only facility – sightlines and spectator proximity were outstanding. The first full season in the Mariners’ new Field begins in April. Our thanks to Brian Evison, who arranged the details of Friday’s off-site visit. Bill Krueger, often a visitor to regular BBRC meetings and former Mariner pitcher also attended.
Sergeant At Arms Steve Lingenbrink, saying that he really didn’t have any items of interest, called upon Rourke O’Brien, the Club’s reigning Fine Champion. Rourke has never shied away from publicity and he’s at it again! Over-advertising cost him $200.
Marina, the Club’s Brazilian Exchange Student, reported her delight in seeing her first snowflakes this past week! She also reported she’s getting the hang of English and therefore her “grades are better.” Remember to include Marina in future activities you may be planning with your family. She needs about a week’s notice. Contact her through Don Chandler.
Congratulations, Don, you really raised the bar on raffle sales!
President-Elect Cary Kopczynski offered a report on feedback from new members regarding the Club’s New Member Committee Program. The purpose is to help new members become acclimated with Club activities and learn more in-depth information about Rotary and their own club. After one year of operation, new members were positive about the new member experience, finding it generally “enjoyable.” Cary said there was a need for more information about the Raffle and that a training session should be scheduled. The newcomers also asked more details about where the Club’s money goes and what process determines its disbursement. It was suggested a separate tab on the website could lead members to understand how the grant process works and provide updated reports on fundraising activities. Cary reminded the Board that the Annual Club Retreat will be at Port Ludlow, April 28-29. This is much later than usual, because of a late Easter and to eliminate conflicts with spring vacation. With great regret, the Board unanimously accepted resignations of four members: Steve Brown, Frank Coyle, Dan Hering, and Scott Hotes. As was noted by the Board, all of these members were fairly new to the organization, which caused some alarm and broad discussion. All four cited business reasons for their resignations.
Rourke has formed a group of 15 investors, who have provided the initial capital to get Traxx up and running. They are in the process of buying two of the four tracks operating in the Puget Sound region and negotiating for leases in other Northwest cities. “We think the karting business today is where the coffee business was in its pre-Starbucks coffee cart days,” observes Rourke. Traxx has hired Elgin DDB public relations firm to create a marketing plan and develop a Web site. With Rourke’s ventures, the Sergeant At Arms budget should have no problems meeting annual expectations. |
After a four-week layoff, the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club will return to the Glendale Country Club on 140th Avenue in Bellevue this Friday and on future Fridays. A remodeling project for the Glendale kitchen is just about complete. Plan to be at the Country Club for Friday’s 7:00 a.m. meeting.
 Valentine’s
Dinner
Saturday night, January 29, at 7:00 p.m., is the closing dinner of the conference, featuring Rotary International President Carlo Ravizza. There is interest for the BBRC to reserve a table at this important even, held at the DoubleTree Hotel at SeaTac. Tickets are $35.00 per person. Contact Brian Evison.
 Joshua Thomas Hyodo
Other thoughts embossed on the entry way mosaic at Safeco Field: “Without heroes, we’re all plain people and don’t know how far we can go.” – Bernard
Malamud “The game of baseball has always been linked with the mystic texture of childhood.” – Anonymous  |
About 80 members of Rotary and their
guests were guided on a tour of the Northwest’s newest sporting
facility, the controversial Safeco Field. BBRC Rotarians saw
glimpses of the first-class baseball stadium, understanding why
it’s called the “finest field in baseball.”
Passages
