MARCH 3, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE:

Bellevue Mayor Grant Degginger, “Keeping Bellevue’s Competitive Edge" | Volunteer Opportunity with Rotary First Harvest | REMINDER: District Conference May 1-3, Victoria, BC | Fellowship Event: "Grease," May 20, 5th Avenue Theater | Attendance Make-Up Policy For Club Meetings & Events | Sun Valley 2009 Report    

PLEASE NOTE: If the regular parking garage is full and you are turned away or redirected, please go to the Harbor Club parking lot.

Wednesday, March 25; contact: SanDee Olson-Meyer

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THIS WEEK's PROGRAM

Bellevue Mayor Grant Degginger
“Keeping Bellevue’s Competitive Edge"

Grant Degginger is currently in his second term as the Mayor of the City of Bellevue.  He has served as a member of the Bellevue City Council since November 1999, including one term as Deputy Mayor. Prior to his election to the City Council, he served for over six years on the Bellevue Planning Commission.

Grant has assumed key leadership positions in regional infrastructure and growth planning. He is the immediate past-Chair of the Cascade Water Alliance, a consortium of eight East and South King County cities and water districts that supply water to over 300,000 residents and 22,000 businesses. He serves on the King County Growth Management Planning Council and the PSRC Growth Management Policy Board.

As chair of the City of Bellevue's Construction Codes Advisory Committee, Grant worked hard to streamline the permitting process, improve delivery of inspections and other development services. Grant is a shareholder in the Lane Powell PC law firm where he chairs the firm's construction and real estate litigation practice group.

Grant and his wife Kathy have lived in Bellevue since 1982 and have two teenage sons.

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Volunteer Opportunity with Rotary First Harvest

On March 14, and every second Saturday of the month,  please consider volunteering at Northwest Harvest from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon, at 22220 68th Ave S in Kent.  If you plan to attend, please alert David Schooler (Ph 425-455-8167).

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REMINDER: District Conference May 1-3, Victoria, BC

If you have not yet signed up for the District Conference, please do so soon. The exchange rate is now favorable, making the excursion less expensive. You can register online here at the Rotary District Website.

Note that due to the difficult economic climate, the registration has now been reduced by $25.00 per person. If you have already registered and paid the initial registration fee, you will be given a $25.00 refund at the check-in.

The main emphasis is FELLOWSHIP and FUN. There is a Thursday Golf Tournament and a Thursday night Pub Crawl. If you don't do well in the tournament, you might especially enjoy the Pub Crawl. There will also be a winery tour and a tour of the Buchart Gardens. You can also explore the historic waterfront and Chinatown.

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Fellowship Event: "Grease," May 20, 5th Avenue Theater

The one that you want is back! Grease is rockin’ across the country in this brand new production direct from Broadway! Take a trip to a simpler time of poodle skirts, drive-ins, and T-birds. “Bad boy” Danny and “the girl next door” Sandy fall in love all over again to the tune of your favorite songs: “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightning” and “We Go Together,” as well as additional songs from the hit movie: “Grease is the Word,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and “You’re the One That I Want.” Throw your mittens around your kittens and hand-jive the night away with the show that’ll make you want to stand up and shout, "A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop, A-wop-bam-boom!"

The Fellowship Committee has reserved 40 tickets ($70.50 each) on the Main Floor (Orchestra Center) for Grease on Wednesday, May 20th, at 7:30 pm, at the 5th Avenue Theater. This production is very popular and good seating will be hard to come by. We need people to sign up early for the tickets because payment is due next month to hold the seats. Sign-up sheets will be available at the regular meeting for this event. This is first come, first served, so sign up early! It should be a great time!

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Attendance Make-Up Policy For Club Meetings & Events

The BRC Board has recently adopted this formal club policy to clarify what types of Rotary meetings and events you can use for make-up credit. Keep in mind you have two weeks on either side of the actual meeting you miss to claim a make-up. The following information is in addition to the standard club and EClub Online makeups:

Bellevue Rotary Club members who participate in club events such as Auction Committee, The Landing Dinners, bell ringing, ice cream sales, stream clean-up, Rotacare, Special Olympics, First Harvest, board meetings, etc., will receive one make-up credit based on working one “shift” per event. Club Directors and Committee Chairs will determine the duration of a shift. District 5030 events such as the District Conference will earn make-up credit in the same way. If multiple shifts are worked, there will be a limit of 4 make-up credits per event. 
 

By example, if an event has a shift or a meeting duration of two hours, the club member will receive one make-up credit. If a shift or meeting has a duration of 4 hours or more, they will get one make-up credit. 

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Sun Valley 2009 Report
Scott East

Once again, party-hardy hosts upheld the theme this event has earned: “Sun Valley, a party runs through it!" Paul Dressel presented color commentary at the luncheon a week after our return from this fourth BRC SV Ski event, one that saw the largest number of official, i.e., paying/hosting, participants (30), plus some extra guests. The note below is for those who were not present to hear Paul’s excellent report (and for insomniacs needing something to help them drift off).

Preliminarily, a huge thank you to all those below who made the trip extra special:

Exquisite Events hosts: Thursday - Larry & Carol Mast (Masts’ Warm Welcome); Friday - Frank & Susan Young (Youngs’ Wine Extravaganza); Saturday - Steve Anderson (Steak Night at Steve’s), prepared by super supper team of Sherry, Julie, Diane, Rob, and grill greats Rick and Mike; and Sunday - Debbie Acton & husband Frank (Super Bowl at Debbie & Frank’s).

Affordable, i.e, free, Accommodations hosts: Steve Anderson, ably assisted by nice niece Bonnie; Larry & Carol Mast; Janine & Alex Florence; and former Rotarians Nick & Sandy Nichols.

Superior Shopper: Carol Mast, for doing most of the shopping for the Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday events, bringing top menus in at a bargain, in addition to hosting, and baking and taking to Steve’s, a classic dessert from a BRC recipe (fundraiser of the ‘80s).

Winsome Wines: The Friday night event at the Knob Hill Inn featuring, once again, fine wines, complemented by tasty tidbits, all courtesy of Frank and Susan Young, including special releases no longer available (except a few you might have brought to your table, for those who can find them at top restaurants, for those who are able.)

Partying Participants: The “official thirty” folks fun to be with in this valley of the sun (some of whom actually skied more than one day, notwithstanding the abundance of evening play). Their names hereby folla, in alpha orda, sorta: Debbie Acton & Frank; Steve & niece Bonnie Anderson; Rondi Bennett; Tom Bernard & Judy Heurter; Mike & Julie Creighton; Chuck & Joyce Doland; Scott East; Janine & Alex Florence; Rick & Sherrie Hervey; Paul Dressel; Lynn Jones & Peter Moon; Larry & Carol Mast: Dan McDonald; Nick & Sandy Nichols; Diane Tebelius & Rob McCallum; John & Joan Valaas; and Frank & Susan Young.

Random recollections (only a few of the many):

This year, we had many more who managed to meet on the mountain for two days to four, plus some guests stayed at the valley for a few days more. There were actually one or two attendees who were there not to ski, including brave Rondi, who came with some pain, cheerfully testing new month-old knee, but only on après ski activities.

The delta between the fastest all-terrain diehards, and those preferring a perky but prudent pace, was not so great this year as in ’08. We got in several group runs. The sunny cold weather, with no recent snow, presented a challenge for skiing the bowls. But the great groomers, and 500-plus snow machines at night, allowed abundant frying of thighs, a testament to fast cruising under bluebird skies.

Newbies: Hustler Paul showed up in yesteryear’s gear, then deftly maintained control in all terrain. (Note to self: good that you resisted the temptation to make friendly wagers with those thought to be naïve newbies). Lynn and Rob were also confident and capable newcomers this year, fitting in swell, Rob getting a day of Nordic in as well (steeling himself for ice fishin’ in Wisconsin. And, no, he wasn’t on that runaway floe).

Dan came up from extended assignment to New Orleans, and had to rent some gear. But, Mr. Mac presented most properly for skiing each of the AMs, sporting under his parka fresh buttondowns. The dapper one just wanted to get max vertical before parties, he claims, without quitting early in order to change.

Demure(?) Diane demurred on taking her seat # three, on a chairlift designed for more, her last minute slide to the outside preempting the seat for passenger # four. The victim’s soft landing was a reminder to all, reveal not your independent votes of last fall, lest you wish to be at risk, when boarding lift beside the Red Princess.

Skiing Celeb in the Midst : A cousin of Debbie’s was the 800 lb. gorilla of skiers at this event, having won all four race categories at the USA nationals Ski Masters competition last year. He joined our Super Bowl Sunday event, graciously giving tips when asked (and admitting that Debbie taught him all he knows), a very nice guy, not gloating after the game was over, having been the only vocal Steelers supporter.

A final note (“Finally!” you say ... but hey, someone needs to feed The Bulletin, and give its editor a real challenge): It has been a great pleasure to be a part of this event for these first four years. Regrettably, it comes so close to the Crystal Mountain overnight, which also suffers my partial oversight, that my staff is feeling there might be a slight. So this is to encourage a few of you to step in, volunteering to coordinate SV 2010 (An English major you suggest? Surely, you say that in jest.). New ideas are essential for keeping the gathering a special treat.

Thanks once again to the hosts and guests who made this year’s SV Ski fest one of the best. No matter whether we have deep powder weather, or only sun, getting most of our vertical fast, on groomed runs, SV with the BRC is a primo place to ski and party. Here’s hoping we see you all again in 2010, along with more Rotarians and friends!

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