MEETING RECAP
History and Biographies
Saturday, January 29, 2022
By: Gregory J. RediskeHistory and Biographies
THE LAKEWOOD KEY
Jim Rooks “rang the bell” to start this meeting of Lakewood Rotary, exactly 65 years, 9 months and 3 days since the chartering of our club on April 25, 1956. 24,019 days. By that date, 44 of our 126 members had not been born yet. That’s a lot of history right there, all recorded week in and week out by your fastidious bulletin-writing historians. Emblazoned on the door of our bulletin-writers’ press room are two quotes: “History is a set of lies agreed upon.” (Napoleon), and “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.” (Winston Churchill). Personally, I have lobbied for the removal of the Bonaparte inscription simply because he is also the guy who wrote “Women are nothing but machines for producing children.” But the darned thing is engraved above the door, so…
140 words so far and having said nothing of note about our meeting of January 28 might be noteworthy but for the volumes of bulletins that have gone before. Even so, a point should be made, and that is that this heavily researched edition of the Lakewood Key (the official name of our weekly bulletin) contains some biographies reproduced from 1987. They were written by the late-great Kay Shinn who was 83 at the time. Some may remember Elan Shinn Real Estate from the 1970s, Kay’s wife. Kay decided to write brief bios of all the members of Lakewood Rotary, and did so. Most are no longer alive, but a bunch still are! So not only will you get the storytelling of today’s meeting which will itself lapse into history in 20 or 30 years by definition, you’ll also get honest to goodness stories that have already aged into history! And of course, the program will give us a history lesson as well. We shall make you smart, and historically wise!
If anyone is still reading this (to mimic The Great Ole of Lakewood Key fame), it will now be noted that President Rooks did indeed start this meeting, something over 3200 meetings after the first in 1956, with the invocation of Bob Hammar, the flag presentation by Leanna Christian, and leading of the Pledge by President Jim. All via Zoom, of course, for the next to last time as a 100% Zoom. Back to the Club on February 11, with the Zoom option always available. Prior to that, discussion included Carole Wier’s plan to relocate back here where it’s not so cold, Jim Bisceglia’s struggling remodel, while Bill Potter was representing all of us by having lunch at the Country Club.
Puffins in the house: James Osundwa, Wendy McGowan, Bob Martin, and Dwight Williams.
Mahmoud (Mo) Sarram by Kay Shinn, 1987
Mo is one of our newer members. He has been with us for about a year or so. He was born in 1932 in Iran and received his medical education at the University of Freiburg in West Germany. He says that a most important step in his life and in the lives of his family was their immigration to the United States. Mo practices obstetrics and gynecology in his office at 7424 Bridgeport Way SW. His wife is named Ferie (Fereshteh), and they have 3 children, all students. They are Manya, 24; Shahrzad, 23; and Ali, 18. Mo enjoys his work, but he also has fun doing such things as hiking, reading, and boning up on such topics as religion and philosophy. (Hey, that sounds downright brainy!) In Rotary, Mo has worked in the area of international service and is now Vice Chairman of the World Community Service Committee.
(Update since 1987: Mo is retired and has been chair of the World Affairs Seminar committee for many years. He has written a book, Transplanted: A Memoir of Faith and Vision for American Muslims. An excellent book.)
Above: Mo Sarram
Foundation Report: Steve Enquist reported that in the first six months, $11,145 has been collected for the Paul Harris Foundation, and $13,110 was sent to RI. We have 98 Paul Harris Fellows and 13 major donors. Eight Lakewood Rotarians make automated deposits which aren’t included in the yearly total. All time contribution by Lakewood Rotary: $1,305,599.
As mentioned previously, the Board of Directors decided to implement a 4% charge for online credit card payments to cover the expense from each transaction. As that relates to Paul Harris charges: A payment of $100 will cost the donor $104; but as the CC convenience fee for this charge is just 3.6%, not the charged 4%, approximately 40 cents will be added to the donation to Paul Harris, for a total credited donation of $100.40. Got that?!? (We wordsmithing bulletin writers are not particularly strong on math, so we announce this formula with trepidation as to its accuracy. We’re better at big words.)
Rose Stevens requested approval of $2000 out of the World Community Service committee for a grant through Tacoma South for a student training center in northern India. Passed unanimously.
Announcements from Jim:
--District Conference is May 13-14 in Victoria, with hotel arrangements at the Grand Pacific. Home hospitality is available one night and Jim promises a great time will be had by all. Sign up at www.rotary5020.org.
--Starting February 11, Puffin greeters will be re-engaged, starting with Jim Rooks and his crop of Puffins that he recently sponsored. It will be good to get back to this friendly routine: say Hi to President Jim and the new members as you arrive!
John Magnuson by Kay Shinn, 1987
Here is another of our bright-eyed eager-beavers, itching to take over from us jaded, jagged has-beens (or never weres!). John is only 47 years old but is apparently cutting a swath! He was born in Seattle and received his degree at the U of W. His wife is named Bonnie, and they have three children: Stacia, Erik, and Kyle. They live on Interlaaken Drive SW. John heads up Magnuson Management Inc. (real estate management) with offices at 10107 South Tacoma Way and in Bellevue. He is a senior vice president of the Institute of Real Estate Management, National Organization; member of Home Builders, Building Owners and Management Association. John enjoys boating, swimming, and travel. And he was on the U.S. Pan American Games rowing team in 1963. He was a charter member of Fife-Milton Rotary Club and has been on our major project selection committee. He is now vice chairman of our group study exchange committee.
(Update since 1987: John took his company public several years ago and is now retired. He is a Past President of Lakewood Rotary (2001-02), a Russ Klauser Rotarian of the Year (2013-14), and was co-chair of the playground project at Ft. Steilacoom. He has taken up the ukulele and guitar, while continuing to attempt to tell a good Scandinavian joke or two.)
Above: John Magnuson
Fines, or Generous Giving, depending on how you look at it:
--Joe Quinn (and Kris) just welcomed Asher, their 4th and possibly final grandchild. He was 7 lb. 1 oz and 20”, and worth $100 to the fine budget. He also celebrated his 76th birthday.
--Nicole Hancock announced her new baby boy, destined to arrive on or about April 6, several weeks ago on Facebook. But the real, real announcement is when it is made to Lakewood Rotary. Look out world!
--David Swindale returned from Hawaii, again, and paid $100 for his Kona trip, a helicopter ride over a volcano and snorkeling with Manta rays.
--Bob Martin made a free announcement/greeting that he sat next to Jane Pryor, our outstanding member from 1997 to 2007, at a meeting of Seattle #4, where Jane is now a member. Howdy, Jane!
Dave Covey (By Kay Shinn, 1987)
You should see the biography form this guy turned in! His wife, Florence, did part of the work and it’s hard to tell who’s doing what to who! Dave was born in 1943 (at the Bremerton Naval Shipyard, according to Flo’s neat insert). He graduated from the UW in 1967 after earning letters in Frosh baseball and 3 years as a crew man. (He pulled much harder than Rotarian John Magnuson did, according to another of Flo’s ad lib inserts). Dave and Florence are parents of Angie (17) and Boen (5). They started their Business Interiors Northwest in 1982 in their basement. Now they have three locations and hire 28 people. As the company name indicates, they do interior planning for commercial customers. Dave works up a sweat running, skiing, biking, slo-pitch softball…and some golf-betting with Joe Ghilarducci. Dave had an adventurous background: he homesteaded in Alaska; farmed in Montana; graduated from Air Force Navigation School; served in Vietnam; was a crew coach; taught school; and etc. Dave has been with us since 1983 and he’s been busy. For example: Pancake Breakfast ticket chairman, softball coach during our winning and losing years; wild game dinner prize project; project selection committee; and etc.
Update from 1987: Dave founded the MFLF (Mighty Fine Liberation Front) during the reign of Dennis Shade, whose Mighty Fine was $50. Dave’s group insisted on a reduction to $17.95, which Dave still invokes. He was club president in 2002-03 and Russ Klauser Rotarian of the Year in 2009-10. Dave is dealing with Parkinson’s and has been extremely active in helping fellow sufferers of that disease with spinning and boxing workouts.
Above: Dave Covey, then and later
Program:
“I am big and tough and rough and rugged and not afraid to die because my heart is pure and extra smart and extra good looking and God’s gift to women”. So Barlow Buescher’s dad would say about him to his friends, so that’s probably all we need to know about Barlow. But just for completeness-sake, Greg Rediske added that Barlow worked at processing cow hides and remelting aluminum in between graduating from Whitworth and later the Princeton Theological Seminary, where he got his Master of Divinity. His career started in West Virginia, but he soon migrated here to serve as minister at Lakewood Presbyterian for 30 years, while simultaneously teaching at Pierce and St. Martins, primarily Sociology, from Intro to Social Theory. He is married to Karen Johnson and lives next door to Greg Rediske, not actually Barlow’s decision as he was already there when Greg moved in. His Irish Setter Earnest is Maisy’s best friend (Greg’s dog), as inquiring minds want to know.
Barlow first spoke of his immense pride at teaching the military all over the world at Pierce. (In Saturday’s Suburban Times, it was announced that the Council of College and Military Educators (CCME) name Pierce College the recipient of the 2022 Institution Award in recognition of its significant contributions to the cause of military education. Barlow says it is not the first time they have received this prestigious award.) Barlow took us on a journey of 7000 years, starting with subsistence farming that dominated the world then. At that time, 60% of children didn’t live long enough to procreate. Many families didn’t even name their children for a few years, given the expectation of early death. “Death was a part of life.” Families needed about 5 births per woman to maintain a stable population. As the death rate collapsed over time, a surplus of people forced the move off the farm to the village. (All the while, Barlow was showing off his unique drawing skills on charts, inspiring Greg Horn to “chat” that it reminded him of Dave Covey’s pie charts.) This movement grew rapidly over a century and a half in the United States, and the same movement is now happening in India, Southeast Asia, China and elsewhere: only much faster. Fast forward to now, and people want stuff. Leading to globalization. Leading to pollution; and climate change. Climate refugees will be a real thing by the end of this century, continuing change and innovation.
Jim Rooks recommended his book club subject, “Unsettled” by Steven Koonin on this subject. And with that, the entire Rotary Club can now apply for one college credit at Pierce College. Thanks, Barlow!!
And finally, there is no drawing, again. Zoom is like that. But there is the subject of corporate mergers to investigate. The last few years have seen many, many such mergers. Here are two we’d like to see come about (originally in the August, 1988 Lakewood Key):
If Yale Lock, Mary Tyler Moore Enterprises, Fuller Brush and WR Grace Chemical merged, you could name it Yale-Mary-Fuller-Grace.
And if K-Mart, Sarah Lee and Sarah Coventry merged, they would of course be K-Sarah-Sarah.
Any complaints, take it up with the Editor.
If anyone is still reading this (to mimic The Great Ole of Lakewood Key fame), it will now be noted that President Rooks did indeed start this meeting, something over 3200 meetings after the first in 1956, with the invocation of Bob Hammar, the flag presentation by Leanna Christian, and leading of the Pledge by President Jim. All via Zoom, of course, for the next to last time as a 100% Zoom. Back to the Club on February 11, with the Zoom option always available. Prior to that, discussion included Carole Wier’s plan to relocate back here where it’s not so cold, Jim Bisceglia’s struggling remodel, while Bill Potter was representing all of us by having lunch at the Country Club.
Puffins in the house: James Osundwa, Wendy McGowan, Bob Martin, and Dwight Williams.
Mahmoud (Mo) Sarram by Kay Shinn, 1987
Mo is one of our newer members. He has been with us for about a year or so. He was born in 1932 in Iran and received his medical education at the University of Freiburg in West Germany. He says that a most important step in his life and in the lives of his family was their immigration to the United States. Mo practices obstetrics and gynecology in his office at 7424 Bridgeport Way SW. His wife is named Ferie (Fereshteh), and they have 3 children, all students. They are Manya, 24; Shahrzad, 23; and Ali, 18. Mo enjoys his work, but he also has fun doing such things as hiking, reading, and boning up on such topics as religion and philosophy. (Hey, that sounds downright brainy!) In Rotary, Mo has worked in the area of international service and is now Vice Chairman of the World Community Service Committee.
(Update since 1987: Mo is retired and has been chair of the World Affairs Seminar committee for many years. He has written a book, Transplanted: A Memoir of Faith and Vision for American Muslims. An excellent book.)
Above: Mo Sarram
Foundation Report: Steve Enquist reported that in the first six months, $11,145 has been collected for the Paul Harris Foundation, and $13,110 was sent to RI. We have 98 Paul Harris Fellows and 13 major donors. Eight Lakewood Rotarians make automated deposits which aren’t included in the yearly total. All time contribution by Lakewood Rotary: $1,305,599.
As mentioned previously, the Board of Directors decided to implement a 4% charge for online credit card payments to cover the expense from each transaction. As that relates to Paul Harris charges: A payment of $100 will cost the donor $104; but as the CC convenience fee for this charge is just 3.6%, not the charged 4%, approximately 40 cents will be added to the donation to Paul Harris, for a total credited donation of $100.40. Got that?!? (We wordsmithing bulletin writers are not particularly strong on math, so we announce this formula with trepidation as to its accuracy. We’re better at big words.)
Rose Stevens requested approval of $2000 out of the World Community Service committee for a grant through Tacoma South for a student training center in northern India. Passed unanimously.
Announcements from Jim:
--District Conference is May 13-14 in Victoria, with hotel arrangements at the Grand Pacific. Home hospitality is available one night and Jim promises a great time will be had by all. Sign up at www.rotary5020.org.
--Starting February 11, Puffin greeters will be re-engaged, starting with Jim Rooks and his crop of Puffins that he recently sponsored. It will be good to get back to this friendly routine: say Hi to President Jim and the new members as you arrive!
John Magnuson by Kay Shinn, 1987
Here is another of our bright-eyed eager-beavers, itching to take over from us jaded, jagged has-beens (or never weres!). John is only 47 years old but is apparently cutting a swath! He was born in Seattle and received his degree at the U of W. His wife is named Bonnie, and they have three children: Stacia, Erik, and Kyle. They live on Interlaaken Drive SW. John heads up Magnuson Management Inc. (real estate management) with offices at 10107 South Tacoma Way and in Bellevue. He is a senior vice president of the Institute of Real Estate Management, National Organization; member of Home Builders, Building Owners and Management Association. John enjoys boating, swimming, and travel. And he was on the U.S. Pan American Games rowing team in 1963. He was a charter member of Fife-Milton Rotary Club and has been on our major project selection committee. He is now vice chairman of our group study exchange committee.
(Update since 1987: John took his company public several years ago and is now retired. He is a Past President of Lakewood Rotary (2001-02), a Russ Klauser Rotarian of the Year (2013-14), and was co-chair of the playground project at Ft. Steilacoom. He has taken up the ukulele and guitar, while continuing to attempt to tell a good Scandinavian joke or two.)
Above: John Magnuson
Fines, or Generous Giving, depending on how you look at it:
--Joe Quinn (and Kris) just welcomed Asher, their 4th and possibly final grandchild. He was 7 lb. 1 oz and 20”, and worth $100 to the fine budget. He also celebrated his 76th birthday.
--Nicole Hancock announced her new baby boy, destined to arrive on or about April 6, several weeks ago on Facebook. But the real, real announcement is when it is made to Lakewood Rotary. Look out world!
--David Swindale returned from Hawaii, again, and paid $100 for his Kona trip, a helicopter ride over a volcano and snorkeling with Manta rays.
--Bob Martin made a free announcement/greeting that he sat next to Jane Pryor, our outstanding member from 1997 to 2007, at a meeting of Seattle #4, where Jane is now a member. Howdy, Jane!
Dave Covey (By Kay Shinn, 1987)
You should see the biography form this guy turned in! His wife, Florence, did part of the work and it’s hard to tell who’s doing what to who! Dave was born in 1943 (at the Bremerton Naval Shipyard, according to Flo’s neat insert). He graduated from the UW in 1967 after earning letters in Frosh baseball and 3 years as a crew man. (He pulled much harder than Rotarian John Magnuson did, according to another of Flo’s ad lib inserts). Dave and Florence are parents of Angie (17) and Boen (5). They started their Business Interiors Northwest in 1982 in their basement. Now they have three locations and hire 28 people. As the company name indicates, they do interior planning for commercial customers. Dave works up a sweat running, skiing, biking, slo-pitch softball…and some golf-betting with Joe Ghilarducci. Dave had an adventurous background: he homesteaded in Alaska; farmed in Montana; graduated from Air Force Navigation School; served in Vietnam; was a crew coach; taught school; and etc. Dave has been with us since 1983 and he’s been busy. For example: Pancake Breakfast ticket chairman, softball coach during our winning and losing years; wild game dinner prize project; project selection committee; and etc.
Update from 1987: Dave founded the MFLF (Mighty Fine Liberation Front) during the reign of Dennis Shade, whose Mighty Fine was $50. Dave’s group insisted on a reduction to $17.95, which Dave still invokes. He was club president in 2002-03 and Russ Klauser Rotarian of the Year in 2009-10. Dave is dealing with Parkinson’s and has been extremely active in helping fellow sufferers of that disease with spinning and boxing workouts.
Above: Dave Covey, then and later
Program:
“I am big and tough and rough and rugged and not afraid to die because my heart is pure and extra smart and extra good looking and God’s gift to women”. So Barlow Buescher’s dad would say about him to his friends, so that’s probably all we need to know about Barlow. But just for completeness-sake, Greg Rediske added that Barlow worked at processing cow hides and remelting aluminum in between graduating from Whitworth and later the Princeton Theological Seminary, where he got his Master of Divinity. His career started in West Virginia, but he soon migrated here to serve as minister at Lakewood Presbyterian for 30 years, while simultaneously teaching at Pierce and St. Martins, primarily Sociology, from Intro to Social Theory. He is married to Karen Johnson and lives next door to Greg Rediske, not actually Barlow’s decision as he was already there when Greg moved in. His Irish Setter Earnest is Maisy’s best friend (Greg’s dog), as inquiring minds want to know.
Barlow first spoke of his immense pride at teaching the military all over the world at Pierce. (In Saturday’s Suburban Times, it was announced that the Council of College and Military Educators (CCME) name Pierce College the recipient of the 2022 Institution Award in recognition of its significant contributions to the cause of military education. Barlow says it is not the first time they have received this prestigious award.) Barlow took us on a journey of 7000 years, starting with subsistence farming that dominated the world then. At that time, 60% of children didn’t live long enough to procreate. Many families didn’t even name their children for a few years, given the expectation of early death. “Death was a part of life.” Families needed about 5 births per woman to maintain a stable population. As the death rate collapsed over time, a surplus of people forced the move off the farm to the village. (All the while, Barlow was showing off his unique drawing skills on charts, inspiring Greg Horn to “chat” that it reminded him of Dave Covey’s pie charts.) This movement grew rapidly over a century and a half in the United States, and the same movement is now happening in India, Southeast Asia, China and elsewhere: only much faster. Fast forward to now, and people want stuff. Leading to globalization. Leading to pollution; and climate change. Climate refugees will be a real thing by the end of this century, continuing change and innovation.
Jim Rooks recommended his book club subject, “Unsettled” by Steven Koonin on this subject. And with that, the entire Rotary Club can now apply for one college credit at Pierce College. Thanks, Barlow!!
And finally, there is no drawing, again. Zoom is like that. But there is the subject of corporate mergers to investigate. The last few years have seen many, many such mergers. Here are two we’d like to see come about (originally in the August, 1988 Lakewood Key):
If Yale Lock, Mary Tyler Moore Enterprises, Fuller Brush and WR Grace Chemical merged, you could name it Yale-Mary-Fuller-Grace.
And if K-Mart, Sarah Lee and Sarah Coventry merged, they would of course be K-Sarah-Sarah.
Any complaints, take it up with the Editor.
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