Opening Bell, Invocation & Pledge

President Phil Salvatori opened the meeting at 7:30. Opening Greeting — Spring is only a Month Away!

7:31 Diane Gamache gave the Invocation and led the pledge to the flag.

7:33 Ercan Turkarslan, introduced Visiting Rotarians and guests.

7:37 Blue Badge was awarded to Bill Rambo.

Second Annual Walkathon

7:39 Jane Kuechle reminded members to schedule and hold the date of April 26th for the second walkathon. The walkathon is now nine weeks away, so the promotion is going forward. Jenny Andrews has promised to sing her song on February 29.

We are recruiting our community’s youth to get 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 are asked to raise or contribute $500 to the Walkathon. Participation is $25 per person, with children under age 12 walking free.

BBRC Annual Retreat

7:41 King David Bolson, in full robes, joined President-Elect Jenny Andrews to invite members, spouses and partners to join her and Board and club leaders to attend the April 4th and 5th Annual BBRC Retreat at The Inn at Gig Harbor. Click here to obtain more information and RSVP for the 2008 Retreat.

School for the Sacred Heart’s Interact Club

7:44 Forrest Ridge – School for the Sacred Heart’s Interact Club founder and President Anna Ross was introduced by Jim Carney. Anna is recognized for her promotion of Rotary’s Interact initiative and the outstanding local and world community service projects. GLOBAL VISION and education at Forest Ridge have been important in the education of young women at the school for decades.

Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 14 to 18. Each year, Interact clubs complete at least two community service projects, one of which furthers international understanding and goodwill.

Anna spoke about how the Forest Ridge students and Interact club have been setting up computer labs to enhance education in Uganda. She invited BBRC Members to attend the Third Annual Ugandan Luncheon Fundraise to benefit “Computers in Uganda.” It is Saturday, March 29, from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. The cost is $29 per ticket. To learn more or to purchase tickets, please contact Anna (Ph 206-819-5368).

One-Year Minute - Tim Johnstone

7:49 “Shock and Awe” is how Tim Johnstone described his first year of membership with the BBRC. The fellowship, inviting club climate, and spirit of giving and service within the club have encouraged and fostered Tim’s desire to continue his membership and develop this opportunity for service.

Sergeant At Arms Corner

7:51 Sergeant At Arms Tom Harrelson’s fine session generated many definitions for the word “misapedia” and raised donations from both those that defined the word correctly at their table and those that missed it big.

Letter from RI President Wil Wilkinson

25 February 2008

Dear 2007-08 Rotary Club President;

I want to thank you again for your support of our "Sharing the Magic of Rotary" Presidential Conferences in North America. There is nothing more important than growing our organization if we want to continue Rotary's great work throughout the world.

Growing our membership is all of our responsibility (Member Recruit Member) and we must get that message across to our club colleagues. Through the first six months of this 2007-08 Rotary year (July through January, 2008) we have experience a slight increase of 1,240 net new members.

I challenged every Rotarian to bring in at least one new member. Have you met my challenge? Have you served your club or district by promoting membership growth whenever you can? We need your continued good efforts if we are to achieve our goal.

Most clubs lose 5% to 10% of their members each year so we must replace those we lose and add new members to reach the membership growth Rotary needs to succeed.

As a reminder, my Presidential Citation requires each club to gain one net new member by March 31, 2008. It would be a shame for the rest of the good work your club is doing to not be recognized because this membership goal was not met!

Let's continue to wave the flag of EVERY ROTARIAN EVERY YEAR for membership just like it has been with The Rotary Foundation. We all need to become major donor's for membership.

Thank you for all you are doing to make Rotary the premier Service Organization in the World.

Yours in the Service of Rotary,

Wilf Wilkinson Rotary International President

Friday Program:
"The Heart Of The Game," Bill Resler, Roosevelt High Girl’s Basketball Coach (introduced by Rourke O’Brien)

The Heart of the Game, the 2006 documentary and book that can be purchased from Amazon.Com follows UW Tax Law Professor Bill Resler, the unconventional girls' high school basketball coach and his star point guard Darnella Russell. It tracks the conflicts that arise over the fate of a star player.

However, Bill told us of Angela who was one of the 45 freshman that turned out for the Roughriders freshman-JV team. Nineteen (19) had to be cut and Angela was high on the list not to make the team. However, his assistant convinced him to keep her on the team. Her grin and positive attitude won him over. He also convinced Bill not to cut Angela to keep her another year and to invite her to summer camp. Angela attended the camp every day and served on the JV her junior year too. In her senior year, she made the team and moved from no self confidence to helping in the play-offs.

During his presentation, Bill shared several of his beliefs:

“When the game is over ... every one still needs to love basketball!”

Part of TEAM is bringing everything you have to the game.

Inch by inch life’s a cinch…yard by yard, life is hard! Never give up!

Don’t judge kids (people) on how they make mistakes ... but how they correct their mistakes!

No championship without sacrifice. Winning is an attitude not a result.

Winning is more fun than losing.

Preferences are better than expectations.

Fun is a big motivator for Bill, and he states, “Always have fun in all ways. If your life isn’t fun, change it. Look for the whimsy as often as possible."

Web Fun

Taxi Driver in Heaven?
Courtesy of Ercan Turkarslan
 
A priest and a taxi driver both died and went to heaven. St. Peter was at the Pearly gates waiting for them.

"Come with me," said St. Peter to the taxi driver.

The taxi driver did as he was told and followed St. Peter to a mansion. It had anything you could imagine from a bowling alley to an Olympic size pool.

"Wow, thank you," said the taxi driver.

Next, St. Peter led the priest to a rugged old shack with a bunk bed and a little old television set.

"Wait, I think you are a little mixed up," said the priest. "Shouldn't I be the one who gets the mansion? After all I was a priest, went to church every day, and preached God's word."

"Yes, that's true, But during your sermons people slept. When the taxi driver drove, everyone prayed."

Adopt-A-Highway Work Party
The BBRC's Preserve Planet Earth Committee will be hosting a work party this Saturday, March 1, to fulfill our ongoing commitment to the WSDOT's Adopt-A-Highway program. Our adopted section of highway is on I-405 northbound between the SE 8th and NE 4th ramps.

Please join us at 9:00 AM sharp at the SE 8th Park and Ride. Wear some sturdy shoes or boots and bring a pair of work gloves, if you have them. Hard hats, orange vests, trash bags, doughnuts and coffee will be provided. These projects only take 1-2 hours to complete, depending on how many people show up, so let's round up a good crew and get it done as fast as possible! Friends, neighbors and family members age 15 and older are welcome.

Please contact Chip Erickson if you plan to attend.

Rotary First Harvest Work Party, March 8
Although this is not the work location and date that is the focus of the BBRC, members who can't make the regular 4th Saturday work party can attend the Northwest Harvest site in Kent on the 2nd Saturday of each month, with the next party set for Saturday, March 8.

Address:
Kent (2nd SAT)
9:00 a.m. to noon
22220 68th Avenue South
Kent, WA 98032
GOOGLE MAP