Posted by Charles Rehberg on Apr 01, 2019
 
 
North Notes
Spokane North Rotary Club Bulletin
April 1, 2019
 
Rotary calendar:
          April 8: Rotary Connects gathering, 4:30 p.m., Helix Wines, 824 W. Sprague.
 
          April 15: Luncheon meeting at Nectar: The new GU Rotaract Club.
 
         April 22: Rotary serves. Project to be announced.
 
         April 29: (No program planned on fifth Monday of the month.)
 
         May 6: Luncheon meeting at Nectar: Program TBA.
 
Briefly:
            New member, old friend:” Club President Lenore Romney had the delightful duty to install as our newest member her husband, Bob Romney.  She described Bob as a “new member but an old friend.  Bob for years has been a frequent worker on various club projects and at numerous other club activities.
            Lenore discarded “the old spiel” of Rotary installation proceedings, adding instead a heartfelt message about Rotary’s basic tenets and objectives.  Nicely done, indeed.
           
            The next new member to join the club is Ron Schurra, sponsored by Art Rudd.  Installation for Ron is scheduled April 15.
 
            Tax change: President Romney said the club has joined the Rotary District 5080 Foundation, which will allow 501(c)3 deductions for those who itemize on tax schedules.  A presentation on the tax possibilities is scheduled this spring.
 
              Scholarships due: Coordinator Brian Hipperson said April 30 is the deadline for the Jerry Saling Memorial Scholarships.  The club offers two $1,500 awards, eligible students must attend North Central, Shadle Park, Rogers high schools, On Track Academy or the Community School.
 
A quarter to savor
            The third quarter of the club’s Rotary year was packed with achievements and activities.
            President Romney said the club’s fiscal matters are in good shape and on schedule as planned for the year.
            Among the other achievements:
                      The club helped charter Gonzaga University’s Rotaract Club.  Some of the members are invited to speak at the club meeting on April 15.
 
                      The Golden Heroes awards at Holmes Elementary School, with Lenore Romney and Eric Johnson participating.
 
                      Top-level Paul Harris RI Foundation awards were given to Steve Boharski (three sapphire level) and John Maillard (three ruby level and RI’s top award).
 
                      Art Rudd celebrated his 50th anniversary with the club.
 
                      Meeting speakers included Joe Frank of Greenstone and Kendall Yards, City Council member Karen Stratton, Bloomsday race director Don Kardong,  club member Eric Johnson and Brooke Madsen and Kate Reed, with a tour of Spark Central at Kendall Yards.
 
 
 
                       Rotary Serves participated at the second Harvest Food Bank sorting and packaging potatoes  this past Saturday and Monday.
 
           
 
Vote scheduled on board leaders
                      Club President Romney – with a loud “yippee!” –announced the list of new officers and directors.  The list:
                              President: Melinda Keberle
                              President-elect/Vice President: Steve Bergman
                              Past President: Lenore Romney
                              Treasurer: Chad Haverkamp
                              Secretary: Tim Zacharias
                              Directors: Eric Johnson and Chuck Rehberg
                     Members will vote on the leadership list at the April 15 luncheon.
 
                     President Romney said the club’s annual dinner and installation of officers will be Monday, June 24, at the Kalispel Golf and Country Club’s 1898 Restaurant.
 
        Fund-raiser planned for Sept. 20
                     The club’s wine-tasting fundraiser for projects at Holmes Elementary and other projects is set for Friday, Sept. 20 in the “big tent” at the Kalispel Golf and Country Club.
 
                     Club President Lenore Romney said the tent will allow more space than the smaller rooms at the country club.
 
                     With relatively short notice in November, the Rotary club raised $13,000, with about 100 members and guests attending.
 
                     Romney said that with hopefully warmer weather and more notice the attendance and proceeds will be higher.  She said the number of those attending last year was about the maximum that dining room could accommodate.
 
                     She said the fund-raising event will include the popular wine grab and perhaps a silent auction.
         
                    After talking with the country club leaders about the plans for the event, she said: “It’s going to be even better than last year.”
 
            Holmes project ‘owners’ sought
                    As plans emerge for the Rotary year, club members are asked to get more active and to assume some of the leadership duties for projects at Holmes Elementary School.
 
                    Longtime Holmes volunteer Sandy Fink at the April 1 meeting recounted the many activities at the school since 2003.  She listed the annual supplies gathered and stored, books provided and labeled for various classes, Christmas gifts for needy students and families and even landscaping at the building.
 
                    “We do a lot of good work there,” she said, “but now I need some help.”
 
                    Colleague Nancy Hanson agreed, saying: “There are specific projects we can do. Very simple things and short-term stuff.  No one here is too busy to do that.”
 
                    Nancy, saying she is the “good cop” here, added: “It becomes more meaningful if we all get involved.”
 
                   She said: “We need people who can take ownership for these projects for the upcoming year.”     
 
The bulletin producers:
           Bulletin editors: Chuck Rehberg and Sandy Fink
           Photos: Lenore Romney and Sandy Fink