MEETING RECAP
ABCs of Medicare and RIP Dave Covey
By John W. MagnusonSunday, November 5, 2023
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Staff reporters for “Da Bull,” remember being told to always have a theme to our writing. Dave Sclair was our Editor in Chief in addition to being Past District Governor, past president of Clover Park Rotary, husband of past president Mary Lou Sclair and father of past president Ben Sclair. Dave consistently reminded those he met how lucky they were to meet him. Some were gullible enough to believe him.
Well crap! This just in: Our good friend Lakewood Rotarian Dave Covey died Sunday morning. Dave was a past president and assistant governor. He suffered from Parkinson’s Disease for many years. Dave was all personality all the time; he had one speed and that speed was GO! He could be exhausting, and his wife Florence had only one admonition for her loving husband: Oh Dave! Dave grew up in Port Orchard and attended the UW. He was a high school basketball standout. At the UW he changed sports and rowed on the crew. He served in the USAF as a Navigator spending one full tour in Vietnam. Ever Dave, he founded Winter Sports Club while stationed at Bien Hoa arranging ski trips to the snowcapped mountains surrounding the jungles of Vietnam! After his active-duty service Dave remained in the USAF Reserve retiring as a Colonel. He began a rowing program at Seattle Pacific College. He and Florence created Business Interiors NW and provided office furnishings to many companies throughout the region. He was very proud of his grandson Bo and granddaughter Grace. Dave lived his final days with daughter Angie. His son Boen and family live in San Diego. Cards in remembrance can be sent to Angie Moawad at 339 Shadow Pl. SE, Renton, WA 98059. A celebration of Dave’s life will be held in the spring at a day to be arranged later.
Greg Rediski added these thoughts: Dave was a "wild and crazy" Lakewood Rotarian for 40 years. He led the "Mighty Fine Liberation Front," to reduce the size of fines to a manageable $17.95. He rode many Courage Classics for Mary Bridge. He played a great shortstop in our Rotary softball games. He was master of the pie chart in highlighting progress on whatever project he was promoting. He could even make a decent Elvis. But mostly, Dave was a lovely person. Prayers to his family and friends. Dave is missed.
Keeping with Sclair’s admonition, the theme of this edition of Da Bull was going to be a glimpse of the publication’s inner workings. You may be familiar with slick organs like The News Tribune, The New York Times, The Sub-Times, etc. But have you witnessed up close and personal a sweat shop such as The Key? Once you enter the newsroom, you’ll never forget the rancid smell of stale cigar smoke, sweat stained clothing, and cups of chlorogenic acid-based coffee eating its way through strewn paper cups.
Laboring reporters take on a mysterious pinkish hue in the florescent light. Then you realize, no, they really are pink. Their eyes, their overripe tomato shaded skin, their gums drooling over incisors. It is a magnificent sight, one must admit. “Dimosiografiko Megaleio” as the Greeks say – Journalistic Greatness!
Instead, we Will Remember Dave
The meeting opened with an invocation by Yorleny Clapper and pledge to the Flag by Linda Disney. Covey’s fellow Navigator PP Gary Fulton manned the Paul Harris Desk to the tune of $1440 expropriation – but for a good cause! Visitor introductions and raffle collections by Leon Titus. Leon sold David many vehicles over the years – each one a gem! Not many folks know Leon was named for Emperor Titus, the Benevolent Ruler of Rome. Yeah, that’s the ticket!
The Family Dream Team has been inducted into the “Duncan Cook Memorial Lakewood Rotary Meeting Set-up Committee Hall of Fame” also known as the DCLRMSCHF. Those honored include Wynn Hoffman, Terry Roarke, PP Rick Selden, James Oswunda, Tom George and Rob Erb. Time will be set aside for autographs by the honorees at a future meeting. The Present Prolific Puffins were invited to stand and be acknowledged. Jim Bisceglia was heard to say, “My Goodness! Would you look at those Puffins. What an impressive group. Lakewood Rotary’s future is assured with this cadre of future leadership! Huzzah!”
A guest was introduced – now pay close attention, this is what happens when someone is introduced without making certain the scribe gets all the details. This is what I heard: “Phil Emdelkhorn from Iceland who is ATEP.” Wendy McGowan reported that PDG Gordon Quick is in Las Vegas. Further, Kris Kaufman was present after a heart procedure the other day! Several senior Rotarians were seen recording the name of his heart care specialist and erasing Veterinarian Max Flockerzie’s name. (Max was a Lakewood Rotarian from 1776 to 2000 – or thereabouts!)
PP Rick Selden won the drawing recently. He wasn’t present so he delegated his winningness to Steve Mazoff. Proving his generosity, Rick agreed to sharing his largesse with Steve. Of course, there were certain legal fees involved, processing costs, discounts, tattoos, pricing, etc. Steve walked out with $5. Not a bad day for a lawyer! Rick took home $694!
Important Dates
Greg Rediske noted birthdays, wedding anniversaries and club anniversaries. Perhaps Bob Cammarano won the age race at about 93. The Montgomerys may have won the wedding anniversary race with 54 years. The birthday folks were called to the front of the room to explain the significance of 1991, the Macarena, and Cheers. Your guess is as good as mine. Although I do think it is strange: the actor who played Chandler in Friends died this past week while at the same time the comedy series Cheers was reborn, and the World Wide Web has devolved into artificial intelligence. In my opinion, most of what is seen on TV and certainly from Congress, doesn’t amount to intelligence, artificial or otherwise!
A Rotary Minute
PP John Magnuson recounted a Rotary Minute in his life. It began in 1952 in Edmonds with a new Rotary Charter to which his father was a member. A Rotary Youth Month introduced John to the Four Way Test and community leaders. Then fast forward to 1975 when Fife-Milton chartered a club and then John moved to Lakewood thanks to the friendship of PP Paul Reeder. In about 48 years of Rotary the most important accomplishment John has witnessed is the International Baccalaureate Program in Clover Park Schools. The benefits will pay dividends over many years.
Rotary On Tap was touted by Linda Disney. El Toro is the place and 5:30 is the time and next Thursday is the day! PP Gayle Selden announced a Break-Bag delivery day November 13, 9:00 AM. No sign-up necessary, just show-up. By the time you read this, Woodstick will be in the history books. Many thanks to PP Chris Kimball, the once again organizer for this fun event benefitting Coffee Oasis.
Candy jar donations by PP Rose Stevens, PP Scott Buser, Bob Martin and Brandy Paxton enriched President Mary’s retirement fund! Rose was honored as a board member since 2011 of The Rose International Fund for Children (TRIFC), a non-profit that benefits disadvantaged people and people living with disabilities.
The Program
Jan Gee introduced member Brandy Paxton from Humana who is a purveyor of insurance services including health programs dealing with Medicare – the subject of the day. Brandy mentioned her family; husband Jason and 2 sons, one of whom turned 17. Brandy exhibited her generosity with a donation to Mary’s Sugar Bowl as well as mentioning being a Scout Leader. (That elevates her stature in my eyes as a former Boy Scout. I don’t really care if you don’t like that; I loved scouting! I didn’t mention it during my Rotary Minute, but my Scout Leader was Phil Smart; automobile dealer, Scout Leader and benefactor to Children’s Orthopedic Hospital, author of The Third Eight. He was a devoted Rotarian and Charter Member of Edmonds Rotary.)
I took almost two pages of notes about Medicare. Much of my note-taking involved abbreviations and acronyms. There’s Parts A, B, C and D. There’s HMO’s and PPO’s. There’s Tiers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. And if that isn’t enough to bring you to tears, there are Formularies, Deductibles, Co-pays, Supplemental Plans, Advantage Plans, Savings Plans and Medicaid. Of course, Brandy made it so straightforward and understandable as is possible. I did feel a little sorry for our members of Norwegian descent. Do you know why it is referred to as a Norwegian descent?
Editors-in-Chief Horn and Paula urge accuracy from Da Bull reporters. I hesitate to report what I wrote just in case my computer makes an error. Instead, go to www.medicare.gov , login and begin a fruitful search. Explore programs, eligibility, limits, coverage options, for both health and drug plans. Learn so much more. As a Medicare recipient for 18 years, I can vouch for its efficacy, but not necessarily ease of navigation. Process simplicity is a bit of an oxymoron, but it is something you MUST learn.
Thank you, Brandy, for opening a window into the bewildering world of government health care.
Breaking News: Assistant Governor Bill Potter announces that the Bike Build will be Saturday November 18th, 9:00 to 1:30. LeMay Pierce County Shop, 4107 192nd St. East, Tacoma, 98446. Questions? Call Bill 253 732 9001.
Donnnn Irwin won $5 in the drawing. A pattern is developing here.
RIP Brother Dave.
Who Reads This Stuff?
Ole
Well crap! This just in: Our good friend Lakewood Rotarian Dave Covey died Sunday morning. Dave was a past president and assistant governor. He suffered from Parkinson’s Disease for many years. Dave was all personality all the time; he had one speed and that speed was GO! He could be exhausting, and his wife Florence had only one admonition for her loving husband: Oh Dave! Dave grew up in Port Orchard and attended the UW. He was a high school basketball standout. At the UW he changed sports and rowed on the crew. He served in the USAF as a Navigator spending one full tour in Vietnam. Ever Dave, he founded Winter Sports Club while stationed at Bien Hoa arranging ski trips to the snowcapped mountains surrounding the jungles of Vietnam! After his active-duty service Dave remained in the USAF Reserve retiring as a Colonel. He began a rowing program at Seattle Pacific College. He and Florence created Business Interiors NW and provided office furnishings to many companies throughout the region. He was very proud of his grandson Bo and granddaughter Grace. Dave lived his final days with daughter Angie. His son Boen and family live in San Diego. Cards in remembrance can be sent to Angie Moawad at 339 Shadow Pl. SE, Renton, WA 98059. A celebration of Dave’s life will be held in the spring at a day to be arranged later.
Greg Rediski added these thoughts: Dave was a "wild and crazy" Lakewood Rotarian for 40 years. He led the "Mighty Fine Liberation Front," to reduce the size of fines to a manageable $17.95. He rode many Courage Classics for Mary Bridge. He played a great shortstop in our Rotary softball games. He was master of the pie chart in highlighting progress on whatever project he was promoting. He could even make a decent Elvis. But mostly, Dave was a lovely person. Prayers to his family and friends. Dave is missed.
Keeping with Sclair’s admonition, the theme of this edition of Da Bull was going to be a glimpse of the publication’s inner workings. You may be familiar with slick organs like The News Tribune, The New York Times, The Sub-Times, etc. But have you witnessed up close and personal a sweat shop such as The Key? Once you enter the newsroom, you’ll never forget the rancid smell of stale cigar smoke, sweat stained clothing, and cups of chlorogenic acid-based coffee eating its way through strewn paper cups.
Laboring reporters take on a mysterious pinkish hue in the florescent light. Then you realize, no, they really are pink. Their eyes, their overripe tomato shaded skin, their gums drooling over incisors. It is a magnificent sight, one must admit. “Dimosiografiko Megaleio” as the Greeks say – Journalistic Greatness!
Instead, we Will Remember Dave
The meeting opened with an invocation by Yorleny Clapper and pledge to the Flag by Linda Disney. Covey’s fellow Navigator PP Gary Fulton manned the Paul Harris Desk to the tune of $1440 expropriation – but for a good cause! Visitor introductions and raffle collections by Leon Titus. Leon sold David many vehicles over the years – each one a gem! Not many folks know Leon was named for Emperor Titus, the Benevolent Ruler of Rome. Yeah, that’s the ticket!
The Family Dream Team has been inducted into the “Duncan Cook Memorial Lakewood Rotary Meeting Set-up Committee Hall of Fame” also known as the DCLRMSCHF. Those honored include Wynn Hoffman, Terry Roarke, PP Rick Selden, James Oswunda, Tom George and Rob Erb. Time will be set aside for autographs by the honorees at a future meeting. The Present Prolific Puffins were invited to stand and be acknowledged. Jim Bisceglia was heard to say, “My Goodness! Would you look at those Puffins. What an impressive group. Lakewood Rotary’s future is assured with this cadre of future leadership! Huzzah!”
A guest was introduced – now pay close attention, this is what happens when someone is introduced without making certain the scribe gets all the details. This is what I heard: “Phil Emdelkhorn from Iceland who is ATEP.” Wendy McGowan reported that PDG Gordon Quick is in Las Vegas. Further, Kris Kaufman was present after a heart procedure the other day! Several senior Rotarians were seen recording the name of his heart care specialist and erasing Veterinarian Max Flockerzie’s name. (Max was a Lakewood Rotarian from 1776 to 2000 – or thereabouts!)
PP Bob Zawilski took pictures, PP John Lowney took money, another fellow Navigator, PP Ole took notes. Steilacoom Mayor and Kiwanian Dick Muri was introduced. He wasn’t there but he was introduced. Zoomers were welcomed: Carole Wier, David Swindale, PP Joe and Eric Quinn and PP Ralph Lockhart. Purple recycling bins and Dolly Parton are all part of a nefarious plot to inhabit libraries with some competition for memberships and stuff. (The foregoing is an example of journalistic compaction – done whenever one can smoosh two topics of prose together into one. A very effective prose technique for prose thingys.)
PP Rick Selden won the drawing recently. He wasn’t present so he delegated his winningness to Steve Mazoff. Proving his generosity, Rick agreed to sharing his largesse with Steve. Of course, there were certain legal fees involved, processing costs, discounts, tattoos, pricing, etc. Steve walked out with $5. Not a bad day for a lawyer! Rick took home $694!
Important Dates
Greg Rediske noted birthdays, wedding anniversaries and club anniversaries. Perhaps Bob Cammarano won the age race at about 93. The Montgomerys may have won the wedding anniversary race with 54 years. The birthday folks were called to the front of the room to explain the significance of 1991, the Macarena, and Cheers. Your guess is as good as mine. Although I do think it is strange: the actor who played Chandler in Friends died this past week while at the same time the comedy series Cheers was reborn, and the World Wide Web has devolved into artificial intelligence. In my opinion, most of what is seen on TV and certainly from Congress, doesn’t amount to intelligence, artificial or otherwise!
A Rotary Minute
PP John Magnuson recounted a Rotary Minute in his life. It began in 1952 in Edmonds with a new Rotary Charter to which his father was a member. A Rotary Youth Month introduced John to the Four Way Test and community leaders. Then fast forward to 1975 when Fife-Milton chartered a club and then John moved to Lakewood thanks to the friendship of PP Paul Reeder. In about 48 years of Rotary the most important accomplishment John has witnessed is the International Baccalaureate Program in Clover Park Schools. The benefits will pay dividends over many years.
Rotary On Tap was touted by Linda Disney. El Toro is the place and 5:30 is the time and next Thursday is the day! PP Gayle Selden announced a Break-Bag delivery day November 13, 9:00 AM. No sign-up necessary, just show-up. By the time you read this, Woodstick will be in the history books. Many thanks to PP Chris Kimball, the once again organizer for this fun event benefitting Coffee Oasis.
Candy jar donations by PP Rose Stevens, PP Scott Buser, Bob Martin and Brandy Paxton enriched President Mary’s retirement fund! Rose was honored as a board member since 2011 of The Rose International Fund for Children (TRIFC), a non-profit that benefits disadvantaged people and people living with disabilities.
The Program
Jan Gee introduced member Brandy Paxton from Humana who is a purveyor of insurance services including health programs dealing with Medicare – the subject of the day. Brandy mentioned her family; husband Jason and 2 sons, one of whom turned 17. Brandy exhibited her generosity with a donation to Mary’s Sugar Bowl as well as mentioning being a Scout Leader. (That elevates her stature in my eyes as a former Boy Scout. I don’t really care if you don’t like that; I loved scouting! I didn’t mention it during my Rotary Minute, but my Scout Leader was Phil Smart; automobile dealer, Scout Leader and benefactor to Children’s Orthopedic Hospital, author of The Third Eight. He was a devoted Rotarian and Charter Member of Edmonds Rotary.)
I took almost two pages of notes about Medicare. Much of my note-taking involved abbreviations and acronyms. There’s Parts A, B, C and D. There’s HMO’s and PPO’s. There’s Tiers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. And if that isn’t enough to bring you to tears, there are Formularies, Deductibles, Co-pays, Supplemental Plans, Advantage Plans, Savings Plans and Medicaid. Of course, Brandy made it so straightforward and understandable as is possible. I did feel a little sorry for our members of Norwegian descent. Do you know why it is referred to as a Norwegian descent?
Editors-in-Chief Horn and Paula urge accuracy from Da Bull reporters. I hesitate to report what I wrote just in case my computer makes an error. Instead, go to www.medicare.gov , login and begin a fruitful search. Explore programs, eligibility, limits, coverage options, for both health and drug plans. Learn so much more. As a Medicare recipient for 18 years, I can vouch for its efficacy, but not necessarily ease of navigation. Process simplicity is a bit of an oxymoron, but it is something you MUST learn.
Thank you, Brandy, for opening a window into the bewildering world of government health care.
Breaking News: Assistant Governor Bill Potter announces that the Bike Build will be Saturday November 18th, 9:00 to 1:30. LeMay Pierce County Shop, 4107 192nd St. East, Tacoma, 98446. Questions? Call Bill 253 732 9001.
Donnnn Irwin won $5 in the drawing. A pattern is developing here.
RIP Brother Dave.
Who Reads This Stuff?
Ole
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