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| June 5, 2009 |
Editor: Dave Guttu
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President Joel Feldman
sharply rang the
bell at 12:30 to begin the June 5th meeting of the Rotary Club of
Lakewood; serving the greater Lakewood area for 53 years and, wait for
it, hold, HOLD, two months.
The pledge to our flag was led by our speaker Colonel Cynthia Murphy. The gently-reminded about invocation was by Jim Rooks.
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VISITING ROTARIANS
Bill Young
introduced the visiting Rotarians; Bruce Hawkshaw from British Columbia; Don Doman from Tacoma 8, PP John Lowney and his wife Pam, Heidi Wachter from Clover Park, and former member Gina Benesch, now residing in sunny Southern California.
OTHER ASSISTANTS
Jim Schultz staffed the Paul Harris desk today. Bill Young was Sergeant-at-Arms.
SUNSHINE REPORT
Jan Luze gave the Sunshine Report and I couldn't hear it well. She did mention Ed John and also someone could not attend without a hearing aid . maybe that was me. (Editor's note - Jan reported that Don Jacobson told her attending meetings was futile due to his inability to hear adequately - and I wasn't even at the meeting and still understood this information.) I apologize for not catching all of her report and my table mates weren't much help either.
Guest of Rotarians
PP Greg Rediske brought Sharon to visit, Dan Livingston introduced Alex Hennings, Kevin Sullivan visited us, and Rick Selden noted that Kismet was also visiting us today.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
President Joel announced a Habitat for Humanity comedy event. It was Saturday night for you electronic meeting information gatherers, so I am not going to put in the contact information in case you still need tickets after the event.
President Joel also proudly announced that our district has been selected to be one of the 100 clubs chosen by Rotary International to pilot the Future Vision of Rotary. No small honor there.
Joe Ghilarducci asked that anyone that did not receive an invitation to the Installation Banquet in the mail to please contact him. You might want to update your address in the club directory, too, if that could be the reason you don't get invited to things. Your reservations are due before June 19th.
Bob Peterson attended a scholarship event in the Steilacoom School District. There was $1.3 million in scholarships awarded there; remember that Lakewood Rotary had six students represented in those scholarships. Bob read thank you notes from Katherine Badger and Carlyn Harlin to the club.
Kim Prentice announced that Clover Park School District will be conducting follow-up to the Innovation, Involvement and Improved Student Achievement forum on Wednesday evening, June 10th, from 6:30 to 8:30. For more information or to attend you may call 583-5040.
FINES:
Terry Fung has been participating in 5K & 10K runs recently. His family also went on a recent vacation to Seabrook. $20.
Clint Johnson got a cash discount down to $92 from the hundred he offered for his version of "My Three Sons." His youngest just graduated from Bellarmine Prep and they all give him a source of pride.
Andrew Neiditz gave $10 in honor of Dave Guttu (that's me) and the Lakewood Police Department for tireless work and quick resolution to the murder and robbery at the Wal-Mart. I matched that $10 with pride for my department.
Rick Selden gave $10 for LPD too, $20 for an Alaska trip, and $30 for a Florida trip. Talk about covering your fine bases. He did confess that he forgot to bring in a souvenir shot-glass with Sarah Palin's picture on it for the president.
President Joel called out Jane Whitney and asked her to stand up. It was quickly pointed out that she chose to wear blue jeans to today's meeting. Being as she is sometimes the self-appointed fashion police, President Joel determined that a $50 fine was in order. Jane was able to come up with $12 cash and an IOU. Last I saw though, Bob Peterson was fishing money out of his wallet to make her flush with the Sergeant At Arms.
Joe Ghilarducci said that he was just passed a note from Cindy Thompson with her new address to receive an invitation. He asked her if that was the very same new address where she kept her newly purchased Mercedes. Cindy explained that it was, but, the Mercedes was Paul's 1986 that she was able to buy back when she learned it was for sale. President Joel said he would waive any fine if Cindy drove it in the Roadster Romp.
President Elect Greg Horn stood and announced that he had a $10 fine challenge for the president. Greg would pay $10 if President Joel could tell him what each of the three points on the Mercedes emblem represented. Greg was fine-free and explained that they represent land/sea/air. President Joel continued the Mercedes trivia exchange by telling us that Mercedes was named for the niece of one of the founders Daimler.
PROGRAM:
Duncan Cook had the honor of introducing our speaker; Colonel Cynthia Murphy. She is Garrison Commander at Fort Lewis which sort of makes her the not-elected "Mayor of Fort Lewis". She grew up in Sturgis, Michigan and attended Central Michigan University. Both she and Duncan served tours of duty in Thailand, although Duncan was quick to point out that it was not at the same time. The program was on growth at Fort Lewis and their master plan.
Fort Lewis was built in 90 days, with 10,000 workers putting up 1,757 buildings at a cost of $1.7 million. The Master Plan now is to create a sustainable community on Fort Lewis that enhances the Puget Sound Region. It has goals that span 25 years. An example of a goal is to recycle all materials providing zero net waste by 2025.
Fort Lewis seeks to support its mission while building "green" thereby reducing energy needs and providing savings. The Plan was developed by bring in all of the stakeholders and the community to create the award winning plan for this sustainable community project. The connections include neighboring communities as well and the Fort's accessibility and relationship to them.
The Fort will be configured using "town center" concepts; community members should be able to walk to most everything that they need within five minutes. Whether that is work, food, entertainment, or home. During the slide presentation, I counted that there appeared to be seven town centers that would provide for the communities. Historic buildings will be reused as they can, or examples will be saved at the museum so they don't forget the past. The new buildings will be narrower to take advantage of more natural light and two-story to take advantage of heating and cooling efficiencies of that design.
One of the challenges discussed was Interstate 5 and the fact that it divides Fort Lewis. Plans are in place, to connect North Fort with the Main Fort without the need to exit one and then re-enter the other. In 2010, Fort Lewis and McChord will begin the process of merging as was directed by law. Interstate 5 also provides a challenge to that and the sustainable community plan addresses this as well.
The homes and the communities for our soldiers and their families was very much a consideration in the sustainable communities plan at Fort Lewis. This plan, which won a design award, will most likely be use to reconfigure other installations. In response to a question from the audience, security was factored in as well as the efficiency, savings, and esthetics.
THE DRAWING:
Terry Fung had the winning ticket drawn today and succeeded in getting a white chip for five bucks.
The bell was rung at 1:32 to end the meeting.
JUNE 12 PROGRAM
Melissa Derry from the Gates Foundation
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