|
|||||||||||||||
Vol. 18, No. 34, FEBRUARY 20, 2006 |
|||||||||||||||
The Friday Program: Mine Your Own Business — Bellevue’s Commercial Recycling Program (David Stitzhal) | Friday Potpourri | Student of the Month: Cole Hardman | Rotary First Harvest | On to the Retreat | RI Foundation Report | Another Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood with David Bolson | A Karate Chop by SAA | Four New Members Proposed: Meyer, Kremen, Everist & Howell | Valentine Dinners | Web Fun |
|||||||||||||||
The Friday Program:
“In-house recycling and business development go hand-in-hand,” said David. The Commercial Recycling Program is a relatively new free program in Bellevue. “Recycling creates 6 times more jobs than landfilling. The more you can get out of garbage into recycling the more you save. Rates have been set to encourage recycling. Recycling is a global enterprise with local implications. Our country makes up 5% of the world’s population, but we use 25% of its natural resources.” The Bellevue program has obvious advantages. It saves on disposal costs, provides recognition, is important, reduces purchasing costs and boosts morale and reduces turnover of participating companies. Rabanco/Allied is the contractor for the recycling program. President-Elect Jim Zidar filled in for vacationing President Steve, who had to go to Maui on Rotary business. Jim introduced Tim Moriarty for the invocation and pledge, and Scott Sadler introduced visiting Rotarian John Matheson, Bellevue Rotary, who is considered to be the pioneer in recycling in this area.
Speaking of recycling, Chip Erickson of Preserve Planet Earth put out the call for another clean sweep of the BBRC’s section of I-405 near SE 8th in Bellevue. The Adopt a Highway program needs about a dozen workers at 9:00am this Saturday morning, February 25. Contact Chip for details. Student of the Month: Cole Hardman
Cole is a member of the National Honor Society for his academic achievements and has been a fundraiser for the past ten years for Children’s Hospital and United Way. “I love school and community service.” He told his audience that he plans to enroll at the University of Portland, where he will hone is talents toward becoming a professional and motivational speaker. Perseverance is the word for this young man, who received a standing ovation from his new Rotary friends.
Kevin Jewell was honored as a past chair of the committee and who continues to attend the monthly RFH Work Parties at Pier 91. Other members who have attended several work sessions include RFH chair Howard Johnson, Bob McKorkle, Chuck Barnes, Chip Erickson and Terry Peterson. Members were reminded of the emphasis on the First Harvest program and the BBRC push to get as many different club members involved in the monthly work parties. In addition to helping to sort food for delivery to the state’s food banks, BBRC Rotarians support RFH by their financial gifts. Nearly $2400 was raised during this special month-long recognition effort, to go with the $3500 the club appropriates to RFH each year.
Awards for Paul Harris contributions were given to Dick Brown, Don Chandler, and Don Deasy (1 Sapphire=$2,000); Alex Rule, Chuck Kimbrough, Paul Martin and Jim Gordon, all with 2 sapphires ($3,000); Steve Roberts, with a 3-sapphire pin, denoting $4,000 in contributions; and Ruben Ladlad with four sapphires, for his $5,000 contribution. Another Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood with David Bolson
If you have some books on your home shelves that could use some activity by other folks, why not bring a boxful to this Friday’s Rotary meeting. It’s the last week of the 2006 Book Drive. Remember, the committee is collecting slightly used hard and soft cover books, looking for current best sellers, adult fiction and non-fiction, and children’s books. Forget cook books, encyclopedias, travel guides, magazines or religious books. And, don’t miss David Bolson’s last reading from an exciting book this Friday at Rotary. Yes, it is, indeed, a wonderful day in the neighborhood! Using some member’s nylon hosiery, David Carradine visited the BBRC Friday, looking very much like Sergeant At Arms Ballard. He was joined by his “grasshopper,” Andrew Face who is the heir-apparent as next year’s Sergeant At Arms. Ballard was the wise teacher to the excitable Face, who obviously can’t wait to extract funds from his fellow Rotarians. Ballard cautioned him that he should “move slowly, have a big list and extract formidable sums of money.” Ballard showed Face how to extract $5.00 from Greg Hendershott who made a career move as a new partner in Davis Wright and Tremaine. Ballard then showed Grasshopper how to make lots of bucks spread over the whole audience. Face suggested they ask each member who was sitting down to put a dollar on the table. Since everyone was sitting, that netted a nice booty for the SAA kitty. Smooth move, Face. Four New Members Proposed: Meyer, Kremen, Everist & Howell A busy month of recruiting has resulted in four applications for membership. This is the second and last publication of these applications. • Mark Edward Meyer, sponsored by Phil Salvatori, is a former Rotarian with the Hartland, WI, Rotary Club for eight years. Mark’s classification is “Flag Manufacturing” with the company Alphasoft Wearables of Bellevue, where he is a partner. Mark’s wife is Ann, and they have one child, Alex. The family lives in Bellevue. Mark is active in the Homebound Ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Bellevue and a member of the National Flag Dealers Association. He enjoys singing, sailing, woodworking, skiing and cruising. • Morris G. Kremen, sponsored by Jim Gordon, is proposed with the classification of “Software Attorney.” Morris is Associate General Counsel at Microsoft. He and his wife Carolyn have two children, and the family lives in Kirkland. Morris’ community involvement includes serving as a board member for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation NW; on the Capital Campaign Steering Committee for Open Window School; and as Event Chair of Beat the Bridge Benefit for Juvenile Diabetes. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Washington State Bar Association. Morris says he played the violin when he was between 9 and 15 years of age. He enjoys chess, baseball umpiring, travel with family, and golf. • James Barker Everist, sponsored by Phil Salvatori, is President of Everist Office Technology, Inc., of Bellevue. After 30 years with Xerox, Jim formed this new company in 2005. The company is a sales agent for Xerox products. His classification is proposed to be “Office Technologies.” His and his wife Kathleen have three children, and the family lives in Bellevue. Jim has served as a board member for Childhaven, 1982-1990; Habitat for Humanity; and Sacred Heart Church. He says he can “carry a tune, sometimes,” and confesses he played the trumpet in high school. His hobbies include golf, hiking, and coaching his son’s sports teams. He is a charter member of the Bellevue Athletic Club. • Elena G. Howell, sponsored by Steve Roberts, is a resident of Lynnwood and is married to Gherman Howell. She works for UBS Financial Services, Inc., in Bellevue as a financial planner and private client banker. Her classification is proposed to be “Investment Manager.” Elena’s community involvement includes serving as treasurer for Art with a Heart in Seattle. She is a member of the Board of Standards for Certified Financial Planners and a member of the Business Breakfast Club in Lynnwood. She enjoys ballroom dancing, hiking, golfing, tennis and skiing. This is the first of two publications for these applications. If members have questions or comments, please direct them to Club Service II Director Tom Smith (Ph 425-451-8036) no later than 3:00pm, Thursday, February 23. The Friday Program:
“In-house recycling and business development go hand-in-hand,” said David. The Commercial Recycling Program is a relatively new free program in Bellevue. “Recycling creates 6 times more jobs than landfilling. The more you can get out of garbage into recycling the more you save. Rates have been set to encourage recycling. Recycling is a global enterprise with local implications. Our country makes up 5% of the world’s population, but we use 25% of its natural resources.” The Bellevue program has obvious advantages. It saves on disposal costs, provides recognition, is important, reduces purchasing costs and boosts morale and reduces turnover of participating companies. Rabanco/Allied is the contractor for the recycling program.
Electronic products such as TVs and computer have toxic properties which can’t be recycled within a city-wide system. They are generally disposed of by vendors who tear down those products for re-use. If your business does not recycle at this time, it’s easy to get started. You can work with the property manager in your building, get high-level support within your firm, work with your custodial service, implement a program that rewards success, plan to be flexible for collection purposes and make the whole program fun. You can find more information on this City of Bellevue website: www.cityofbellevue.organd at Stitzhal’s website. David made the point that the “three R’s — Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle — equals Service Above Self ... which might then become the Four R’s when you add Rotary in the program.”
President-in-training Jim Zidar presented a certificate to David for his talk, noting that a book has been donated in his name to the King County Library System’s Ready-to-Read program. Thanks to Jim Gordon for his introduction. LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION! Hilltop Homes For the Average Family
|
But, wait! There’s another big event which is a little more than a month away. It’s the BBRC Annual Planning Retreat coming up rapidly March 31-April 1 in Leavenworth. This isn’t a joke — it’s the time designated by the BBRC to discuss directions and gain consensus for the club’s plans for 2006-2007. “Only 21 members are signed up. We need at least 50 members to make the retreat a success. 
An excellent program presented by David Stitzhal, consultant to the City of Bellevue on its Commercial Recycling Program, outlined the many ways local businesses can participate in this important effort. David is president of Full Circle Environmental, Inc., a Seattle consulting firm.
Friday Potpourri
The BBRC Valentine’s Dine-Around attracted 65 participants the night of February 11. Bob Moloney was praised for his hard work in his chairing this wonderful fellowship event.
Cole Hardman, a senior at Eastside Catholic High School, was introduced as the February Student of the Month by Larry May. Cole, the son of John and Wendy Hardman, spent the first nine months of his life in the hospital and was given only two years to live. Cole, who is legally “impaired and blind,” stepped up to beat the odds and accept his plaque for his accomplishments. Eastside Catholic Principal Greg Marsh was also present for the ceremony.
Bob Holert, a member of the Rotary First Harvest Committee, gave a continued pitch for this premier District program, which is being recognized throughout the month of February. 
The Happiness Boys, Don Chandler, Don Deasy, Dick Brown and Cary Kopczynski, put in a mid-year appearance with several new recognitions for leadership in the Rotary International Foundation.
Don Deasy grabbed the microphone saying, “Hats off to the generosity of these fine Rotarians!” Deasy says there are lots of members close to moving up with their continued Foundation giving. “So far, we have 55% participation of our membership in this year’s campaign and we’re going for 100% participation, with an average $300 contribution per member. Four out of ten of us haven’t made the decision to participate yet. We’re waiting to hear from you!”
Ain’t it great to have someone read stories to you every Friday morning? David Bolson has found his niche with the Vocational Service committee, conducting the Book Drive that has resulted in dozens of publications being donated to Hopelink’s library. Friday, David took us down memory lane with his sweet interpretation of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. David, decked out in his sweater-vest, read from “The little horse runs around the field (shows book) and the tractor on the farm (shows tractor).”
An excellent program presented by David Stitzhal, consultant to the City of Bellevue on its Commercial Recycling Program, outlined the many ways local businesses can participate in this important effort. David is president of Full Circle Environmental, Inc., a Seattle consulting firm.
“Touring a recycling facility is an eye-opener,” Stitzhal observed. “Sorting the recyclables is part of the process. Like kinds of material are sorted and bundled together. It’s important to know that shattered glass reduces the value of say, paper products because the glass shards get mixed in with the paper. So, you must be careful of glass bottles and jars, as well as some plastics. Plastic lids are not recyclable because they are made of a different, non-recyclable plastic.” 
Answering questions, David said that most rechargeable batteries are okay for recycling. If you want more information about recycling electronics, Google “Taking it Back,” for answers. Most contemporary recycling programs offer a co-mingling of recyclables, eliminating the necessity for separating the different properties. 
