Preliminaries

Bob McKorkle gave the invocation and led members in the Pledge. Hal Teel introduced visitors and guests.

Tim Leahy told members the BBRC would again participate in the school dictionary project and asked for help on the committee.

First-Ever District 5030 After Hours Social, August 28

Elena Howell reminded members of the upcoming District 5030 social event this Thursday, August 28, from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM, at Maplewood Golf Course in Renton.

“This is really going to be a fun event,” Elena said, “and I’ve asked Paul Chapman to help me by presenting the Top Ten Reasons for Attending the Rotary District 5030 Social.”

In order, here they are, from Paul:

10. Beer

9. Great chance to check out progress on the demolition of the Wilburton Tunnel.

8. Try some of Maplewood’s world famous chicken strips!

7. Go ahead and sleep in on Friday morning because this event counts as a make-up.

6. Jeer at everyone stuck in I-405 as you cruise down in the HOV lane with your significant other, carpool partner or prospective member.

5. Icy buckets of frosty cold beer, glistening in the warm summer sun.

4. It’s a great chance to let the secret out: we are the best darn Rotary Club in the world!

3. Be there for the Rotary debut of the newly minted Mrs. Chapman!

2. Do a twofer: a 1:00 p.m. tee time would have you done in time for the social. Hey, summer’s almost over.

1. Elena will be going!

The BBRC is co-sponsoring the event with the District. To sign up, click here. RSVPs are required, as space is limited!

Barbecue Throwdown This Saturday!

If you are up for some real, slow-cooked barbecued pulled pork sandwiches and ribs, then RSVP right now for this Saturday's Throwdown, 4:00 PM, at the Ballard House in Bothell. Beer, wine, pop and water will also be available.

Sing-Along for BBRC-ers

Scott Sadler introduced a group of YMCA day-campers who invited the members to the ground breaking Tuesday, September 19, at the Newcastle site.

The children, with the help of YMCA staffers, then led members in a number of calisthenics-type songs, in which they performed much better than the members.

Olympics Come to the BBRC Meeting

Members were treated to an Olympics sport: women’s beach volleyball. The USA team faced one from East Germany.

The lithe and decidedly feminine-looking USA team defeated the East German squad, made up, shall we say, of a couple of “ladies” with 5 o’clock shadows ... hmmm.

The Rotary Academy Reminder

The Rotary Academy is looking for students. The Rotary Academy is an eight-month correspondence course of Rotary information to help you gain in-depth knowledge of the operations and procedures of Rotary. Course topics include Rotary Basics, Membership, Public Relations, Service Projects, Foundation, and District Policies and Procedures. You also are expected to write an essay on a Rotary topic of your own choice.

The registration deadline for the 2008-2009 course is September 1, 2008. For more information and/or to register, go to the Rotary Academy page on the District website.

The Rotary Academy kickoff is:

September 10, 2008, 7:00-8:00 PM
Mercer Island Community Center
8236 SE 24th Street
Mercer Island, WA 98040
Phone: 206-275-7609

Several members of the BBRC have completed the Rotary Academy and found it to be a pretty comprehensive way to learn about Rotary quickly and easily.

New Members Proposed: Anderton, Hines & Scharnhorst

Jeff Anderton is President of Ascent Technology Services (Kirkland), which provides IT/network support for small business and engineering/IT staffing service. He lives in Kenmore with his wife Judie Krey and two children, Will and Zoe. His interests include golf and camping. He has attended BBRC meetings for two months already and is ready to become a member. He is sponsored by Rourke O’Brien and Sayoko Kuwahara. The proposed classification is IT Consulting.

Lorenzo Hines, Jr., has been visiting our club for a few months and attended the Rotating the Wheels party, too. He has served our King County as Public Sector CFO and Chief Administrative Officer. He lives in Issaquah with his wife Nancy and two children, Lauren and Kristen. Lorenzo is also a singer, songwriter, and musician, with the ability to play various instruments. His classification will be Financial Management, and his sponsors are Corr Pearce and Jim Owens.

Ryan Scharnhorst is a young, passionate professional, who stated that his overall goal of joining the BBRC is to “give back to the community, volunteer, and make the world a better place.” He works for Sagemark Wealth Management in Kirkland, and he lives in Issaquah with his wife Jodene and daughter Anya. Ryan's hobbies include golf, running and water-skiing. The proposed classification is Independent Financial Planner. He is sponsored by John Martinka and Rourke O’Brien.

In accordance with our by-laws, if you have any comments on these candidates for membership, please contact John DeWater, Director of Membership.

Mark Hough: Checking In from Afghanistan

President Jenny Andrews recently received this email from Mark Hough, who is back in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Today, Friday, 11.5 hours ahead of you in Seattle, is my weekend. The Afghan work week, which we follow, is six days. I have spent the day relaxing — working out, visiting a new grocery store and working on Dari language exercises for a class I am taking.

Unlike Seattle weather, here it is hot, but not oppressive, and dry. Occasionally the dust blows up in the afternoons, which is not good for the eyes or lungs. Schools have had a semester break and are now back in session. During the break, kite flying started in earnest and has continued. The kites are tailless and quite maneuverable. The trees and power lines now contain many dead kites. I live and work in what I would describe as a middle class residential neighborhood and there are many kids in the streets and consequently many kites. Here in the city life is peaceful so far.

My job is to help to complete class syllabi and text books for several core legal courses taught in law and Sharia faculties in Afghan provincial universities. When I was here in January, USAID organized a national conference of representatives from these schools. The intent was for them to identify core courses that every student at any of the law or Shiria schools would have to take. They did agree on eleven core courses and we have been helping them develop modern syllabi and teaching materials for these courses.

This is a continuation of the work I was doing earlier this year. It involves finding qualified professors that we have asked to author the shyllabi and texts. We have organized working committees at the various schools to assist and review the materials. We have three text book manuscripts ready to go to the various departments at Kabul University and then to the Law School and University committees who approve new texts and then to the Ministry of Higher Education for final approval to distribute. So there is a lot of prodding and many meetings. We have four more texts in the works. The intent is to have another conference in November where we can review the progress and then do some demonstrations of new teaching techniques at the various universities.

I have also wanted to see firsthand how the court systems operates here. I have been tagging along to meetings with some of my colleagues who work with the courts to implement a new filing and case management systems They are trying to get the judges to hold more hearings that are open to the public. Although the Afghanistan Constitution says all trial are to be open to the public, few are. If all goes as planned, I will observe a trial this Sunday. I already know that trials here are far from what any TV viewer would recognize as trials in the US. One of my colleagues who was for a time a judge here in Kabul told me that in 80% of his criminal cases the prosecutor did not even show up and the defendant seldom had a lawyer. Even though the Afghan Constitution says that every one accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty, the judge apparently often looks at the case file, which includes the prosecutor's notes and statements, and asks the defendant if he has anything to say in his defense. If not, the defendant is found guilty. So the reality is totally backward from making the prosecutor prove his case. Anyway we shall see what transpires on Sunday.

On another item, I just finished reading a book which would be interesting reading for anyone such as you who has worked in the polio eradication program. You may have read it. It is titled "Polio, An American Story," by David Oshinsky. It is the epic story of the great polio eradication quest started by the Infantile Paralysis Foundation and details the mass vaccination trials of the mid-fifties and the competition between Albert Sabin and Jonas Salk and their different vaccines. It is an easy read and was of personal interest to me since I contracted polio in 1950 leaving my right shoulder damaged.

Anyway, of interest to you would be the two page Epilogue that pays great and sincere tribute to RI and the many Rotarians who have volunteered time to go on immunization trips.

I am told there is a Rotary Club of Kabul. If true and if I can find its time and place I will try to attend.

Friday Program

"Humor of the Middle East," David Woodard, President/CEO, Associates in Cultural Exchange

Chris Monger introduced David Woodard, President and CEO of Associated in Cultural Exchange.

Woodard was born in Iran to missionary parents and is, as he said, a third culture kid — one who was born in one culture and raised in another.

He asked members what they think of first when they think of people from the Middle East. The answer, he said, are people who spend a lot of time drinking coffee or tea and shopping. When they sit down for coffee or tea, they spend a lot of time talking, much of which involves humor.

In the Middle East, Woodard said, there is a growing openness of people laughing at themselves. A key, he added, is not laughing at Middle Eastern people, but laughing with them.

Web Fun

Attorney's Advice
Courtesy of Chuck Barnes

1. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

2. Do not sign the backs of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED."

3. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check-processing channels will not have access to it.

4. Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SSN printed on your checks. You can add it if it is necessary. However, if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Also carry a photocopy of your passport when traveling either here or abroad.