Rotary Club of Everett
PRE- MEETING:
As I was leaving work to come to the meeting I caught the last 20 seconds of an interview on KIRO radio with a volunteer from the Red Cross who was on his way to Texas to help in the efforts to support the flood victims, and first responders. During the short time I was listening they didn’t identify the volunteer, but I certainly recognized Past President Will
McMahan’s voice.
There were 20 Rotarians from our club in attendance, a visiting Rotarian, and one other guest as we settled into our seats within the lounge at the Indigo Hotel.
Vice President Ryan Willis presided over the meeting as President Kelli Thode could not attend. (Vice President Ryan did a fine job and with a little practice he was able to ring the opening bell signifying the start of our meeting).
MEETING:
Vice President Ryan led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and into our 2nd meeting of the year and our 5,602nd meeting of the Rotary Club of Everett.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
Kari Quaas’s message was to please pay your Rotary Club dues by using a check in lieu of a credit card to help our club save money.
MUSIC OF THE DAY:
Past President Mark Valentine played and sang “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother” by the Hollies. The song is about compassion, loyalty, and support. (This sounds like Rotary and what Past President Willis currently providing in Texas). As a side note Elton John (Reggie Dwight at the time the tune was recorded) played piano on this song. Another side note, Graham Nash played guitar on the song. He later moved to the States from Britain and started the band, Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
INTRODUCTION OF VISITING ROTARIANS AND GUESTS:
Paul Stoot introduced Jawan, a past student of Rise Up Academy.
Visting Rotarian from the South Everett Mukilteo Club, Bill Lewis was introduced. He has and (since he visited today) continues to have a 42-year perfect attendance record.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Vice President Ryan made the following announcements:
- Rotary coffee hour at South Fork on the waterfront. July 9th from 9:00 am - 10:00 am.
- Rotary after hours at the Muse on the waterfront. July 24th from 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm.
- There is a new LinkedIn page that features The Rotary Club of Everett.
- On September 23rd there will be a Rotary Friendship Exchange, more information is forth coming.
Heather Barnhart told us about another successful blood drive that drained 32 units of blood out of willing donors. Those wonderful people helped save up to 96 lives. To date our club has collected over 401 units of blood that equates to up to 1,200 recipients whose lives have been saved. Thank you, Heather, President Kelli, and all the others who continue to be involved with the blood drive. Next opportunity to donate blood or help with registration, etc. is on August 29th.
HAPPY DOLLARS AND BIRTHDAY BUCKS:
Kari Quaas was happy for the July 4th parade, the evening show, the attendance, the happy kids which made happy parents, and she was especially happy for the relaxation that the 5th of July brought.
Paul Stoot was happy with a lot of things that included:
- A Seafair Hydroplane totally painted in celebration of Rise Up Academy that will be in the races on Lake Washington in early August.
- The annual celebrity golf tournament featuring NFL Hall of Famer Ken Easley and former NBA star Nate McMillan. There is still room for more teams to join in. The tournament is in 2 weeks at the Mill Creek Golf and Country Club.
- Thank you to Past President Neil Angst for helping provide medical insurance to his organization.
Jim Schrader was bell ringer happy (Vice President Ryan took the gavel and rung that bell with authority) to announce his second day of retirement.
Past President Bob Bavasi gave $20.00 sad dollars for all of us who will miss having Jim as our Optometrist.
Bill Lewis (visiting Rotarian) told us a story of a friend who was planning to go on a golfing vacation with another friend to St. Andrews in Scotland. Just prior to when the friend was scheduled to go, 9/11 happened, and Bill’s friend decided to cancel his trip, but the other friend decided to go. On the day they were both scheduled to tee off the remaining friend went up to the starter and said he was now there as a single. The starter asked him if he minded playing with two other players and he said sure. Those two other players turned out to be Sean Connery and Sting. That must have been a memorable outing.
RAFFLE:
Winner number 1 - Past President Mark Valentine won a vintage Sunburst Les Paul electric guitar and a mug.
Winner number 2 - Past President Bob Bavasi won a Salmon fishing trip to Sitka, Alaska for himself and three friends, plus a bottle of wine and candy.
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Winner number 3 - Past President Henry Newton won a new suit that replicated the one he wore at ever Rotary meeting the year he was president. He also won a glass of some kind.
PROGRAM:
Vice President Ryan Willis introduced our speaker Lei Wang, who is a motivational speaker. At the age of thirty she quit she job to follow a dream. As we will learn that dream was seeking out an adventure which became climbing mountains. In the next six years she climbed the highest peaks on all seven continents and skied to both the north and south poles.
I was raised in a traditional Chinese family in Beijing. My focus while growing up was academics. I was not athletic and in fact, I almost failed my physical education tests. As
I got older I was seeking challenges to push myself to pursue something difficult for me. At age thirty and being 5’1” tall I took up the pursuit of mountain climbing which forced me
to get in shape, learn technical climbing skills, and to learn how to persevere through self-doubt, mental and physical fatigue, and to get past others doubts about my abilities. I quit my job to focus on my dream; this wasn’t my parents dream for me and they were disappointed in my judgement.
Lei’s focus on this presentation was all about experiences climbing and descending Mount. Everest.
- The climb up and down Mount. Everest takes two months to complete.
- At over 29,000 feet high it is almost as high as the cruising altitude of a commercial airliner.
- In the first weeks of the expedition, one climbs to base camp and stays there to acclimate to the altitude.
- There are 4 camps above the base camp. Camps 1,2, and 3 are used to for acclimation to the altitude. Once the weather is good (Usually in May) and the team members are acclimated then the climb to camp 4 (the death zone) takes place and the assent to the summit.
- I spent a night on the mountain with a leaky oxygen tank (not good) and a Sherpa who didn’t support me. The Sherpa fixed my tank and soon respected my abilities, courage, and motivation.
This all started with Lei having a dream which she said brings about doubts about being able to accomplish those dreams. Just take a small step and then another and tell yourself
you can accomplish and fulfill that dream.
Climbing is painful, exhausting, scary, and you have psychological pressures. You must focus and have courage. As we descended the mountain, possibly more dangerous than the assent, every step could be your last, so you have to tell yourself you can do it and fight off your fears.
I reached base camp, and I found out that the Sherpas had place bets prior to our accent and they had bet that I would have been the first one to quit the climbing team. When
they saw me they all cheered my success and perseverance.
My mother finally came around to support my dream and said “if you are happy, we are happy for you”.
Vice President Ryan presented a gift of our appreciation To Lei for joining us today.
NEXT PROGRAM:
Senior Product Innovation Manager, Han Tran Fluke Corporation
MEETING ADJOURNED:
Vice President Ryan adjourned the meeting at 1:03 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Past President Andy Hall
Photography Submitted by.
Walt Greenwood
