June 19 Meeting Notes

Announcements:

No morning meeting next Tuesday (June 26).  We are having our annual changeover dinner to thank Erin McCool and her board, and welcome Lisa Parks and her leadership team.  6:00 at Ridgeline Graphics.

The members elected John Schapman to be the 2018-19 club secretary.  The Board has appointed Matt Eastman to fill a one-year director position vacated by Patty Rush.

The Board also approved a dues change.  We will now be billed $90 quarterly.  This will include everything (RI, District, & club dues, Rotarian magazine, and sitting fee).  There will also be a 50% reduction in dues for members under 30 years of age.

We voted on approving $1950 to help build three houses in Burundi with Sister Connections.

All three of our Challenge Scholars graduated this year.  Jasmine Guerrero from WHS, AJ Parker from WSHS, and Lidia Diaz-Alonzo from EHS.  We have three new scholars picked, and need mentors for them.  Contact Earl or Erin if you are interested in changing a life by mentoring one of them for two years.

Families needed to host a couple Japanese nursing students for two nights (Aug. 24-26).  Contact Earl.

We are parking cars at Town Toyota Center on July 4th as a fundraiser.  We are also doing park cleanup July 5th to raise funds.  Sign up with Earl.

Last chance training for volunteering at a Gorge concert this summer will be at Ridgeline Graphics from 5:30-8:30, Tuesday, July 17.  This is mandatory training for volunteers there, and we need as many as we can get to get more money for our service.  BIG fundraiser.

Rotary International Convention Special for Hamburg, Germany, June 1-5, 2019
Register June 23 through June 27 this year for $350.  That's $45-$245 less, depending on when you register later.  Go to http://www.riconvention.org/en/hamburg.

Service Opportunities
Saturday, 8:00 am, corner of Crawford and Wenatchee Ave - yard cleanup
Thursday, July 12, 11:00-2:00, Wenatchee Community Center on Chelan St. - mobile food truck distribution

Program

A video was shown of the youth exchange students in Thailand.  Isaiah Banken (Joel's son) has been our outbound student there.  The video he sent represents all his adventures this past year.  He has had a great time, and will be back soon.  Joel and Julie are in Thailand visiting him now.

Next school year (starting in August), we will be hosting a 17-year old boy from France.  We need host families.  Let Taro Masuda know soon if you are interested.

June 5 Meeting Highlights

Announcements

Social next Wednesday (6/13), 5:30 at Bobs' Burgers and Brew.  No meeting Tuesday, 6/12.

Volunteers who want to work at the Gorge concerts and didn't attend the last training need to attend the training on June 12 at Ridgeline Graphics form 5:30-8:30.  The more volunteers we have, the more money we raise for our club, but the training is required.  And who doesn't want to hear great music?

At the June 19 meeting we will be electing a Board member to replace Patty Rush, and a Secretary to replace Maggie Nelson.

Jim Huffman was at WHS awards night to present the Challenge Scholarship to Jasmine Guerrero, who will graduate this week.

Brian McDarment (Chris' son) will be our outbound YE student next year.  He also earned his Eagle Scout Award.  He is graduating Friday night, and invited all of us to his graduation party on Saturday from 2-4 at their home (739 Castle Heights Drive, Wenatchee).

June 26 is our Changeover dinner starting at 6:00 @ Ridgeline Graphics.  El Porton is catering.  This event will celebrate our year, thank Erin and her Board, and welcome Lisa and her Board as next year's leadership team.  Bring your spouse or a friend and let's have a great year-end party.  Sign up sheets will be going around, but you should contact Jim Huffman if you are coming and can't get signed up at our next meeting.

Greta Schock, our outbound YE student to Brasil 5 years ago, joined us this morning.  She told us that her year abroad was life-changing, and that she wouldn't be where she is today, or doing what she is doing, if it weren't for the opportunity given to her by our Rotary club.  She is a great example, and a tribute to how Rotary promotes world peace and understanding through the youth exchange program.

Presentations

Lisa Parks (bike chair and President-elect) was presented the Rotarian of the Month award by President Erin.  Lisa has been working non-stop to help put on our successful bike ride.

Two new members were inducted today.  Jim A. introduced Ethan and Kaitlyn Van Weerdhuizen, sponsor Earl Crowe, and Kaitlyn's mom and sister (Joy & Lucy Crowe).  They have been married nearly a year.  Ethan is a customer service/sales rep at Haglund Trophies, and Kaitlyn is an administrative assistant at Jones & Jones/Betts Funeral Home.  They have a dog, Lady, that they got from the Humane Society.  Their interests include biking, reading, fishing, video games, and travel.  They bring the average age of our club down to 30.  Ethan and Kaitlyn wanted to be part of Rotary after volunteering on some of our club projects and seeing the fun we have and the good we do in the community.

Program

Our wonderful YE student, Elza Domene, was the program today.  She showed slides of her country (Brasil - correct spelling), talking about the food, schools, and holidays.  Elza also talked about her family, friends, and some of her activities in Brasil, like being a model.  She showed a video of her year here, which featured her activities (dance team), friends, exchange trips, and host family outings.  Carol presented Elza with a parting gift from the club, a Washington State T-shirt.  Carol, along with Elza's host parents, talked about what an awesome young lady she has been this year.  She leaves for Brasil on June 25, and we will all really miss her.
Thanks to the Noyd's, Crowe's, and Banken's for hosting Elza this year, and to Taro for his leadership as YE Chair, and Carol as Elza's counselor.

Bike Ride

We had another successful bike ride, with nearly 600 riders who gave raving compliments about the ride.  Perfect weather added to the event, and the after ride party seemed to go on and on.  A recap will be coming soon.  Thanks to all who worked so hard to make this a great event.  Here are just a few pictures.

May 29th Meeting Notes

Announcements:

Elza had a busy, busy last few days doing everything from camping to cleaning up a playground to rafting to trampolining.  She has traveled everywhere from Prosser to Kamloops with a bunch of stops in between.


Brags and Confessions is pretty incomplete because I was sitting next to the chatty boys group in the corner and could not hear. :)

Ruth's son did something very cool that I don't know.  Also, the base had a beautiful Memorial day ceremony.

Leslie also had someone do something amazing that I think was become an Admiral of the Pacific Fleet for the Coast Guard?

Kathleen said Daniel turned 18 and then some other amazing stuff I missed.

BIKE RIDE ASSEMBLY

The Bike Ride is this weekend and there are still opportunities to help that need to be filled!

People are needed Friday afternoon at Cycle Central for Registration:  3:00-8:00
Parking at Pybus Saturday Morning:  5:30-8:30
Registration at Pybus Saturday morning:  6:00-9:00
Jersey Sales Saturday all day
Someone needs to do some flagging for the Pet Parade in Cashmere on Saturday- get details from Lisa.  Short job, maybe an hour?
We need someone at the crossroads in Confluence see Lisa for details
Please hang around on Saturday night for clean-up and then an after-ride party.
Sunday morning, all hands on deck at the storage units.  Breakfast at Jimmy's dinner first at 7:00 a.m.

Food for thought as we come to our BIGGEST service project of the year: (Thanks, PJ, for this!)  We need EVERYBODY- even if you only have a couple hours, find a place to lend a hand.

May 22nd Meeting Notes

Announcements:

Next week's meeting (May 29th)  is the Bike Ride Assembly.  ALL HANDS ON DECK!  If you have not signed up for something to do during the bike ride, please attend the meeting.  We are a SERVICE club and this is our biggest service project of the year so that means we need every single Rotarian helping out.

Our next club social/meeting is Wednesday, June 13th at 5:30 p.m at Bob's Burgers and Brews in East Wenatchee.  There will be no morning meeting that week (June 12th).

Lisa and several other Sunrisers attended the District Conference in Prosser.  A great time was had by all!

Brags and Confessions:

Erik Holmberg said that Aladdin was great and to keep these productions in mind in the future- they are well worth it.

Jim Richardson missed the last meeting but is excited for today's presentation on Wenatchee Valley College.

Dave Friemuth has a new grand daughter

Rebecca Lyons is celebrating an unmarked birthday.

Taro Masuda stayed in an R.V. park during the District Conference and was lucky enough to be there when a little bomb scare happened.  All was ok in the end but it made for an interesting night.

Program:

The Program today was about Wenatchee Valley College's new program, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Technology. Additionally the College has a Nursing degree and is planning on adding a Teaching degree and possibly a Data Analytics degree.  For more information, check out their website at www.wvc.edu

May 15th Meeting Notes

Announcements:

• Elza has been hiking, attended Apple Blossom festivities, is going to Canada and is getting ready for Graduation.  Busy girl!
• At the recent Board Meeting, it was determined that the fee structure will be modified to a flat fee of $90.00 per quarter with no separate sitting fees- everything will be combined.  There is discussion to consider abandoning the blue cups.  Finally, the Board is looking at restructuring the committees from 18 to 6.  Please look for a quick survey in your email box about these upcoming changes.
• The club applied for a district grant in order to support Second Harvest food trucks coming to Wenatchee through the summer.  These are fully contained trucks full of food to be handed out by club volunteers.  We will be getting a truck once per month- stay tuned for volunteer opportunities.
• Milt is still collecting eyeglasses for re-use in Nigeria.  Jerry brought in a whole bag of eyeglasses for Milt to use- thanks Jerry!
• The Apple Blossom Parking at Ridgeline Graphics raised $341.00 for the club!

Congratulations to Robin DeRock for being the recipient of her 3rd Paul Harris award.  Robin's husband donated in her name as a congratulations for finishing her Nursing Degree.

(the computer will not allow me to upload the fantastic picture I took :)

Brags and Confessions:

• Leslie was in Chicago for 8 days and had a great time
• Jim A said that the grandkids are doing well in tennis.  His grandson had a 4.5 hour match!  His grand daughter has won a full ride scholarship to college!
• Wayne is celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary
• Chris tried to board a plane with a very dangerous weapon- a wine opener.  After being interrogated by TSA, he ended up giving it to Robin, who happened to be at the airport at the same time
• PJ was in Seattle and then Whistler for skiing
• Erik thanked John M for providing the placard on the pink Cadillac he drove for Apple Blossom
• Tom and his wife went to Las Vegas, Laughlin, Grand Canyon where it snowed 4" and then ended in Phoenix where is was 102 degrees.

Today there were two reclassification talks:

Kevin Love and Jim Adamson.

Classification talks are just kinda the thing you need to hear yourself to appreciate!

May 1st Meeting Notes

Announcements!

• Elza has moved houses and had a great first weekend with the new fam!
• The Board Retreat went well and there are some new changes coming up so look for announcements in the future.
• Wayne let us know that the training for the Gorge fundraiser is actually a mandatory server training so if you missed it, stay tuned.
• Remember that next week there is no Tuesday morning meeting but instead will be on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. for the club social.  We meet at Bob's Burgers and Brews in East Wenatchee.  Come hang out for casual fun!
• Upcoming Bike Ride Meetings:
• Tuesday May 8th, 6:00 p.m., Pybus Market in the Concourse
• Thursday May 24th, 6:00 p.m., location TBD
• Tuesday May 29th, regular meeting, Club Assembly
• Bike Ride Committees:  This is our BIG CLUB EVENT and we need all hands on deck.  Over the course of June 1, 2 and 3 we need everyone to help set-up, run and clean-up the Bike Ride.  Get signed up for one of the many options to help.  There is definitely an opportunity that fits your schedule!
• Small Works Committee has a project on May 12th.  Come to the Community Action Council between 11:00-3:00 to help with the USPS food drive.  Community Action Council is located near Franz Bakery, behind Curtis Tile and Stone.
• Rotarian of the Month is Annie LaCroix (that would be me).  Thanks everyone- that was unexpected :) Also, starting this month, each Rotarian of the Month will have $250.00 added to their Paul Harris account by the club.  YAY!!
  Also, check out this awesome picture of Erin and I looking so natural and unposed and Jerry wondering how he got stuck in between:

Brags and Confessions:   ***I don't have any written down in my notebook- I must have missed them....but I am sure they were amazing!***

The program today was by Firewise.  As we approach the fire season, please make sure the area around your house is firewise.  For more information, follow this link:  https://www.dnr.wa.gov/firewise

May Birthdays:  Rani Sampson, Rebecca Lyons, Dick Baker, Jeff Niderost, Jenny Rojanestein, Patty Rush, & Ruth Dagg

May Anniversaries:  Kathy Hamilton (John), Wayne Massing (Karen), & Ruth Dagg (Geoffery)

April 24th Meeting Notes

Announcements:

Elza had a great time in Disneyland even though her and timely plane rides seem to be at odds with one another.  She also went to prom and had a great time.

Please keep posted about the May 15th meeting.  The location might be changed.

Robin needs 4 families to host 6 girls and 4 boys from May21st-May 22nd

Alan mentioned that the All Service Club luncheon is coming up on May 2nd.  $25.00.

We need help at the Apple Blossom Youth Parade.  Triangle Park, 9:00 a.m., Saturday April 28th.

Brags and Confessions:

• Wayne Massing went to San Diego and is now hoping to head to Hawaii.
• Robin finished her BSN!
• Jim Richardson put in for the memory of Tom Warren, a Rotarian and WVC Board Member.
• Rebecca says Mari is turning 12.
• Jerry caught lots of fish on his trip.
• Alan's wife's family is having a big oyster feed in memory of her Grandma.

Today was a Club Assembly by President Elect, Lisa Parks.  We discussed the Why of Rotary and she played this Simon Sinek video is definitely worth a listen about Starting with Why.