Becky’s first shot as president for real went well. And we learned about the State Supreme Court.
Notes from the June 22 meeting of
The Rotary Club of Clover Park
Recorded by Tom McClellan
New President Becky Newton got things off to a great start, with an on-time ringing of the bell to start the meeting. She thanked our greeters Tom Faubion and Sue Potter, plus David Cotant and Mike Killen for getting the whole meeting set up.
Jeannie Hill shared some inspirational thoughts, to get us in a proper mood:
1. The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand. - - - Vince Lombardi
2. I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. - - - Thomas Edison
3. Well-behaved women seldom make history. - - - Laura Thatcher Ulrich
Our only meeting guest this time was our program speaker, State Supreme Court Justice Helen Whitener.
Sunshine Report
Pam Trobaugh had a small health problem last week, but is doing well now and performing her home physical therapy exercises.
Future Programs
June 29 Randy Black Lakewood Water District Update
July 6 Peter Cook HMS Titanic
July 13 Dr. James Polo, MD Mental Health Post-Covid
Golf Tournament
Jim Hairston reported that a signup capability is now part of our club’s web site, and there is also a form you can download and print to mail in your sign up the old-fashioned way. We need every club member to ask all the golfers you know to sign up a foursome, and to get local businesses to serve as sponsors.
Signature Project
Alan Billingsley updated us on the new developments regarding the South Puget Sound Wildlife Area, our signature project. A local Boy Scout led an Eagle Scout project there this past weekend, involving planting 25 new native plants in the interpretive center area. That area was also cleaned up, bark laid down, and they removed a non-native cherry tree. Signs are on order for the new plants, with QR codes leading to web articles about them.
Alan also showed off the plastic footprint molds that will be added to an upcoming concrete pad for a picnic table, to let visitors know what types of animals’ footprints to look for. The young high school students that are part of the NW Youth Corps will be commencing a work week on July 5, paid for by a grant from the City of Lakewood. October 1st will be our next general community work day, with students from Pierce College and others. There will also be a smaller Rotary Club work day before then.
Alan is going to hold a meeting of the Service Projects committee right after the July 6 weekly club meeting. Anyone interested in serving on that committee is welcome to attend, and to contact Alan to express such an interest.
Foundation Minute
Georgene Mellom made a pitch as part of what will be a weekly meeting feature, talking about what is the Rotary Foundation, and why its work is so important.
Other Announcements
Bob Lawrence reminded everyone about the CrimeStoppers theater fundraiser event on Thursday night, June 23, at the Lakewood Playhouse. Cost is $30 each. Proceeds go toward funding crime reporting tip rewards, and also school music programs.
Tom McClellan invited all Rotarians and their families to a Rotary potluck BBQ at his house on Aug. 26. Save the date; more info coming as the date gets closer.
President’s Minute
Becky encouraged everyone to go to www.myrotary.org, and establish an account there if you have not done so already. Your Clubrunner username and password should work. Think about how we can engage as a club. We will be posting club goals established by the board soon.
Fun And Fines
Heidi Wachter was attending the meeting via Zoom, but still felt it worth celebrating that her twin daughters just graduated from 8th grade, both with 4.0 grade point averages. That was worth $50.
Bob Lawrence went on a whirlwind trip to San Diego for the weekend, for a friend’s 50th anniversary, and another chance to visit the grandkids. $20
Becky Newton had her own visit to grandchildren, including her grandson’s first birthday celebration.
Alan Billingsley got caught up in a swirling vortex of confessions, ratting, and commercial dealing. It seems that Alan brought a couple of Paktek backpacks to the meeting for Sue Potter and her husband Bill to use. Sue had greatly admired the backpack which Alan had donated as a prize for the CPRI event a few months ago, a backpack which Tom Faubion came away in possession of after some haggling. Sue and Bill incidentally just had a trip to Colorado Springs, paid for by Bill’s employer, for a banking convention.
But Alan was not done, having ratted on daughter-in-law Katelyn Billingsley, who got to brag about her 8 year old son who just celebrated his birthday on Tuesday. He is quite the runner, even though he is just a first grader, and made it into an “all-star run” where he ran a mile in 8 minutes, beating all of the other students in the whole school. His father Ian Billingsley had been asked what reward the young son might earn if he made it into the top five, but Ian said he would only pay if the son finished first overall, which Ian promised would be worth $100. Sure enough, the right motivation worked and the young lad came in first. That was worth $20 from Katelyn.
Jim Hairston had a trip to (Walla)2 for golf and other fun, although the golf did not turn out that well. 5 nights was worth $25.
Sheri Hodson had a trip to Las Vegas recently, paid for by her 33-year employer State Farm in honor of its 100th Anniversary. Got to see Garth Brooks perform, plus meet State Farm’s “Jake” the phone rep. That was worth $50.
This Week’s Program
State Supreme Court Justice Helen Whitener is the first black woman ever to hold a seat on the WA State Supreme Court, and only the fourth immigrant born justice. She was born and raised in the Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. She earned a B.A. in Business Administration and International Marketing from Baruch College in NY City, and worked in international trade before getting her J.D. degree from Seattle University School of Law. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, she served as a Pierce County Superior Court judge, and as a judge on the WA State Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals.
We learned during her presentation that as a brand new lawyer, Justice Whitener also worked under our own Heidi Wachter 20 years ago in Tacoma.
She was appointed 2 years ago by Gov. Inslee to fill a vacancy on the court, and then won reelection to the court. Because of Covid, she has never participated in a normal court session in the Temple Of Justice, and all of their meetings will continue to be on Zoom for 2 more years as that building gets remodeled.
All cases being considered for the court must meet certain requirements such as the following
- A Court of Appeals decision in conflict with a State or US Supreme Court decision.
- A significant question of law.
- An issue of substantial public interest.
The Supreme Court reviews all recall petitions for removing a politician from office, and oversees all issues of attorney ethics in the State. Cases brought before the court will either have the lower court’s decisions affirmed or overruled (and remanded back for further action).
Raffle
With $325 in the pot, 24 cards remaining in the deck, and only 1 ace, Georgene Mellom had the winning ticket, but could not overcome the 1-24 odds.
And Finally…
Coyotes are prolific across the whole USA, even in urban and suburban areas like ours. One county sheriff in New York had some advice for what to do if you see one.
