President Carol Anne opened the meeting at 12:08. Gordon Neu, Neu Construction offered the invocation and Carlyn Roy, TAPCO CU led the national anthem and 4 way test accompanied by Libby Catalinich, Pierce County.
Harrison Laird, CBRE and Libby Catalinich carried the mics for introduction of guests. One, in particular, Taylor Webb, our outbound Exchange student going to Finland was introduced by Mike Dunbar. Taylor will be leaving in the next week.
Jeremy Fogelquist from Johnson Stone Pagano was our meeting sponsor, highlighting technology, in particular a phone app, for keeping track of tax documents.
Jeff Lovely celebrated August birthdays. Always the entertainer, Jeff commented that there are new “rules” but he says he doesn't follow rules! The question for the celebrants: Where have you traveled for a birthday that was fun. Clay Zhang had one of the best answers. He traveled across the date line twice…That gave him 2 celebrations! Also joining us at the meeting were celebrants Phil Carter enjoyed a celebration at Snoqualmie Falls Lodge, Richard Jamison took a trip to the San Juan’s on the day Elvis died, Whitney Grisaffi normally doesn't travel because it's a busy time for her at the store, Kierra Phifer enjoyed a trip to Hawaii, Christina Turner enjoyed her birthdays in Pullman, Mike Wark back-packing in Germany when he was 25, Cindy Niemi would enjoy a birthday with relatives in Costa Rica and Alecia Cunningham used to enjoy birthdays in Vegas. Jeff asked for more time to tell a few of his favorite jokes, but President Carol Anne told him it was time to move on!
Kim Bedier, Tacoma Events and Venues, pitched next Thursday’s “Thursday at 5” at the Tacoma Dome where we will be treated like Rock Stars.
Club Anniversaries were recognized: Karena Kirkendoll 2 years, Monique Nadeau 10 years and Ed Ramos 10 years.
Robin Echtle, club treasurer, reported on the club’s finances. (She says she is the only one other than Jeremy Fogelquist, who gets excited by numbers!). She clarified that the club has two different accounts: fund raising and operating. Expenses such as office, personnel and international dues are paid out of the operating fund. Fund raising draws revenues from Greater Good annual giving and the Auction. The good news was that the operating fund Net income for the recently completed fiscal year was a positive $18,072, after gross Income of $260,066 and expenses of $241,994. Robin explained that the club brought in more new members than anticipated. In addition, we are up on prepaid meals. Fines, however, were down. Other expenses came in very close to budget. The Annual auction grossed over $277, 000 and $77,000 of that was Raise the Paddle and with net income of $146,036 plus the Raise the Paddle our committee's are well funded to do their great work! Robin is happy with last year’s financial results and is optimistic about the current year.
Our speaker, club member Bill Baarsma, was introduced by Debbie Regala. Bill is a native Tacoman who earned his doctorate at George Washington University during which time he served on Scoop Jackson’s staff. Having served on the city council, in 2001 he was elected mayor of Tacoma, serving from 2002 to 2009.
As President of Tacoma Historical Society, Bill encouraged Rotarians to visit and support the society. The historical society has archived over 18,000 items of historical significance. There is no funding support from Government, just from public donations and membership fees--$25 per person or $35 for a family.
This year the historical society is celebrating the Centennial Year of the Congressional Passage of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote. The society is putting a little twist on the term History society, making it “HERstory Society.”
Bill gave us his 5 nominees for Tacoma’s Women of Destiny. He began with a name we all know, Thea Foss. Born in Norway, She started a business refurbishing row boats while her husband worked as a carpenter. Ultimately she developed a fleet of 200 fishing boats that she rented to fishermen. Her business allowed her to earn more than her husband in his work as carpenter. Eventually this developed into Foss Maritime.
The movie “Tugboat Annie Sails Again” was based on Thea Foss’s story. The world premier for this second Tugboat Annie movie was held at our own Pantages Theater in 1940. This, by the way, was Ronald Reagan’s first major role as a co-star.
Dr. Nettie Asberry likewise has an interesting story. At age 8 she was an accomplished pianist and composer. The daughter of a slave, by age 13 she was secretary of the Susan B Anthony club in Kansas. And just a few years later she earned a PhD (age 18). In addition, she established the first NAACP chapter west of the Rockies here in Tacoma. In all her work in Tacoma, she had to be extremely wary of Tacoma’s Ku Klux Klan.
Emma Smith Devoe, community organizer, is another Tacoma notable. President of The Equal suffrage organization, she was the founder of an organization that turned out to be the precursor of The League of Woman voters which first met first in Tacoma. Many consider her the mother of women’s suffrage movement.
Gretchen Kunigk Fraser, was an extremely talented young athlete who trained for the 1940 Winter Olympics, which ultimately did not occur because of the beginnings of World War II. But in 1948 friends and family convinced her to go for the winter Olympics that year even though she thought she was too old (at 28!) At that time the women’s team didn’t even have a regular coach. In Switzerland she finished the slalom-downhill combined winning silver. She then won the gold medal in the Slalom. She was the first American Alpine skier to medal in the Olympics, stunning the European people who began to refer to this champion as the “American housewife in pigtails.” She soon found her pictures on the Wheaties box. School girls soon imitated her by wearing pigtails.
Pat Flynn was the key organizer for the now well-known Relay for Life which started in Tacoma. Now it is a key event in over 30 countries and it has raised over 6 billion dollars for cancer research. She was the first person inducted into Relay Hall of Fame.
We recently honored Karen Vialle the 32nd mayor of Tacoma in her recent passing. Bill then went on to list over 2 dozen current local women leaders in government, business and nonprofits. Bill also mentioned that the Tacoma Historical Society will be honoring these women listed above and more at its Destiny Dinner on September 14th.
Carol announced that the club is still looking for a 3rd host family for one of our inbound exchange students, Gabriel and he also is looking to borrow a set of left handed golf clubs while he is here.
John Douville reminded us of our Aug 22nd stuff the bus function which will be the first of 4 events held at our meetings by the projects committee. We will be stuffing 400 backpacks with school supplies. On Aug 16 from 4 to 5:30 at the Rotary Office we need help getting things ready. We are asking for volunteers, especially volunteers with trucks!
Gil Quante announced St Vincent DePaul sorting, Saturday, Aug 17,from noon to 3 pm after which the group will move across the street to Moctezuma’s for refreshments. Tacoma 8 is staffing the beer garden in Leavenworth for the Courage ride on August 24th. Still looking for a few more volunteers.
Didn’t have much time left for true confessions except Jeremy Fogelquist thanked Stacey Ogle for the wonderful time he and his family had at her cabin in Packwood Thanks, Stacey, for this wonderful auction donation!
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