MEETING RECAP
Better Than Mediocre
By Gayle SeldenSunday, February 26, 2023
THE LAKEWOOD KEY for February 24th 2023
Better than Mediocre! By Gayle Selden
The February 24th meeting of the Rotary Club of Lakewood was brought to order by President-Mayor Jason Whalen. Don’t worry he did not forget to bring the conch!
Tom George led us in our thought for the day. He reminded us we are Rotarians because we are better than mediocre! Well, that is not exactly what he said. It was very elegant and beautiful. But I chose to paraphrase because it makes the rest of the meeting and this bulletin make much more sense.
Better than Mediocre! By Gayle Selden
The February 24th meeting of the Rotary Club of Lakewood was brought to order by President-Mayor Jason Whalen. Don’t worry he did not forget to bring the conch!
Tom George led us in our thought for the day. He reminded us we are Rotarians because we are better than mediocre! Well, that is not exactly what he said. It was very elegant and beautiful. But I chose to paraphrase because it makes the rest of the meeting and this bulletin make much more sense.
Gayle Selden led the pledge after making eye contact with President-Mayor Whalen by mistake.
President-Mayor then thanked Leon Titus at the Foundation desk; Gary Barton at the Raffle Table and acting Sergeant at Arms; Gayle Selden on the bulletin and Walt Richardson on the camera. The set-up crew of Rob Erb, Tom George, Rick Selden and James Osundwa also kicked the meeting into gear. Special shout out to James who used the microphone check as an audition for a late-night DJing gig.
Our lone visiting Rotarian was Greg Rolsma, President Elect from Tacoma 8, our farm club. Tom George introduced Davis Mugisha from Uganda. Davis is a student at Tacoma Community College and currently the VP of finance for the student body. Also joining us was First Lady Gael Whalen and Claire Whalen, who would be part of the speaker crew.
Member Spotlight:
Above: James Osundwa
James Osundwa was called to be a member spotlight. James first learned of Rotary in Kenya as he was a Rotaract member his final year of college. He joined the group because of all the hot girls. (Really! That is what he said.) Their Rotaract club’s main project was visiting kids in a cancer ward. He ended up chartering a Rotary Club in Nairobi. There he attended a Group Study Exchange to Indiana and found his vocation. He also met wife Shiru through Rotary service. He views his Rotary membership as a privilege. He posed the question “What would my life be without Rotary?”
Announcements:
Don Daniels reminded members about the Wine a Little, Win A Lot raffle. $25 tickets and a chance at $5000. Drawing will be held March 24th at the Wine and Beer Festival. Don thanks Jim Sharp for being the top seller at 28 tickets and gifted him a wine bottle which Jim donated back to the Instant Wine Cellar for the live auction items at the wine fest.
Carl Bronkema announced the next Rotary on Tap, to be held March 9th, at 6pm, at the Ram in Lakewood. Thanks to Peter Marsh we now have the use of their room at any time we wish without charge. Please bring a friend to this social event.
Clint Johnson invited Rotarians to join the Habitat for Humanity luncheon March 7th. We have a table and six seats left to fill. Lunch is free but there will be an ask. We will be celebrating the support of the Claudia Thomas house in Tillicum that we are financially supporting. He also reminded us we will be having some work parties on that house in the summer or fall.
Gayle Selden then spoke of the Wine and Beer festival. She reminded members of the question James Osundwa raised: “What would the community be without Rotary.” And then paraphrased the thought for the day and asked if we were better than mediocre. Then she decided to come up with a new word –Ruskin---which is the mix of Rustic and Tuscan. So, the Ruskin event is March 24th at 6:00 p.m. at the McGavick Center. Invite your friends. Tickets are available at Lakewood Rotary Wine & Beer Festival (auctria.com). They are also available on Lakewoodrotary.com but it is less work for the committee if you buy direct from the Auctria site. Unlike past events we only have a four-hour set up period so make sure you have the afternoon of the 24th set aside to help!
You might wonder why the bulletin writer speaks of herself in the third person. One, it’s a writing style I appreciate and two, because when I get up in front of a crowd I have no idea what the heck I said. I had no idea I created a new word or was so focused on turning the word “mediocre” into an adjective, an adverb and a state of being. My discussion of mediocrity made Tom George concerned that he had misspoken in his speech. Better than Mediocre is going to be the new catch phrase of 2023. Shirts will be made, maybe the Lakewood Rotary bumper sticker will come back (with a new phrase), 5 Ks will be walked. . .all in celebration of mediocracy, er mediocrity, or whatever the noun is.
Generous Giving:
John Lowney was called upon for aloha giving. His grandson was in the news for great grades in college. John didn’t know about it but says his Grandkids are always doing something amazing. He paid $50.
John then took his time to announce the World Affairs Seminar. This is a program for high school Juniors to go to a college campus in Wisconsin and learn about international affairs. It is a place for them to learn about college life. John’s grandson Alex went which is probably why he is so smart. This is a program where we prioritize family members of Lakewood Rotary. We need your interest now.
Dave Reames has been living a mediocre life buying cars—including a 1930 Ford. He has a great grandson and two other Grandkids. He paid up with $100.
Above: Jason, Mary, Barb and the anti-puffin—a Rooster, or a Ruskin?
Barb Spriggs and Mary Marlin came up front to talk about their trip to the “Island.” They asked the president his favorite Island and the peanut Gallery suggested “McNeil”. Because of Jason’s love for the Islands of Hawaii they brought him back a Rooster stuffed animal. A cock as a possible Puffin Stand in, very Ruskin.
Tony Camoroda thanked the club for sending Mary Horn and Carl Bronkema to PETS—the President-Elect Training Seminar. He also appreciated Bill Potter’s presence as the next Assistant District Governor.
Yorleny Clapper paid for some birthdays and something this writer missed.
Pat Price had an afib situation and has some new technology and now is good ‘til the age of 92.
Bob Martin let us know Hans is up on Vancouver Island with other exchange students for the weekend. Give Hans a call to hang out 253-993-9261. Time with Hans is running short!
The Program:
Above: Our own James Guerrero, Architect
Don Daniels introduced member James Guerrero, local architect. As an architect James does home projects, multifamily, commercial and remodel architecture. James is a graduate of WSU. And despite that, he has worked and served on the Lakewood Planning Commission, Redevelopment Advisory Board, school levy associations and as a Lakewood Rotarian.
James talked to us about Sustainability in Architecture. He mentioned a lot of certifications available and held by his firm. He highlighted the Living Futures certification and showed ways his office has become a sustainability lab in parts of the Living Futures style. Living Futures means that the building meets seven standards-in Place, Water, Energy, Health and Wellness, Materials, Equity and Beauty.
He shared highlights from the Sustainability Lab/ office. These included above and below ground rainwater collection and a bike used to move water from the underground tank into the above ground one. An indoor garden space, one with foods growing and another with plants for a better living environment. Eco stone paving that is used instead of asphalt (allows for water to return to the ground). Solar Panels are used for energy but have some trees blocking so it is not quite meeting the total energy needs. Electric car chargers. Reused materials including a bowling alley floor as a table and Fastball Blocks, which are recycled pallets as lookalike concrete blocks.
Claire Whalen then talked about how to use some of these elements in a building project they are working on in American Lake. They are reusing an existing structure for the rebuild. They are also incorporating the wanted greenhouse into the interior of the house. They are also using sustainable materials for elements like cabinets.
Thanks to James and Claire for this vocational talk. It was illuminating. In fact, President Mayor Whalen just learned his daughter oversees a grow operation at the Sustainability Lab/ office!
After the meeting many members went to the Celebration of Life for John Warner. John was a 50-year Lakewood Rotarian. He was a very generous man. This bulletin writer wants to thank John for always greeting her every Friday with a hug. John said that a human needed seven hugs a day and he was always one I could count on.
Let’s get out there and be Better Than Mediocre this week!
President-Mayor then thanked Leon Titus at the Foundation desk; Gary Barton at the Raffle Table and acting Sergeant at Arms; Gayle Selden on the bulletin and Walt Richardson on the camera. The set-up crew of Rob Erb, Tom George, Rick Selden and James Osundwa also kicked the meeting into gear. Special shout out to James who used the microphone check as an audition for a late-night DJing gig.
Our lone visiting Rotarian was Greg Rolsma, President Elect from Tacoma 8, our farm club. Tom George introduced Davis Mugisha from Uganda. Davis is a student at Tacoma Community College and currently the VP of finance for the student body. Also joining us was First Lady Gael Whalen and Claire Whalen, who would be part of the speaker crew.
Member Spotlight:
Above: James Osundwa
James Osundwa was called to be a member spotlight. James first learned of Rotary in Kenya as he was a Rotaract member his final year of college. He joined the group because of all the hot girls. (Really! That is what he said.) Their Rotaract club’s main project was visiting kids in a cancer ward. He ended up chartering a Rotary Club in Nairobi. There he attended a Group Study Exchange to Indiana and found his vocation. He also met wife Shiru through Rotary service. He views his Rotary membership as a privilege. He posed the question “What would my life be without Rotary?”
Announcements:
Don Daniels reminded members about the Wine a Little, Win A Lot raffle. $25 tickets and a chance at $5000. Drawing will be held March 24th at the Wine and Beer Festival. Don thanks Jim Sharp for being the top seller at 28 tickets and gifted him a wine bottle which Jim donated back to the Instant Wine Cellar for the live auction items at the wine fest.
Carl Bronkema announced the next Rotary on Tap, to be held March 9th, at 6pm, at the Ram in Lakewood. Thanks to Peter Marsh we now have the use of their room at any time we wish without charge. Please bring a friend to this social event.
Clint Johnson invited Rotarians to join the Habitat for Humanity luncheon March 7th. We have a table and six seats left to fill. Lunch is free but there will be an ask. We will be celebrating the support of the Claudia Thomas house in Tillicum that we are financially supporting. He also reminded us we will be having some work parties on that house in the summer or fall.
Gayle Selden then spoke of the Wine and Beer festival. She reminded members of the question James Osundwa raised: “What would the community be without Rotary.” And then paraphrased the thought for the day and asked if we were better than mediocre. Then she decided to come up with a new word –Ruskin---which is the mix of Rustic and Tuscan. So, the Ruskin event is March 24th at 6:00 p.m. at the McGavick Center. Invite your friends. Tickets are available at Lakewood Rotary Wine & Beer Festival (auctria.com). They are also available on Lakewoodrotary.com but it is less work for the committee if you buy direct from the Auctria site. Unlike past events we only have a four-hour set up period so make sure you have the afternoon of the 24th set aside to help!
You might wonder why the bulletin writer speaks of herself in the third person. One, it’s a writing style I appreciate and two, because when I get up in front of a crowd I have no idea what the heck I said. I had no idea I created a new word or was so focused on turning the word “mediocre” into an adjective, an adverb and a state of being. My discussion of mediocrity made Tom George concerned that he had misspoken in his speech. Better than Mediocre is going to be the new catch phrase of 2023. Shirts will be made, maybe the Lakewood Rotary bumper sticker will come back (with a new phrase), 5 Ks will be walked. . .all in celebration of mediocracy, er mediocrity, or whatever the noun is.
Generous Giving:
John Lowney was called upon for aloha giving. His grandson was in the news for great grades in college. John didn’t know about it but says his Grandkids are always doing something amazing. He paid $50.
John then took his time to announce the World Affairs Seminar. This is a program for high school Juniors to go to a college campus in Wisconsin and learn about international affairs. It is a place for them to learn about college life. John’s grandson Alex went which is probably why he is so smart. This is a program where we prioritize family members of Lakewood Rotary. We need your interest now.
Dave Reames has been living a mediocre life buying cars—including a 1930 Ford. He has a great grandson and two other Grandkids. He paid up with $100.
Above: Jason, Mary, Barb and the anti-puffin—a Rooster, or a Ruskin?
Barb Spriggs and Mary Marlin came up front to talk about their trip to the “Island.” They asked the president his favorite Island and the peanut Gallery suggested “McNeil”. Because of Jason’s love for the Islands of Hawaii they brought him back a Rooster stuffed animal. A cock as a possible Puffin Stand in, very Ruskin.
Tony Camoroda thanked the club for sending Mary Horn and Carl Bronkema to PETS—the President-Elect Training Seminar. He also appreciated Bill Potter’s presence as the next Assistant District Governor.
Yorleny Clapper paid for some birthdays and something this writer missed.
Pat Price had an afib situation and has some new technology and now is good ‘til the age of 92.
Bob Martin let us know Hans is up on Vancouver Island with other exchange students for the weekend. Give Hans a call to hang out 253-993-9261. Time with Hans is running short!
The Program:
Above: Our own James Guerrero, Architect
Don Daniels introduced member James Guerrero, local architect. As an architect James does home projects, multifamily, commercial and remodel architecture. James is a graduate of WSU. And despite that, he has worked and served on the Lakewood Planning Commission, Redevelopment Advisory Board, school levy associations and as a Lakewood Rotarian.
James talked to us about Sustainability in Architecture. He mentioned a lot of certifications available and held by his firm. He highlighted the Living Futures certification and showed ways his office has become a sustainability lab in parts of the Living Futures style. Living Futures means that the building meets seven standards-in Place, Water, Energy, Health and Wellness, Materials, Equity and Beauty.
He shared highlights from the Sustainability Lab/ office. These included above and below ground rainwater collection and a bike used to move water from the underground tank into the above ground one. An indoor garden space, one with foods growing and another with plants for a better living environment. Eco stone paving that is used instead of asphalt (allows for water to return to the ground). Solar Panels are used for energy but have some trees blocking so it is not quite meeting the total energy needs. Electric car chargers. Reused materials including a bowling alley floor as a table and Fastball Blocks, which are recycled pallets as lookalike concrete blocks.
Claire Whalen then talked about how to use some of these elements in a building project they are working on in American Lake. They are reusing an existing structure for the rebuild. They are also incorporating the wanted greenhouse into the interior of the house. They are also using sustainable materials for elements like cabinets.
Thanks to James and Claire for this vocational talk. It was illuminating. In fact, President Mayor Whalen just learned his daughter oversees a grow operation at the Sustainability Lab/ office!
After the meeting many members went to the Celebration of Life for John Warner. John was a 50-year Lakewood Rotarian. He was a very generous man. This bulletin writer wants to thank John for always greeting her every Friday with a hug. John said that a human needed seven hugs a day and he was always one I could count on.
Let’s get out there and be Better Than Mediocre this week!
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