November 14, 2011 Spokesman
President Brandon Honcoop started the Kirkland Rotary meeting at 6:30PM with the flag salute led by Bill Taylor. Rick Walter offered as inspiration an account of his encounter at an RV Park in Pullman, WA of a rather cheerful group of firemen from Issaquah. They had an afternoon together of bratwurst and beans or was it beer?
Our guests tonight were Eric Willsey and Rick Rekdal, student of the month Kristina Koumuvea from Juanita High School and her friend Nicki Knight, daughter of Rachel Knight.
Announcements were: Jerry Campo promoting the Club Christmas party at Lucias in Kirkland on December 4th at a cost that must be prepaid of $50.00 each.
Scott Becker announced early success of sponsors for the 2012 Duck dash totaling so far $12,500 but encouraged members to just ask anyone for the minimum sponsorships of $500.00 each; the goal this year is $25,000 compared to last year’s actual of $18,000.
Rick Ostrander reported the sad word that long time Rotary friend Dr. Ernie McKibben has died; more to come by way of memorial service announcements as soon as learned.
Doug Carter announced that we have three families for Thanksgiving baskets and the members signed up for deliveries next week
Patty Smith and Pat Dye reported the nominations for 2012 officers: Patty Smith President, Scott Rethke, Vice President, Patty Sims, Secretary, John Pruitt, Treasurer, Jerry campo, Club Service, Dave DeBois, Community Service, Alice Volpe, International Service, Doug Carter, Vocational Service, Don Dickson, Foundation, Barb Seaton, Public Relations, and Steve Shinstrom, Web Master: On nomination and voice vote, the nominations were ceased and the slate approved. The Club vote will be December 19th, the last meeting night of the year
Jerry Campo did the Apple Cup Board Pool solicitation bit and dollars were raised. Some members gave “happy square” announcements since “Chuckles” Brockway was not in attendance.
There will be a farewell for “Good Girl” (GG) Getz on November 30th at the Crab Cracker, early evening is assumed by your hard of hearing Scribe.
Fellow Rotarians, Rich Bergdahl announced in the famous words of Al Ayers, “another special night for Rotary” when Rick Rekdal was inducted as the newest member to the most fun loving Rotary Club known to repute. Rick’s classification is Accounting/ CPA unlike another member Rick Walter whose classification is CPA/Accountant. “Red badged” Rick Rekdal was sponsored by Dave DeBois and will be “mentored” to reach the coveted blue badge status (if mentor the noun could possibly be used as a verb) by Scott Becker, new member solicitor- in- chief. Please welcome Rick as he gathers his credits on that hopefully short path to “glory”.
There were questions at the end by which members struggled to understand this political shop talk but by judging most of those that your Scribe observed, shook their heads in amused befuddlement. Our newest resident wag, Rick Walter, (Neither Jim “Norwegian” Feek nor Ernie (my joke is your inspiration) Norehad were in attendance) pointed out a non-existing comparison from the speaker’s handout, showing public icons, trends and attitudes between 1980 and now that was a fitting end to the evening: In 1980 we had Ronald Reagan, Steve Jobs, Johnny Cash and Bob Hope but now (Steve Jobs is, alas, no longer witty and with us) we have Barack Obama, no jobs, no cash and no hope. Is there an attitude in there somewhere?
The Joker Pool gambit yielded $10.00 for lucky John Pruitt who purchased $12 in tickets (that boy knows finance) while the elusive “Joker” remains buried in the remaining 32 cards. Hopefully the almost $1,000 pot raised so far and un-won is not buried out of reach but in a safe place. Just “joking” of course, we have the “Four Way Test”, don’t we? Whew! No pun intended?
The meeting ended at approximately 7:45PM.
Ridiculously reported in some respects, I remain faithfully yours,
Your Occasional Scribe,
John E. Woodbery