Friday Program:
8:00 Sam Anderson, Executive Director of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, was introduced by Scott Hildebrand.

The Master Builders Association (MBA), a local trade association of 4300 members. It is the oldest and largest local home building association in the nation. It is affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders. Its philanthropic programs include the Master Builders Care Foundation, Master Builders Education Foundation and the Built Green environmental building program; website: www.masterbuildersinfo.com; phone: 425-451-7920.

Founded in 1909 by a group of Seattle builders who saw a need to unite to address the many concerns and issues affecting the housing industry, our local MBA has continued to share ideas, technical information, and technology while jointly solving personal, area, and statewide construction problems. The MBA actively works with government to develop laws that protected the environment while still providing attractive, affordable communities and homes for the families of the Puget Sound region.
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7:30 Water Spray Park: President Phil Salvatori opened the meeting stating that the Water Spray Park “Ground Breaking” was a great SUCCESS!

The City of Bellevue and the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club celebrated the start of the construction of the 25,999 sq.ft. Water Spray Playground at Crossroads Community Park at 3:30 p.m., Friday, October 19th.

Crossroads Community Park , located at 999 164th Ave, is expected to open in spring 2008. Designed for all ages, this new playground is designed to have many features from pay and climbing including a Loch Ness Monster, orcas, frogs, clams, and the Floating Granite World. To be located next to a traditional playground already at the park, the new playground is designed to have no standing water. The water will be potable and, in keeping with Bellevue's environmental stewardship efforts, will be naturally drained from the site and recycled to supplement irrigation at the park.

The Crossroads area is one of the most densely populated, and ethnically and economically diverse neighborhoods in Bellevue. The diverse play features of the playground, which include Asian rain drums, are consistent with the international approach promoted in the Crossroads Park master plan. It is hoped that the playground will bring together people of all ages, abilities and cultures.

The BBRC has been leading the fundraising effort for this project. To date we have raised approximately $250,00 in cash contributions from local businesses and individuals, and supported the city's applications for more than $600,000 in federal, state, and county grants. county and state grants for the project.

In addition the BBRC’s contributions, major private contributors include: Sterling SRO, the Jordan Fund, Terranomics Metrovation, Davis Wright Tremaine, Howard Johnson, Colin Radford and Jim Owens.

Interested donors should contact Norm Johnson (Ph 206-979-9400). For more information about the Water Spray Playground project, contact Pam Fehrman, Bellevue Parks & Community Services Project Manager (Ph 425-452-4326).

A Palouse Lettor to the Editor:

To the BBRC:

I busted my buttons with pride reading the press release regarding the groundbreaking for the Water Spray Park at Crossroads Community Park. The BBRC can proudly put its name on a most unique project, serving the whole community. I would especially like to praise the work of Norm Johnson, the instigator of the project, and to Jim Owens, who came along as the Knight in Shining Armor to see the project through to groundbreaking. There were many others who selflessly jumped in, supporting this Herculean effort in fundraising and public relations. I salute all of you for contributing to the future well-being of the Bellevue Community. You can be very proud. I know you’ve made me very proud.

John Mix
Former Member

7:31 Invocation & Pledge: Evelyn Cogswell’s invocation focused on the Rotary theme of Preserving Planet Earth and our gratitude for the world we live in.

7:33 Introduction of Visiting Rotarians & Guests: Jonathan Koshar introduced visiting Rotarians, including Frank Young, Bellevue Rotary (who deserves a badge and perfect attendance award from the BBRC); Beth McDougal, Bellevue Sunrise; Stan Foster, Seattle #4; Sandra Wong, Bellevue Sunrise; and Janet Woods, Seattle #4.

7:37 Dictionaries to 3rd Graders: David Bolson, Howard Johnson, and Evelyn Cogswell reported that 300 dictionaries were gifted to students in the Bellevue Schools. The students wrote thank you notes to the club, one 3rd grader commented, “Wow! This is the best and most useful gift I have ever gotten!”

7:40 Blue Badge: Jim Everist, received his Blue Badge from President Phil.

7:43 Student of the Month Omri Mor, Sammamish High, was introduced by Bob Holert. Omri was joined at the meeting by his parents Gil and ava Mori. Seventeen and holding a 3.8 GPA, Omri has excelled in Advanced Placement (AP) Senior Literature; AP Biology; Advanced Leadership; AP Government; Art and Design; Advanced Video Production; and Advanced Calculus. He is a member of the National Honors Society and Link Crew and is also the fundraising chair for Sammamish High’s ASB and founder of the Jewish Cultural Club. Omri has helped raise over $30,000 for local charities this year.

Omri played football through grade 11 but is now spending his discretionary time working on the Diversity Team, fundraising for Invisible Children. His goals are to attend university and pursue his interest in accounting, travel the world, and return to live in Israel.

7:49 Steve Lingenbrink DG Nominee: BBRC members unanimously approved a resolution nominating Past President and Assistant Governor, Steve Lingenbrink for District Governor for Rotary year 2010-11

7:51 Sergeant At Arms: Tom Harrelson led a crew of “Black Shirt Squad Enforcers” to secure and handcuff Rourke O’Brien, Elena Howell, and Brian Evison for failing to update their information on the BBRC website, as requested by Club Administrator Sayoko.

Friday Program
8:00 Sam Anderson, Executive Director of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, was introduced by Scott Hildebrand.

The Master Builders Association (MBA), a local trade association of 4300 members. It is the oldest and largest local home building association in the nation. It is affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders. Its philanthropic programs include the Master Builders Care Foundation, Master Builders Education Foundation and the Built Green environmental building program; website: www.masterbuildersinfo.com; phone: 425-451-7920.

Founded in 1909 by a group of Seattle builders who saw a need to unite to address the many concerns and issues affecting the housing industry, our local MBA has continued to share ideas, technical information, and technology while jointly solving personal, area, and statewide construction problems. The MBA actively works with government to develop laws that protected the environment while still providing attractive, affordable communities and homes for the families of the Puget Sound region.

The mission of the MBA is to have the homes and communities built by members be and become among the most desirable neighborhoods in which to live anywhere in the world. Supportable and affordable housing is a #1 goal. Sustained business growth is another goal of the MBA. A major member benefit to its members and their employees is affordable worker compensation, insurance, and health care. The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties believes:

Homeownership should be in reach of every American. Each house should be well designed, constructed and located in attractive communities. Each home should be built under the free enterprise system.

The Economic impact of the home building industry is significant. Anderson listed a few statistics that reported that Washington State is 49th in foreclosures, prices are still rising 3-5%, the annual local wages paid are $2.95 billion and there are 50,000 local jobs in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett area.

Owning a new home is an important part of the American Dream. To accomplish this, the MBA has become a collaborative collation of professional home builders, architects, remodelers, suppliers, manufacturers and sales and marketing professionals who like members of Rotary International subscribe to this code of ethics.

With more than 4,300 member companies, representing all facets of housing construction, the Association provides services, programs, legislative representation and membership opportunities unparalleled by any other trade association. The MBA is the authoritative voice and information source for housing to government, the public, the media and homeowners in the Seattle metropolitan area.

MBA University and a Major Focus on Education drive the MBA’s effort to develop and refine the knowledge and skills of its members as they pursue new information, skills, and certifications. The MBA’s education initiatives include providing scholarships to educate future leaders in the construction trades and professions. Anderson, noted that the aging and changing demographics of the workforce require a pro-active effort by the association and the K-20 Educational System to get kids interested in the building industry. MBA has a speakers bureau and several projects local schools can participate with to create awareness of immediate and future jobs and careers in the home building industry. The MBA also has a new website that connects job seekers with residential construction employment opportunities.

One significant educational initiative of the MBA is Build Green. This initiative is designed to provide home owners with innovative and cost effective new and remodeled homes. Safety on the construction site is a primary concern for the MBA. Therefore, the MBA offers members a series of safety programs, including first aid and CPR along with numerous workshops and seminars on construction issues, marketing and government regulations. Most of the MBA’s programs are approved for credit by the Washington State Department of Licensing and promote professionalism in home building.

More on Built Green – Built Green is an environmental certification program for residential construction. By choosing green features from a menu of options, builders can differentiate their single family, multi-family, community or remodel projects as being more environmentally friendly. The Built Green Incentive is targeted at builders interested in developing projects that will meet the Built Green 4 or 5-Star certification levels. In the Built Green program, 4 and 5-Star projects meet superior environmental standards, including Energy Star® certification, and must be independently verified. The incentives will help offset some of those certification costs, which will include performance testing. Based on the past eight years of certifying local projects, Built Green has found that once a builder incorporates these advanced techniques into their building practices, that builder is much more likely to continue to incorporate them in future projects.

Volunteerism – There are many philanthropic projects and initiatives that the MBA is engaged in. Anderson pointed out that MBA members and volunteers have built 200 ramps for low income and disabled home owners and their family members. Master Builders Care Foundation has six projects that it has completed to house the homless. One project, the Vision House (Renton, its first HomeAid project began in 2001 and launched the MBA’s support of the fight to end homelessness. The Care Foundation’s HomeAid program with works local service providers to build hope and homes for the temporarily homeless. “As an industry, we can be a unique resource for community service projects,” said Anderson. “By bringing our diverse members together with local nonprofits, we can achieve something greater than any one company could do on their own.” Fifty to sixty percent of the project costs are donated by local builders who give of their employees’ time, expertise, labor, and skills. The homeless initiative has donated 37,230 bednights, 20,100 daycare days, and the Home Aid Program as 19,000 bed nights in development at this time.

A local HouseAid Master Builders project that members should learn and participate in is Housing at the Crossroads. A partnership with Shea Homes to help; the temporarily homeless on the Eastside. Your donations of materials, labor and money will be proudly accepted. Contact: Greg Robertson, President, www.housing-at-the-crossroads.org or Jay Schupack, Executive Director of HomeAid Master Builders Care, at 425-451-7920 and www.masterbuildersinfo.com

Web Fun

REAL NEWSPAPER ADS
Courtesy of Phil Salvatori

"Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand.

And "lollipop" is the longest word typed with your right hand.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt."

Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

The sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet.

The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).

There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious."

TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard. (All you typists are going to test this out)

A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.

A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.

A snail can sleep for three years.

Almonds are a member of the peach family.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.

February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.

In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.

Leonardo DaVinci invented scissors.

Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!

Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.

The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.

The cruise liner, QE 2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.

There are more chickens than people in the world.

Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

BBRC Thanksgiving
Food Baskets
Juan Hernandez

We will be collecting donations at breakfast on
November 9 to assist families in need on
the Eastside.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

1. Bring an item of food from the list below:

10 lbs of potatoes
2 lbs of carrots
pie crust mix for at least 2 pies
pie filling for at least 2 pies
5 l. box of Bisquick
1 lb of butter
1 large jar of jam
10 cans veggies or fruit
5 lbs of apples
5 lbs of oranges

2. Bring a check (perhaps the cost of a turkey?) and we’ll do the shopping (make checks out to: BBRC).

3. Help us shop Friday morning, November 9.

CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE FLYER WITH THIS INFORMATION.

7: 59 Watch the Debate: Bob Vallat urged everyone to view the debate by Kemper Freeman of Bellevue and Julia Patterson of the King County Council for and against Proposition 1, Roads and Transit, on our November 6 General Election Ballot.

The proposal will cost the tax payers between $38 billion and $156 billion over 50 years, depending on whose numbers you trust. This is the largest tax increase in the history of the State of Washington.

The debate was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Seattle #4 as one of their recently weekly meeting programs.