Three New Members Inducted

Sponsor Dick Baker w/ Mike Thorburn; Jason Underwood w/ sponsor Lisa Tidd; Pete Blanksma w/ sponsor Milt Herman

Jason Underwood grew up in Vancouver, WA before heading to Washington State University in Pullman.  Graduated from there with a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems (IT).  Moved to Beaverton, OR after college and went to work as a Database Administrator for CompView Inc.   Jason moved to Chelan in 2003, where he started working for North Cascades Bank.  He worked there until September 2015 when he switched to Washington Trust Bank.  He has been on the Board of Directors for the Wenatchee YMCA for 5 years.  He is in his second year as the secretary/treasurer and heads the Finance Committee.

 Jason and Kelly met at WSU, and were married in July 2001 in Chelan.   She has a degree in Human Resources and worked as a recruiter while they lived in Beaverton.  When they moved to Chelan, she started working for the US Forest Service.  Currently, she issues special use permits for outfitters/guides, ski areas, resorts and recreational events that take place on forest service land.

 They have a 3 year old adopted son, Michael, and a 14 year old black lab, Bailey. 

 Jason enjoys golfing, running, biking and swimming (triathlons) and pretty much anything that involves being outside.  

Pete Blanksma grew up in Centralia, Washington, received Associate in Arts and Science from Yakima Valley Community College 1985, transferred to Washington State University where he received his BS degree.  Graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic, St Louis Mo 1992.

Lettered in Baseball at Yakima Valley and Washington State University

Moved to Wenatchee 1992 and began practice as an associate Doctor with Gordon Law (Sunrise Rotary's first President)

Opened Blanksma Chiropractic Clinic in 1995

Active Member of Sunrise Rotary from 1992 to 2002.  Paul Harris Fellow.

Wife-Kristine ( 26 years),  3 daughters- Korynn (23), Madison (21) and Ashton (18)

Enjoy following daughters' college soccer careers and just about everything outdoors.  Still involved with coaching softball/baseball at the youth and collegiate levels. 

Excited to be back with Sunrise Rotary

Mike Thorburn grew up in Western Washington where he attended Bellevue Community College, University of Washington, and Foster School of Business.  He has had a long career in manufacturing and served the last 15 years as President of Onamac Industries, winning the Supplier of the Year from Boeing three times.  He retired last year (2015) and moved with wife, Shirley, to the Wenatchee area in September.  They enjoy outdoor activities such as golfing, boating, water skiing, and wake surfing.  They have two children, and four grandchildren in Northern California.

Rotarian of the Month for March

Maggie Nelson originally joined the Upper Kittitas County Rotary Club in Cle Elum, Washington, in 2010. She transferred to the Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary Club in 2014, and was sponsored by Carol Adamson.

As the club’s Youth Exchange Officer, Maggie works to coordinate the activities of the YE Counselor and the YE host families to ensure what is best for the inbound and outbound students. When Youth Exchange events within our state or British Columbia occur, Maggie often accompanies the student to that event.  With the changing of host families for our current Youth Exchange student, Maggie must interview the new host family and conduct an inspection of the household. Balancing the activities of the students and disbursing funds for the program is a constant challenge, but Maggie rises to the both tasks.

Maggie is also the Chair for our club’s Rotary Foundation Committee, providing club training on various Rotary Foundation programs and projects.

Congratulations, Maggie Nelson, for being our Rotarian of the Month for March, 2016.

District Spring Training

Matt, Jim & Carol spent parts of Friday and Saturday on Osoyoos, BC at the district training for club presidents-elect and officers.  The sessions focused on Assistant Governor training, membership, Rotary Foundation, public image, and district governor visits.  

Announcements

Craig Still, representing the Wenatchee Velo Bike Club, talked about Tour do Bloom, which will be a three day event this year (May 6-8).  They are looking for help Friday in Leavenworth for safety/crowd control when the bikes come whizzing through.  They are meeting this Thursday at 6:00 at Arlberg's (pizza and beer) to finalize plans for the event.

The district Youth Exchange committee is looking for people to host a student or two for the evening of Monday, May 16.  Pick up, serve dinner, serve breakfast, and deliver back to the Red Lion Tuesday morning.  Contact Maggie Nelson if interested,

Members Lisa Parks and Alan Walker are in North Carolina pitching ideas for the $1M America's Best Community competition. Wenatchee is one of 15 semi-finalists in contention.

We have two plus tables for the All Service Club Luncheon May 4.  Way to go Sunrise.

Brags/Confessions:
Kathleen McNalty's son was involved in a roll-over, and their car got hit by a deer on the way from Seattle to check out their son.  Fortunately, no one was hurt in either incident.
Ron Griffin is the new Vice-president of Toastmasters.
Erik Peterson's son was on the winning team last weekend,
Wayne is back from a trip to Oregon, and made up at the Newport Rotary Club.
Matt McColm, and Jim & Carol Adamson attended the district spring training in Osoyoos, BC.
Former member Wendell Cayton's daughter is getting married.
Former member Mark Anderson will be here in September - time to have a barbecue.

YOUR ROTARY PARK COMMITTEE IN ACTION

This past Saturday, April 23rd the three Wenatchee area clubs had a work day at Rotary Park. Approximately 16 people showed up from our club, Wenatchee North, and Wenatchee to do a little spring sprucing up. Worked officially started at 9 am and it was pretty much completed by 10:30 am. One enthusiastic worker from Wenatchee North showed up about 6 am since couldn’t make it at 9 am.  He removed all the staples from the shelter. Not only did we get that project done but we managed to get most of the weeds throughout the park and paint the tee markers for the frisbee golf course.  Three new doggie stations were installed and 2 diaper stations in the restrooms.  Plans for the second picnic shelter were reviewed, and laid out on the ground to see how it would fit in. The hexagonal shelter would be approximately 45 feet in diameter.  It appears that we will be able to also expand the existing parking lot at the same time as this might be built. This is the last piece for completion of the park as envisioned back in 2003-04.
Thanks to our members Lisa Parks, Norm Sturm, Tana Benedict, Jerry Karney, and Kathleen McNalty for showing up to help out.

ABCs April 19, 2016 Announcements, Brags & Confessions

Announcements

Jill Courtney is the big winner.  She led the successful reestablishment of the Senior Dinner and won a few dollars in the pot draw.

Make A Wish Foundation.  Erin announced she is looking for mileage pledges for Make A Wish Foundation of Alaska & Washington.  Brian Kingsbury visited with us two weeks ago to tell us about this great cause.

May 4th is the All Service Club luncheon.  Let's make a statement with TWO TABLES!  Let Carol Adamson know if you want to attend.  Cost is $25

All Service Club golf tournament is May 26.  Last year the team of Norm, Jim, Craig and Erik were the overall winners.  Let's take another one!  Let Jim or Norm know if you are interested.

Rotary Park Cleanup is this Saturday 9 am.  We are looking for a few more helpers.  Contact Kevin
Love.

April 30th Apple Blossom Youth Parade.  Volunteers still needed.  Contact Alan Walker


Laurie Flarity-White joined us from the downtown Rotary Club to announce Interact Club of Wenatchee High School is holding a fundraiser this Friday for its Habitat for Humanity Project.  They are trying to raise $15,000 to finish the project for a local family.

Facebook Training.  Club member learned how to maximize exposure for the Bike Ride using Facebook.  Here are the easy instructions:

• Search on Facebook for Apple Century Bike Ride or https://www.facebook.com/Apple-Century-Bike-Ride-107266902643680/
• Once there click on the Like drop down that is in middle of page
• Click on the three dots (...) to right of the "like" drop down and choose share.  Choose FB friends to share with.
• Click on the Events button.  You will see the Bike Ride.  On right click the drop to say you are going.

Brags & Confessions

Mansour is heading to Portland.  His daughter is getting married.  While in PDX he will celebrate his 44th anniversary.  He promises a check upon his return.

Earl Crowe's daughter, Emma, is back from her trip to Washington, D.C.  She had a great time. Earl won $50 in an NCAA pool.  He donated it to the Salisbury Fund.  Thanks Earl!

Kathy Weafer's granddaughter, Gigi, was first all around in her gymnastic tournament.

Jim paid $1 to congratulate all of us on our fabulous new members who are jumping in and helping out with the senior dinner, bike ride, blog and other volunteer activities.

Alan Walker played on the Wenatchee All-Star team against the visiting Harlem Wizards.  He earned 10 points for one basket.  Creative scorekeeping.

Senior Dinner

Photos from our reinvigorated Annual Senior Dinner.  It was a great turnout by volunteers and seniors after a 10 year hiatus.  Thanks Jill Courtney, Stacy Speer, Annie LaCroix and the rest of the committee who put this together.

The dinner was to honor our senior citizens.  We used to do this on an annual basis, but ended the tradition in 2006 due to a conflicting commitment.  We decided it was time to start this again, and what a fun time we all had.  

ABCs April 11, 2016

Announcements

Golf Rounds Abound!
Jim Adamson is golfing to support Young Life.  Consider supporting Jim with a financial contribution.

Visiting Rotarian, Greg Franz, from Wenatchee North announced the upcoming fundraising golf tournament for the Wenatchee Valley College athletic program.  The date is Friday, April 29, 9 am at Highlander Golf Course.  It will be a scramble.  Grab your three best friends and support a worthy cause. More information at https://www.wvc.edu/directory/departments/athletics/golftournament.asp

Membership Contest Results.  Our member recruitment contest results are in.  We have a few new goldfish in our bowl, we met new people, and there a few prospective members in the wings. Seven teams competed with the winner earning a weekend at a nearby resort.  The winning group, with 16 points, is the team of Jim Adamson, Joan Wright and Jim Huffman.  Second place went to the team of Alan Walker, Norm Sturm, and Leslie Trebotich.  The competition continues between these two team through the end of May.  No prize is at stake, only the honor of being the Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary World Dominating Membership Acquisition Team (copyright pending).

New Members Bring Your Smile Next Week.  Joe Grimes, unofficially the official photographer of Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary, will be photographing new members for the directory.

Kevin Love announced the Wenatchee Appleaires Annual Concert to support scholarships is this weekend, April 16 and 2 and 7 pm at the PAC. More information at http://www.appleaires.com/


Senior Dinner this Sunday!!!!  Be at Bonaventure by 5:30 pm.  Attire is black and white.  Thanks Jill and committee for all your hard work.

We would  not have to clean highways
if everyone cleaned up after themselves
like this guy!

Highway Cleanup Success. No dogs helped but we had the support of Club and WVC Rotaract members. The enthusiastic sanitation experts collected 21 bags of trash over two hours.

Apple Blossom Festival Youth Parade is April 30th. Volunteers are needed from 9-12.  Help keep those rowdy Youth Parade viewers in control!  You even get a walkie talkie.  Contact Alan Walker.

Brags & Confessions

• Erik Holmberg just returned from a fabulous trip to Vegas, Palm Springs and Peru

• Jay Higgins, Jeremiah, participated in the recent Vortex Productions event in Wenatchee

• Jay is headed on a grand trip to Bavaria, Austria and Italy. Sounds like fun!

• Rani went to Sun Valley but all details are top secret. 

• Patty has fresh chicken eggs for sale $4 dozen

• Mike Thorburn, our almost member, is volunteering at our senior dinner and the bike ride.  He's a winner!

Royal Visit

This week we were honored to have the Apple Blossom Royal Court with us. Queen Kori Martin is the daughter of Darren and Shelley Martin. She is the Senior Class President, a marketing intern for the Town Toyota Center, and the Washington DECA State President.

Princess Emily Holmes is the daughter of Ward and Maureen Holmes. Emily is a cheerleading Captain, a third year American Sign Language student who participates in deaf community outreaches, and is a member of National Honor Society.

Princess Sami Everhart is the daughter of Wendy Everhart.  Sami is an assistant coordinator on ASB, the President of The National Honor Society, and has participated in some of the drama club musicals. She will be Rotary exchange student to Italy next year, and is sponsored by our club.

Chaperons are Kate Bratrud and Kristin Holmberg.

The girls gave a bit of their personal background, talked about their favorite Apple Blossom Festival event, and sang a promotional song to the tune of a Taylor Swift song.  They stayed after to sign autographs for a couple of our members' kids.

Make a Wish Foundation -- Brian Kingsbury

Former Cashmere resident Brian Kingsbury spoke with us about the Alaska / Washington chapter of the Make a Wish Foundation.  The organization grants wishes to children ages 2 1/2 to 17 with life threatening medical issues.

The Alaska / Washington chapter was founded in 1986 and has granted 5,700 wishes since then.

Most wishes are a combination of in kind contributions.  Alaska Airlines, Costco, Macy's, Seahawks, Sounders and Mariners are big contributors.

This year the chapter will grant 368 wishes with 468 still in the pipeline.





Wishes have a wide range--

• puppy
• room redecoration
• dinner with Russell Wilson
• desire to provide shoes to those in need
• carbon fiber cello
• be a WWII fighter pilot
• coach the Boise State Broncos

How can you help?  Donate airline miles.  Most wishes involve travel.  Support the major sponsors listed above. Volunteer.  Make a donation.  More information at this link
http://akwa.wish.org/wishes

April 5, 2015 ABCs -- Announcements, Brags & Confessions

Announcements

• Highway Cleanup is this Saturday, April 9th at 8:30 am.  More workers are needed!  

• Senior Dinner is April 17th at Bonaventure.  Rotarians need to be there at 5 pm.  Apollo Club is providing entertainment.

• Next Bike Ride meeting is April 20th 5:30 pm at Alan Walker's house.  We have 84 riders signed up!

• We have a draft logo for the Bike Ride (left).  We are making a few edits and it will be ready to go.

• We are disappointed to learn that Dirk Horton submitted his resignation due to health issues.  We will miss you Dirk.  

Brags & Confessions

• Alice and Mitch are soon departing for Snowbird Utah as is PJ.  A mountain top meeting is arranged.

• Kathy Weafer is back from Texas.  She reports her granddaughter Gigi took first place in the recent gymnastic competition in Bothell.

• Jim and Carol Adamson just returned from two weeks in Arizona.  They did not come back empty handed, but brought three grandchildren back with them.

• Young Life Golf Tournament is fast approaching.  Jim is looking for support for his foursome.  Consider a donation to Young Life!

• PJ enjoyed skiing in Italy and Austria.  In one day he skied 84 miles gaining 54,000 vertical feet at a ski area with 480 lifts.  Mission Ridge must feel a little quaint and homey.

• May 26th is the All Service golf tournament at Three Lakes.

• Alan Walker is seeking volunteers for Apple Blossom Jr. Parade on April 30th at 9 am. 

• Craig Robertson announced that his family is moving to California for a new position his wife Mandy accepted.  Very sad news for us. 

• Jim & Carol had a nice visit with former member Gary Looney, wife Brenda, and Sofie in Tempe, AZ last week.

Firewise -- Preparing Your Home for Wildfire Threats

Jim Huffman introduced our guest speakers, Bill Larson and Annie Schinnell. 

Bill is doing a 6 month stint with Fire District 1 to help homeowners learn how to make their properties more fire adapted.  Annie is a Community Wildfire Liaison and an experienced fire fighter. 

Bill shared the moving story of losing his home in the Broadview neighborhood during the Sleepy Hollow fire. 

More importantly, Bill and Annie shared tips on how we can be "Firewise" and make our homes and properties safer from fire.  

For example, there should be no fuel within 0-5 feet of one's house.  Another tip is to place 1/8 inch screens on vents; embers entering the home is a major reason they ignite.  

Bill provided several handouts including the Wildland Fire Action Guide, also found at this link

 https://www.wildlandfirersg.org/Portals/18/Resources/Resources/RSG%20Action%20Guide,%20ENGLISH,%20v5,%20FINAL,%20090514.pdf

Contact Bill or Annie if you want tips to make your home more fire safe.

ABCs -- Announcements, Brags & Confessions March 29, 2016

Congratulations Kathy Wefer, who received her second Paul Harris Fellow award.

Sunrise Rotary Board Report – The Board voted to contribute $250 to Wenatchee High School DECA Club and $200 to Justin Peterson, Inland Northwest Honor Flight.  DECA is an International Association of marketing students that provides members and advisors with development activities.  Inland Northwest Honor Flight transports inland Northwest war veterans to Washington D.C. to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices.

Our weekly Rotary meeting “sitting fee” (cost of attending the meeting for those who do not eat) has been eliminated.  The breakfast fee will increase $.50, but the menu will rotate throughout the month to provide more variety.

Save the date:  Saturday, April 23 9-12 for Rotary Park Spring Spruce Up.  The three Wenatchee Rotary Clubs are working together to improve amenities at the park, e.g. installing a baby changing table in the restroom.  Kevin Love is organizing and needs your help.  He will have a sign up sheet at our next meeting.

May 4th is the annual service club luncheon.  Our Club will have a table.  Let Wayne know if you would like to attend. 

Brags & Confessions

Stacy Speer celebrated a significant birthday and has found a house in Cashmere she hopes to purchase. Stacy was joined today by her two girls Leah and Taylor, pictured at right.

Tom Utigard is looking for summer orchard workers.

Taro Masuda’s daughter, Veronica, completed a Super G in her first year of skiing!  Reagan Masuda, who competes on the Mission Ridge ski team, finished fourth in Super G.

Congratulations Jim Huffman who was awarded the Red Cross Hometown Hero Award for his work with support groups for Wenatchee and Chelan fire victims.  Congratulations Jim.  We are lucky to have you as a Club member.  

Thanks to Joe Grimes for the great photos!