Call to Order: President Paul Alvestad rang the bell, opening the meeting at 7:28 am.
Bob Martin gave a quick report on Polio. The world is at 18 cases reported this year as compared to 10 cases for this time last year. The new target date for World eradication is now set for 2023. Invocation: by Duane Fister. Pledge: by Delaine Morgan Song: Led by none-other than Hal Cline, "My Country 'Tis of Thee". 4 Way Test: Led by Sharon Shaffer.
Visiting Rotarians: Introduced by Jack Stonestreet; Bill Evans, and Ralph Flick. Sneaking in late and not introduced was Joyce Taylor.
Guests: This week’s guests included: Angie Frantz, a guest of Walker Allen; Gary Parker, a guest of Peter Stanley; Noah Flick, our outgoing exchange student; and David Holsinger, a guest of Sophie Perkins.
Opening Comments: Paul announced he had no opening comments, followed by cheers from the club.
Calendar:
- Board meeting May 22nd
Attendance Awards: President Paul announced he was going to give out the Perfect Attendance Awards for the 2017-2018 Rotary Year which he had received from Cynthia Kennedy, the Club Secretary. He read from the list, the one-year awards and had the recipients come forward to receive the certificates and pins. However, the certificates were not in order of the list of years. After sorting through looking for the one-year recipients, it was obvious that this was not going to work in the amount of time available. After giving Coach his award, he sent the other recipients back to their seats and announced this would be done at the next meeting. At this point, it is so late in the year; we could wait five more meetings and give out the 2018-2019 awards at the same time.
Farmers Market set Up: GH Rotary is helping with the set up and take down of the Farmers Market on June 6th. (AKA: D-Day) Lee Smith passed around a volunteer sign up. If you did not sign up, and would like to help out, give Lee a call.
Courage Ride for Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital: Tom Borgen gave a report and asked everyone to save the date for this project. It is August 23/24 in Cle Elum. It will include a group dinner at the Sunset Café on Friday night and up early to serve breakfast to the riders on Saturday Morning. If you have an RV, talk to Keith Harris who is arranging a group camp, or make your reservations at the Econolodge under the GH Rotary group. The Club riders have two new additions this year with Mike Pinch and Randy Spitzer.
Victoria Conference Report: President Paul gave a report of the Victoria Conference from last weekend. Many attended and the conference was a great success. Pictures were shown of the trip and many of the activities.
Friends of Rotary: Camilla Brocker awarded a certificate of appreciation plaque to Gary Parker of Bar B Que 2U for their support for the Rotary Auction. This was the location of this month’s Rotary after hours.
Fines: Mike Pinch was filling in for Mac Pinch. He informed the club that Mac was out of town to propose. She said yes!!! Mike proceeded to have a long-time member and a red badger stand, and they were quizzed on rotary and club facts. The various red badgers won the quizzes. Happy Bucks were given by Mike for Mac’s engagement; Walker for his guest Angie’s Healthcare givers award for person of the year; Richard Pifer for promoting Noah Flick’s sale of car wash tickets; Peter for his doctor’s OK to now walk on his broken leg; Bill Evans for his grandson’s comment in the Husky Book Store, when asked what the magic word was? “Go Cougs” was his answer; Tom Borgen in praise of the commitment of member Brady Buskirk with his wife and new son at the conference; Bob Martin for closing on a new house; and Randy for a successful auction for his Choral Group Cora Voce.
Raffle: The Raffle was run by Annemarie. Cindy Reed won the 10 free for next week and Bob Ryan won the right to draw for the blue chip with $300 in the pot and 9 chips remaining. The Jeopardy tune was hummed by the club as he drew the chip. White chip was drawn for the $15 consolation prize.
Program: Club Happenings - Avenues of service reports:
- Club Service: John Duppenthaler announced that Tim Williams is retiring as the Clubrunner administrator and keeper of the calendar after years of serving the club in this capacity. Rod Ladd is taking over for Tim.
- Youth Services: Cindy Reed announced that our outbound student Noah Flick is scheduled to leave on 8/17. We have the four host families lined up and they are being vetted at this time. Two of the families are Rotarians and two are outside of the club.
- International: Rod Ladd announced that a box packing of ten boxes of books and clothing was done last week and was sent to the Philippines. They should arrive in 45 days.
- Community Service: Paul announced that the committee is working on a large project with Pen Met Parks. Soon to be announced.
- GHRF: John Winslow announced that the Mildred McColl scholarship recipients have been chosen. The Peninsula students were awarded theirs last week and the Gig Harbor Students will be awarded next week at each school’s scholarship assembly. Only $38,000 of scholarships are being awarded this year. This is down from previous years. The Mildred McColl scholarship fund has given out $1,284,000 in scholarships over the last 19 years, for an average of $67,500, per year.
- Past President: Mel Santos announced that the “Gavel Dinner” is scheduled for Friday June 28th at Horseshoe Lake Golf Club. There will be a golf tournament and a dinner and Roast of outgoing President Paul Alvestad as well as the installation of incoming President Hal Hodgins. Please mark your calendars and plan on coming. A good time will be had by all. The dinner is being catered by BBQ2U.
Program: Reclassification Talk: Dave Gordon:
Dave Gordon gave a great reclassification talk. Dave was born in November of 1946 and his family moved to Gig Harbor in 1950, before the new Narrows Bridge, to replace Galloping Gertie that fell down in 1940. He remembers taking the ferry from Titlow Beach to Gig Harbor/Point Fosdick. As Dave grew up in the Harbor, he also remembered the many trips across the new bridge with a toll of 50 cents for car and driver, plus 10 cents for each additional passenger. In high school, he had many trips across the bridge in the trunk of the car to save the toll money. He had a great childhood growing up on Horsehead Bay, prior to all the development. He attended kindergarten across the street from what is now Anthony’s Restaurant. His teacher was the famous Lucy Goodman. First through fourth grades were at the Arleta School, which is now a Pen Met Parks building on the corner of 36th and Ray Nash Drive. In 5th grade, Dave started to go to Harbor Heights grade school. He then went to Gig Harbor intermediate school, which was then renamed to Goodman Middle School, after Lucy Goodman. Dave then went to Peninsula HS and graduated in 1965. His job in high school was at Uddenberg’s Thriftway.
He went to the University of Washington. While at the UW, he worked as a house boy in sororities and even lived two years in Gama Phi. Originally, he was going to study ceramic engineering, but changed to general studies. After graduation, he was accepted into UW Law School. With an interruption from the Army, he went back to UW law. While in school he spent summers working on a fishing boat in Alaska.
As he was finishing up school, Dave needed his teeth cleaned. He heard of a free service available through Shoreline CC for their dental hygiene students. This is where he met his wife Lynn. They have two daughters. Dave was a law clerk for the Court of Appeals, prior to coming back to Gig Harbor and opening a Law office with Mike Misner. They were partners for 25 years. He then had a partnership with Paul Alvestad. And eventually retired from his law practice. He was instrumental in getting the Mildred McColl bequest into the GHRF and was also the attorney for the boy that was the beginnings of the Sexual abuse fund through the Mary Bridge Hospital. In retirement, he still enjoys volunteering and being a Rotarian.
Notes by Chuck Perry
