September 24, 2019 Meeting Notes

Sept. 24, 2019 Meeting Notes

Club President Taro Masuda opened the meeting at 7:00 a.m.

Guests:

Adele, our Youth Exchange student from Switzerland, said she had a good time on her trip across the Canadian border to Penticton. She also said she ran her first cross country race at Wenatchee High School. It was a LONG 3 miles!!

Rotary Guests:

Assistant Governor Karl Ruether from the Leavenworth Rotary Club attended our meeting. 

Pete Van Well, District 5060 Polio Plus Chair from the Wenatchee Rotary Club, attended our meeting.

Announcements

Rotary Learning Institute: Assistant Governor Karl Ruether announced that RLI-South will be held in Yakima on Saturday, November 2 and Sunday November 3rd. The cost is $170 and our District 5060 pays for half of the costs, so your cost is $85, which the club will reimburse. See Kathleen McNalty or Rebecca Lyons for more information.

Wenatchee "Make A Difference Day": Pete Van Well, from the Wenatchee Rotary Club, said that on Thursday, October 24th, his club would be promoting that day as "World Polio Day". Club volunteers will be standing on the sidewalk outside KPQ Radio with Rotary Banners from 7:30 a.m. to Noon. If you'd like to help out, come down to KPQ Radio on The Avenue. That evening the "World's Greatest Dinner to End Polio" will be held at the Senior Center at 5:30 p.m. This is a potluck dinner. Costs are $5/per person or $15/per family.

Senior Dinner: Jill Courtney announced that the Senior Dinner has been changed yet again to Saturday, March 21st at the Senior Center. This is an All Hands event with all club members helping out. There will be entertainment, and the main entre' is lasagna. More information later.

Ron Griffith's yard project: PJ Jones said he has looked over Ron's yard and on Saturday, Oct. 5th, we need volunteers to help clean up his yard. Meet at Smitty's Pancake House at 7 am that day. Bring gloves and yard tools.

Senior Center Clean Up project: PJ Jones said the Senior Center needs to have some work done on their surrounding grounds on Saturday, October 26th  Bring gloves and yard tools. More later.

Alatheia Riding Center Rotary Event: Kathleen McNalty announced that the Alatheia Riding Center, 2170 Sleepy Hollow Heights, Wenatchee, is having a special event to educate possible donors to what Alatheia does for persons that are physically or emotionally challenged. The event is Tuesday, Sept. 25th from 5:30 - 7:30 pm.

Youth and Cultural Exchange in the Wenatchee Valley: Joel Banken announced that Patrick Bodell from the Wenatchee Confluence Rotary Club will be presenting information about the Youth and Cultural Exchange in the Wenatchee Valley in the Pybus Public Market, Tuesday, Sept. 25th at 7 pm.  https://pybuspublicmarket.org/event/pybus-university-youth-and-cultural-exchange-in-the-wenatchee-valley/This same information will be given at Wenatchee High School, Thursday, Sept. 26th in the New Commons at 7 pm.

Brags and Confessions

Mike and Leslie Coleman had a good time camping in Anacortes, exploring the San Juan Islands, and whale watching. Mike completed the vacation with a fishing trip to Louisiana.

Jill Courtney confessed to having some PowerPoint and computer issues at a recent 50 year reunion of her high school class.

Jim Richardson said that school started on Monday, Sept. 24th. Students and staff enjoyed a safety talk from Elizabeth Parker, a Sandy Hook Elementary victim's family member.

Chris McDament took his son Brian to start school at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. Chris had been contacted by Joseph, our recent French Youth Exchange student, and Joseph said he had gotten his driver's license.

Robin DeRock finally arrived back home after going to Penticton, BC, for the Youth Exchange meeting, and then on to Niagara Falls for the District Governor training for her husband Richard. She paid for her brag with a "Two-ney", a two Canadian dollar coin (worth $1.51 USD).

Kevin Love spent time repairing his cabin. He leaves today for Boise for his daughter's marriage.

Leslie Coleman bragged about "The Bears" winning.

President Taro Masuda paid for his Utes and Cougars losing football games!

Sargent at Arms

Erik Holmberg did a pin check and found that most members had their pins displayed. He fined the Cougars for such a bag football game.

Program 

 Rotary Learning Institute

Kathleen McNalty and Rebecca Lyons co-presented information about Rotary Learning Institute (RLI). The club members enjoyed playing Rotary Jeopardy and learning more about Rotary. The next RLI will be in Yakima on Nov. 2, 3. 

Pot Draw

Mansour Ravassipour won the pot draw and donated the money to the Sisters Connection.

Sept. 17, 2019 Meeting Notes

Club President Taro Masuda read a thank you card from Lorraine Church. She thanked the club members (PJ Jones, Milt Herman, Kevin Love, Wayne Massing, Taro Masuda, and Jim & Carol Adamson) who volunteered Saturday to stack firewood, trim trees and shrubs, and paint her deck. (Photos).

Taro also read a card from the Moses Lake Medical Team thanking the club for the $1000 donation to their Central America project.

Announcements

2nd Harvest food distribution volunteers needed. On Wednesday, Sept. 18th, at the Wenatchee Community Center (corner of Chelan St. and Spokane St.) starting at 10:45 a.m. volunteers are needed to help meet the truck, unload and bag the food items, and distribute them to those coming to the Community Center. We will work until 2 p.m. Contact Jim Adamson (509-630-8562 cell) for more information.

Senior Dinner - Jill Courtney asked for volunteers to help organize the Senior Dinner, which will be held on Sunday, October 27th  Saturday, October 26th (new date) at the Wenatchee Senior Center. A planning meeting is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 20th at Bob's Classic at 7:00 am.

The Gorge Amphitheatre Fund Raising - Wayne Massing shared with the club the fund-raising numbers for our selling beer at the Watershed and Dave Matthews Band concerts at The Gorge this summer. We raised $2008 from the Watershed concert and $1062 from the Dave Matthew Bank concert for a total of $3071. The check will be coming soon from The Gorge to our club. The 5 Rotary clubs worked a combined total of 910 hours at these two concerts. The club's Board of Directors have chosen not to use The Gorge in the future as a fund raiser. Long hours, the long drive and small returns were some of the reasons.

Ron Griffith's yard project - PJ Jones visited Ron Griffith to assess the yard clean-up job he had requested. It was determined that leaves need to be raked up and the lawn mowed. It was suggested that we do the work later when all the leaves are off the trees. It would be about a 2-3 hour project for club volunteers. More information to come.

Family of Rotary

Check out September birthdays and anniversaries in the right hand column.

Brags and Confessions

Kathleen McNalty spoke briefly about her 2 week trip around Spain. She cycled with a group of people, and visited the northern coast of Spain. The weather was mostly good with a bit of rain!

Rebecca Lyons also traveled, but to Hong Kong and India related to her job at the Washington Apple Commission. She told of observing the arduous task of picking and transporting apples on the slopes of the Himalayan Mountain foothills.

Ruth Dagg spent 2 weeks in Physical Therapy for a hand/wrist injury.

Milt Herman thanked Earl Crowe for contributing used glasses for his Central American medical team. He would like get other contributions of used reading glasses, non-prescription sunglasses, prescription glasses, handheld magnifiers, and unopened eye medications or drops. They can be brought to the club meeting and put in Milt's bag in our club's cabinet at Pybus.

Kevin and wife Lynn Love spent 10 days in the Gulf Islands and San Juan Island on their boat.

Taro Matsuda bragged about his Ute's team winning!

Program

Chief Deputy Chris Sharp and Mike Smith, from the staff of the Chelan County Jail, gave a vivid look at the jail and its staff. Their goals at the jail are to provide a safe and secure environment for the staff and the inmates. Most of the inmates are there for drug related crimes. A K-9 dog and mail scanner are two new methods used for scanning for drugs within the jail. A lease body scanner will be used in January 2020. Newer transport vehicles aid in the safe movement of prisoners. The jail experiences a heavy turn-over in staff, and lengthy training is required for new hires. Cameras are being installed in the cells and in the corridors to decrease the crimes within the jail. The program ended with Chris Sharp taking questions from the club members.

Pot Draw

PJ Jones won the pot and donated the money to the dog fund at the jail.

September 10, 2019 meeting notes

Melisa Tigard gave a brief description of her running for Wenatchee School Board Position 1.

Nevada Black, Eagle Scout, gave a brief presentation to the club and thanked them for contributing to his Eagle Scout project at the Chelan County Fair Ground in Cashmere. The project was a Dog Park/Run. Nevada's mother also attended.

Announcements

On September 24th all Rotarians are invited to Alatheia Therapeutic Riding Center for drinks, appetizers, tours, and a demonstration of a riding lesson.  The time is 5:30-7:30, and they would like a RSVP at: https://rotaryalatheia.eventbrite.com.  Password is Rotary.

September 14 will be a clean-up/deck painting party at Lorraine Church's home (117 View Ridge Circle).  Meet at Bob's Classic in Wenatchee at 7:00 am, or at her house at 8:00.  Contact PJ Jones if you have questions.

Family of Rotary

Check out September birthdays and anniversaries in the right hand column.

Wayne Massing gave an update on Mansour Ravassipour's recent torn meniscus surgery. Mansour is back home resting with ice packs on his knee. The surgery went well.

Erik Holmberg told of his weather experience at Husky Stadium, and mourned the loss to California.
John McDarment bragged about the Seahawks win.
Pete Blanksma bragged about the WSU win, and all the Cougars paid a buck.
Kaitlyn Vanweerdhuizen has a new kitty.

Program

Earl Crowe and Kaitlyn Vanweerdhuizen gave the program on the duties of the coroner's office and funeral homes.  It was enlightening, and Erik said they "killed it".  Earl discussed some of the cases and challenges he has had over the years.  There are only two coroners in Chelan County, and a prosecutor for Douglas County. They investigated over 450 deaths last year alone. These included those by natural causes, accidents, suicides (11), and homicides (0).

Kaitlyn discussed life working in the funeral home business.  They move the bodies from place of death to the funeral home or other facility.  Their duties include dealing with the deceased and their families, and state obligations.

September 3 meeting notes

Announcements

Adele Ayer (our exchange student) told us about her first couple days of school.  She also had a good weekend with her host family.













Zachery Banken (our outbound exchange student) has survived his first few weeks in India.  His letter and pictures can be found on the link in the email sent to you all.

Thanks to Taro Masuda, Robin DeRock and Dave Freimuth for working the beer garden at the Gorge concerts this weekend.  Service above self for theses three for sure.

Jim & Carol Adamson were the only ones that showed up for the Westside High School to help clean up after the back-to-school bash.

On September 24th all Rotarians are invited to Alatheia Therapeutic Riding Center for drinks, appetizers, tours, and a demonstration of a riding lesson.  The time is 5:30-7:30, and they would like a RSVP at: https://rotaryalatheia.eventbrite.com.  Password is Rotary.

September 14 will be a clean-up/deck painting party at Lorraine Church's home (117 View Ridge Circle).  Meet at Bob's Classic in Wenatchee at 7:00 am, or at her house at 8:00.  Contact PJ Jones if you have questions.

Family of Rotary

Check out September birthdays and anniversaries in the right hand column.

Matt Eastman's son is doing well after falling from a second story window and breaking his femur and jaw.
Leonard Noss is doing better after heart pain caused by inflammation of the sac around the heart.
Leslie Coleman spent time with her daughter and new granddaughter.
Earl Crowe took all his girls to the UW football game.
Jim & Carol Adamson attended the Beach Boys concert with their daughter in Salem.

Program

Bliss Littler, 8-year coach of the Wenatchee Wild, gave a great program on hockey in Wenatchee.  The Wild have been here for 12 years, and have had great success.  All but 3 of their players have gone on to Division 1 college hockey.  The last 5 years have been in the British Columbia Hockey League, and have been very competitive with their record.
Wenatchee now has 7 hockey teams (little tikes up to 20 year-olds), 17 full-time employees, 200 part-timers, and over 100 volunteers.
Besides having an economic impact, the team has given over $100,000 a year to fundraising groups, and players have to give 100 hours of community service while they are here.