Risibles

#1. The owner of a clothing store, returning from lunch, was met by his jubilant salesman.

“C.J.,” exulted the salesman, “I just sold that suit that had been hanging for years in the corner!”

Owner: “You mean the plaid, double breasted one with the pink lapels and the gold stripes running down the bell-bottomed trouser legs?”

Salesman: “Yes, and I got top dollar for it, too!”

Owner: “Nice going—-but why is your hand bandaged?”

Salesman: “As the customer was leaving, his seeing-eye dog bit me.”

#2. The rescue party arrived at the scene of the plane crash. The sole survivor was observed leaning against the fuselage. He was surrounded by a small mountain of bones and was busily gnawing at another one.

Noting the aghast stares of the rescuers, he remonstrated, “Look, I know what you’re thinking. But I had to survive. It has been done before. Think of the Donner party!

Said the leader of the group, “Yes, but good God, man–your plane went down only last night….”

District Governer John Enger Visits

In his sweep through the district’s clubs, DG John Enger alit chez nous.

His address began with the exhortation that a 30 year old club should do something celebratory. He then celebrated the Beals administration by presenting the Presidential Citation for the good events on Hal’s watch.
His other remarks included: A question to Nancy about the Frog Award…Merrill to take on the web site…An occurrence in Kenya showing how a selfless gesture by a boy changed his life through education…The Candle is an instrument to unite and connect the district’s clubs…A pitch for attendance at the Tulalip District Conference, 5/15-5/17…Rotary’s President’s encouragement for family members to join the clubs…Foundation’s thanks for our contribution. $600K was raised in the district, putting us fifth. We came in at $306 per member…North American Rotaries has had a net loss of 51,000 members per year. He urges keeping members engaged, contacting absentees, and giving jobs to RINOs.

Mike, for his part, had words to utter and slides to show. He named officers, committees, and the current activities of each. He reported 12 new members last year; UW Rotaract; the newsletter; The great programs and activities, to wit: Block Party…Books for the World…Dictionaries to the third graders…El Centro de la Raza…Food Bank…Holiday Lighting (and more)…Urban Rest Stop…Food Lifeline…Rotaract Food Harvest.
To come: Tree-planting…Continued holiday lighting…Debuts and Discoveries (and the story of its explosive evolution)…U District Food Bank….Priorities include: Debuts and Discoveries; an international service project; and a monthly community service event.

Dr. Hall: Joques

#1. A preacher was exhorting about heaven and hell and related matters. “Everyone who wants to go to heaven, raise your hands!” he said. The entire congregation but one man raised its hands. The preacher pointed at the man, saying, “You over there, don’t you want to go to heaven?”

“Sure, eventually,” said the fellow, “but ah tho’t you wuz gettin’ up a load to go now.”

#2. The brass at an army post was concerned that GI life insurance sales were way down. The recruits just were not buying. A young captain, newly on the post, volunteered his services. “Let me have a go at it,” said he. “Sure, go ahead and try it,” was the unanimous word. “We doubt if you can do any better.”

Within a month, sales improved. By the second month, they approached 100%. “How did you do it?” they asked.

He said as follows: “I told them, ‘Consider you get killed in battle and are uninsured. The government will grant your family $7,000 or so. But if you buy the full insurance, they will get the full $100,000.” “Then I let this sink in and, after a few moments, concluded with: ‘Now who do you think they’ll put into the front lines?’ “

President’s Dinner 2014

Once again University Sunrise Rotary had a successful and fun President’s Dinner and Auction. Also, once again, special thanks for organizing the event go to Holly Whitcomb-Henry, Colleen Johnson and Nancy Bittner. Auctioneer Scott Jamieson entertained, brow-beat and extorted members into parting with their money.

Nancy Bolin and Mike Madden shared the 2013-14 Rotarians of the Year Award – Well deserved for their leadership and organization of the Debutes & Discoveries Event.

Sandpoint Block Party 2014

The University Sunrise Rotary Club of Seattle sponsored its 9th annual Block Party for Sand Point Community Housing. Hundreds of Sand Point residents attended this year’s party, including scores of kids who ate, danced, jumped, played and ate.

Special Thanks to:
Organizers: Jeff Mushen & Ed Bronsdon

Band: Tom Ranken and whatever the name of his band is this year.

Kids crafts: Scotty Ottaviano

Team Leaders: Kyle Bergquist, Jeff Mushen, Andrew Wichmann and Wally Kempkey

Seattle Fire Department for sharing its truck with the kids.

Hero: Andrew Wichmann (who pulled a propane tank out of a burning grill)

+ a cast of dozens of University Sunrise Rotarians

Debuts and Discoveries 2014

The University Sunrise Rotary Club hosted an event on April 5, 2014 at the The Mountaineers Club featuring products from 30 new wineries, breweries and distilleries, and great food from 4 food trucks. The event sold out.

All proceeds from the event will go to the University District Food Bank’s Packs For Kids Program. The Packs Program provides food over weekends and school breaks to children on the free lunch program at 6 schools in North Seattle. Hungry kids don’t learn as well; the Packs Program provides the necessary nutritional supplement these children need. The funds we raise will help support the current program as well as expand it to other schools and children.

Special thanks go to Nancy Bolin and Mike Madden (Organizers Extraordinaire), and all club members who supported and worked on the project.

Rotaract’s 2010 Dinner

DSCN2714 University of Washington’s Rotaract Club, sponsored by University Sunrise Rotary, held their annual dinner where many Rotarians joined the younger Rotaractors in a little fundraising, food, awards, and scholarship announcements. The money raised from the dinner helps fund the scholarships that were announced which allow Rotaract members to travel internationally and complete service projects, bolstering their professional experience and giving them an in-depth view from another part of the world. The food, of course, bolsters everyone’s waistlines.

“Casa de Apoio” in Porto Velho, Brazil

As a result of our involvement in Belem, Brazil, our club was asked by the Rotary Club of Porto Velho-Rio Madeira to be its partner in helping to equip a residence for cancer patients in Porto Velho, Brazil. Porto Velho is an Amazon river town thousands of miles up the Amazon.

This project will benefit about 1000 patients each year. Our club, the club of Porto Velho-Rio Madeira, and districts 5030 and 4720 submitted an application to Rotary International for a World Community Service matching grant, and our matching grant was approved. The project provided Casa de Apoio such things as kitchen equipment, an air conditioner, drinking fountain, rocking chairs, iron, TV, stereo, and computer equipment.

The House of Support was built and is administered by the Rotary Club of Porto Velho-Rio Maderia. The average attendance is 70 people per day. In addition to lodging, they receive coffee, lunch and dinner. The pictures below are of Casa de Apoio and our Brazilian companheiros of the Rotary Club of Porto Velho-Rio Madeira.

Twin Club Project with João Pessoa: Home for Special Needs Children

Trophy The University Sunrise Rotary Club and its twin club, the Rotary Club of João Pessoa, Brazil sponsored a special Christmas Party for the children of the special needs center.

USR provided a grant through its member grants program. Special thanks go to Walter Ribeiro Santos and Emidio Vasconcelos Leitão da Cunha of the João Pessoa club for organizing the celebration.

The photo with the trophy was a demonstration of thanks from the people who work in the Casa, parents and students for your club. I will send you the trophy soon. I guarantee to you that the photos don’t show 10% of how wonderful was the party.
Thank you very much for everything.

Um abraço,
Emidio