Call to Order was timely as ususal – at 12:10 PM when Ms Presidente led us in the flag salute, followed by the Thought for the Day led by Rod Moody. 

Moody wisely found 3 snippets left to us by Ben Franklin - but most memorable was the following:  Beer is the proof that God loves men.  (Pretty hard to argue with that.  And they say Franklin was an atheist???)

 

Visiting Rotarians – Gary Meisner was fully prepared to introduce any and all visiting Rotarians

 

– but there weren’t any!  Not a single one!  However there were two guests of Rotarians – as follows:

 *Dr Kathryn Riley Black with Dr Gary  Cohn.  Dr Black has joined the Everett School District as          Director of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. 

 *Kathryn Nelson with Marc Baker.  Kathryn has long Rotary ties – a former Ambassadorial

   Scholar who was recently hired by the City of Seattle and works with  Deb Wright’s daughter.

 

Membership Committee Update: 

Shelly Smith reported on three vacant classifications: 1) Vending Supplies, 2) Security Systems, and 3) Photographer.  Any member with potential candidates in these job classifications should contact someone on the Membership Committee.  A cash reward or a six pack of any cheap  beer is available  for solid leads.   

 

Ski/Sno Fellowship: 

Judi Edwards filled in for Joe Gaffney who was AWOL.  Skiers should plan assembling at 4:00PM at a place TBD.  Non-skiing members  who might just  like to “Sit in the Lodge and Drink” will also be welcomed.  Makeups will be awarded for participants.

 

Club History –

PP Larry O’Donnell had one announcement, and one historical item:

      *Announcement: President Elect Ed Petersen is to be honored by the Everett Central Lions Club as recipient of their Medal of Merit Award Winner. Ed will join 15 or so other community members (majority  from our  Rotary  Club) to be so honored.  The event will be held on Thursday evening (2/18) at 6:30 – Edward D Hansen Conference Center.  Cost is $60.  Contact Larry to sign up.

      *Historical Item – The 1916 Rose Bowl featured Brown University and WSU.  Cougs won 14-0!!  (There was a connection to  our Rotary club but your reporter was too busy  trying to think of potential members to earn that six pack of cheap beer, and missed the connection.)

 

Fund Raising Update –

President Elect-Elect Will McMahan reported that to date our club has pledged $31,000 US which puts us in the middle of Kansas on our cross country  adventure. To be specific, we are in the middle of a stockyard.  So keep up the good work.  We are over the Cascade and Rocky Mountains - now dealing with boring flatlands and barking dogs.    

 

Paul Stoot was sorry that the Prov candy sale fund raiser wasn’t able to  accept credit cards, and asked that members “pray for Friends of the Nation.” 

Walt Greenwood was $100 happy to report that his birthday and anniversary totaled more than $100, and also shared running down the street with a 4 year old grandson to escape the rain. 

Will McMahan had hopeful dollars that someone in the club will have storage space available to keep Red Cross supplies.  (Contact Will if you have ideas.) 

Gary Cohn was happy to announce that as recently released test scores show that every  ethnic subgroup scored 90%+! 

Ed Rubatino had $100 when Rose stepped in front of a vacant parking  space and saved it for her dear old Dad. 

Russell Hermes was happy to share wisdom from his 12 year old step son. 

Tammy Dunn was happy to have gotten in 40 games as a ref,  to be appointed to the Board of the Association, and that the Snohomish County Sports Commission again was recognized as a national leader.

 

Raffle – Big winners were Walt Greenwood, Jeff Mitchell, and Will McMahan.  In observance of the Four Way Test, all three have agreed to report their winnings to the IRS.

 

Program - 

Introduced was presented by Norene Laggert on “Peoria Home” who was introduced by Katrina Koontz. 

Peoria House is a residential recovery service for women recovering from sex trafficking and prostitution.  Originally started in Nashville in 1997, the organization has an 82% success rate.  The program provides counseling, job skills, and assistance in family reconciliation.  These services follow a rehab program for victims, and have the goal of  helping women to  be able to  take  care of themselves and their children.   An effort is underway to establish such a facility in Snohomish County, and a fund raiser is planned for March 12.  Interim contact through Dawson Place,  1509 Californina St, Everett, WA 98201, or  peoriahome@outlook.com. 

 

Next Program:   “Health Cost Burden for Employers” presented by Scott Forslund introduced by Michael Holcomb