October 23, 2006 Spokesman

Posted by Brian Tucker 
 

President Steve called us to order (as best as we could anyway) at 6:32pm.  Pat Swenson led us in the pledge, and Steve Shinstrom inspired us with the story of the man on the beach saving starfish one at a time.  Message: Make a difference in the world, even if it's one small act at a time.

 

Even Perroletz was a guest of Ev Cox, and Rick and Cheryl Bloodworth were guests for the last time of Dennis Newell, since they were inducted later in the evening.

 

 

Nick Mohazzabar was introduced by Patti Smith as our Student of the Month from JuanitaHigh School.  Nick is the ASB President, Co-Captain of the JHS golf team, and wants to be a UW Husky next year.  He'd also consider becoming a $tanfurd Cardinal or a California Golden Cub (ed: a wise choice, IMO).(edited twice)

 

Diane Santeford and Katherine Kehrli reminded us of Operation Warm Coat and the need to help hand out warm winter coats to needy kids this Friday at John Muir Elementary in Juanita, 8am to 1pm.  14012 132nd Ave NE.  Contact Diane or Katherine ASAP and let them know you can help.

 

Bean-O Bunko redux was delivered by Pat Swenson.  Firstly, thanks to Steve and Patty Shinstrom for the use of their home.  We somehow are invited back to their abode for next year's annual John Woodbery Bunko Festival.  Also thanks go to Alice Volpe for putting the decorations together.  And lastly, a special prize was given to G.G Getz for her udderly appropriate costume.  While most of us think of a western party theme as a reason to put on boots, G.G. made hooves look udderly fashionable.

 

Next event: Scotch and Whiskey Tasting on November 18 at a location TBA.  Keep an eye open for an eVite from Dan Bartel.  John Overlease added that he was instrumental in getting $5K raised for PONCHO at their recent auction with fine scotches.  Well done, John!

 

President Steve let us know that Sharon C. is OK after a visit to the doctor late last week.

 

Pat Dye had the honor of inducting 2 new members, or in the words of Al Ayres, "another lucky night for Kirkland Rotary."  Cheryl Bloodworth, sponsored by Dennis Newell, works for Grubb & Ellis and works in Corporate Real Estate (her club classification also).  She enjoys skiing and travel and Joanne Primavera will be her mentor.  Jack Bloodworth (yes, they're related!), also sponsored by Dennis Newell, works in Commercial Real Estate (ed: sorry, Jack, I didn't get your company's name).  He enjoys playing guitar, and his mentor will be Mike Hunter.  Jack & Cheryl moved here from CA about a year ago, and met Dennis @ the Rotary picnic on July 4 this year.  Thanks Dennis, for the great recruiting, and Welcome to Kirkland Rotary, Cheryl and Jack!

 

Pat Dye also presented Mary-Alyce Burleigh with her blue badge.  Congratulations, Mary-Alyce, and thanks John Overlease for being her mentor!

 

Patti Smith announced that the Kirkland Chamber also awarded Mary-Alyce with their annual Member of the Year Award for Community Service.  And, not to let Chamber news go unannounced, G.G. Getz let us know that the KirklandPerformanceCenter earned the Chamber's Charles O. Morgan Business Excellence Award.

 

Chuck Brockway, our beloved Chancellor, stood in awe as Brian Tucker, John Spangenberg and Dave Aubry shared memories of U.C Berkeley's football team, recent and past.  He then collected lots of Happy $'s from the Husky, Cougar and other faithful for various reasons related to football and not so.

 

Switching gears, Chuck began our program for the evening, a Getting to Know You trio.

 

Elizabeth Rusnak told us how her passion for SBA lending has developed and led her through a successful career in banking.  She is one of a family of 8 siblings, born in Bangor, Maine.  She lived in Okinawa, and then Georgia, where she met her husband Chris and moved to California.  He works for Costco.  She worked in the SBA lending department for a bank in CA, and moved to Washington in 1994.  She continued her career in SBA banking, and recently moved to a non-profit which specializes in assisting small businesses secure SBA loans for building and land.  Elizabeth became involved in Rotary as a host family for two of our former exchange students.  Her mantra: Follow your life's passion in your work.

 

Next, John Overlease let us know about himself.  He was born in Covina, CA, and lived most of his childhood in Kelso, in the north of the Mojave Desert.  He gets his love of sales from his father, and of investing from the two shares of Union Pacific stock his parents gave him as a child.  He traveled on the UP with his mom, a school teacher, quite a bit, and they eventually all moved to Las Vegas, NV.  While he was glad to be done with high school, he enjoyed college and got a degree in Business.  He did two tours in Viet Nam with the US Navy as a supply officer for the Army's Mobile Riverine and Navy's Swiftboat crews.  Discharged in 1968, he spent 20 years in beverage sales and distribution.  Even though he retired, he spent the next 6 years providing consulting in training.  Recently, he is back in the workforce, working as a Master in sales of whiskey and scotch.  He and his wife, Teddy, have been married 41 years and have two sons and two grandchildren.

 

Pat Swenson was our next speaker, and she told us how mononucleosis, a car accident, and an elevator have shaped her life.  While in college, a friend of hers asked her to work a temp job for her while the friend recovered from mono.  Pat was available because a car accident prevented her boyfriend from taking a trip, and Pat was available.  The 3 week job turned into 5 years at an insurance company.  One day in an elevator, she spoke with a man who inquired what she was doing with a box of brochures which were printed incorrectly.  He was impressed that she had found the mistakes, and since it turned out he was the President of the company, she was given additional opportunities given her obvious dedication to the job.  This evolved into her career in insurance sales, and eventually to her founding of her own firm.  It is now 14 years old, specializing in employee benefits. She lives and works in Bellevue and has one son, who is married.

 

Thanks to Elizabeth, John and Pat for sharing, and to Chuck for setting up the program!

 

President Steve was allowed to use the microphone again, and held his long-awaited "2nd Chance" drawing.  Al Hoviland won a $5 Starbucks card, and Diane Santeford won a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.  Congratulations!

 

The Honey Pot chance for $15 was won by Chuck Brockway, but alas, he drew the wrong marble.

 

President Steve's thought for the week: Why is the person who invests your money called a "broker"?

 

He adjourned us at 7:41pm.

 

Respectfully (and apologetically if I got some of the stories wrong!)

Brian Tucker  GO BEARS!