Romney and Rehberg Share

 

 

Nov. 1: Noon lunch at Bark – Chris Cargill – Washington Policy Center

 

Nov. 8: Noon lunch at Bark – Fellowship – Colin Prestesater will be inducted

 

Nov. 9: November Potlucks:  two homes:  Hayward’s and Perry’s:  due to seating limits 3 couples may attend each one – watch for signup emails!

 

Nov.15: Noon lunch at Bark – Holmes Christmas wish list tag pickup

 

 

Steve Boharski’s  lake place is his new purchase moving across Priest Lake.  When they loaded their boat with their furnishings, a rocker ended up on top and a neighbor told him that it reminded him of Jed Clampett!  That was a fun story since Dave Hayward had just completed a Sargent at Arms with Beverly Hillbillies trivia and we had just sung the Ballad of Jed Clampett.

 

Lenore Romney said she was grateful that her Mom was not seriously injured in a recent car accident and that her sister was close by to help out her Mom.

 

Dave Hayward was happy that they had had a safe journey recently when he and Robin drove  3,113 miles on a 3-week trip to Arizona.   He said the freeways going and coming were something else.

 

Potluck: Thirteen members/spouses gathered on Oct. 19 at Ron & Edie Schurra’s home.  Here are some pictures of the happy event!  Attending were Robin and Dave Hayward, Chuck and JoAnne Rehberg, Melinda Keberle, Ron and Edie Schurra, Steve and Bernie Perry, John and Catherine Mailiard.

 

 

                                                                                            

 

 

                                                                                          

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

            Bob Romney shared that both of his parents, now 95, are still living in their own home and with their wits about them.  He said they were doing very well!!

 

            His father is a retired anthropologist and while he was seeking his degrees from Stanford and Harvard, the family moved back and forth between the west and east coasts a lot.

 

            When they were in California Bob decided to try out for the track team, specifically the 440 and the pole vault.  He said the 440 was tough and he fainted at the end of the race so it was decided that pole vaulting was for him.  He was able to successfully reach the height of 11 feet 6 inches, but that height wouldn’t win him a medal in Southern California. 

 

            Then they moved again and this time in Massachusetts Bob again joined the track team for the pole vault event.  When he told them that he could vault 11 feet 6 inches, they were astounded as the school record was only 11 feet…he became the star of the show.

 

            After high school, he attended BYU majoring in Graphic Design.  A call late in his senior year and invitation from his Dad to join him on a sailboat roundtrip from Acapulco to Columbia, South America brought a special bond between Bob and his Dad.  One which they still share today as they review old logs and listen to audio recordings of ocean and winds.

 

            Bob held a variety of jobs after they returned including, installing cable TV in the winter in Wisconsin; a stint at the Big Sky Resort in Montana as a nighttime lock smith, and a job as a draftsman with the Bridge Bureaus in Helena, Montana

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            As his work progressed Bob would experience the steps of the growing computer industry.

 

            He learned the AutoCad program, an application for computer-aided drafting and design and eventually printed circuit board designs for airport parking systems.

 

            Bob then opened his own firm for tech planning:  Romney and Associates where they developed 3 to 5 year plans for customers.

 

            20 years ago upon moving to Spokane Bob became an independent consultant.  He indicated it took 3 to 5 years to build the needed network in the community but after that the business did very well.

 

            Bob now is semi-retired and has become a “Fleet” manager – still loving that sailboat!

 

 

 

 

            Chuck was born March 1, 1946, making him, like some in our club, one of the first Baby Boomer generation – those raised from 1946 to 1964. 

 

            Chuck was born in Milwaukee and adopted in a Catholic orphanage in March, 1947.  Mom was a nurse and Dad a truck driver.

 

            Chuck was raised in Catholic schools and won his first writing award when the parish priest ran a 3^rd grade essay contest.  His entry earned him $1 – but just the idea of a parish priest giving back money was notable.

 

            Chuck was the editor for the 6^th grade newsletter and writing for school papers continued through high school.

 

            Chuck moved to the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee – UWM and wrote for the UWM Post and covered sports and music.

 

            Chuck and JoAnne married in 1968 and seeking masters’ programs, moved to the University of Oregon in Eugene.  Chuck’s thesis dealt with newspaper coverage of consolidation in Nashville and St. Louis.

 

            In June 1969, Chuck accepted a position in Spokane with the Daily Chronicle.

 

            In 1972 Chuck was named assistant city editor and then in 1980 became city editor.

 

            During these times Chuck had opportunity to report on many community stories:  Sunshine Mining fire, Expo ’74, Riverfront Park, Kevin Coe case to name a few.

 

            In 1984 Chuck moved to the business side and became assistant to the general manager. 

 

            In this role staff members were asked to join three community activities.  Chuck selected:  United Way, Sister Cities, and Spokane North Rotary.

 

            In 1996, Chuck was asked to operate the newspaper’s Business Section which continued to his early retirement.

 

            So what is the future of newspapers???

 

            Advertising has changed and so has the journalistic side.  Many papers publish only three times per week:  Wednesday food ads, Friday weekend entertainment and Sundays.

 

            So far, Spokane is surviving and we have just lost one day a week with a print paper.  However, how many readers under 50 read a newspaper these days?

 

            “When we did investigative reporting, it often took weeks to develop ideas, check and re-check sources and package the copy and photos.  How much diligence does that journalism get now?”

 

            “The media have changed and the messages have changed.  Wary customers should know what they are getting.”