The BBRC Will Not Be the Same — Eulogy for Don Deasy | Beyond Beauty — In Defense of Beauty Pageants (Amelia Gilbert) | Preliminaries | 2007 Book Drive | Rotary Youth Leadership Awards | Bob Bowen Receives Blue Badge | Group Study Exchange Team | Web Fun
The BBRC Will Not Be the Same — Eulogy for Don Deasy
Don — or Deas, as he has always been known — was one of a kind. He loved life and lived it to the fullest. He adored Jane, the four kids, and the grandkids. He gave both golf and the Huskies his best shot. And he is one of the key reasons BBRC is what it is today. I met Don nearly 48 years ago in the summer of 1959. I had just graduated from Roosevelt High School and was working at the Laurelhurst Beach Club. I was going through fraternity rush at the UW and Deas was a Sigma Nu. I met him first at the Beach Club and then at the rush parties. He was the consummate Quincy Jackrabbit from Quincy, Washington: a small-town guy from Eastern Washington who became a big-time guy on campus at the UW. Then, as you can well imagine, he was in the middle of everything, both as a leader and a generator of fun. Deas and Tony Banks were key reasons I joined the Sigma Nu house, and they have both been long-time friends ever since. One thing I remember from those years at the U is that they had a bachelors club that crossed fraternity lines. They wore blue jeans, white shirts, and black derby hats as they went out together drinking beer at local taverns and then returned to campus to serenade co-eds. There wasn't much more to it than that. It will not surprise you that Deas and Tony were members. It might very well surprise you that they let me in. After college Deas married Jane and went to work in the business world. When fellow fraternity member John Jacobi began franchising the Windermere trademark, Deas became a realtor and eventually took on the East Bellevue and Bellevue franchises. The rest is history. Windermere in Bellevue has been a tremendous success and family run, and Deas was extremely proud of how the kids have taken over since he retired. Deas was the 4th President of BBRC, succeeding Jim Owens, who gave Don a Mickey Mouse watch when he took over. Don had a habit of always being late, but not while President. If you have experienced some of his timely and humorous comments from the audience in recent years and seen him implore contributions to the Rotary Foundations or bids at the golf auction, you will have a taste of that year. Week to week, meeting to meeting, you never knew what was going to take place. It was a year of fun and laughs. It was also the year our own BBRC Foundation was formed, a pet project of Don's that had some initial detractors; but he won them over. We now have over $200,000 in the Foundation. Over the years Don took on many, many other roles and did them all well. There was not a fundraiser — whether selling poinsettias or strawberries or raffle tickets or putting on golf tournaments — that Don, through Windermere, was not one of the largest — if not the largest — financial supporters. Perhaps most importantly, however, it was Don's effervescent spirit, his quick wit, his unflagging support that helped make BBRC what it is today: a club that does great work and has a lot of fun. I just talked to Deas a couple of weeks ago. He was quite alert but in pain. He was having hospice support, and he was in his fifth month of not being able to eat. Did he think of himself? No. His first question was how my brother Dave — who has had his own challenges with prostate cancer — was doing. Pure Deas. An outward laugh, but an inward genuine concern for others. God, you called up the best of the best. Heaven cannot, and simply will not, be the same. And, I submit, the BBRC will not be the same either. Please pray with me: Oh God of grace and glory we remember before you this day our brother Don. We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends, to know him and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Console Jane, Kim, Deanne, Matt and Joe and the grandchildren. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before. Amen.
John Armenia introduced visiting Rotarians and guests, noting that they all are always welcome at the BBRC: Joyce Bottenberg, Sammamish RC, Human Services; John Hogue, Bellevue Noon RC; Bob Parker, Santa Fe Downtown RC (New Mexico), Past President and Builder; Sandra J. Brinck, Santa Fe Downtown RC, Attorney, Estate Planning and Probate; Mamoru Tanaka, Toyonaka RC, wholesaler. The Invocation and Pledge were led by Ted Ederer. Ted also prepared and gave a eulogy about his friend and Rotary sponsor Don Deasy, who passed away this past week (see above).
The BBRC Dine-Around sign-ups are finished, and the assignments have been made. If you have any questions regarding the Dine-Around, which is this Saturday, February 10, please contact Jane Kuechle. All participants are reminded to bring your cameras and take photos to commemorate this fun event in next week's issuse of Reveille!
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards This Rotary year we are hoping to be able to revive our participation in Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), which will be held this year at Pacific Lutheran University, March 1-4. We will try to bring provide as much information as possible next Friday. Due to the time constraint, we would like to be able to have the candidates by February 15. We realize, this is very short notice; however, if you wil help us with names and contact information and alert your potential candidates so we can make contact with them, we will make this happen. Names and contact information of your candidates can be forwarded to the RYLA Committee (
Bob Bowen, Executive Director for Advancement with World Vision's Seattle Tacoma Metro Program, received his Blue Badge Friday. Bob is married to Janice, his wife of 30 years, and they have two sons, Aaron, a sophomore at Whitworth College, and Sam, a 7th grade student at Beaver Lake Middle School (Issaquah). Bob, is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University, an ordained minister, and founder of "Amigos of Meadowcreek," a not-for profit organization that has built 26 homes for needy families in Mexico. As an executive with World Vision, Bob has lead missions to Uganda, Kenja, Germany, China and Mexico. Bob models "service above self" in many other areas of our community, as he also volunteers as the Fire and Police Chaplain for the City of Bellevue and Eastside Fire and Rescue. Inducted into membership in August 2006, Bob has become a very active Rotarian and a respected speaker and committee/team leader. Bob's favorite qoute comes from Mother Teresa, who observed, "Never let anything so discourage you in life that you forget your salvation in the Lord Jesus."
Rotary District 5030 will be hosting the five member GSE Team from RI District 2770 (northern Japan and Saitama City) from March 28th through noon April 25th. Noting the GSE theme, "We come as strangers and leave as friends," John Armenia invited BBRC Rotarians and families to take advantage of this once-in-5-to-10 year opportunity to share your homes and lifestyles and vocations with a visiting GSE Team. John pointed out that hosting a GSE Team Member is a great opportunity for a Rotarian to share his or her vocation, as well as home, with a professional from another county. BBRC President Jim and his wife Sandy will be hosting Team Leader Naohiro Emoto, a Rotarian and CPA. Bellevue Breakfast Rotarians and their families are now invited to sign up to host "one visiting GSE Team Member" for his/her brief stay with the BBRC (evenings of April 18-19, and 22-24). We are seeking hosts for Atsushi Oba, who is interested in international marketing and works with Nissan Diesel Motor Co. Ltd. that has a trade alliance with Volvo; Emiko Ozawa, a property tax specialist who has interests in "urban design" and the arts as well as digital government applications; Masahiro Yoshida, a tax consultant wth interests in snowboarding, soccer, and learning about American accounting standards and corporat management; and Yuko Hasunuma, who works with Daiwa Securities and is interested in corporate finance, karaoke, and cultural exchange. See photos and profiles of the District 2770 team members on the District 5030 website Our BBRC time with our visiting GSE Team will brief (evenings of April 18 and 19, 22, 23 and 24). The GSE Team will be attending the District 5030 Conference (April 20-22) at The Coeur d' Alene Resort by the Lake after they are the program for our April 20 BBRC meeting. Host families and supporters of the GSE program and our hosting of the team are invited to a farewell banquet on March 24th. This event will also celebrate and support the District 5030 GSE Team that will be leaving with the visiting team and going to Japan. Our GSE Team will be led by Sayoko Kuwahara. (See photos and profiles of the District 5030 team below and on the District 5030 website. If you are interested, please contact
• • • Sayoko Kuwahara: Team Leader
After working for Becton Dickinson Immunocytometry Systems and Taito Software, Inc., Sayoko decided to establish her own business. Since 1990, she has been providing professional English-Japanese translation and interpretation services. Currently, her specialized services include preparation of Japanese regulatory approval applications for U.S. medical device manufacturers. Her business objective is to build relationships between American and Japanese business community on the foundation of mutual understanding, good will and common goals. Sayoko was born in Osaka, Japan, and graduated from Osaka Jogakuin College before deciding to study in America. She attended Boston University and earned her BA in psychology. She resides in Bellevue, Washington. Married to a Rotarian, Rourke O’Brien, Rotary is a way of life for Sayoko. Two stepsons, 8 and 11, are also known to show up in Rotary work parties. She enjoys sailing, skiing, cooking, and gardening. She holds a 1st Class International Small Vessel Operator’s license and 2nd degree black belt in Aikido.
Alice is a native of Seattle. She has family here locally as well as in Japan. One of the best times in her life was the 16 months she spent living in Tokyo with her relatives while an exchange student at Aoyama University. Alice enjoys spending time with her husband and family traveling, skiing, swimming and just hanging out. She also loves dancing (took ballet for 16 years) much to her husband’s chagrin. Kelly Guy: Casey Family Programs, Prevention & Family Support Manager (Team Member)
In her free time (when she’s not with her nephew and niece) Kelly volunteers with the Black Child Development Institute as the Membership Chair and sits on the King County Civil Rights Commission where she serves as co-chair of the Commission and chair of the Economic Development committee. Kelly has also volunteered with United Way’s Earned Income Tax Credit campaign the past two years. She enjoys reading, writing, attending concerts and sporting events. Kelly also likes to travel and is looking forward to learning about Japanese culture, meeting the people of Saitama and sharing her experiences with others upon her return. Lindsey Lemm: Edward Jones, Senior Branch Office Administrator (Team Member)
Prior to this position, Lindsey has worked for various non-profit organizations including Cedar Park Christian School where she worked as the assistant to the Director of Development. The objective of this position was to raise the funds necessary to build a new high school building. The high school was built and occupied in 2004 and is one of the largest private schools in Washington state. Outside of work, Lindsey is very involved in her church and working with young people. She has been involved in leadership training and traveling abroad with youth to Mexico, Europe, the Philippines and Singapore as well many states within the US. She loves to travel, to read, to be surrounded by family and friends. Lindsey also enjoys movies, coffee, music and truly loves to be immersed in other cultures. Lindsey is currently completing her BA in Business Administration at Northwest University in Kirkland.
Originally from Chicago, in 2000, Michele completed her B.A. at Arizona State University in Communications with a minor in Spanish. Changing her professional direction, she took an offer with Phoenix Sister Cities to spend two years teaching English in Himeji, Japan, which she followed up by attending the year-long Asia Pacific Leadership Fellowship at the East West Center in Hawaii. Enjoying life in Seattle, Michele is also an active volunteer with the Saul and Dayee G. Haas Foundation where she participates in grant writing and fundraising for the organization. In addition, she has enjoyed a number of SeattleWorks programs including TeamWorks and The Bridge. In her spare time, Michele enjoys staying active and exploring Seattle, taking some time out for yoga, and planning her next trip abroad. Friday Program
Who is attracted to Miss America programs? College students! Last year, more than 12,000 participated in Miss America competitions and received $45 million dollars in scholarships.
Amelia is a very articulate, talented, intelligent, and a thoughtful advocate for participating in beauty pageants that "Go Beyond Beauty!" ... and these people vote. One day I was walking down the beach with some friends when someone shouted, "Look at that dead bird!" Someone else looked up at the sky and said, "Where?" • • • While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent which direction was north because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning. The realtor asked, "Does the sun rise in the north?" When my brother explained that the sun rises in the east and has for sometime, the realtor shook her head and said, "Oh, I don't keep up with that stuff." • • • A technical support agent at a 24/7 call center received a call from an individual who asked The caller asked, "Is that Eastern or Pacific time?" • • • My colleague and I were eating our lunch in our cafeteria, when we overheard one of the administrative assistants talking about the sunburn she got on her weekend drive to • • • My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car. it's designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets • • • My friends and I were on a beer run and noticed that the cases were discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The cashier multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount on both cases. • • • I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area, so I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and asked me, "Has your plane arrived yet?" |
It is an honor for me to be asked to do the invocation this morning as we remember the life, and experience the death, of our very good friend Don Deasy.
As to BBRC, Don was a charter member when the club was formed in 1985. Prior to that, he had been a member of the Southcenter Club. I was a member of Seattle 4 but working in our Bellevue office, and I began making up at the new BBRC Friday mornings. It wasn't long before I made the switch, with Don as my sponsor. I later sponsored Tony, and three Sigma Nus were back together. We even got to sing a couple of Sigma Nu songs at one meeting.
The Meeting of February 2nd was chaired by President Jim Zidar. 
Wayne McCaulley received was chosen Rotarian of the Month and was presented a plaque by Presisdent Z. Congratulations, Wayne! 
Sergeant At Arms Andrew Face's fine session focused on the pitter patter of little feet, as he motivated BBRC Members to celebrate the birth and adoption of their new four-legged babies. Several members had a puppy or kitty to celebrate, but new Blue Badger Bob Bowen received a fine of $1.00 per the little feet of a litter of 10 new puppies!
, Chairperson,
The BBRC is seeking "Host Families" as well as vocational hosts and drivers for the visiting Group Study Exchange (GSE) Team from Rotary District 2770 (Japan). GSE has been one of the most popular Rotary Foundation Educational programs since it began 41 years ago. Since 1965, GSE has provided inspring vocational, educational, and cultural experiences for more than 32,000 men and women worldwide.
Sayoko, a member of the Rotary Club of Bellevue Breakfast, is known as one of the most energetic, active, committed members who bring fun and innovative ideas to the club. She currently serves as Club Administrator and Membership Support Committee Chair. In the past, she has served as Fellowship Committee Chair. 
Alice is an Emmy Award winning television producer specializing in documentaries and series productions. She got her start as the Northwest Correspondent for a Pac Rim magazine style program called “Asia Now” that was a co-production between PBS and NHK Television Japan. From there she moved onto documentary production with emphasis on special High Definition Co-Production Projects for PBS and NHK Television Japan. Her work has spanned the globe behind and in front of the camera. She currently has her own company and works primarily on documentaries for cable outlets such as the History Channel and Fine Living Network.
Kelly lives in Seattle and is a Manager in at a private child welfare foundation. She is responsible for the departments’ budget and operations, contract management, program development and implementation and assists with staff development. Kelly grew up in Seattle where she attended the University of Washington earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an emphasis on Public Relations. She later obtained her Masters of Arts in Public Administration at Seattle University. 
Lindsey Lemm has been working for Dan Reid (Rotarian, Ballard) at Edward Jones Investment Company in Ballard for nearly 6 years. There she works as a Sr. Branch Office Administrator, supporting the Investment Representative, providing strong customer service, with the primary purpose of aiding individuals to reach their financial goals. Lindsey recently was invited to become a Limited Partner of Edward Jones. She is excited about the opportunities that are possible within Edward Jones in the future.
Michele works as a Program Assistant for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation where she provides support to the Executive Office. After completing her M.A. degree in International Studies and Diplomacy at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, she took a transatlantic flight and chose to settle in Seattle, a place she had never been. 
Emerald City Queen Amelia Gilbert was introduced by John DeWater. A junior at the University of Washington, Amelia was first encouraged to participate in a series of beauty and talent and scholarship pageants by her opera/voice teacher. She has been Miss Burien and Miss Puget Sound, and has paid for her university tuition thanks to these scholarships.
What does it take? Community service, talent, evening gown competition, and yes, the swimsuit competition. As a matter of fact, the Miss America Pageant began in 1921 as a swimsuit contest in Atlantic City, New Jersey. While controversial, it focuses on physical fitness, and the pageant is won from the neck up. The point system for Miss America is: lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit-15%, evening wear-$20%, talent- $35%, private interview-25%, and on-stage question-5%.
What about Miss USA? Associated with the Miss Universe Organization and owned by Donald Trump, there are big differences wth Miss America. First, entrants must pay $1,000 to enter and the scholarships are few. The scoring is: interview-33%, swimsuit-33%, and evening gown-33%. Controversy has followed the Miss USA pageant, with its drug and underage alcohol use, indiscretions with men, and nude photo scandals. This record is contrasted with Miss America's record as the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance to young women.
