December 15, 2008 Spokesman

Guests were Scott Rethky, who is a friend of Steve Shinstrom.  He is a local boy who has not moved away and is a financial planner.  Jim Styner was visiting our club for the second time.  The Juanita student of the month, Trey Knapp, was introduced and gave a brief talk about his experience in community service.  His is involved in the beach to beach swim for Children's hospital and worked on increasing the recognition of the race.  Thanks  to Trey for being selected as student of the month from Juanita.  Visiting Rotarian Richard Carlson in now headed back to Tucson.  Best wishes Richard.

President Bob thanked Pat Dye and Alice Volpe for the great holiday party on Saturday at the Heathman Hotel.  Well done Pat and Alice!!!

Pres. Bob reminded everyone of the Salvation Army Bell ringing this Friday and Saturday at QFC.  Bob also read a card from former members Jack and Cheryl Bloodworth who moved back to California for the beach life.  Bob also announced the new club calendar for next year.  He will be emailing it out to all club members.  We were reminded by Bob that for Jan, Feb, and March, we will meet at the Wild Rover on the 3^rd Monday of those months for heavy appetizers and social.  Bob stated this is the last meeting of this calendar year and wished everyone Happy Holidays.

President Elect Jim Feek performed the induction of two new members, Roy Salvidge and David Tucker.  Roy is new to Rotary and the club and David is returning member.  Welcome to both Roy and David and we look forward to there classification talks.

Chuck Brockway introduced the program of getting to know you this evening. 

First Karen Quirk gave a power point program of her life and experience.  Karen has raised the bar for this program.  Karen has led a varied and exciting life having moved from here to California and back.  In the process she raised a daughter, became a real estate appraiser, law clerk and then an attorney.  She is currently in practice in Bellevue specializing in Family Law, mediation and collaborative law (future program?).  She also noted, more the once, she has a grandson who is growing up fast.

Our second getting to know you was Don Dicks.  During his talk Don noted he regretted not having joined Rotary earlier in his career.  Don was born in Alberta, CA and grew up fishing, hunting, skiing and boating.  He attended the U. of British Columbia and transferred to the U of Washington and graduated in engineering.  Don worked for Boeing in many roles ranging from engineer, 18 years, to manager of marketing for counties in Africa which included Somalia.  He noted this was prior to computers and as such experienced innovative program presentation in developing countries.  He told a Mogadishu, Somalia, story which was his first trip.  The experience for his first trip was the precursor to other outings in Africa and set the stage for other adventures.  He then was promoted to VP for sales for Asia-Pacific with JAL and others as his clients.  He is married to Merrily and has three children and several grandkids.  Currently his travel is now for fun and usually by road.

The final getting to know you person was Steve Brown.  Steve promised Jim Feek there would be an intermission.  Steve has been a member of our club after having arrived here meeting Chuck Morgan.  Steve is a former Rotarian from Virginia.  Steve was born in Mechanicsburg, PA.  He went to Theal Collage on a sports scholarship to be come a physical therapists because of his love to work with people.  He returned to Mechanicsburg and started work at the local rehab hospital while waiting to be admitted to physical therapy school.  While there he was influenced but Rock Orteza, and that is another story, to work in health care administration.  He attended PennState and obtained his MA in administration.   He married Mary in 1975 and has two boys and a granddaughter.  Steve has worked in hospital administration in Virginia, Ohio and now here at EvergreenHospital. 

Chuck thanked all our getting to know you speakers.

President Bob had Trey draw the ticket.  The lucky ticket was our newest member, David Tucker who picked duck 3 but picked 2.  The pot grows.

Meeting adjourned at 7:59PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary Bruner