Anniversary Celebration — 22 Years!

The BBRC celebrated its 22nd Anniversary with a classy dinner at the Westin Hotel in Bellevue. There was no regular meeting, though we are informed that one former member, Brian Heimbigner, showed up at Glendale at the normal hour, along with two visiting Rotarians from local clubs.

Pre-dinner entertainment was provided by a pick-up band consisting of Chip Erickson, John DeWater and featuring Jim Owens on the harmonica.

Wendi Fischer served ably as Mistress of Ceremonies, though ceremonies were few.

President Phil acknowledged the attendance of three of the Founding Fathers, Terry Baker, Doug Cameron and Jim Owens.

Bob Bowen delivered the Invocation with two memorable quotes from Theodore Roosevelt and Edward Martin respectively:

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and show it in deeds.

Thanksgiving day comes by statute once a year, but to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.

The rest of the evening was consumed with good eats and pleasant camaraderie. Somewhere the number of attendees was miscalculated. The hotel graciously provided a gratis round of champagne for the Club’s trouble.

Special thanks to Ron and Stella Black, and Chris and Lindsay Rasmussen, program chairs, and committee members Candy and Bob Igou, and Tom and Beverly Harrelson.

Christmas Giving Trees

Peter Stadelman and his wife, Deb, had two Christmas trees set up in the foyer, one for the YMCA and one for HopeLink. As in years past, gift tags were hanging on the trees and a good number of them were taken. There will be further opportunity to participate at the next scheduled BBRC meeting on November 30.

Update from Peter Stadelman:
Generous Rotarians signed up for 75 of the 115 gift ornaments. That's 65.2%! Unfortunately, three tags were taken but no signature was left on the sheet, so we don't know who took them. If you have #3 Play Doh, #31 Husky's (sic) Hat & T shirt, #77 Books, please let me know. The rest of the gift ornaments will be at the meeting on November 30th for those who still would like to participate. Ron Healy will have plenty of room in his Hummer Sport Edition to start collecting the toys.

Remember: All gifts should be brought to the BBRC meeting by December 14th! Not to Hopelink or YMCA! Gifts #1-80 are unwrapped gifts #81-115 are to be festively gift wrapped. Please make sure that the gift tags are taped to the ornaments so that each child is taken care of.

Thanks again for your generosity and help in making The Giving Tree Program a success!

Crossroads Park Spray Playground Update
Reported by Norm Johnson

As most of you know we had the official ground breaking for the Spray Playground on October 19th, 2007. For those of you who missed the actual event the City of Bellevue featured the event on it's local TV show.

We are also happy to announce that the floating granite sphere is nearing completion. It is now in the final stages of being polished prior to having the outlines of the continents inscribed. The photo at left shows Stuart Kendall of Seattle Solstice demonstrating the floating sphere to BBRC member Jim Owens. The next step is to take the base of the sphere and install it at the park.

Two Proposed Members: Gamache & Selden

Diane Gamache
Diane is the owner of JDI Consulting LLC, located in Redmond, which offers accounting services, including outsourced internal audit consulting for small public and pre-IPO companies. Her proposed classification is "CPA-Internal Audit." Diane worked for Expedia in the past, and her community involvement is extensive, including Camp Prime Time, serving terminally ill and disabled children, and Operation Sack Lunch, St. John Vianney Church. Diane loves to golf and travel.

Frank Selden
Frank is an Estate Planning Attorney at Selden Law Firm. His proposed classification in our club is "Another Lawyer." He has six children, ranging in age from 12 to 26. Frank and his wife, Philese, live in Bellevue. He played in an orchestra and sang in quartet. (Yes! He has a musical talent to offer!) He also enjoys serious contact sports: rugby, soccer and cricket.

Brian Heimbigner Attempts a Visit

Email from Brian:

I hope the BBRC had a great anniversary dinner. My wife and I arrived into Seattle from Atlanta last Thursday for a 10-day Thanksgiving vacation with our families in Issaquah and Portland. And not having paid good attention to the latest Reveille and the emails to members about the Anniversary Dinner, I came over to the clubhouse on Friday November 16 to see y'all. I was greeted by two members of the Bellevue Sunrise club who were also there for a make-up. After checking with the Club's kitchen staff, we found out there was no morning meeting, so we dispersed.

I would have crashed your dinner party on Saturday, except we had to be in Portland over the weekend for family events. So sorry I missed seeing the club members on my annual trip to the Northwest. We decided life is too short, so we plan to visit the Northwest at least twice a year in the future to see family and friends, and I will try to visit the BBRC next spring. I especially want to compare notes with Curtis Cumming on your water projects in Africa, as my club is doing a number of them in Ecuador and I am co-director for International Projects, so regularly involved in their funding, planning, and execution.

Happy holidays to all,
Brian Heimbigner

Email Scam Targeting Rotarians

Rotary International (RI) has learned about a new email phishing scam targeting Rotarians.

The scam email claims that a deceased Rotarian has left money to the email recipient to be donated to philanthropic efforts. The sender, who claims to be the executor of the will, then asks for the recipient’s personal information, including a copy of the individual’s passport and driver’s license, in order to claim the inheritance.

The organization mentioned that it does not solicit funds through e-mail, nor does it ask that personal information be updated by e-mail or other electronic means.

RI encourages Rotarians to avoid becoming victims of these scams by deleting any e-mail that appears suspicious.

Web Fun
Courtesy of Chuck Barnes

• Just before the funeral services, the undertaker came up to the very elderly widow and asked, "How old was your husband?" "98," she replied. "Two years older than me." "So you're 96," the undertaker commented. She responded, "Hardly worth going home, is it?

• I've sure gotten old! I've had two bypass surgeries, a hip replacement, new knees. Fought prostate cancer and diabetes. I'm half blind, can't hear anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications that make me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts. Have bouts with dementia. Have poor circulation; hardly feel my hands and feet anymore. Can't remember if I'm 85 or 92. Have lost all my friends. But, thank God, I still have my driver's license.

• I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotards on, the class was over.

• My memory's not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory's not as sharp as it used to be.

• I've still got it, but nobody wants to see it.

• I'm getting into swing dancing. Not on purpose. Some parts of my body are just prone to swinging.

The Senility Prayer:
Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference.

John Armenia RECOVERING
John Armenia underwent surgery for lung cancer this past Tuesday at Fred Hutch Center at the UW. According to John, the surgery was a success, and he is receiving excellent medical care. You can find out how John is doing by visiting his CarePages.

Golfing With The Elves
All BBRC members and their friends and family are invited to enjoy a round of golf with the Elves as they take a much needed break after packing Santa's sleigh. Join us at 8:59 AM on Monday, December 24th, at the Mt. Si golf course, rain or shine — or snow!