Another Great Quarter -- Melinda Keberle

 

 

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            Club President Steve Boharski said the monthly board meeting will be on April 26.  He said the club still needs to fill officers and directors for the 2023-24 Rotary year, which starts July 1.  Steve said the quarterly club presidential model has worked well, but only one leader has stepped forward thus far.

 

            Saling Scholarship chair Jerry Logan said one applicant from North Central has applied, adding “we’re just getting started.”

            Jerry added that the club will support two students at the Lumen School.  Treasurer Lenore Romney said the support target is $3,000 and one member already has donated $500

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             John Mailliard was a few dollars happy on the day 51 years ago when he joined the FBI and 23 years ago when he retired from the FBI.  He also added a dollar when paying a barbecue restaurant a nearby patron, noting his military cap, paid the bill.  John told the patron “you just bought lunch for an officer.”

 

            Ron Noble was happy that a nephew’s daughter, running track, “beat every one” of her neice’s previous times.

 

            Melinda Keberle was most happy to see the gorgeous double rainbow which she could watch from her deck. 

       

            “Will we survive?”

 

            Ron Noble, board member and membership chair, raised those questions at the April 24 meeting.

 

            Ron said virtually every club in the Rotary district faces challenges about sustained memberships.  To illustrate, Ron showed the thick packet of club member cards from several years ago, compared with the current roster of 19 members.

 

            As long-time members know, some 30 years ago Spokane-North had 90 members, with 70 or so fairly active.  Numbers declined after classification rules changed, when the Aurora North Club divided the territory, and after the Covid chaotic years and at a time when many younger adults decided not to join service clubs, including Rotary, Lions,

Exchange and Kiwanis.

 

            While Spokane-North has maintained an active group of core members, questions linger about potential growth prospects.

 

 

            Noble also encouraged member contacts, asking, “Who can you call?” if you want counsel about an issue.

 

            Past-president Sandy Fink has developed a usable list of hints on how to access the secure password protected Membership Data Roster on Club Runner program

 

            Sandy has provided her own “12-step-program” to help members navigate the software procedures.

 

            At the April 24 luncheon she shared copies for Word and Excel versions. The membership data roster contains information about members’ e-mail and home addresses, spouse names, birthdays, anniversaries and the dates each member’s joined the club plus more.

 

           

            Melinda Keberle, club president for the third quarter, shared an interactive report for the club during January, February and March.

 

            Members were encouraged to add comments for the programs and other events.

 

            On Jan. 9, leaders from the Lumen School described the program to help teens with their own and prospective babies and infants.  As noted, the club will support the program with two scholarships.

 

            On Jan. 23, Michelle Fossum detailed club programs and events during the October-December quarter.

 

            On Jan. 30, Bill Simer updated progress on the donor program and club members talked with Bark staff and toured the facility near our conference room.  In the two years of Bark’s existence, working with the Spokane Humane Society, 1,000 dogs and cats have been adopted.

 

            On Feb. 6, Kristin Thompson, of Rotary South, talked about her Joshua1-Nine program for literacy in a village in the Dominican Republic.  Colin Prestesater of Spokane-North joined the Joshua board.

 

            On Feb. 13, Todd Woodard, on the communication staff of the Spokane Airports and club president in 2003-04, discussed the ambitious plans to grow Spokane International Airport and other developments.

 

            On Feb. 27, Trena Redmond, of the GU Nursing program, discussed the shortage of nurses and shortage of nurse faculty.

 

            On March 6 members toured the amazing developments at the Central Library, including the business development lab.  Members toured the spectacular vistas from ceiling-to-floor windows overlooking the falls and the large space for children’s activities. It was noted how the renewed library accommodates homeless clients.  Melinda even bought a piece of art for sale at the library.   

 

            On March 13, Dr. Francisco Velazquez of the Spokane Health District described the misuse of fentanyl and the lives claimed by the drug.  Sandy Fink said a relative recently declined an anesthetic using fentanyl, but Steve Boharski said in appropriately small doses fentanyl is an excellent drug.  Used properly, Steve said, “Don’t ever be afraid of it.”

 

            On March 20, Mark Finney of Thrive, described the Ukrainian immigrants who have been lodged at the former hotel at Fourth and Division.

 

            On March 27, Stephanie Pratt of Seattle, used a zoom program to detail the challenging issues of working with human trafficking statewide and nationally.

 

            During the third quarter, social gatherings included a baby shower for Colin and Kelsey Prestestater and a retirement party for Brian Hipperson, a club member since 1979 and past-president in 1990-91.  Brian’s dad, Roy, was club president in 1968-69.

 

            In all, it was an active quarter with powerful programs and delightful gatherings.