Zeb Cobbs could be seen on our screens, but he was having trouble connecting his voice

communication through his computer so he phoned in and asked for help on what he should do to fix the problem. It was a good thing I was already on mute because I wouldn’t know

what advice to give Zeb, but President Greg Lineberry did. President Greg told Zeb to “Click his mouse and roll his mouse over (there was probably more to it)”, and at the same time President Greg did some mouse clicking on his end and wouldn’t you know Zeb was back in business. Past President Marc Baker was rubbing it in as he and his dogs were walking on an ocean beach in Oregon where he said it had been sunny with clear blue skies for the last five days.

 

At 12:02 PM President Greg led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.  This began his 29^th meeting of the year and our 5,431^st meeting of the Rotary Club of Everett.  There were 56 virtual attendees.

 

Kaye Phinney mentioned that she and Past President Tom Koenig are looking for more volunteers to help them in presenting the Thought of the Day.  With that Kaye took out her book, called Graces, and read the following prayer, about blessing a family’s (this could be our Rotary family) home, by Robert Louis Stevenson. 

 

“Lord, behold our family here assembled.

We thank you for this place in which we dwell,

for the love that unites us,

for the peace accorded us this day,

for the hope with which we expect the morrow;

for the health, the work, the food and the bright skies

that make our lives delightful.

for our friends in all parts of the earth. Amen”

 

Darren Crout joined us as a guest today as did Dr. Richard Repass who was part of the program presented by our own Brenda Bolanos-Ivory.

 

Kelli Thode told us about a blood drive that our club and the Elks Club will be jointly involved in that will be held on March 4^th at the Elk’s Club.  You must be registered, which you can do by contacting Kelli or going online at redcrossblood.org.  There will be a presentation on February 8^th about donating blood.  Kelli wanted to thank Brian Hollingshead and Heather Barnhart for their help on this drive.

 

President Elect Tammy Dunn will be kicking off her sports themed fundraiser next week, stay tuned.

 

George Bowden announced a World Community Service meeting that will be held at Past President Ed Petersen’s home tonight at 5:30 pm and it will also be virtual. They will be talking about their spring trip to Dajabon and future plans.

 

There will be a Board meeting this Friday. The main topic will be discussion of hybrid/in person meetings.

 

     

Past President Steve Miller was $100.00 happy that he was able to check off another one of his bucket list items by being named the number one water skier in the world for his age bracket. Congratulations!

 

Past President Amy Norman donated $20.00 for her continued luck in winning prizes. This time it wasn’t for winning a Rotary raffle but for winning a trip to Hawaii that she didn’t even know she was entered into.

 

Zak Parpia turned 74 and wanted to give $10.00 for each of those years he also wanted to give $10.00 for each of the 47 years he has been in the United States. Zak came to Pullman and WSU (Go Cougs!) in 1974 direct from Bombay (major culture shock).  Zak loves it hear in Washington State and in his words “It is great to be an American and he and his family have felt so welcome.” Zak’s bell ringer added up to a terrific $1,210.00.

 

PROGRAM:   Low Barrier Motel Program - Best Practices

Kari Petrasek introduced Brenda Bolanos - Ivory who as a concerned citizen looked for avenues in where she could help our community and she has found in helping provide long-term sustainable treatment and housing for men and women experiencing mental illness/addictions and homelessness.

 

The program today was about the Low Barrier Housing/Treatment, Mental and Physical Health, Long-Term housing or Board and Care, Jobs or Disability Income and Independence.

 

People living on the streets have a difficult decision to make. In order to go into the Low Barrier Motel Program or straight to treatment they need to accept that they will have to leave their street and/or drug “family” for a new healthy “family”.

 

Many of our businesses are being impacted by the people living on the streets because of filth and crime.

 

People in the program; outreach to the “street” people and try to get them to get to commit for services that connect them to treatment and provide them with COVID and other health safety information. To qualify for the Motel program the person has to be ready to get help for treatment and housing, be screened for COVID, follow CDC guidelines, and follow state and county health mandates,

 

Timeline to Sobriety and Independence, 2 weeks in the Motel Program, 30 days in treatment and 3 months to 2 years in supportive housing. In 2020 they had a 25% success rate and in 2021 they had a 35% success rate (Definition of success rate: Our residents and neighbors don’t return to the streets.  They get their lives back with ongoing peer support).

 

Helping in the upward trend of success cases is The Doctor in Demand, Dr. Repass is with the program and he and his staff help diagnose and treat addictions and mental illness. 

 

Here is a quote that was shown in the presentation. “Mom, people see me as trash, worthless, and choosing to be homeless.  I’m not choosing this life; addiction is choosing this life.”

 

The bottom line is that these people need help, and we have a program that is showing it can help.

 

Questions:

I apologize that I wasn’t able to continue on the call to write down the questions and record the answers.

     

President Greg adjourned the meeting at 1:01 pm with a peak attendance of over 56 people.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

             

Photography Submitted by.

 

Annual Fundraiser Kickoff presented by President Elect Tammy Dunn who will be joined by Garet Studer,  the Director of Athletics at Everett Community College.