Friday Program: Captain Stephen Metruck, US Coast Guard, Commander, Seattle Sector | Opening Bell | Washington Business Week | Presidents-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) | Students of the Month for March & April: Ali Stillwell & Ashley Martin | Update on “Blind Money” | Paul Harris Awards: Bolson & Goldfarb | Annual Book Drive | Friday Potpourri | Service Above Self Day Project | Web Fun
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Jim Everist, 2 yrs
Morris Kremen, 2 yrs
Corr Pearce, 2 yrs
Craig Groshart, 1 yr (this time!)
John Hillock, 1 yr
Ercan Turkarslan, 1 yr
Morris Kremen, 2 yrs
Corr Pearce, 2 yrs
Craig Groshart, 1 yr (this time!)
John Hillock, 1 yr
Ercan Turkarslan, 1 yr
MARCH ANNIVERSARIES
Howard Johnson, 21 yrs
Norm Johnson, 19 yrs
Jan Nestler, 18 yrs
Lynne Gauthier, 15 yrs
Sadru Kabani, 13 yrs
Jenny Andrews, 11 yrs
Jane Kuechle, 11 yrs
Jeanne Thorsen, 6 yrs
Norm Johnson, 19 yrs
Jan Nestler, 18 yrs
Lynne Gauthier, 15 yrs
Sadru Kabani, 13 yrs
Jenny Andrews, 11 yrs
Jane Kuechle, 11 yrs
Jeanne Thorsen, 6 yrs
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
Bob Moloney, 03/05
Jeanne Thorsen, 03/06
Howard Johnson, 03/07
Erinie Hayden, 03/08
Bob Bowen, 03/09
Steve Waltar, 03/15
Scott Hildebrand, 03/16
Fred Barkman, 03/23
Jon Luksetich, 03/30
Jeanne Thorsen, 03/06
Howard Johnson, 03/07
Erinie Hayden, 03/08
Bob Bowen, 03/09
Steve Waltar, 03/15
Scott Hildebrand, 03/16
Fred Barkman, 03/23
Jon Luksetich, 03/30
THIS FRIDAY
"Contemporary Political Leadership in Russia," Professor Herb Ellison, Professor Emeritus of History and International Studies, University of Washington. Professor Ellison has served as director of the University's Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies and was formerly director of the Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies in Washington, D.C. He is the author or coauthor of five books on Russian history and foreign policy. [Gordon]
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
To be born free is an accident, to live free is a privilege, to die free is a responsibility. ~ Brig. Gen. Robby Risner (RTD)
President Phil opened the meeting by wishing everyone an early Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Chuck Barnes gave the invocation and led members in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Dick Brown introduced visitors. There were no visiting Rotarians this week.
Steve Hyer, executive director of Washington Business Week spoke about the program and the support that the BBRC has given by sponsoring six students each year.
He introduced Patrick Smith, who told of his participation in the program. At first, he was reluctant to attend, Patrick, a Bellevue High School student, said. But he did, and attended again the following year. He plans to attend the program this summer as well.
Patrick said the program helped him learn to put priorities first.
Patrick’s mother, Lola, told Rotarians that her son gained tools to better motivate him, and it has made a change in his life.
The BBRC presented a check for $2,500 to Hyer to continue its support of Washington Business Week.
Incoming president Jenny Andrews spoke about the recent PETS training, where 700 were in attendance. Additionally, she reminded members of the upcoming retreat in Gig Harbor, noting that five incoming presidents from other Rotary clubs would be attending to see how to put on a successful retreat.
Tom Smith added that a golf outing is set for the retreat and that members could sign up online at the BBR C web site. The cost will be $75, which will include a round of golf, cart and range balls. Deadline for signing up is Friday, March 21.
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Students of the Month for March & April: Ali Stillwell & Ashley Martin
Bob Holert introduced the BBRC Students of the Month for March and April.
March student-of-the-month Ali Stillwell, daughter of Mark and Elaine, and April student-of-the-month Ashley Martin, daughter of Fred and Lynette, are players on the Sammamish High School basketball team. The pair has stuck together as friends and with the basketball program through losing seasons, earning the praise of their coach, Alan Guffey.
Ali takes a number of AP classes at Sammamish, has participated in the “Walk for Aiden” walk-a-thon and in the school’s Thanksgiving basket collection, among many other activities. She plans to attend either Michigan State University of the University of Oregon. The latter brought several cheers from BBRC members.
Ashley also has taken numerous AP classes, and is involved in the Bellevue Country Day School and volunteers at Rose Hill Elementary School. She plans to attend a four-year college and major in sociology or social work.
Cyrus Habib, son of Susan Amini, spoke to the members about efforts to make U.S. currency user friendly to those who are visually impaired.
Cyrus, who attends Yale University Law School, said a lawsuit is in progress to deal with the problem that there is no tactile difference in paper currency, making it even difficult for those only partially visually impaired.
Dick Brown presented David Bolson and Steve Goldfarb with Paul Harris Fellow awards. In Steve’s case, the award was in the name of his wife, Fredda.
Dick added that the club is close to having 100 percent participation in the Paul Harris program this year and that those who have yet to contribute will be getting personal calls from the committee members.
David Bolson took time to read from a book to remind members about the ongoing book drive. So far, over 150 books have been collected in the annual book drive. Community Service Projects Committee members will be collecting books at the next two BBRC meetings. David Bolson will take care of delivering them to HopeLink, where a whole new set of empty bookshelves are patiently waiting to be filled.
Please remember to grab a handful (or bags full) of books on your way out the door this Friday.
John Martinka noted that David Bolson was instrumental in the Computers for the World project by helping secure shipping for the computers. They should be on site for the Rotary and high school team to install.
Jane Kuechle reminded members that there are 44 days to the Rotary Walk and encouraged everyone to get their teams ready. Sign up online!
A work part is set from 8 a.m. to noon on March 29 at Elder and Adult Day Services as part of Rotary Service Above Self Day. Members are need for both outside and inside work, especially those who are willing to work outside if it is raining. Ron Healey sweetened the request for help by noting that coffee and donuts will be provided.
Captain Stephen Metruck, US Coast Guard,
Commander, Seattle Sector
The guest speaker was Capt. Stephan Metruck, head of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Seattle.
Capt. Metruck told members that the Coast Guard now is part of Homeland Security and that the Seattle Station is one of 36 in the country. The station’s basic duties deal with maintaining security, national defense and maritime safety.
The Seattle Station is responsible for an area approximately 3000 miles of coastline, extending from just south of Olympia to just north of Port Townsend.
Its task also involves supervising the movement of 5,000 deep-draft ships a year into and out of those waters. In addition, this area is the third largest in the country in terms of container ships and 4.1 million containers come into ports here each year. Ships carrying 15 billion gallons of oil also ply the state’s waters.
The Coast Guard also deals with the state ferry system, the nation’s largest, which carries 24 million passengers and 11 million vehicles each year. Finally, 200 cruise ship sailings occur each year.
One factor the Coast Guard must deal with is that container ships move north and south through state’s waters while the state’s ferries move east and west. The Coast Guard must monitor them all.
Since 9-11, the Coast Guard has established maritime SWAT teams and the first one was located in Seattle. In dealing with security, the Coast Guard considers where ships are loaded, where they have been and who is on board. In some cases, Coast Guard personnel actually board the a ship coming into state waters and ride with it to port to make sure those vessels themselves won’t be used as a weapon.
Commander, Seattle Sector
The guest speaker was Capt. Stephan Metruck, head of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Seattle.
Capt. Metruck told members that the Coast Guard now is part of Homeland Security and that the Seattle Station is one of 36 in the country. The station’s basic duties deal with maintaining security, national defense and maritime safety.
The Seattle Station is responsible for an area approximately 3000 miles of coastline, extending from just south of Olympia to just north of Port Townsend.
Its task also involves supervising the movement of 5,000 deep-draft ships a year into and out of those waters. In addition, this area is the third largest in the country in terms of container ships and 4.1 million containers come into ports here each year. Ships carrying 15 billion gallons of oil also ply the state’s waters.
The Coast Guard also deals with the state ferry system, the nation’s largest, which carries 24 million passengers and 11 million vehicles each year. Finally, 200 cruise ship sailings occur each year.
One factor the Coast Guard must deal with is that container ships move north and south through state’s waters while the state’s ferries move east and west. The Coast Guard must monitor them all.
Since 9-11, the Coast Guard has established maritime SWAT teams and the first one was located in Seattle. In dealing with security, the Coast Guard considers where ships are loaded, where they have been and who is on board. In some cases, Coast Guard personnel actually board the a ship coming into state waters and ride with it to port to make sure those vessels themselves won’t be used as a weapon.
The Truth About Dogs
Contributed by Phil Salvatori
The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. - Anonymous
Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. - Ann Landers
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers
There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. - Ben Williams
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. - Josh Billings
The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. - Andy Rooney
We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. - M. Acklam
Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate. - Sigmund Freud
I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. - Rita Rudner
A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. - Robert Benchley
Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog. - Franklin P. Jones
If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons. - James Thurber
If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. - Unknown
My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money. - Joe Weinstein
Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul — chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth! - Anne Tyler
Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. - Robert A. Heinlein
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man. - Mark Twain
You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, ‘Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!” - Dave Barry
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. - Roger Caras
If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them. - Phil Pastoret
VOL 20, NO 35, MARCH 18, 2008
IN THIS ISSUE:
