It has come to this… Our esteemed president has stooped to telling corny jokes. And we learned of the work of Habitat For Humanity
Notes from the October 5 meeting of
The Rotary Club of Clover Park
recorded by Tom McClellan
President Becky Newton rang the bell on time, keeping up her perfect string of meetings in that regard. She thanked David Cotant for serving as our greeter. Jim Hairston led us in the flag salue, and Sheri Hodson got us all to recite the Rotary Four-Way Test. Then Jeannie Hill got us into the right frame of mind with some inspirational thoughts:
1. Life is like a camera. Just focus on what's important. Capture the good times, develop from the negatives, and, if things don't work out, just take another shot. - - - Ziad Abdelnour, financier/activist
2. The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of them all. - - - From the 1998 Disney film, "Mulan"
3. Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits. - - - Samuel Butler
Sunshine Report
Jeannie also noted that she has heard from Kerri Pedrick who is swamped with work, but hopes to join us soon. Fred Willis' wife Ingrid is not doing well healthwise, although there were no details. Randy Black also shared that his wife Tina was recently hospitalized for 5 days with Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID), which is an immune system disorder that causes a person to have low levels of the proteins that help fight infections. She is better now, but may have to receive antibody infusion treatments.
Future Programs
Oct. 12 Debbie Armstrong, Lakewood Playhouse Education Program
Oct. 19 DG T. Dale Roberts, District Governor Visit
Oct. 26 Judge Lisa Mansfield, Lakewood Municipal Court
Program coordinator Tom McClellan notes that at the recent board retreat, the board decided to take the club in a slightly new direction in terms of what we do for programs at our weekly meetings. More details are going to be forthcoming, but suggestions for great guest speakers will still be welcomed and appreciated.
Announcements
Georgene Mellom proposes a social event on Oct. 25 at 4:30 PM, to gather and celebrate World Polio Day. It will be at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club in Lakewood. Come for drinks, then stay for dinner if you like, and bring a donation to help fight polio.
Alan Billingsley noted that we had perhaps our most successful work party ever at the South Puget Sound Wildlife Area. 81 volunteers put in 325 man-hours of weed pulling, grass trimming, and trash pickup. Plus they installed more benches. Superintendent Ron Banner (a Lakewood Rotary Club member) brought 45 high school seniors out to get service hours. Alan will work on a springtime date for the next one, hopefully in time to catch a few more seniors who need to finish up their graduation requirements.
Gretchen Allen noted that we currently have no nominees nor applicants for new members. Please consider everyone you know or meet, who might be a great Rotarian and has just been waiting to be asked.
Bob Lawrence gave a Lakewood Playhouse update. A new board has been seated. They hired a new Managing Artistic Director, Scott Campbell, who has worked for years with the Playhouse. They also received a $200k bequeathal which will really help with their operational improvements. Bob also promoted the upcoming Film, Art, and Book Fest (FAB) on Oct. 7-9.
President’s Minute
Becky noted that the board held a retreat on Sep. 30. Look for an announcement soon about new committee assignments. Then, in a moment that was reminiscent of the presidential terms of Paul Webb and Randy Black, Becky told these jokes:
What do you call a sleeping bull? - - A “bull dozer”.
Why did the golfer bring an extra pair of pants? - - In case he got a “hole in one”.
Where do polar bears keep their money? - - In a “snow bank”.
Fun And Fines
Past President Teresa Nye stepped in as finexecutrix, and started off with Bob Lawrence, who confessed that he was going to be an “early leaver”. He also enjoyed a 14-day cruise to Alaska. 14 times $5 equals $100.
Gretchen Allen finished phase 2 of moving her son to Hayward, CA for chiropractor school, making almost the whole trip with her son’s cat sitting on Gretchen’s lap. That took 5 more days, or $25, on top of the $50 she already paid for Phase 1.
David Cotant spoke up as proxy for Mike Killen, and offering up Mike’s $5 for being an early leaver. But David also offered up his own confessions of having taken a golf trip worth $35, and a cruise from NY City to Montreal, which was unfortunately affected by Hurricane Fiona and so he and wife Judy did not get to disembark in all of the places they were scheduled to. So that was worth $70 more.
Jack Kammer was looking a lot more aerodynamic at this week’s meeting. He had gone to a barber Monday to get a haircut, and specified that he wanted a #3 attachment on the trimmer, but the barber used a #2.
Sydna Koontz was back in person for the first time in a long time, and carrying a check for both a birthday and an anniversary.
Tho Kraus was also back in person, and celebrated a birthday in June and then a 30-year wedding anniversary. Plus the City of Lakewood (under her direction) won an award for excellence in financial reporting. She brought a check for $200 to cover all of that.
Katelyn Billingsley celebrated 13 years being married to Ian, although Ian celebrated by heading off with Alan Billingsley and dogs to go bird hunting.
Sheri Hodson offered up $21 in celebration of the Mariners baseball team going to the playoffs for the first time in 21 yeares.
Marie Barth offered sincere thanks to everyone who welcomed her back. Her dog has been sick, due to tumors, could not get up the stairs. The dog had 5 tumors removed, and is back to good health.
This Week's Program
Ellie Wilson and Sherrana Kildun spoke about the work of Habitat For Humanity in Tillicum and elsewhere around our area. Andie Gernon and Ellie had initiated a program with HFH to fund a house in memory of Dr. Claudia Thomas. She was former school superintendent in Bremerton, who then retired and helped form City of Lakewood as one of first council members. She was instrumental in youth programs, helped form Communities In Schools, then Lakewood’s Promise. While serving on the City Council, Claudia formed the Youth Council.
Andie could not be here. Is now living at the Weatherly Inn assisted living facility in Tacoma. She just lost one son 3 weeks ago to a motorcycle accident in California.
Ellie Wilson is a former teacher, and her family arrived in Lakewood over 30 years ago due to her husband’s military service. Early on, she chaired successful bond and levy campaigns for the Clover Park School District. She developed a hands-on science program at Oakbrook Elementary. She worked with Andie Gernon on Lakewood’s incorporation in 1996, and in founding Communities In Schools of Lakewood. Ellie now chairs Lakewood’s Advisory Board for the City.
In honor of their late friend, Claudia Thomas, Andie and Ellie wanted to do a fundraiser to help build a home with Habitat For Humanity. Their fundraising will provide housing for low income families in Tillicum. This project will be up to 12 homes in one neighborhood of Tillicum, all in townhouse format. HFH has built 32 homes in last 10 years. Model changed now to “permanently affordable”, similar to a land trust model involving a ground lease, and requiring homeowners to sell to another low income family when they are ready to sell and move. Townhomes with 3BR are the new model, for more affordability.
HFH is already working in Tillicum. 75% of households they work with are single mothers. They are branching out into critical home repairs now for seniors. About 50 homeowners per year get modifications to let them stay in their homes.
Median price in Lakewood is now $517k, up 17.6% from year ago. Average rent is $1576 for 806 sq ft. 1 in 7 households in WA pays 50% or more of the household income just on housing.
After grants, City assistance, and homeowner contribution, shortfall is ~$100k per house. Ellie and Andie are raising money to honor Claudia Thomas by funding a house. They are now at $78k. Hoping to pour foundations Spring 2023.
Home recipients are required to contribute “sweat equity” as part of the contract, must pay mortgage, and work at least 200 hours on their own and/or neighbors’ homes. Must also meet requirement for having a “housing need”, such as foreclosure or losing a rental. The meet with counselors, go over needs, credit, abilities. The whole process takes about 1 year. Homes priced at about $200k, so far below the median price for our area.
RAFFLE:
$117 in the pot, and a nearly new deck. Alan Billingsley had the winning ticket, no joy.
And Finally…
Here is an exciting new technology development from the 1980s. Just imagine, being able to keep everyone’s phone number on your watch so that you could dial them up on a phone. And so fashionable, too!
