Meeting Notes July 20, 2021

President Kathleen McNalty opened the meeting at 7 am. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and Invocation followed.

Jim Adamson introduced our guest Zack Pauw, via Zoom. Zack's new member orientation will be at Café Mela in Wenatchee on Fri. July 23 at 10 am. Anyone is invited to attend this prestigious event.

Jim also introduced guest Mario Perez, Head of the Coffee Roasting at Café Mela.

Announcements

Our Goathead Warriors local service project will be on Sat. July 24th at 7 am (!) at a site TBD. A sign up sheet was passed around. If you want to come pull some pesky weeds and didn't get on the list, contact Kathleen.

Kathleen said the "Take Over of the Farmers Market" at Pybus was a success again. Thanks go out to our club's volunteers: Kathleen, Robin, Chris, Craig and granddaughter Alea, Rebecca, Jim and Carol, Earl and daughter Lucy, John S. and wife Jennifer, Dan and Jackie, Taro, Zack and wife Alison. Over $60 cash was collected for the Humane Society and food and treats too. Alice Meyer and Mark Kulaas from the Wenatchee Rotary Club joined us!

Alan reminded us of the Bike Ride Committee meeting at Bob's Classic (Wenatchee) at 5 pm, Tues. July 20th. Apple Century Bike Ride, Sat. Sept. 25th!

Our club is teaming up with CVCH to hand out back-to-school supplies and clothing to Wenatchee Valley youngsters at Town Toyota Center on Sat. Aug. 14th from 8:30 am to Noon. We will have sign up sheets for shift. We will be spread around the different booths handing out supplies and clothing as needed. Easy volunteer opportunity!

Craig, our Treasurer, handed out our club's Mission and Vision Statement that the Board of Directors had been working on since their retreat in Tuscany (just checking to see if you read any of this! It was actually in Wenatchee!).

• Our Mission Statement: To create positive change through our JOY of service and spirit of FUN!
• Our Vision Statement: A world where people unite and take action to ensure sustainable change throughout the global community.
• Our Core values: The Four Way Test of what we think, say or do:
• 1. Is it the TRUTH?
• 2. Is it fair to all concerned?
• 3. Will it build good will and better friendships?
• 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
• Our Areas of Service:
• Club Service
• Vocational Service
• Community Service
• International Service.

Kathleen said that Kelly Walker has volunteered to be the Membership Committee chair.

Brags and Confessions

Rani attended a planning conference.

Wayne's Mother-In-Law has been put into Hospice Care at Blossom Valley Assisted Living after a recent and lengthy hospital visit. Her level of care has increased. Wayne may have to spend more time in a support role, rather than attending Rotary Club meetings and events.

Bill McDowell made a trip to the Olympic peninsula with his girlfriend. The temperature never topped 65 degrees! Beautiful place to visit, and he's happy to be here in Wenatchee!

Kelly (and Alan, no doubt) has been dog-sitting two dogs (three counting Alan) for the past 8 days! "Fun! Fun!" she says.

Jim Adamson's grandkids were visited in CDA. Two of them gave Jim a run for his money on the golf course. Jim didn't get to wrestle the third one!

PJ Jones is back from Montana, South Dakota, and Kansas City. He visited the IHOP (International House of Prayer) and found it inspiring. He visited with Wendall Cayton, who was digging ditches in Wyoming for his son-in-law's meat packing plant. Sore back was the result!

Erik said the framing of his cabin at Lake Chelan has finally started after 2 years!

Program

Kathleen introduced Laura Merrill, Executive Service Director, City of Wenatchee.

Laura is a graduate of California State University, Fresno, with a BS degree in Business Administration, Marketing.

She joined the City of Wenatchee in February, 2020. Her duties include:

• Plan, organize and coordinate activities to meet organizational goals and to carry out policies set forth by the Mayor and Council.
• Monitor programs and policies and encourage development of strategies that maintain and enhance long term vitality of the city
• Represents the City in relations with community, advisory committees, authorities, local, county, state, federal agencies, and professional organizations
• Negotiates highly complex contracts and solutions on a variety of administrative, fiscal, and special projects
• Advises and consults with the Mayor on policy and strategic issues; assists with decision- making and provides leadership in problem solving.

Her presentation today centered around the Apple Capital Loop, a local transportation project that would improve the current congestion problems in our 11 mile loop. Over 100,000 vehicles per day travel on this metro area loop. If not completed by 2035, our roads will be overloaded. During an average year, $1 billion of the State's $3 billion fresh fruit industry is packed, stored, marketed and delivered all over the US and overseas from the Wenatchee Valley. Home for 75,000 people, we are only 1 of 8 metro areas in the US that has no 4-lane interstate highway connection.

With $140 million from a Federal Grant and local matching of $146 million, the total project is $286 million. The City of Wenatchee is in partnership with:

• WDOT
• Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority
• Douglas County
• Chelan County
• City of East Wenatchee
• Link Transit
• Chelan-Douglas Regional Transportation Council
• BNSF Railroad.

The new Confluence Parkway is a proposed 2.5 mile bypass corridor that is intended to reduce vehicle congestion on SR 285/N. Wenatchee Ave. The project extends from US 2/Euclid Ave. exchange (in Old Station), crosses the Wenatchee River on a new bridge, and extends South to the intersection of N. Miller St. and SR 285/N. Wenatchee Ave. Portions of the N. Wenatchee Ave. will also receive some additional signal lights and signage.

Other transportation project that will tie in with the Confluence Parkway are:

• A new roundabout will aid traffic flow at the corner of Easy Street and Hwy 2
• A roundabout on the East side of the river at Cascade Ave. and Hwy. 2 will aid in flow on the East side
• Widening of the Sunset Hwy to four lanes in Douglas County between 9th and 23rd St NE and will help those navigating the East side.

For more information on the overall Apple Capital Loop project, use this link:

Apple Capital Loop

For more information on the Confluence Parkway, use this link:

www.wenatcheewa.gov/confluenceparkway

President Kathleen thanked Laura for the presentation, and said that our club will donate a children's book in her name to the Regional Libraries.

Closing

Wayne's lucky number was drawn, but in his excitement, he forgot what color marble to draw. Pot next week will be over $120!

Meeting ended at 8 am with this quote: "I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They’ve experienced pain and have bought jewelry." — Rita Rudner