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Vol. 18, No. 32, FEBRUARY 6, 2006 |
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The Friday Program: Life in Uruguay with Ambassadorial Scholar Lisa Dittmar | Friday Potpourri | Bolson Collects Books with Humor | Erickson is Rotarian of the Month | Carney Inducted | February is Rotary First Harvest Month | Breaktime/Mealtime Hands-On Project | New Kirkland Breakfast Rotary Proposed | Web Fun |
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The Friday Program:
Lisa said Rotary’s Ambassadorial Program is the biggest non-governmental scholarship program in world. “There are several different kinds of scholarships. One is a cultural scholarship, where the recipient spends 6 months learning a language. A Peace Scholarship is held in a dozen specific places where the student studies conflict resolution. The Ambassadorial Scholarship is really a post-graduate program, where the recipient goes to a specific country to study for one year.” It’s starting to get lighter every Friday morning. The winter of our discontent is winding down, despite the near-record snowfall in the mountains. President Lingenbrink welcomed an enthusiastic crowd, introducing Steve Luplow for the Invocation and the Pledge to the Flag; and Rodd Kippen, greeting visitors. After successful foot surgery comes the recuperation. Jane Kuechle is hobbled with crutches, but is keeping her attendance by have husband John drive her to Rotary. You look great, Jane! Keep hobbling our way!
Retreat Reminder: Sign-ups for the 2006 planning retreat in Leavenworth happen online. The deadline is Tuesday, February 28. Each member is responsible for their own lodging. The Evian will release BBRC rooms on March 1. Do what Sayoko says! Bolson Collects Books with Humor
From the back cover of his steamy novel, we learned that “The Heartbreak Hotel is a perfect place for Wade to hide, not only from his notoriety as an author, but also from the shocking events in his past. Drawn to Tracy and her struggle to succeed, he is quickly compelled to risk the anonymity on which his survival depends. By the time Tracy discovers the handsome stranger’s true identity, there’s more than ever at stake. She is forced to risk another broken heart and learn to trust again, and she must also fight to make Wade believe in their love.” It’s time to clean out the bookshelves and give your no-longer needed books to the 2006 Book Drive. Bring your boxes of books the next three Fridays to the BBRC. Slightly used hard and soft cover books will be collected and given to Hopelink. The committee looks especially for recent best-sellers, adult fiction and non-fictio, and children’s books. Current college-level business and nursing textbooks may also be contributed. Soggy, smelly, mildewed books, cook books, encyclopedias, old travel guides, magazines and religious book cannot be accepted. Be at this Friday’s meeting when David will read a paragraph from “The Catcher in the Rye!” Erickson is Rotarian of the Month
Chip reminded the membership that Sayoko K. turned the work party into a fellowship event, providing pizza at the conclusion of the Avondale Mud Bath. Chip also said that a “405 Highway clean-up is coming, soon. Be Prepared!”
It looked almost like a police line-up with all the people we’ll need to support Mr. Carney. For one thing, there is his sponsor, Alex Rule. Then, Scott Sadler will be his mentor, which kind of turns things around because Jim is on the board at Lake Heights YMCA and is used to giving Scott orders. Cyril Faulkner is International Service Director and Jim says he’d like to work in that area. Mr. President gave his famous induction spiel, which said, in part, that Jim becomes the newest member inducted into Rotary, which is found in 167 countries, with 1 million, 220,000 Rotarians in 33,000 clubs. “No matter where you go, you’ll find a Rotary club,” said Steve. The Red Badge, the Rotary pin and the coveted ABC’s of Rotary set off a standing ovation for the BBRC’s newest member, Jim Carney. Welcome aboard, Jim! February is Rotary First Harvest Month
Seems that Nick, playing the role of a down-and-out friend of Otis Spleekmeyer, was caught with a bunch of groceries he lifted from the Food Bank. Wendi told him he couldn’t withdraw food from the Food Bank. He wasn’t about to give up the food, so he was charged by Officer Ballard, who determined a bail of $500. Andrew Face, playing Frank Young, rose to whip out five $100-dollar bills and bailed old Nick out. Next came Howard Johnson, our RFH Representative, who briefly explained how the BBRC participates in RFH funding. “The club contributes around $3,000 annually and many members make individual donations. Our target this year is $4,300.” About that time, Rourke O’Brien jumped up and related a story about one of his chess connections who felt moved to contribute to Rotary. This person offered to match a gift. So, Ballard said that any funds collected from members that day would be matched by this unseen ambassador. Another day of generosity, with $682 collected, plus the $500 bail. We’ll let you know how this all turns out! The Friday Program: An engaging young scholar dropped by to tell of her exciting year as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in Uruguay, South America. Lisa Dittmar, recent graduate of the University of Washington (BA, business administration and information systems) was sponsored by the Edmonds Rotary Club. She spent last year in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay.
Lisa is an Edmonds-Woodway High School grad. She said that RYLA was the springboard for her interest in Rotary, and thus the Ambassadorial program. She told her audience that Uruguay is a country of 5 million “warm and friendly people, whose descendents are from Europe. It’s a small country that’s had its economic struggles, heavily dependent on neighboring Brazil and Argentina.” She said the mindset of the average citizen is to “spend dollars, but earn in pesos. The exchange rate is 5 pesos to the dollar. My first impressions revealed lots of white beaches and a beautiful countryside. Uruguay has unique cultural customs and celebrates Carnival like its big neighbor Brazil. Uruguay is known for its great food. The tango is native to Uruguay and the national drink would be Mate’. It’s made from a grass tea and is drunk from a gourd ... everyone drinks from the same gourd.” [That’s a pretty big gourd!] Lisa’s host district was 4980. “I spent the year studying the Mercosur ... the South American trade agreement. While there, I volunteered at the El Hogar orphanage and participated in the Oansa Children’s Feeding Program through a church.” She attended lots of Rotary meetings. Rotarians are “nice, open-hearted men. The clubs are all-male clubs. My host club was called Positias. I visited clubs in Uruguay and Brazil.” Computers for the World will have a project of installing computer systems in Uruguay schools in June. The country has the infrastructure, but little technology to go with it. This project will help students become computer literate, “at least in the few schools that will receive the new systems.” The benefits and takeaways for an Ambassadorial scholarship? Lisa pointed to the benefits of a cultural exchange, relationships built, learning the Spanish language, being comfortable in a new environment, and having the international experience. She said that despite having a year of Spanish in school, she couldn’t fluently speak or understand the language. “Being forced to learn Spanish during my year was one of the best takeaway for me. I’ll be using my bi-lingual abilities in a new job which begins next week!” Lisa thanked the BBRC for support of the Ambassadorial Scholarship program. For her presentation, President Lingenbrink noted that a book would be donated in her name to the King County Library System’s Ready-to-Read program, commemorating Rotary’s emphasis on Literacy during this year. Thanks to Jim Gordon for his introduction. [Spring cleaning, going through piles of old email jokes. Here’s one for the ages.] (Actual excuse notes to schools from parents – includes original spelling.) My son is under doctor’s care and should not take PE today. Please execute him. Please excuse Lisa for being absent. She was sick and I had her shot. Dear School: Please ekscuse John being absent on Jan 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33. Please excuse Gloria from Jim today. She is administrating. Excuse Roland from PE for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of tree and misplaced his hip. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face. Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part. Megan could not come to school today because she’s been bothered by very close veins. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side. Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels. Please excuse Pedro from being absent yesterday. He had (diahre) dyrea. Please excuse Tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea and his boots leak. Irving was absent yesterday because his missed his bust. Please excuse Jimmy for being absent. It was his father’s fault. I kept Billie home because he had to go Christmas shopping because I don’t know what size she wear. Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday. Sally won’t be in school a week from Friday. We have to attend her funeral. My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the Marines. Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well. Please excuse Mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps. Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover. Please excuse Burma, she has been sick and under the doctor. Maryann was absent December 11-16, because she had a fever, sore throat, headache and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever and sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn’t the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night. |
An engaging young scholar dropped by to tell of her exciting year as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in Uruguay, South America. Lisa Dittmar, recent graduate of the University of Washington (BA, business administration and information systems) was sponsored by the Edmonds Rotary Club. She spent last year in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay.
Friday Potpourri
Our exchange student from Mexico, Stefy, will move to new digs at the end of the month to stay with Peter and Molly Powell and their family. Stefy is a student at Bellevue High. This is her final hosting prior to the end of her exchange year. Thanks to the Powells for stepping up and supporting this important program.
The droll humor of David Bolson shined through, even before the sun came up Friday morning, as he trolled for books during the Vocational Committee’s February Focus on Literacy. David put his heart and soul into his task, increasing interest in the book collection project. 
Chip Erickson, Chair of the Preserve Planet Earth Committee, was honored for his coordination and work on his committee’s latest project on Redmond’s Bear Creek. He received his plaque for Rotarian of the Month for January. 
Thank goodness Jim Carney showed up for his induction ceremony. President Lingenbrink thought he was inducting “Jim Carey,” but found out just in time. (We’ve already got plenty of comedians ... witness David Bolson!)
Wendi Fischer and Nick Paget collided at the podium to call attention to February, Rotary First Harvest Month. 
Lisa said Rotary’s Ambassadorial Program is the biggest non-governmental scholarship program in world. “There are several different kinds of scholarships. One is a cultural scholarship, where the recipient spends 6 months learning a language. A Peace Scholarship is held in a dozen specific places where the student studies conflict resolution. The Ambassadorial Scholarship is really a post-graduate program, where the recipient goes to a specific country to study for one year.”