Celebrating the 23rd year of the founding of the BBRC, over 100 members and guests gathered at the Evergreen Ballroom on the second floor of the Winter Garden of the Bellevue Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Greeted by Ron and Stella Black, we were soon captured by the “Red Dress” theme of the event and enjoyed our salsa before our salad. Following a very lively social hour, Joe Castleberry opened the meeting with his invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. District Governor Jesse Tam and his wife Lily were introduced as our special guests.
Joe continued with some special remarks concerning this 23rd Anniversary Dinner: It was his observation that the club has built a reputation for being an inclusive, fun-loving, caring group of community leaders. “People out there say we are a younger group.” A group that comes together to share a common sense of service and ethics. A group that positively impacts lives locally and abroad.
Joe then introduced us to a bit of Greek from the ancient Hellenistic text. A difficult translation that comes across as: “Know each other intensely unto a paroxysm of love and good works.”
In medical terms a paroxysm is a fit and is normally referenced in a negative light, such as a fit of revenge. But, Joe’s example spoke of a different kind of spasm: a fit of love and good works. So, we were not here to throw a fit, but to throw a party!
The evening was then turned over to Mr. Troy McVicker, EventSource Northwest, our entertainer for the evening. Troy and his very supple and energetic staff proceeded to get us out of our chairs and onto the dance floor for Salsa Dancing 101. We split along gender lines to allow specific instruction for the salsa steps. Some people discovered two left feet, some stuck feet, and a few actually discovered the basic salsa step. Olé!
Ron Healey introduced the 2008 Giving Trees. Members are encouraged to remove ornaments that represent gifts for recipients at the YMCA and at Hopelink. It is a very easy process: remove the ornament, record your name and phone number on the registration sheet, and return the gift to a regular BBRC Friday morning meeting.
Salsa was followed by salad and dinner, followed by our very own Jenny Andrews, the greatly admired leader with “velveted appeal.” President Jenny thanked Ron and Stella Black for their work on the dinner and gave special thanks to those guests who supported their own special Rotarian for all the demands of time and resources that Rotary requires of its members. Jenny sent out a special thank you to her husband Tom for his support during her year as the BBRC President. She ended with, “So now, let’s have some fun!”
A salsa dance-off resulted in first place recognition to Jim and Melody Carney. Fourth place finishers, Chris and Lindsay Rasmussen went home with a package of four dance lessons. Numbers two and three (Andrew and Stephanie Face, Steve and Terri Lingendancers) received medallions suitable for momentary bragging rights and peer recognition. The evening progressed with increasing participation of not only the “younger members,” but also the middle aged, the retired and in the case of Fred Barkman, the infirm.
To sum up the event in words of real Rotarians:
Dick Brown: “Really great party. It is really good to see the young members participating.”
John Martinka: “I have never seen so many Red Hot women.”
Jeff Cashman: “I’m dancing in place and having fun!”
As we were leaving, some young people passed by, looked in and had thought that they had discovered a new dance club in Bellevue. “Wow, how come we didn’t know about this place before?”
So goes the story. When you are the “Best Darn Club in the World,” it is kind of hard to keep your light under the basket. It is just a matter of time before the young people discover you.
BE SURE TO SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT.
President Jenny Andrews
Rotarians have until November 30th (a little more than three weeks from now) to register for the District Conference at a discounted rate of $275. The price increases to $300 on December 1, 2008. A conference flyer and registration form are available for download (PDF). After November 30th, you will need to use a different form so save yourself the trouble and register today!
The District Conference is one of the most enjoyable and informational activities in Rotary, and I strongly encourage you to join me and many of your other BBRC friends in Victoria!
Rotarians must register for conference hotels through the District Conference website in order to get a room and a Rotary conference rate. If you contact the hotels directly, you will be told there are no rooms available, so please register at the District Conference website.
Courtesy of Wally Mahoney
While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.
His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," says the senator.
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.
They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.
The elevator goes up, up, up, and the door reopens on heaven, where St. Peter is waiting for him.
"Now it's time to visit heaven."
So, 24 hours pass, with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."
The senator reflects for a minute, then answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."
So, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.
He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.
The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"
The devil looks at him, smiles and says:
"Yesterday we were campaigning ...
Today you voted."