FRIDAY SNAPS

Invocation and Pledge

Anna Cummins provided the invocation and led the pledge. Cyril Faulkner introduced a wide range of guests, including the ubiquitous Frank Young. Peter Powell applauded Frank for his outstanding choice of attire: a sport coat that could, with an outstanding imagination, be construed as an Oregon Ducks jacket.

Among our many guests were former BBRC member Sally Mackle and former Newcastle Rotary Club member Charlotte Bertsch. Sally has lead many a Rotary trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, and Charlotte, along with BBRC members, Howard Johnson and your humble correspondent, joined her on a trip in 2008.

Family of Rotary

President Chuck asked us all to keep Tom Miller's wife, Michele, in our prayers as she is battling cancer.

He also updated us on Bill Rambo, who is still dealing with health issues.

Our beloved Tom Harrelson joined us this morning and is doing better with his MS.

Keep all in your prayers.

"Sweet Dreams" for the Rotary Foundation

Jenny Andrews, whose cat‑herding skills have clearly gone by the wayside, attempted to play "To Tell the Truth" with Jonathan Koshar, but quickly lost control of the crowd.

The upshot of the whole skit was that Jonathan has written a touching children's book about a boy, his father, and "Sweet Dreams." Jonathan, as a fundraiser for The Rotary Foundation, sold books for $15 each and signed personal messages, raising over $500 for the Foundation.

BBRC Website Survey

Chris Monger and Paul Osborn, weirdly dressed in white coats and frightening glasses, encouraged the club to complete the online survey to provide input about revising the BBRC website.

If you have questions about the survey, contact Paul or Chris.

Update on Kenya

Curtis Cummings reported on his ongoing work in Kenya with a new video. The presentation was replete with the standard audio and visual problems which were capably banished by Michel Carter.

Curtis mentioned that he is looking for a celebrity speaker to narrate the video and that all of the images and videos are from their many trips to Kenya.

Curtis, with support from the BBRC, has done many water projects and built floors and desks for schools. He reports that the Kenyan Rotarians are very supportive – support that has been built over many years of involvement.

Student of the Month: Marina Howell

BBRC member Brian Hardy introduced the Sammamish High School Student of the Month, Marina Howell. Marina, 18, is a senior who is currently busy completing her college applications. She is hoping to attend the University of San Diego.

Marina is actively involved in yearbook, National Honor Society, Key Club, and various community service projects, including working at Tillicum Middle School.

Marina is a very self-motivated young lady who worked as a lifeguard to save money for a car. She was joined by her proud parents, Darrel and Jessica Howell.

BBRC Annual Retreat, March 18-19

John DeWater, in a well-prepared presentation, promoted our coming Annual Retreat. John mentioned that, while attending the Rotary Academy, he wrote a paper on the BBRC Retreat. Overnight retreats are rare in our district and provide incredible bondage (no, I meant bonding) opportunities.

Currently, the Club is offering $20 off registration, with an easy Sergeant At Arms payment plan to get out of it if you need to.

Foundation Awards

Jeff Cashman and Dick Brown presented Rotary Foundation awards to several BBRC members:

• Jonathan Koshar – 3 sapphire pin for $4,000 in donations
• Lennie Lutes – Paul Harris plaque for $1,000 to RI Foundation
• Alex Rule – 4 sapphire pin for $5,000 in contributions
• Curtis Cummings – diamond pin and a crystal memento for contributing $10,000

Bellevue 10K Status Report

John Martinka and Katherine DeStephano congratulated and thanked Jim Carney for all the time he has put into securing sponsors for the Bellevue 10K. They also thanked Jon Koshar for landing the Brooks sponsorship and Brad Baumann for securing a sponsorship from Viking Bank.

Katherine announced that we have secured a sponsorship from Seattle Children's and that their autism center, along with Kindering, will be the two beneficiaries this year.

We currently have $20K in cash and $15K in in-kind sponsorships. Katherine and John asked everyone to focus on securing sponsorships for this important club fundraiser.

New Member Encouragement

Colleen-the-Cruise-Queen promoted new member recruitment by announcing that the BBRC member who brings in the most new members will get a free stay at the LaConner Country Inn for the retreat.

Elena passed out $1 bills to every member who has brought a guest this year to encourage support.

Golfing With the Elves December 24th

Don't forget this fun annual, semi-official BBRC golf outing. Its purpose is to celebrate the Winter Solstice and give members, family, and guests a fun excuse to get out doors during the busy holiday season. It will be held again at Mt. Si Golf Course, at 9:00AM, on Friday, December 24th. Contact Norm Johnson to reserve your tee time.

PROGRAM

"Seattle Sounders FC Soccer, Soccer, and Leadership Stories," Alan Hinton, the "Godfather" of soccer in Seattle

Bob Holert introduced Alan Hinton, soccer dude. Born in England, Alan came to United States in the late 70's, played and coached soccer for many years, and then became a broadcaster for the Seattle Sounders.

Our jovial and engaging speaker, Alan Hinton, shared that, as a young player, people called him Gladys because his shaggy hair made him looked like an old granny. Alan was from a poor family but didn't know it. He joined a soccer club at age 15 but didn't do especially well on the team. His coach wrote a letter to Alan's dad, telling him that Alan would never make it in soccer unless he got tougher. Alan's dad took the boy to visit the soccer coach and told the coach to stop bullying the lad and start inspiring him and Alan would make a success of it – which he clearly did. Alan lived through a severe depression in England after World War Two and said that a real depression means no food on supermarket shelves, unheated houses and general misery. What we are dealing with today is nothing by comparison with that.

In 1976 Alan's 9-year old son died of neuroblastoma and Alan's career ended. That same year he moved to Dallas. He came to Seattle in 1979 and in his first year had 25 wins, 7 losses. To celebrate one of those wins, he took his wife to Canlis for dinner. Naturally, without reservations, he couldn't get a table. He protested to the maitre de that he was the Seattle soccer coach. At the time, Lanny Wilkens was a big name, so during the repartee, he said, "Well, if Lanny Wilkens came in asking for a table, I bet you'd have one."

Unfazed, the maitre de said, "You're right, sir, however Lanny Wilkens is not coming."

"You're right!" replied Alan, "Lanny Wilkens is not coming, so I'll have his table!"

Epilogue: They dined elsewhere.

Alan said that the Seattle Sounders have great ownership. In his first year with the Sounders they averaged 31,000 people at each game. Now they are averaging 36,000 and he is hoping for 40,000 in the coming year. He believes that the key is Paul Allen who pushes for community involvement. Coach Ziggy Smit is the best one in the game. The club is very connected in the community and the future is bright for soccer in Seattle.

When Alan wanted to move from playing to coaching, he asked the coach how he got to be that way. The coach replied, "By making good decisions!" Alan then asked how you make good decisions. The coach replied, "Through experience!"

Alan pursued, "But how you get experience?"

The coach admonished, "By making bad decisions!"

Web Fun

TSA Bumper Stickers
Courtesy of Jenny Andrews

"We are now free to move about your pants."

"It's not a grope, it's a freedom pat."

"If we did our jobs any better, we'd have to buy you dinner first."

Can't see London, can't see France, until we see your underpants."

• • •

Courtesy of Phil Salvatori

Three sisters, ages 92, 94 and 96, live in a house together. One night the 96-year-old draws a bath. She puts her foot in and pauses. She yells to the other sisters, "Was I getting in or out of the bath?"

 

The 94-year-old yells back, "I don"t know. I'll come up and see." She starts up the stairs and pauses, "Was I going up the stairs or down?"

 

The 92-year-old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea listening to her sisters, she shakes her head and says, "I sure hope I never get that forgetful, knock on wood." She then yells, "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door."

And ...

Three retirees, each with a hearing loss, were playing golf one fine March day. One remarked to the other, "Windy, isn"t it?"

 

"No," the second man replied, "it's Thursday."

 

And the third man chimed in, "So am I. Let's have a beer."