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Vol. 18, No. 29, JANUARY 16, 2006 |
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The Friday Program: Behind the Scenes with Patti Payne | Friday Potpourri | TreeHouse Clothing Collection | Back to Slovakia | District Slates Community Service Projects | Sign-Up Underway for Valentine Dinners | Stefy Looks for Exchange Gigs | Retreat Coming; Sign Up Now | Student of the Month: Joe Herauf | NoJo Praised and Honored | New Members Proposed: Paul Chapman & Jim Carney | Web Fun |
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The Friday Program:
Patti, who writes a weekly column for the Puget Sound Business Journal, is always on the prowl for good stories. “My radar goes up when Phil Smart is speaking, as well as many other area businessmen who happen also to be Rotarians.” (It’s like old-home week this month, as Phil Smart is this Friday’s guest speaker
Santa Salvatori, who was sent to some remote desert island to recover from his hard work over the holidays, has returned, glad to learn of the success of the Giving Tree project. Madeline Gauthier has been the patron saint of TreeHouse, as far as the BBRC is concerned. From the early days when the organization was just getting started, TreeHouse has become a model for providing services to foster children. Lynne has been instrumental in helping initially to solve one of the group’s big problems – having luggage available for the children when they were forced to move. Now, a manufacturer of luggage has donated supplies of luggage and for the moment, that problem is solved. Lynne has turned her attention to collecting good clothing for these young people. She conducted her pick-up last Friday, but we’re sure she can always use more, and she will take more contributions at this Friday's meeting. If you would like to help TreeHouse in this important way, contact Madeline Gauthier and/or bring your donations this Friday. It’s one of the best things we can do. John Martinka gave an update on the Slovakia Computer Project. Newport High School staged a fundraiser over the weekend to make it possible for the dozen or so students to travel to Slovakia and be part of the installation crew for the computers, as well as members of a student goodwill exchange between countries. To sweeten the pot, Rotarians gave $300 to help get the fundraiser started. The project goes overseas in February. This is the second such trip, coming on the heels of last year’s first installation of 120 computers in several schools that had none until this trip. Kudos to Martinka for his leadership and coordination of this great project! District Slates Community Service Projects
Rotarians will build, repair, upgrade and paint facilities for the elderly and needy, clean up parks and schools, plant trees and shrubs, prune, cut and beautify parks and roads. Many of the club projects are true community partnerships, with local merchants, county governments, non-profits and other service organizations getting together for community service. The Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club will send a team along the banks of Bear Creek, out Avondale Road in Redmond, to refurbish an eight-year-old project with new shrubs and other plantings. The work begins at 9:00am, Saturday, January 21, and will close at noon with a fellowship gathering providing lunch for the workers.
Exchange Committee Chair Mike Ralph has put the word out to the membership of the expectations of this project. Stefy’s list includes such attractions as the Space Needle, the Science Fiction Museum, Museum of Flight, Snoqualmie Falls, Snoqualmie Pass, Ballard Locks among others. Another way members can help is to provide tickets to concerts or sporting events that you may not be using. A calendar has gone to each table at Friday’s meetings, showing Stefy’s availability. To get linked up with Stefy, call her directly at 206-384-8180 or email her at stefania_2079@hotmail.com. Stefi reported on her fantastic New Year’s weekend, hosted by Margie Burnett, and dinner at the Lingenbrink home last week. She is an appreciative young lady who has a great curiosity about the United States and wants to learn all she can. Student of the Month: Joe Herauf
Joe is involved in the school’s leadership project where he coordinates all assemblies, has been involved in Earth Day, been a camp counselor for 6th graders, and plays varsity basketball for the Totems. He intends to head for a career in broadcasting, with applications out to WSU, Arizona State and Western Washington. Joe's counselors describe him as “going above and beyond in helping others, maturing rapidly in the process. He’s become a role model to other students and a real leader.” Congratulations, Joe, for your honor.
Norm has told the Board of Directors that he wants to tie up the loose ends on the Centennial Project and bring it to some conclusion. President Lingenbrink had a surprise gift, a beautiful glass rendering commemorating Norm’s year as Centennial President. The honor was greeted with a robust round of applause. Norm’s a keeper. New Members Proposed: Paul Chapman & Jim Carney Paul C. Chapman, proposed classification of “Real Estate Investment Management,” is one of two applicant for membership in the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club. Sponsored by Tom Smith, Paul is the Managing Director of CB Richard Ellis Investors, LLC, in Bellevue. Paul plays the guitar, enjoys reading, travel and wine, and spends quality recreation time skiing, hiking, boating and snorkeling. He is the father of two children, Ryan and Matthew. James R. “Jim” Carney has been proposed for membership by sponsor Scott Sadler and co-sponsor Alex Rule. Jim is Vice-President at Bernstein Investment Research and Management in Seattle. His proposed classification is “Investment Research.” Members who have questions or comments concerning these two applications should contact Tom Smith (Ph 425-451-8036) no later than Thursday, January 19, by 3:00pm. The Friday Program:
Patti, who writes a weekly column for the Puget Sound Business Journal, is always on the prowl for good stories. “My radar goes up when Phil Smart is speaking, as well as many other area businessmen who happen also to be Rotarians.” (It’s like old-home week this month, as Phil Smart is this Friday’s guest speaker!)
Columnist Payne said she had her “ears to the ground, getting ideas and watching for the good news. The Puget Sound Business Journal is one of the best publications of its kind in the country and is one of the most successful, too.” Patti offers a column each Friday, although the current issue includes a second column about the “stepping down of Mike Flynn as the PSBJ publisher. Mike told me he was looking forward to slowing down somewhat. Nearing his 66th birthday, Mike does sprints for exercise. He said he’ll be cutting back to 50 hours a week.” Patti made available a stack of business cards for contacting her with stories. “Businesses are interesting. You should share your stories. Give me a call!”
“We moved to Carnation and then on to Fall City, where we had 50 acres. I love to cook and grow a lot of what we eat. I’m also a singer, vocalizing with a five-piece jazz combo headed up by another BBRC favorite, John Ellis.” Patti worked for KGAA Radio in Kirkland and hired Bill Schwartz, who has become a fixture in sports reporting in the Puget Sound. Patti has served as news anchor for many of the major news outlets, KING, KOMO and KIRO. She’s the recipient of many awards for her broadcasting work and is sought after as an emcee for annual auctions. “I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had ... every experience has been a learning experience.” “This area is filled with amazingly wonderful people. I’m discouraged with the tone of the news today. I do 50 speaking engagements and fifty auctions each year, so I know something about “good” news. I proposed some time ago to do a “good news” newscast. The Rotarians I know have such a positive outlook, and that’s why I like to keep in contact, because I know you’ll be involved with good news. Phil Smart told me he’d sponsor such a program. The audience is the key. I think people like to hear the good things that go on around them. People should let stations know of their support of this type of programming.”
Patti says that “news can be good, heartwarming, and happy.” Keep her in mind when you have a story to share. During a brief Q & A session, Patti said she was “pretty ashamed of both political parties. I have never been more of an independent than right now. And, I’ve never seen a more dangerous time in this country.” When asked about the funniest story she’s reported, she said there was humor in everything. “A woman in Bellevue walks to the library, does research almost every day. She lives in a nearby condo. This one day, she had a doctor’s appointment and drives her car and parks in the library’s underground parking garage. She then walks to her doctor’s office and then back home. A couple of days later, she goes down to her condo parking garage and her car is missing. She calls the cops. They search for two weeks and finally find her car. It’s in the parking garage of the library. She was furious! “What took you so long?” she fumed!! What about the print media in the Northwest? Patti sees a further reduction in readership in the major dailies. “I think you’ll see more online offering of news.” President Lingenbrink told Patti that Rotary is committed to raising the level of literacy throughout the world. With this in mind, the BBRC recognizes our speakers by donating a book to the King County Library System on behalf of Rotary’s literacy emphasis. Our thanks to Patti Payne for bringing us up to date “Behind the Scene.”
TEST YOUR SKILL Once you've learned to correctly pronounce every word in the following poem, you will be speaking English better than 90% of the native English speakers in the world. If you find it tough going, do not despair, you are not alone. Multi-national personnel at North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters near Paris found English to be an easy language until they tried to pronounce it. To help them discard an array of accents, the verses below were devised. After trying them, a Frenchman said he'd prefer six months at hard labor to reading six lines aloud. Try them yourself. (THIS MUST HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY MARK HOUGH. IF YOU CAN MAKE IT THROUGH TO THE END, THOUGH, YOU’LL PROBABLY HAVE A COUGH. OR A HICCOUGH.)
-- Author Unknown |
On February 11, the BBRC sponsors another round of wonderful Valentine Dinners. The pet project of Bob Moloney has grown to engage the help of Jane Kuechle and the entire Fellowship Committee. “Life is a party,” says Sayoko. “The Valentine Dinners are a super BBRC tradition, where Rotarians get to be better friends and the group shares in a superb meal,” says Bob. With 87 attendees last year, the goal is to break 100!
President-Elect Jim Zidar has stepped up with a new spot for this year’s Club Planning Retreat. The magical city of Leavenworth will host the annual event on Friday evening, March 31, and the morning of Saturday, April 1. Not only is the Planning Retreat an important event for the new Rotary year beginning July 1, but the site has lots to do with drawing a good Rotary crowd. Headquarters for the Retreat is the Enzian hotel. P-E Jim is testing the waters and is asking members to give a preliminary nod for attending. There will be a simple sign-up on the website. Please let him know you’ll participate.
It’s taken a few years, but Patti Payne – long a favorite among Rotarians and especially the BBRC – paid a courtesy call on one of her favorite Rotary Clubs. Friday’s visit was billed as “Behind the Scenes with Patti Payne,” but it became obvious that this talented columnist was out looking for good stories to share with her readers.
Back to our regular digs at Glendale, President Lingenbrink welcomed a fine crowd to a new calendar year of Rotary activity. He introduced Steve Vincent, who gave the invocation and led the pledge to the flag, and Shelley Noble, who helped orchestrate the introduction of guests.
Shelley Noble and Scott Sadler brought some real results from the gratitude generated by the BBRC’s Holiday Giving Tree Project. Letters to Hopelink and the YMCA show how much the youngsters and their families appreciated the generosity over the Christmas holiday. Shelley and Scott agreed that the BBRC is “really good at giving back. The BBRC cares on a regular basis.” 
Hundreds of Puget Sound Rotarians will participate in the first annual Rotary District Service Above Self Day, a day dedicated to community service projects in each of the 54 cities that claim a Rotary Club.
Time to step up to the Exchange Student plate and engage our Bellevue student who is spending the year with us. Stefy Baltierra has had an active exchange year, being hosted by Rotarians from the four Bellevue Rotary Clubs. In order to maximize Rotarians participation, January has been selected as the BBRC’s month to help engage Stefy in your family’s activities.
Bob Holert introduced Sammamish High School senior Joe Herauf as the Student of the Month. Joe told Rotarians, “I wasn’t totally motivated when I arrived at high school, but I finally got serious and am enjoying my high school experience.” 
Norm Johnson, still involved in treatment for lung cancer after surgery on September 8th, was back to help initiate a brand New Year, looking highly energized and very well. 
It’s taken a few years, but Patti Payne – long a favorite among Rotarians and especially the BBRC – paid a courtesy call on one of her favorite Rotary Clubs. Friday’s visit was billed as “Behind the Scenes with Patti Payne,” but it became obvious that this talented columnist was out looking for good stories to share with her readers.
She remembered the first meeting in 2000 when the BBRC was being treated to breakfast by Kemper Freeman in the Center Court at Bellevue Square. Kemper, as the main speaker, was taking the occasion to introduce his newest addition to the Square, with the completion of the northeast corner along Bellevue Way and NE 8th – the present site of Crate and Barrel, Starbucks, and several new restaurants. Notably, Kemper’s talk was interrupted by a Harley driven by Herb Bridge, with Mary Bell aboard as passenger. Kemper and Herb are members of the Hell’s Rotarians. Herb had a pair of silk undershorts as a gift for Kemper and Steve Lingenbrink led a group of the BBRC’s Wild Bunch to a dance routine of “Born to be Wild.” What a way to start the New Year!
Patti and Rotarian John Mix came west about the same time: Mix says it was 30 years ago, a figure challenged by Payne. “I came from Idaho ... my husband was an airline pilot. We bought 5000 acres off the Clark Fork River in North Idaho ... t here was no electricity, no plumbing at that time. We had a great ranch, where we roped, rode and neutered everything in sight!”
Patti was covering the OJ trial for radio. “The media was everywhere, you’ll remember. Prior to the judgment, Judge Ito came out to the media center and proceeded to give ‘his take on the trial.’ I thought that was rather odd, but we were in Hollywood. After his remarks, the reporters stampeded to their offices or their phones to let the world know this latest event. Something didn’t seem right to me. I hung back and soon found out that our Judge was a Hollywood look-a-like. It wasn’t even the real judge!” 
English too tough?