February 20 Meeting Notes

Announcements:

Bowling party with Challenge Scholars and families - Sunday (Feb. 25) at 2:00 at Eastmont Lanes - everyone welcome.

Fellowship Dinners - Membership committee has proposed a fellowship event where 2 Rotary couples host 2-3 other couples for dinner.  The idea is to invite at least one or two potential members, and maybe someone already in the club you don't know very well.  Time frame is the week before and after St. Patrick's Day (March 10-24).  Contact John McDarment (669-6965) if you can host, or if you would like to be invited.

The Boy Scouts of America this year will honor Erik Holmberg with The Good Scout Award.  If you would like to come to the banquet to support Erik, contact John McDarment (669-6965).   The event is at the Wenatchee Convention Center on March 28.  Tickets are $30.

Next Bike Ride Committee meeting will be at 6:00 Monday, March 19 at Bob's Burgers & Brew.

Habitat for Humanity is building the Interact sponsored house now.  They will need volunteers near the end of March and April to hang dry wall, paint, etc.  This would be a great project, and a way to support our local Interact Club at WHS.

Brags and Confessions:

Rani Sampson went to the Apple Blossom Queen selection to support her neighbor, Sophie Castillo, who was chosen as one of the princesses.
Chris McDarment's son, Brian, made it to the finals in state swimming (WHS took third in state), and he and Holly celebrated their anniversary.
Jim Richardson has been in Olympia for college stuff (politics), and had a nephew ordained to pastor two churches in Pennsylvania.
Erin McCool's little brother and his wife are having another child in a few months.
John Schapman's son started pre-school, and he attended a successful auction to support the school.
Alice Thompson is back from an amazing ski trip to Austria (88 lifts).
Lisa Parks will be attending PETS (President-Elect Training Seminar) in Seattle this weekend, and Jim & Carol Adamson will be there to facilitate.
Alan Walker bragged on Lisa's Apple Valley Gymnastics event which his granddaughter participated in.

Program:

Joel Banken gave his classification talk today.  Joel was born in Nebraska, then moved to Grants Pass, OR before coming to Wenatchee.  In between he did an exchange in Mexico.  Joel attended PLU prior to going to UW medical school.  He worked at the East Wenatchee Clinic from 2001 until just recently, when he began working out of the Stemilt Clinic, where employees and families of Stemilt get free medical care.
Joel loves to travel, visiting places that include China, Europe, and Ecuador, where he was 
a Peace Corp volunteer.  He also volunteered at Holden Village.  Some of the travel and volunteer work was with his wife, Julie.  They have two boys, the oldest of which is our YE outbound student in Thailand this year.  Joel and his family have hosted two youth exchange students last year, and will host two more this year, including Elza.

At the end of the meeting, Jim Adamson showed some slides of the RI Headquarters in Evanston, IL. February 23 is Rotary's 113th birthday, and some the history is preserved there at One Rotary Center.