Opening Bell, Invocation & Pledge
President Phil opened the meeting, asking if everyone had a good time at the Valentine Dine-Around. The answer was self-evident in last week's issue of Reveille, although some appeared to have more fun than others.
Steve White gave the invocation and led the Pledge. Bob McKorkle introduced visiting Rotarians and guests.
Manfred Markevitch auctioned off two Bolshoi Ballet Tickets for March 8. The winning bidder was Jim Gordon, who bought the tickets because his wife has a strong interest in ballet. She had told him no present for Valentine’s Day, but since this was the day after ... the winning bid: $225.
The Walkathon is now about 10 weeks away and already the pressure is on. Jenny Andrews has a bet as to who will raise $7,500 first, with the loser having to sing before the group. As a result, Jenny now is preparing her song. She promised to sing on February 28. Jenny was reminded the meeting date really is actually February 29.
The city wants lots of kids involved in this year's walkathon, so middle and high school students are being recruited. Also, companies that include four or more walkers will have a sign to carry announcing their participation. Members were reminded that they are asked to raise or contribute $500 to the Walkathon. Participation is $25 per person, with children under age 12 walking free.
Finally, the club was divided into four groups, each of which worked on a cheer that helped get the interest up for the event.
FRIDAY's PROGRAM:
"Recognizing the Support of Washington State Employers of Guardsman and Reservists," David Doud, King County Chairman, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
David Doud, King County Chairman of the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve, was introduced by Steve Goldfarb. The organization was founded after the Vietnam War and is part of the Department of Defense. The organization has 4,200 volunteers whose job is to tell employers about the Guard and Reserve.
Laws require employers to guarantee jobs of those called up for military service. The volunteers help handle issues that can come up when those employees come home. Most cases are a result of a misunderstanding of the rules.
There are 1.1 million American in the Armed Services. Of those 550,000 are in the Guard or Reserve. There are 80,000 from the Guard or Reserve on Active Duty.
Many local companies are strong supporters of the ESGR program, including Puget Sound Energy, Starbucks and Microsoft. For example, at Starbucks, there is a wall of honor at the company’s headquarters listing all the employees who are serving in the Armed Services.
ESGR also hosts a program called “Boss Lift,” in which bosses are airlifted to military training areas in this country to see what their employees are doing to help the country.
Old Tales
Courtesy of Phil Salvatori
An elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%. The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, "Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again."
The gentleman replied, "Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will three times!"
• • •
An elderly couple had dinner at another couple's house, and after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen. The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, "Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great. I would recommend it very highly."
The other man said, "'What is the name of the restaurant?"
The first man thought and thought and finally said, "What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love? You know, the one that's red and has thorns."
"Do you mean a rose?"
"Yes, that's the one," replied the man. He then turned towards the kitchen and yelled, "Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went to last night?"
• • •
A man was telling his neighbor, "I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dollars, but it's state of the art. It's perfect."
"Really," answered the neighbor, "What kind is it?"
"Twelve thirty."
• • •
Morris, an 82 year-old man, went to the doctor to get a physical. A few days later, the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm. A couple of days later, the doctor spoke to Morris and said, "You're really doing great, aren't you?"
Morris replied, "Just doing what you said, Doc: 'Get a hot mama and be cheerful.'''
The doctor said, "I didn't say that. I said, 'You've got a heart murmur; be careful.'"
"The Heart of the Game," Bill Resler, Girls' Basketball Coach. When Seattle filmmaker Ward Serrill met Bill Resler, a college tax professor who moonlights as a girls' basketball coach, he didn't realize that he was about to embark on an incredible 7-year journey. Serrill, camera in hand, followed Resler — who looks more like Santa Claus in Birkenstocks than a whistle-blasting high school coach — into the Roosevelt High School gym and soon discovered a group of girls whose unbridled toughness, passion and energy he came to call "The Heart of the Game."
“We are not retreating. We are simply advancing in another direction.”
Earl Falk, 01/30
Jan Nestler, 02/2
Doug Cameron, 02/6
Mitch Freedman, 02/7
Bob Vallat, 02/13
Bill Brooks, 02/14
Ruben Ladlad, 02/15
Alan Bohling, 02/16
Jim Zidar, 02/23
Ron Black, 02/25
Mix John, 22 yrs
Phil Salvatori, 18 yrs
Steve Peters, 15 yrs
Tom Smith, 11 yrs
Bill Spencer, 11 yrs
Alan Pratt, 10 yrs
Cyril Faulkner, 5 yrs
Fred Barkman, 4 yrs
Elena Howell, 2 yrs
Tim Johnstone, 1 yrs
The BBRC Retreat is set for April 4 in Gig Harbor. CLICK HERE to obtain more information and RSVP for the 2008 Retreat.
Cleanup of the BBRC’s adopted highway will be in about two weeks. The event should take only about two hours. Exact date and more details later.
The BBRC Spray Park will have its grand opening at noon on Saturday, June 7. President Phil asked for a large turnout of club members. “The park will be phenomenal,” he said.
