November 12, 2007 Spokesman

Posted by Mike Hunter 
 

President Rachel Knight called the November 12, 2007 Kirkland Rotary Meeting to order at 6:30 PM.  Deborah Wakefield led us in the Pledge.  The veterans were asked by Rachel to remain standing as she honored them for the service they've given to their community and country.

 

John Woodbery gave an Inspirational Moment from the book "The Quotable Lawyer," about various books in a library and which one was the most important.  A small brown book took the honor with "The Lord is my Shepard."

Rachel thanked John Bloodworth for greeting and Mike Hunter for scribing. 

 

Guests and Visiting Rotarians:  

The only visiting Rotarian was William Grimes from the Bellevue Club.   Pasqual Webber, our exchange student, announced his move to a new host family.  He thanked Katherine Kehrli and her family for their hospitality these past few months as his first host family.  One of our members took him to the Sonics game over the weekend (did they win?).  

 

Announcements from President Rachel : 

  1. The workday last Saturday morning at Rotary First Harvest was a success.  Twenty five of our members and their families helped package frozen corn and apples.
  2. John Overleese, Dan Bartel and Evan Perrollaz were thanked for the Champagne tasting last Saturday evening at the Kirkland Lodge.  Lots of fun was had by all!
  3. Alice Volpe is taking sign ups for the Holiday Party on December 9 (Sunday afternoon beginning at 4:30 PM) at the new Heathman Hotel in downtown Kirkland.  Only 100 people can attend so sign up early!    
  4. Dick Westin is taking names for Salvation Army bell ringing the first couple of weekends in December.  Spend a couple hours at the QFC at Park Place ringing a bell for a great cause.
  5. Our collection of brown sugar for needy families went really well.  Cheryl Bloodworth announced that we donated 150 boxes this evening.  Another 150 are required however, so if you haven't donated, there is still time, just contact Cheryl.
  6. Tom Sturgell has a few new pages for our membership books.  Contact Tom if you haven't received your copy.

 

Business Week at BEST High School :  

Steve Hyer from Business Week explained how the program began in 1976 and has now expanded to 22 States.  This 'Business Week' is not to be confused with the magazine of the same name!  In addition to the week-long sessions at universities during the summer, Business Week is now in various schools across the State, including BEST High School in Kirkland.

 

The week of December 10-14 is the second time Business Week has been at BEST High School.  The teachers at BEST are the Company Advisors who work with teams of students running a business for a week.  Volunteers (Club members, friends & family) are needed on December 13 and 14 at BEST to judge the students' projects on Thursday and at a Trade Show on Friday to hear their proposals for support of a product they're promoting.  Sign up sheets were on the tables with brochures about Business Week.  Patty Sims, our Vocational Director, is the contact if you are interested in participating. 

Classification Talk by Dick Westin:

Dick began by thanking Jerry Marsh, his sponsor, and Steve Brown, his mentor.  He also recognized Rick Ostrander for continuing to ask him to rejoin our Club.

 

Dick spent a few minutes explaining his career as a dentist and orthodontist.  After graduating from the UW dental school, Dick joined the Air Force, rather than be drafted.  He and his wife Sharon then spent time at various Air Force bases, first at Lackland (Texas) and then at Elmendorf (Alaska). 

 

His orthodontist education came in Birmingham, Alabama (when Joe Namath and Bear Bryant were at Alabama).  Then they were off to Edwards (California), where he got to take a flight in a U2 high-altitude flyer.  After that time, they went to England, where he treated military dependents.  He and his family were able to travel all over Europe in a VW bus during this time. 

Next was the Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs), then back to Elmendorf.  After retiring from the Air Force he began his orthodontist practice in Juanita and worked there until Michelle Fogg Neal came into his office and asked him when he was going to retire!  Dick is now really retired, and finds time to be a Sea Fair Clown and play golf, all the while enjoying his grown children and grandchildren who live in our area.

 

Rachel presented Dick with a new 'gold' Rotary Badge to replace the red one.  Instead of blue, his new badge is gold to honor him for being a Past President of the Club.

 

Welcome back Dick, and thank you for a great Classification Talk, and for your service to our Club and to Rotary!

 

Program- The Foreign Service by David Hughes:

Patti Smith introduced David Hughes, who has spent many years in the Foreign Service, traveling to various countries in the service of his country.

 

David began by congratulating the Seattle area for the many people who've participated in the Foreign Service, Peace Corps and other similar organizations.  He grew up here and his mother worked in the Kirkland shipyards during the war years, very close to where we were all sitting!

 

David then told many stories about his adventures around the World, from his first assignment in British Guiana, where he was able to do everything (meeting the press was an early assignment), then about Hungary, India, Jakarta and China (there are probably other countries too).

 

In some of the countries the homes they lived in were 'bugged and he always had followers (called "Ratheads" in one country).  If you lost your followers, things would happen later to your car, like tires being slashed, or in the worst case, a piece of concrete being thrown at a taxi your wife was riding in.

 

One caution he gave was to never take drugs across an international border.  If you are caught, the Foreign Service cannot help you, and you're likely to spend many years in jail.

 

David's' summary was that the world is big and diverse.   People everywhere want a home to raise their family, put food on the table, and send their children to school.  The Foreign Service is a great opportunity for upward mobility but you have to have the right attitude toward the people you will meet around the world.  It's really an insight into people around the world.

 

Thank you David, for explaining the Foreign Service to us, there were probably many more stories that you couldn't tell us!

 

Happy Dollars, David Aubry Style:

David solicited many dollars and lots of happiness from members too numerous to mention here.  Thank you all for your generosity!

 

Honey Pot : 

John Woodbery won the drawing but was unable to pick the right numbered plastic duck.

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:46 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Michael Hunter