Beginnings

Past President Cary Kopczynski (2000-2001) opened the meeting with a quick rap on the bell and a hardy, “Good morning, Bellevue Breakfast Rotarians!”

Larry May led an invocation penned by St. Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

To be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

This was followed by the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Brian Hardy introduced visiting Rotarians and guests. Visiting Rotarian Jim Rutherford of the “Downtown” club described the BBRC as “handy and convenient.” Frank Young of the Bellevue Club did his very best to knock Cary off of his meeting schedule with a tale about Walmart as being the largest retailer in the country, but unable to accept veterinary surgery cases.

This “Tail of Woe” moved Tom Smith to donate 1,000 pounds of fresh produce to local food banks through Rotary First Harvest in Frank’s name. (Editor’s note: Some people think I make this stuff up, but alas, my mind is not that creative.)

Mark Hough, Editor Emeritus of the Reveille, was recognized and welcomed after another stint in Afghanistan. Guest Steve Wiechert, of Silicon Mechanics, was introduced in a supporting role for today’s speaker. 

Club Administration

Sayoko has generated new badges for all members and renumbered the badge box. Even with advance warning, one of us made off with the new badge of Christine Rose. Not wanting any of you to incur the wrath of the Spider Monkey, it is suggested that you double check your badge number.

Rotary First Harvest

The BBRC received the Golden Donut award from Rotary First Harvest Director David Bobanick for outstanding achievement in number of volunteer days and financial support. The Golden Donut is derived from the tradition of providing volunteers at Rotary First Harvest donuts during the mid-morning rest break. The BBRC also provides leadership, with Howard Johnson serving as the Rotary First Harvest President for the past two years and Tom Smith serving as Director.

BBRC members receiving recognition for financial support greater than $100 included: Kevin Jewell, Sadru Kabani, Morris Kremen, Steve Lingenbrink, Tom Smith, and closet member Frank Young.

Those receiving recognition for the most volunteer hours: Chuck Barnes, David Bolson, Michel Carter, Ruben Ladlad, John Smolke and Desiree Yuzawa. Ruben received special acclaim for sponsoring 33 of the club’s 261 hours. John Smolke put together a group from his work for the December work party.

Rotary First Harvest work parties are held on the second Saturday of each month from 9:00 AM to Noon at the Operation First Harvest warehouse in Kent. We have a carpool leaving from the SE 8th Park & Ride at 8:30 AM on those mornings.

Krispy Kreme donuts were then served to the members, compliments of Frank Young.

Classification Talk: Christine Rose, Nonprofit Development

This is Christine’s second pass at club membership, but her first classification talk to the Bellevue “Bacon” Rotary Club because, “This place has the most amazing bacon!” Her visual aids included wall plaques from her collection, with “It Is Not Easy Being a Princess” leading off.

Christine's first stint at membership was when she worked for a home security company, but that ended with the recession. She is now the Development Director for KITH, the Kirkland Interfaith Transitions in Housing agency. Her philosophy is to “Bloom where you are planted," and to lead a life of service with many volunteer hours with schools and Girl Scouts, to support the activities of her two daughters. Christine's hobbies include cooking, karaoke, hiking, and shopping.

Membership

The success experienced by Howard Johnson with his monthly reminders of how we are doing at RFH has been adopted by BBRC Membership Director Coleen Turner. We will now receive updates on the number of guests, new members, and total club membership. Our goal: Grow the

BBRC by 5, to a total of 128 by June 30th, 2012. Our historic joking rate has been 8% of the guests will eventually become members, so each of us is encouraged to bring a guest.

Last Minute Announcements

Jim Carney said Children’s Hospital sent a letter thanking us for our donation to the Autism Center and also letingt us know that, as an additional thank you, a full page ad is available to us in their catalogue for their upcoming annual auction on October 8th, at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel.

Ann Norman said our new exchange student, Farima Boeck, will be arriving from Germany this coming Thursday. Contact Ann if you wish to greet Farima at SeaTac upon her arrival. She will be staying with Rourke O’Brien and Sayoko Kuwahara.

PROGRAM

"Selling Shovels," Eva Cherry, President & CEO, Silicon Mechanics

Introduced by her husband, BBRC member John Cherry, Eva Cherry's biography would make an interesting program in its own right. Running from Eastern Germany to Bulgaria to South Africa to Seattle — suffice it to say that Eva has had a very challenging role in the successful turnaround of Silicon Mechanics, a reseller of technical services and internet-related hardware, with a very strong focus on “servers.”

As many successful companies make money selling shovels during a gold rush, Silicon Mechanics is making money selling hardware and valued added services to users of electronic servers that provide websites for the Internet.

The company was founded in 2001 and grew at a rapid rate until the business downturn of 2008. At this point John and Eva stepped in as investors and managers and started a turnaround program that has allowed the company to pay down debt and establish the foundation for solid growth.

Eva shared a company video with enough “geek-speak” to force the eyes of even the most focused members to roll backwards. To relive this experience just take a gander at their very well done website.

It is the mission of Silicon Mechanics to focus on their core business areas, with measurable goals and objectives, allowing a flexible organization to thrive, while, at the same time, being a great place to work. This will make “The Elders of the Internet” proud!

Stand-in President Cary presented Eva with a note indicating that 1,000 pounds of fresh produce was donated to local food banks on her behalf via Rotary First Harvest.