Prez Jim is almost giddy as his year is winding down. You’ve done a great job Jim, we’ve appreciated all you’ve done. You’ve got one more day!

It was Polio Duck day and Om did a great job raising money for polio at her first time to do the duck. She may get to do it again.

Kris Horn, one of the organizers of the upcoming Willamette Valley Lavender Festival, shared all the great activities that will be coming up at the Festival at the Chehalem Cultural Center on July 9 and 10. Things will actually start the evening of Friday, July 8th with an artists reception for the Lavender Art Show. The art show draws hundreds of artists and the works vary from beginners to renowned artist Ramona Youngquist,

On Saturday and Sunday you can enjoy music, art, crafts and food that has a lavender component such as lavender beer, lavender mustard, lavender lemonade and some others that will debut this year. There is no charge for the festival and it’s a great time for everyone.

 

 

We met for our 2nd time in the new GFU Canyon Commons. It’s a beautiful location with a nice view of the new bridge and the Hess Creek Canyon. We’re still getting the hang of the new space including the technology, but it seems to be going pretty well so far.

We were joined by guest Riley Rice who is looking at joining us soon. We also had Britta Stewart, our club history intern, join us today. She’s been interviewing club
presidents and is almost done. She’ll be doing a program for the club later this summer to share her research with the rest of us.

Today we learned more about one of our newest members, Colby Strunk, during his classification talk. This was a big spring for Colby in that he got engaged to his love Cassandra and graduated from PSU. Congrats on both counts Colby.

Colby is an Oregonian who currently lives in West Linn. He’s the marketing, admissions and community relations manager for Avemere here in Newberg. He kind of fell into the field of serving seniors but it fits his personal and spiritual background and he enjoys helping families get through what can be a fragile situation. He has really found his career and mission and looks at an executive director position in the field as a goal.

Colby is also a winning powerlifter as is his fiance Cassandra. He’s lifted about 700 lbs. He works out at Excel Fitness with our own Rotarian, Tony LeLack. As one Rotarian commented “the Noon Rotary is the strongest Rotary club”!

Colby is active with his church and has been a youth leader. He also does social media as a second job with Usplabs.

He has embraced the Rotary 4 Way test in his daily life and it’s a great guide to conducting business in an ethical way.

His philosophy is be humble, but work hard, be active in the community, take risks and put yourself out there. That’s a great philosophy! We glad to have you as a Noon Rotarian Colby.

Newsletter Editor Leah Griffith

You can’t help but admire whoever it was at Rotary that instituted the ritual of the classification talk. It provides such a great framework for us to learn about and develop understanding of our new Rotarians. There is such power in sharing a story, and this week we were privileged to hear Mike Boock’s.

A “Closet Investment Geek”

Mike told us about his family: his wife, Gretchen, who has been in the wine industry for 15 years, and his three kids, ages 11, 9 and 6, who “are his life” right now. He also shared that he has two sisters, and both his dad and granddad were Rotarians.

And about his background:

He was born in the Corvallis/Albany area, and went to the University of Montana before transferring to Oregon State, where he got a management degree.

And his career:

He went into Aviation first, working for a helicopter company. But he was always a “closet investment geek” who eventually landed on retirement/financial planning as a good fit for his interests and skills. He now works for Edward Jones, and likes the opportunity to be his own boss and to have his own office. He likes to help people and to work with them face-to-face.

No More Fly Fishing

And lastly, his hobbies: He said he used to fly fish–until he had kids! Now he’s into kid sports, and activities such as coaching. Also very involved with St. Peter’s Church in Newberg. But watch out…President Jim suggested a future meeting on the topic of fly fishing, so we may not have heard the last from Mike on that one.

By the way, Mike has graciously offered to take over responsibilities for new members for our club. Thanks, Mike, and now you’re official!

 

Dining In Style

Think it’s safe to say we were all taken with the fabulous new dining hall at George Fox …and not only did we have a beautiful room for our first luncheon there last week, but a great view to boot. If you didn’t make the meeting, be sure check out this awesome facility this week.

 

Auction Results

Grant Gerke provided a wrap-up of the April auction. This was Grant’s last year as event chair, and he sure deserves a big round of applause for his great work and dedication over the past years. Thank you so much, Grant!

A shout out to Linda Potter and Lisa Joyce, too, for their admin support.

Gross sales were about $153,00, a little bit less than last year. But the Foundation will get a contribution of $58,535; Helping Hands $38,250; and the Club, $10,000.

Very, very nice.

Denise Bacon will be our new auction chair. Thanks for volunteering, Denise.

 

Get Ready to Boogie

Tunes on Tuesday starts up July 12 with Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts. But be sure to mark your calendar for July 26, when both Newberg Rotary clubs sponsor the band, Dancehall Days. This is the band’s first time at Tunes, and they look to be a lot of fun. They play a variety of popular music, from Rhianna to Kenny Loggins to Bruno Mars.

 

 

 

 

 

Wahoo! Our June 8 meeting will be at our new digs at GFU….. the just-opened student dining hall named Canyon Commons.

The address is 1400 E. North St., but doubt it is even on Google yet.

The road entrance is on Villa Rd., between Fulton and 99W. The hall is behind the new dorms. We will be in one of the three banquet rooms… watch for our sign.

Sincere thanks to Todd Engle and the terrific staff at Friendsview for hosting us during the interim.

Those who attended last week’s meeting learned about THE place to be during all this hot weather we’ve been having….. the new Carlton pool house. Our club helped to fund the new facility, and as a “thank you,” there will even be a wall tile engraved with our name on it. Wahoo again!

Pat Swanick, chair of the Friends of the Carlton Pool, gave the presentation and was joined by Carlton City Manager Chad Olsen and Carlton City Council Member Shirley Ward-Mullen.

The story of the successful construction of the pool house is truly a great example of the old adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.”

After a proposed bond measure to fund a new pool house was defeated, the city regrouped. A new steering committee was formed, pencils were sharpened,and a smaller bond measure was proposed. Community outreachand other measures were accomplished and additional funding sources were located. (That‘s where we come in!)

Long story short, the project got a green light and the new house is now open. Carlton has the only outdoor community pool in Yamhill County and it’s open to everyone from anywhere.

As was said at the meeting, Carlton has become a wine-testing mecca, has great restaurants and a super bakery, and now, a showcase pool facility. Be sure to check it all out sometime soon (and donations still graciously accepted).

Guests last week included:

• Our intern, Britta Stewart, who is writing the history of our club
• Riley Rice, neighbor of Ray Hillman, who invited Riley to attend
• Matt Stephens, who is also checking out our club

I’m sure you’ve read the new District newsletter, but just in case you haven’t—there is a large feature article on our club and our 80^th anniversary. A third wahoo!

It’s time to “Rotarize!” That’s a catchy new verb that Leah learned in Seoul. I’m sure she’ll share more on its meaning and usage, but in the meantime let’s all plan to Rotarize at the June 30 Installation Dinner.

I’m sure Alan Methven’s fine wines will help us do that.

INSTALLATION DINNER
Thursday, June 30th
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Methven Family Vineyards
11400 Southeast Westland Lane, Dayton, Oregon
Phone: 503-868-7259

Honoring: International Volunteers: Nepal and Guatemala
Perfect Attendance Awards; Years of Service Awards
Past President’s Award
Induction of incoming officers for 2016-17

Please mark your calendar!