President Jenny Andrews rang the bell to begin the meeting at the Glendale Golf and Country Club.
Roger Allington gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America
Kaj Pedersen introduced visiting Rotarians and guests, among them District Governor Jesse Tam; Past District Governors (PDG) Sally Grey and John Jacob Gardiner; Norm Fisher, Lacey; Frank Young, Bellevue Noon; David Bobanek, Mercer Island; and District Secretary Gary Bruner, Seattle; and BBRC exchange student Cristóbal Baladrón.
October is "Vocational Service Month," and the BBRC's biggest project is Rotary's First Harvest! Our goal this year for the BBRC is to exceed the 150 participants that supported RFH in 2007-08. Volunteers from the BBRC join the RFH work party the second Saturday of every month, and the Food Lifeline seeks volunteers on the 4th Saturday, so there are many opportunities for service. This fall, we need volunteers for the October11, November 8, and December 13.
Morris Kremen introduced RFH Exexcutive Director David Bobanick, who presented the BBRC with a "Top 5" Banner for our club's leadership with and participation in RFH this past year. He noted that work parties bring generations together and that First Harvest is an opportunity for family members, neighbors and friends to join Rotarians in our work and service. He also pointed out that work parties are a great way to recruit new members.
Participating with Rotary First Harvest in its food recovery and distribution activities are farmers, truckers, and food banks across the state of Washington. RFH is also engaged with other service organizations in coordinated food purchasing and storage. He noted that this next week our state will launch the Governor's Agricultural Challenge.
John and Jan Martinka received District 5030 recognition for their "Benefactor Gift and Commitment" to The Rotary Foundation's Permanent Fund. "Their legacy will make a lasting difference in the world!" stated District Governor Jesse Tam, who was joined by Past District Governors Sally Grey and John Jacob Gardiner in recognizing John and Jan.
The Martinkas were out of town, so the gifts and recognition were received by proxy recipients Wendi Fischer and Jonathon Koshar.
Friday Program:
"Global Networking Groups Inspire & Develop International Fellowship," Gary Bruner
District Secretary Gary Bruner, dressed in his International Fellowship of Yachting leader's uniform, conducted a very interesting program on Rotary's ever-growing Global Networking Groups program that is providing a wonderful range of opportunities of fun and fellowship among the members in the Family of Rotary. As our Family of Rotary grows, the interest in our members also grows.
With the change of name from Fellowships to Networking Groups, Bruner indicated that "Rotary fellowships are entering a new era in our District. We, as Rotarians, have many diversified interests and expectations. This area is available to help all members of the Rotary Family meet members with similar interests from here in our home district to the family of Rotary throughout out the world. These interests range from golf, computers, dentistry, travel, wine, fishing, flying, and boating to land mine issues and many more. There are over 100 areas of interest, and if you do not see your area of interest, you can work to start a new area throughout the Rotary World."
The new Rotarian concept: "Global Networking Groups." This concept covers Fellowships and Action Groups, and 2008 is the 80th anniversary of our International Fellowship Program. It was in 1928 that the first fellowship was born! Today there are 110 worldwide fellowships. Most of them are hobbies and friendships. Informational packets on all groups in the global network are available on the Rotary International website.
- 38 concern hobbies
- 24 professions
- 18 sports
- Rotarian challenges
"Rotarian Action Groups" conduct international service projects that further the "Object of Rotary" and foster goodwill and friendships and humanitarian service. If you're interested in supporting a particular type of service activity, there is certainly a Rotarian Action Group for you. Today, there are 16 Action Groups including the Environmental Fellowship, Dental Volunteers, Microcredit AG, Water and Sanitation. Fellowships that also focus on international issues and problems solving include the Puget Sound IYFR Yachting Fleet, the Music Fellowship, Financing and Banking Professionals, Environment, Chess, Editors and Publishers, Mountain Climbing and Hiking, to name just a few groups.
Membership requires only "an interest," and you do not need a boat or a motorcycle or special equipment to take advantage of many diverse Rotary Service opportunities.
T
his concept of Fellowship started with the group from Great Britain and Ireland in the 1950's, with the International Fellowship of Yachting Rotarians (IFYR). Since that time, this fellowship has grown to be one of the largest Rotary fellowships. Fellowships have now grown to over 80 groups of Rotarians sharing similar interests and passions.
Bruner's goal and the purpose of his presentation to the BBRC, was to help all clubs and members in District 5030 understand the opportunity the fellowships allow the clubs and Rotarians. Fellowships provide for membership retention and recruitment. If you are interested you can visit the RI District 5030 website:
In the Judeo-Christian tradition these are the Ten Commandments which can be described thus:
1. You will have no other gods before the Supreme Being.
2. You will not worship idols.
3. You will not use the name of the Supreme Being improperly.
4. You should remember to rest one day a week.
5. You should honor your parents.
6. You shall not murder another human.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not lie.
10. You shall not covet others' possessions.
In a recent study group it was noted that virtually all religions have similar codes of behavior. In the Christian tradition, when Jesus was asked which was the greatest of these Commandments, he responded, “Love the Supreme Being with all you heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself”. These two Commandments encompass all of the others!
In Rotary we have the 4-Way Test:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
When one stops to think about it, our 4-Way test encompasses most of the aspects of the 10 Commandments, particularly when coupled with our motto, “Service above self”!
Groaners
Courtesy of John Mix
1. The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.
3. She was only a whisky maker, but he loved her still.
4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.
5. The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.
6. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
7. Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects!
8. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.
9. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
11. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.
12. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
13. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, 'You stay here, I'll go on a head.'
14. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
15. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
16. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, "No change yet."
17. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
18. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
19. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
20. The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
21. A backward poet writes inverse.
22. In democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.