VOL 24, NO 15, OCTOBER 11, 2011
IN THIS ISSUE
“Declining Our Way to Prosperity,” Mike Dunlop, President and Founder of Net-Inspect, www.net‑inspect.com | Beginnings | Fellowship | International Projects | Sergeant at Arms | Adoption Party Update | 2012 Bellevue 10K/5K Run/Walk | Official Call for Rotary District Governor Nominations for 2014‑15
THIS FRIDAY'S PROGRAM
"One Businessman’s View of Competing Globally," Dr. Carl J. Johnson, Co-founder (in 1971) & CEO (till 2007) of II-VI, Inc. Dr. Johnson served as the President of II-VI, Inc., from 1971-1985 and as Director of Research & Development for Essex International, Inc., an automotive electrical and power distribution products manufacturer, from 1966-1971. From 1964-1966, Dr. Johnson worked at Bell Telephone Laboratories as a Member of the technical staff. He has been the Chairman of the Board of II-VI, Inc., since 1985 and has been its Director since 1971. Dr. Johnson also serves as a director of Xymox Technologies, Inc., and Armstrong Laser Technology, Inc. He completed his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois in 1969 and holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), respectively. (NASDAQ: IIVI) (Scientific & Technical Instruments) [Johnson]
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Dwight D. Eisenhower: “There is nothing wrong with America that faith, love of freedom, intelligence, and the energy of her citizens cannot cure.”
BIRTHDAYS
ANNIVERSARIES
PHOTOGRAPHER
WWW.SNOPES.COM
Real or Hoax?
FRIDAY SNAPS
Beginnings
John Cherry & Jim Zidar
Past President Jim Zidar (2006-2007) rang the bell to start the meeting with a robust, “Good morning Bellevue Breakfast Rotarians!” A resounding, “Good Morning!” filled the hall.
The Invocation and Pledge were ably handled by new member Adam (Alan) Mihlstin. Visiting Rotarians and guests where then introduced by not-so-new member John Cherry. By the time this process was over and Kemper Freeman and Frank Young, from Bellevue Noon, and Bill Ackley, from Port Angeles (with car raffle tickets), had their say, our fill-in President was a full eight minutes behind schedule.
Now, we enjoyed watching a true professional in action. It was a thing of beauty, as Jimmy Zee quarterbacked the business session to successful completion at 8:00 AM without missing a single agenda item. It was a powerful enough performance to bring tears to the eyes of our Past Presidents.
Paul Chapman & Elena Howell
Paul Chapman and Elena Howell invited us to the “Second Chance Prom” aka The Anniversary Dinner. For those of you who missed your high school prom, this is the opportunity to make it up. So, muster up your courage and ask your date to attend, as you make your way to the Bellevue Hilton on the evening of Friday, November 11th. You will soon be able to sign up on the BBRC website. To truly get with the spirit: submit your high school photos by email or snail mail to Michel Carter (michel@clancarter.net or 14415 NE 64th St, Redmond, WA 98052).
Other doings:
Oktoberfest, October 15th, 6:00 PM, in the Rathskeller of Lawrence the Florist; and Rocky Horror Picture Show, Saturday, October 29th. Contact Paul Chapman.
Curtis Cummings
BBRC member Curtis Cummings described the most recent water project in Kenya, when a 90 meter well was drilled, resulting in the flow of 64,000 liters (16,896 gallons) of water per day. He also stressed the importance of supporting the Rotary Foundation. He explained how $5,000 of club money can be leveraged to $52,500 by the use of both District and Rotary International matching funds. So, when the Rotary Foundation Committee members begin their Every Rotarian Every Year campaign, please contribute.
The BBRC is also active with a Computers for the World project in Antigua.
Trying to avoid fines!
Wendi “Sparkle Dollars” Fischer, ever scheming to separate loose dollars from the BBRC faithful, introduced the Rotary Dating
Game. With the able assistance of Tim Leahy, significant dates in the history of Rotary were distributed and on separate pages, the actual — or perhaps fictional — events. The challenge: Have BBRCer’s match the following dates with their correct events:
- 1905 Founding of Rotary
- 1921 Clubs on 6 continents
- 1922 Name change to Rotary International
- 1925 2000 clubs with 108,000 members
- 1932 Four Way Test was created
- 1945 Rotarians propose conference on international education and cultural understanding (UNESCO)
- 1989 Women allowed in Rotary
- 1990 First club in Russia
- October 24 World Polio Day
- April 20-22, 2012 District Conference
If 100% correct, no fine; but if we missed one, it cost $2 per member. Oops, we missed — $2 please.
If you have not yet invested in your Sparkle Dollar protection policy it is not too late. It appears that the $40 for exemption from these niggling fines is still a bargain.
Madeline Gauthier said the Adoption Party was a huge success! She thanked all who supported this year’s effort, with special recognition to Karen Freedman and Nancy Kimbrough, for the selection of gifts for the children.
Joellen Monson has initiated the planning session with the City of Bellevue, so it is not too early to ask your teams members to save the date: Sunday April 29, 2012.
President John Martinka
District Governor Ann Liberato has sent out an official letter regarding making nominations for future District Governors. If you want to nominate anybody please thoroughly read the letter and all of the attachments (links below). Then contact me to discuss this.
“Declining Our Way to Prosperity,” Mike Dunlop, President and Founder of Net-Inspect, www.net‑inspect.com
Mike Dunlop
Bob Holert introduced Mike Dunlop as a former BBRC member and founder of QPM Aerospace. He is now the President of the software company Net‑Inspect. But, that was not Friday's message.
Bob Holert
The message was that the US will find a way to prosper that does not include growth in the equation. This is based upon the fact that the growth rate that we have experienced for the past 50 years is not sustainable, and that a decline in population will dictate that we find ways to increase our productivity in all areas to compete in the international marketplace.
The current political leaders apparently do not have the ability to tell the truth and do not have the experience to handle the situation if the truth be known. Somewhat like Christopher Columbus, they have made big promises, have wanted to turn back at times, have no idea of where they are, and are doing it all with borrowed money. The government has been one of the major growth industries over recent years, but this must end, for the music is about to stop and there must be more efficient ways to deliver services.
Acting President Jim Zidar thanks Mike Dunlop for his program.
Mike’s prime example was that of teaching. Why do we have five million teachers when the best five hundred teachers in the world can deliver instruction using the technology infrastructure of the internet? A good example is the Western Governor’s University. After school and community programs also will play a part in the future of our communities, such as Jubilee REACH in Bellevue.
Mike also believes that we have been operating under false assumptions about one of the basic ingredients of our society: oil. He does not believe that it was derived from fossils and that there is an abundant supply. The fallacy here is that so much of our foreign policy and strategy have been based upon the belief that oil is a scarce resource.
Mike Dunlop talks with Christine Rose and Steve Peters after the program.
So, growth is not the answer; productivity improvement is. Mike has confidence that the United States will lead the world in technology and will continue to help others in the world. As Bob Dylan sang, “The times they are a changing,” and it is time for us to change also. Give thanks to God for living in America, and if you don’t believe in God give thanks anyway, just in case.
Fill-in-President Jim presented Mike with a certificate indicating that 1,000 pounds of fresh produce have donated in his name to local food banks via Rotary First Harvest.