050915-01 Gene Bjornstad & Larry Daniels with Hugh Gellert & David Alexander in back 100_0591.jpg	050915-02 Kendra Alexander, Phil Livingston & Ken Osuna with Carol Howerton, Chuck & Nati May in back 100_0592.jpg
050915-03 Rebecca Reichlin, Ginny Grupp, Donna & Jerry Blanton from Harlan, KY100_0593.jpg	050915-04 Ken Osuna & Diana Livingston with Rebecca Reichlin in back 100_0594.jpg
050915-05 Gene Bjornstad & Larry Daniels with Hugh Gellert & David Alexander in back 100_0595.jpg	050915-06 Rosemary Zimmerman 100_0596.jpg
050915-07 Larry Daniels listening to Linda Solomon from Beans Cafe 100_0597.jpg	050915-08 Larry Daniels listening to Linda Solomon from Beans Cafe 100_0598.jpg
050915-09 David Alexander & Linda Solomon with Carol Howerton, Chuck May & Hugh Gellert 100_0599.jpg	050915-10 Chuck May, Linda Solomon, Carol Howerton, Jerry Blanton & Cece Preston 100_0600.jpg
050915-11 Ken Osuna, Kendra Alexander, Nati May, David Alexander, Chuck May and Jerry Blanton 100_0601.jpg	050915-12 Kendra Alexander 100_0602.jpg
050915-13 Diana Livingston, Rosemary Zimmerman & Kerry Dorius 100_0603.jpg	050915-14 Linda Solomon & Ginny Grupp 100_0604.jpg

back to the top

The meeting was called to order by President David Alexander at approximately 7:05 pm with Phil Livingston leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by David offering as an Inspirational Message and Rotary Moment a short summary of our recent activities, i.e., the September 10^th Seward Highway Cleanup, plans for Tour of Homes, etc.

Members and guests present are listed in the tables below.

Announcements:

o      Board meeting immediately following the regular meeting tonight.

o      Joyce Kiana’s membership will be considered for approval.

o      The meeting honoring our Charter members will be December 15^th instead of January 12^th because several people could not make the January date. Our Charter Members are Gene Bjornstad, Larry Daniels, Hugh Gellert, Diana & Phil Livingston, George McCoy and Tom Yeager.  One of our honorary members, Chris Von Imhof was also a Charter Member.  Anchorage Downtown Rotary Club was the sponsoring club for our charter.

o      A New Member night honoring the rest of us will be scheduled for a later date.

o      Our club will visit the Palmer Rotary Club on December 17^th.  We will also have our meeting here in Girdwood that evening as scheduled.

o      Visiting Rotarian Jerry Blanton told us a little about his town of Harlan, KY, the surrounding area and their Rotary club.  They are a coal producing area with a city of about 2,000 people and the county population is about 32,000.  They have built their club up to its present 42 members over a period of 25 years.  They are an active club, offering three $2,500 scholarships and will sponsor a bluegrass festival again this year.

o      Rebecca Reichlin, representing Four Valleys Community Schools, told us they were celebrating their 25^th year anniversary this year.  Rebecca and others have done a tremendous job of getting Four Valleys Community Schools back into our community but are in need of financial help.  They need to raise another $40,000 to $45,000 to continue with their programs.  Rotary has always been a significant donor and they need our help again.  Rebecca will be our featured speaker on November 3^rd, so please come and hear about Fours Valleys Community Schools and how we can help, both as individuals and as a club in this important part of our community. Rebecca will speak on Community Schools and their importance to our community. It is so important that she gets the support she needs. We don't want to lose the opportunities the Four Valleys Community Schools provides to Girdwood.

o      Rebecca also reminded us of the Healthy Futures Race this Saturday, September 17^th.   There will be three races of first through sixth graders and they need volunteers.  If you can make time, they could certainly use the help.

o      Diana Livingston told us the Health Fair is scheduled for October 8^th this year.

Guest Speaker:

o      David introduced our guest speaker Linda Solomon, Development Director from Bean’s Café with a brief history on the growth and importance of Bean’s Café. Bean’s has grown from a soup kitchen to a large meal producing enterprise that provides men and women without homes an opportunity to learn and be nourished. Who had this great idea? Why, Lynne Ballew, an American hero in our midst. In the ‘70’s, Lynne perceived the need for this eatery and took for its name her daughter’s nickname, Bean. Later, seeing another critical social need, Lynne created Safe Harbor Inn, a “midway” residence for people en route to a job or a life different from their previous existence. No, it’s not a shelter. Just a “motel” for a reasonable price where companies such as Nine Star Enterprises can buy a room for a few months or a year and house people in need. If she had done one of these things, her contributions to the greater Anchorage community would be enormous. She did both.

o      Linda said that in 1979 there were mission meals for 100 people per day and shelter when meals were not being served during the day only.  Beans serves as a community center for the poor and homeless.  For twenty-six years it has been a stand alone facility.  Sixty volunteers are needed each day to help in all facets of the operation and they usually come from the line of people who are in need.  4.2 million meals are served throughout the year.  Additionally, Beans provides meals and snacks for the Boys & Girls Club in Muldoon and pregnant teens.  The cost to Beans of preparing and serving a meal is $1.98.  Beans is the last safety net in the community.  If a person is in need all they need do is come to the door – no money is required. 

Q & A

o      Beans is open from 8 am until 5 pm.  After meals the tables are pushed aside and the facility is used as a day shelter for the homeless.  After Beans closes at 5 pm, many of those in need proceed across the street to Brother Francis Shelter.

o      For the community’s homeless and poor, Beans is a New Beginning.

o      More meals are served in the winter but on the average, 450 to 1000 adult meals are served each day, depending on the time of the year.

o      15% of the operating budget comes from contributions from United Way.

o      At the collection point they accept donations of food and money.  Many of the donations are from people moving who are cleaning out the cupboards.

o      Some of the food left over from the Bird to Gird event was contributed to Beans (fresh fruit, which is somewhat of a rarity for those in need).

o      The staff is comprised of Jim Crockett, Executive Director, 2 cooks, a new café manager (Ron Sabato), and others for a total of ten paid staff members.  Mr. Sabato has lots of ideas on improvements and on creating jobs, including a program in concert with UAA to provide a degree in culinary arts for some of the people.

o      The meals are served at set times – breakfast is served for 8 to 9 am and lunch is from 12 – 1 pm.  Dinner is not served.

o      Funding is generally as follows: 

o      80% from private person or companies

o      15% from United Way

o      They are going to stress more fundraising from foundation grants and fundraising activities.

o      One of the big fundraising events is the Potters Empty Bowl project.  The next Potters Empty bowl will be on March 4^th at the Egan Center.  It is their premier fundraising event.  It is a family friendly, family oriented event.  The bowls cost $16 each and it comes with all the soup and cornbread you can eat.  The bowls are collector items.

o      Brother Francis is a good neighbor and is not affiliated with Beans.  Both have approximately the same amount of space.  They are beautiful facilities.

o      They are building their mailing list for announcements and fundraising activities.

o      One of the Utilities in Anchorage will include a Beans insert in their billing envelope before Thanksgiving for fundraising purposes.

o      Volunteers are always needed and welcome.

o      The club thanked Linda for her time and presentation. 

Ajourn:  Just before the meeting was adjourned, guest Jerry Blanton told us their Harlan club had a friendship program of inviting other clubs to come visit their areas with the intent of reciprocal visits, staying with club members and learning a little about the respective areas.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:00 pm.

back to the top

Quorum and Call toOrder:

o      With a quorum present the Girdwood Rotary Club BOD meeting was called to order by President David Alexander at 8:15 pm.  Board and committee members who were present are listed in the table above.

Minutes:

o      The August 25, 2005 minutes were approved as published.

Treasurer:

o      The financial statements provided by Hugh were accepted by the Board.  See attached statements.  All dues are paid up to date and all meals are paid until October 1^st.  Paul Harris Foundation funds are coming in.  Phil said that each member needed to check their contributions on the RI site.  They had him recorded with three different names. 

Committee Reports:

o      Ron Burson will follow up with Jay Bell on when we may expect funds from the Forest Fair Cmte for Day Lodge parking.

o      A District Simplified grant of $3, 000 has been approved for the Bush Alpine Ski Program.  Our club will contribute $500 and IFSR will contribute $2,500, for a total of $6,000.  Nice job Phil!

o      Mike Howerton will be put on Medical Leave of Absence until further notice.  He is free to participate in our meeting and activities at his discretion.

Other Business:

o      Joyce Kiana was unanimously approved for membership. The Rotary Information Session and Induction for both Ginny and Joyce will be at our October 6, 2005 meeting when ADG Paul McGuire is here for member orientation.

o      Tour of Homes will be on Friday, April 28, 2006, beginning about 6 pm and lasting until 11 pm.  Our Club needs to clear $9,800 to make our budget from this event. President Elect Carol is reorganizing her plan based on previous experiences.  The hotel will need a deposit of $1,000.  Carol will ask for a date for a kick-off gathering the first week of October.  Eileen will chair the auction committee and others will be asked to chair other sub committees.  There are not enough Rotary members in our club so we need to ask for help from our friends and neighbors. The cost of the Tour of Homes will be $50 for all events and $10 for just the auction and dessert.  There will be three homes on the list but none have been arranged for yet.  David told the other Rotary Club presidents that fundraising money had to come from Anchorage.  David will deposit $1,000 with the hotel.  We will probably have to pay about $750.

o      Avalanche Express will be on April 22, 2006.  We will ask Ken Hatch to Chair and organize this event again this year.  He should shanghai some of our newer members to help out so that they can get up to speed on how to best organize and run the event.

o      Gulsah’s arrival is unknown.  She’s been cleared by Homeland Security but still has a problem with either her ticket or visa.  Kerry expressed her concern that if she didn’t get here soon she would have difficulty in school.  Hugh suggested that this might need intervention form Senator Stevens.  David will call the Senators office to see if he can help out.

o      Our Charter members night will be December 15, 2005.  We need pictures from our charter members.  We will invite our honorary members and the Downtown Rotary club, our charter sponsor, in addition to former DG Lloyd Morris and his wife Joan, Larry Cash and others form the original group.

o      Honorary members for the next year will be Senator Ted Stevens, Bob Persons, Chris Von Imhof.  Lisa Murkowski will be invited.  Senator Murkowski is enthusiastic about becoming a member of our club.

o      Jody Liddicoat is handling the Thanksgiving Baskets event this year. Carol says we need to get detailed information to the hotel as soon as possible.  They ask their suppliers to donate the food but we need to be specific and to also ask other people and companies to contribute.  She and Eileen will be happy to make the cards again this year.

o      Diana said she had received a letter requesting our participation in the Christmas Shoe Box program and she had boxes available.

o      Election of our Rotary Club Officers will be November 17^th.

o      DG Skip Cook and his wife Olga will visit our club on December 8^th.  We need to reserve a room at the hotel for them.

o      Our club visit to Palmer Rotary Club is on November 17, 2005 for a noon meeting.  We will also have our regular meeting at the Alyeska Prince Hotel that evening.  David will notify us of where to meet.  Attendees so far are David Alexander, Phil and Diana Livingston (and Phil’s daughter), Tom Yeager, Hugh Gellert and Ron Burson.

o      International Fellowship of Skiing Rotarians will meet at Alyeska from February 24^th through March 5^th.  Our club will be expected to provide some time of entertainment on one of those nights.  The banquet will be in Anchorage and we will provide a dessert of some kind, which will be auctioned off with other desserts.  One evening is a "home hospitality" and local Rotarians will be asked to host a group of Skiing Rotarians for a meal in their home.  The dessert auction involves getting local restaurants to provide a dessert for a table of ten.  The desserts are in a silent auction and that is the dessert for the evening.  It is really fun.   We don't have to make the desserts, but some people do.  Home Hospitality is kind of a Rotary "thing".  It is part of every Rotary event we have ever attended, including the International Convention.  It is an opportunity to visit with Rotarians from all over the world in a relaxed setting.

o      Ron Burson said he needed to plan on a picture scrapbook party and sewing session for all the flags we have collected.  The consensus was this was a good endeavor for a Christmas fireside.

o      David has finished two videos (one on the recent highway cleanup) and is working on some for the charter members night but needs pictures.

o      Outbound Youth Exchange Student are needed.  David had a very positive talk with Kathy Recken and he and Nati will visit the Girdwood School to speak with the kids.  They will also visit South and Dimond High Schools.  Homes in Girdwood are needed for inbound students.

o      Kerry requested the secretary send out a calendar of our events.

Announcements:

See above comments and items

Note: All action items above were by unanimous consent of the board.

Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:18 pm.

 back to the top

back to the top