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Brian Evison –
Rotary Roots are Deep
The BBRC’s 18th President has a genealogy of Rotary involvement. Brian first joined Rotary back when he was a mere boy in 1979. The place was Beecroft New South Wales, Australia. He took a job in Singapore and joined the Singapore West Rotary Club in 1982. Next came a stint in Hong Kong, where he was a member of Victoria West from 1983 to 1992. Back to Beecroft, our president went for a short visit from 1992-93 and then came to the states where he joined the Rotary Club of Montecito, California. He arrived in the Puget Sound region in 1995 and joined the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club on October 10, 1995. Brian’s sponsor was Mike Hyodo. Combining his Rotary membership since 1979, our new president has 24 active years as a Rotarian in five different clubs, on three continents. Brian is Sales Manager for Boullioun Aviation in Bellevue, managing aviation leasing activities of the company in South America.
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Evison Deported!
Rotating Wheels is a Warm, Fuzzy Event
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Kim Shrader
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Brian Evison
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Over 100 members and guests attended the annual Rotating the Wheels dinner, held this year at the rockin’ Red Hook Brewery in Woodinville. The main purpose of the gathering was to salute the outgoing administration of Kim Shrader and to welcome the new leadership of Brian Evison.
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Norm Johnson
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Dick Clarke
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Norm Johnson served as Master of Ceremonies. Dick Clarke gave the invocation and led the pledge to the flag. The buffet dinner of beef and salmon was catered by McCormick and Schmick.
After the meal and dessert, recognition of Kim Shrader’s year as president began. As Norm explained, “Being a Rotary Club president is a minimum 3-1/2 year commitment, from the time a person is elected until his or her term as past president ends. We’ve had 17 strong leaders give us that commitment and that’s what has made the BBRC great!”
Mary Bell then delivered the Top Ten List of
Things We’ll Remember About Kim’s Year:
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Mary Bell
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#10 – No pesky unintelligible Australian accent
#9 -- Mike Price has already Sown Enough Seeds of Love on behalf of the Cougs
#8 -- No more side-kick John Martinka (Boo!)
#7 -- No more fatherly, reassuring Ronald Reagan-type, Everything-is Going-to-Be-Just-Fine-no-Matter-What, bedside manner (Ahh!)
#6 -- No more one-sided political forums!
#5 -- No more red hair (well, what’s left of it).
#4 – Kim is like sex and golf …even when he’s bad he’s lots of fun (Bill Schultheis provided this one).
#3 – No more Yakima Kim – Rodeo, Country-Western Theme
#2 – No more sales pitches on the benefits of vinyl floor covering!
And the #1 Reason we’re going to miss President Kim
The Best Darn Rotary Club President in the WORLD!
Norm announced a CD would be available at the end of the program entitled “Yakima Kim.” It’s a limited edition. The evening’s entertainment was provided by Jay Powers at the keyboard and Andrew Face with his guitar, with a stirring rendition of “Armstrong Man.” Definitely a ground-breaking musical interlude.
Phil Salvatori was in charge of the “Guess the Beans in the Jar” escapade as guests arrived. Everyone was asked to guess the number of jelly beans in the jar. Bill Spencer guessed 716 and the actual number was 721. Howard Johnson, he of methodical business acumen, was right on Spencer’s heels with 715. Other finalists were Jane Deasy, Mark Hough, and Tom Smith. Each received a gift from Sadru Kabani. Bill got the Kabani gift PLUS the jar of jelly beans! Bill explained that he counted the number of beans showing on the bottom of the jar, then counted the number of beans an inch high and then multiplied by the number of inches of the jar and added a couple of beans of Kentucky Windage – and BINGO! A winner!
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Bill Schultheis
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Next was the most clever use of the bandana issued to each attendee. Don Deasy was awarded 5th runner-up for his stylish “Harley” look. Bill Schultheis covered his whole head with the Rotary logo covering the bald spot for 4th runner-up. David Miller was praised for his “most authentic cowboy outfit,” for 3rd runner-up. Peter Powell copped 2nd runner-up with his clever use of the bandana as a diaper. 1st runner-up was Sayoko Powell with her liberal use of the bandana to cover the upper torso. And the winner was Margie Burnett, who cleverly wound the fabric into her Wild West costume.
After those fun and games, Kim Shrader was called to the lectern to give his side of the Yakima Kim story. He called District Governor Rosemary Aragon, Assistant Governor John DeWater, Annual Giving Chair Jim Owens, and District Conference Chair Sharon Edberg to the front to receive the applause of the crowd for jobs well done. Each received a certificate for 240 doses of polio vaccine to be given to children in Africa.
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Jean Shrader
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Kim recognized the attendance of past president Jeff and Judy Cashman and former member Susan Amini. He especially thanked his wife Jean, “who saved my bacon every Thursday night while I tried to find the best Thought for the Day!”
Kim also paid tribute to the outgoing board members who completed their terms. Included in this group were Margie Burnett, treasurer; Club Service I Director Steve Lingenbrink; Sergeant At Arms John Martinka; Community Service Director Tim Moriarty; and Major Gifts/Foundation Director Steve Roberts.
Kim Shrader’s thanks his board (L-R): Robin Callan, Margie Burnett, Brian Evison, Bob Holert, Steve Lingenbrink, John Mix
Annual Dinner Committee
The President, as one of his final acts, heaped praise on the Rotating the Wheels Dinner Committee, headed by Carlene Buty: Chris Ballard, Margie Burnett, Don Chandler, John DeWater, Valoree Dowell, Andrew Face, Wendi Fischer, Larry Gill, Ernie Hayden, John Hague, Sadru Kabani, Jane Kuechle, Dan Lewis, Norm Johnson, Bob Moloney, Peter Powell, Jay Powers, Tom Purdy, Phil Salvatori, Milt Smith, Polly Stansell, and Dick Swanson.
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Peter Powell (L) & Kim Shrader
Kim Shrader (L) & Brian Evison
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Receiving the June Rotarian-of-the-Month Award was Peter Powell, for his expert guidance to the Fellowship Committee during the past year.
Finally, Kim did his famous swan song, a repeat of his now legendary “Best Darn Club in the World,” with compliments to Jay Powers, Andrew Face, and Satchmo Armstrong. It is not lost on all of us that the Regional Armstrong representative’s signature song would be one by a guy named Armstrong!
Next came the new President, Brian Evison, for the exchange of pins … Kim getting a past president’s pin and badge and Brian getting his new president’s pin. With an Australian twang, the crowd joined in singing “Amazing Kim.”
Amazing Kim, how sweet the fate, that gave BBRC he!
At even time, and mornings too, no med-i-oc-ri-teee.
Twas Kim that brought the directors in, and stood for quality,
With gentle wit, complete control, and great efficienceee.
When Kim began, we paid respect, and joyed in working well,
The music great, the funfilled gigs, sent Satan back to Hell (?)!
Through many meetings and songs he gently led us on,
“Shall we give it a whirl?” That sounds just fine! And glory shone around!
When we’ve been here a thousand years, of president’s come and gone,
We’ll tip our hats to Shrader Year for all for us he’s done!
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Brian Evison
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President Brian Evison took over the microphone, thanking Kim for his wonderful year and pledged to work with the Club’s leadership to continue the traditions of the past with new energy for the future. He introduced his “Team,”
- Pitcher, Mary Bell (Sergeant At Arms)
- Catcher, John Smolke (Treasurer)
- 1st Base, Robin Callan (Secretary)
- 2nd Base, Scott Sadler (Community Service Director)
- 3rd Base, Norm Johnson (President-Elect)
- Shortstop, Will Einstein (Club Service 1 Director)
- Left Field, John Mix (Club Administrator)
- Centerfield, Bob Holert (Vocational Service Director)
- Right Field, Phil Salvatori (Major Gifts/Foundation Director)
- Designated Hitter, Kim Shrader (Past President)
- Disabled List (not able to attend)
Jenny Andrews (Club Service II Director)
Mike Hyodo (International Service Director)
And, of course, the manager of this fine team is none other than Brian Evison, who can hit with the best of them!
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Brian Evison’s Team (L_R): Mary Bell, John Smolke, Robin Callan, Scott Sadler, Norm Johnson
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Jean Shrader & Trish Evison receive flowers.
Trish Evison receives PH Fellowship.
Mary Bell & Australian Consul Len Reid. |
Bill Schultheis was welcomed as the new chair of the Club Service I Public Relations Committee. Brian gave a brief thumbnail of the Rotary International Convention in Brisbane, which attracted over 17,000 Rotarians from 117 countries and tabulated over $88 million dollars contributed to the Polio Eradication Campaign just concluded.
The Fellowship Committee gave beautiful bouquets of flowers to Jean Shrader and Trish Evison for what they’ve done and what they will do for the BBRC. Chuck Barnes announced that late-arriving contributions have pushed the Club’s Foundation effort up to $42,000, breaking the goal of $36,000. Chuck also announced that Brian Evison has become the Club’s newest sapphire, denoting $2,000 of contributions, with his latest $1,000 going in the form of a Paul Harris Fellowship to his wife, Trish.
Finally, on the issue of deportation: Len Reid, Australian Consul in Seattle, questioned Brian closely on whether he had the proper papers to be doing business in the U.S. and, therefore, whether he could serve as BBRC president. Well, this was quite a quandary as they say, as Brian could produce no Green Card, no Visa, no passport, and no citizenship document. With the sounds of Waltzing Matilda in the far background and Brian embracing his billabong, the evening ended with the question: “Will Brian Evison get his papers in order by July 18?”
Attend the next regular meeting of the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club at Glendale CC to find out!
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL EVENT:
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
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