Invocation, Pledge & Introductions

CPA Steve Peters led the invocation and the pledge. "Gold Medal Health Chiropractic" Anna Cummins introduced the visiting Rotarians and guests.

Bellevue Club member Frank Young made good on his bet of Huskies versus Cougars – he not only paid the $10 owed, but threw in another $10 just for good measure (or for guilt about the Dawg performance in the subsequent weekend!).

Anna asked each visitor, "What's the farthest you have run?" Answers ranged from 400 yards to marathon completions (26+ miles). Again, Frank enlightened the group with his story of the days of the Kennedy Administration, when the President had challenged everyone to do a 50-mile walk for health. Frank, along with some fellow Huskies, set out to circle Lake Washington on a run. Halfway around, he stopped to help a damsel whose car was in distress, and the break was just long enough that his muscles tightened and he couldn't continue afterward. Likely story, Frank!

Valentine Dine-Around, February 11

Past President Bob Moloney briefed the club on the upcoming dine-around February 11th. If you're going, please sign up ASAP! It's a wonderful opportunity to get better acquainted with our other club members and spouses.

Golf Committee Meeting, February 18

The Golf Tournament is a very important part of the BBRC and therefore the Golf Committee is extremely important. Even though we are in the middle of the 10K/5K, it's time for the Golf Committee to meet and get organized.

Tim Moriarty will host a meeting on Friday, February 18, at 8:35AM, at Glendale CC. Besides getting organized, Tim will be looking for someone to chair the committee. The golf committee runs like a well-oiled machine so chairing this committee is not overwhelming.

Golfers, those who love helping on fundraising, and anybody else interested should plan to attend this short meeting.

Birthday!

Katherine De Stephano was surprised at the podium with a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday," led by Wendi Fischer and accompanied by the entire club.

Bellevue 10K

Katherine De Stephano remained at the podium to introduce all of the key committee chairs for this year's Bellevue 10K, along with the announcement that we have over $50,000 now in sponsorships and other commitment!

This year's Run/Walk is shaping up to be the best yet.

To Tell the Truth

Paul Chapman graciously stood in for Sergeant At Arms Elena Howell, who was absent. He called up new member Brad Baumann with three statements, one of which was false.

What did we learn? Brad is not an amateur race car driver, and he did not bungee jump naked in the dark.

Lots of dollars were collected from the stumped crowd.

Computers for the World

President-elect John Martinka briefed the club on the history of the Computers for the World projects, as well as this year's planned trip. Besides computers, the group has also given out large numbers of dictionaries.

In addition, Wendi's group is increasing its impact by bringing chess to the children as a masked "educational" effort: kids learn in a fun and stimulating way, while being duped into thinking they are playing a game instead of learning math and critical thinking skills.

Careful, if it makes them too smart, won't they figure out they're being duped?

BBRC Annual Retreat, March 18‑19

Past President Jim Zidar spoke of the merits of going to this year's BBRC Retreat in LaConner. We're the only club in the District with such a tradition, and we have been able to trace many of our successes back to the ideas generated at the Retreat planning sessions.

John Martinka added that there are still three rooms left at the Inn. The dates are March 18th and 19th – so sign up now!

If you can't come for the socializing on the 18th, please still consider coming for the half-day planning sessions on the morning of the 19th. See you there!

PROGRAM

"Reducing Gun Violence in Washington State," Mark Pursley, Gun Violence Prevention Coordinator, City of Seattle, and Director of the Washington State Violent Crime Prevention Partnership

Mark Pursley

Bill Brooks introduced guest speaker Mark Pursley, Coordinator, City of Seattle, and Director of the Washington State Violent Crime Prevention Partnership. Mark is also a fellow Rotarian.

Mark Pursley presented an intriguing talk and PowerPoint presentation on gun violence in Washington. From the start, he made it clear that his position was not to take a position, but instead, to have a balanced dialogue on the emotionally-charged discussion of how to balance gun ownership rights with the safety of citizens.

In his materials, Mark pointed out that one of the biggest challenges is finding complete and accurate data – no one agency at the local, state, or federal level possesses adequate information to give a complete picture on the subject, and as with any other area where some statistics are available, the numbers often distort the answers instead of giving a complete picture.

However, his talk made some points very clear: there are too many guns deaths and injuries from those who shouldn't be possessing guns: criminals, the incompetent, and minors. The numbers of people being killed with guns are very concerning, so the question is: How do we identify the causes and reduce the incidences while still balancing the Constitutional right to bear arms?

Additionally, besides the obvious damages of deaths and injuries, gun injuries cost our society economically. Each gunshot victim who is taken to Harborview costs about $51,000 in medical services while they are there. Only about 25% of these costs are paid privately or through insurance. The remaining 75% of cost is picked up by our taxes. Therefore, the direct economic cost is huge.

There are secondary economic costs as well: lost time at work, depression and suicides of victims and their families, costs of physical and mental rehab, and many others.

As with many articulate and expert speakers, we unfortunately ran out of time before Mark ran out of material, so he graciously loaned us his PowerPoint slides so that BBRC members can read the rest of his pitch here on the website.

Web Fun

Lexiphiles
Courtesy of Wally Mahoney

To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

When fish are in schools they sometimes take debate.

A thief who stole a calendar got 12 months.

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U.C.L.A.

The professor discovered that her theory of earthquakes was on shaky ground.

The batteries were given out free of charge.

A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail.

A will is a dead giveaway.

If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.

With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.

You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

Local Area Network in Australia: The LAN down under.

A boiled egg is hard to beat.

When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.

Police were called to a day care where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.

If you take a laptop computer for a run you could jog your memory.

A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.

He had a photographic memory which was never developed.

Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.

When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.