A “LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED” CLASSIFICATION TALK
Surveys have shown that “Classification Talks” are one of our members’ favorite program topics. The concept of a “Classification Talk” apparently comes from the days when Rotary clubs tried to have a cross-section of careers represented, and members were targeted and “classified” by their type of employment. New member Beth Pent gave that concept a real challenge with her fascinating talk last week.
Beth was born in Philadelphia. Her father was a missionary and a pastor. When she was very young, he took the family to Iquitos, Peru, to run a church there. When a younger sister died at 6 months of age, her dad became bitter and “went native” (left the church and the family). Her mom then moved them to Cheyenne, Wyoming. “I got out of Cheyenne as soon as I could,” she smiled.
She joined a traveling sales crew, then joined the military. “I told them I wouldn’t sign up unless I could go to Germany,” she said. She got to go, but turned out to be “Private Benjamin Extraordinaire.” She ended up marrying and moving back to Cheyenne.
“I did see some beauty there this time, but I divorced two years later and decided to go to college.”
She went to Laramie to study, but felt she needed a PhD and went to the State University of New York. “I got a masters in political psychology and then went to Lexington, Kentucky to get a PhD in geography. I was in my 40’s when I got out of college. Found out I was a specialist in being a liberal arts person!”
After that, she moved to Colorado Springs and worked for an organization that prepared master plans for the National Guard.
“That contract ran out and 9/11 happened. and I didn’t know what to do,” she said. So she headed for Poulsbo, Washington where she was offered a job with the Navy as a planner. “Then the Navy consolidated and I was redundant.”
“I thought, ‘I’m going to find something I can do working for myself,” she said. So she got a sales job and her territory was the Pacific Northwest. “I sold stuff to gift stores. I sold crap. People buy crap,” she laughed.
One of the gift stores was in Leavenworth, and that led her to the small town of Peshastin. She fell in love with the area and bought a small house. “I figured I could work from home there as well as anywhere else,” she said. About that time, a colleague noticed she was good at sales and offered her a job at a funeral home.
She turned it down, but then found out that, “I am so bad at retail sales I lost customers. So I called the funeral home again and they had some jobs in Oregon.” And here I am!
What does she do? I help families think about the inevitable. Being diagnosed with a terminal disease is not the time to do your planning. Going on hospice is not the time. You don’t want to wait.”
She gave us a helpful list of items to consider and said if you would like to know more, you can call her. Have you talked to a professional? You should.
AUCTION PLANNING BEGINS IN EARNEST
April 28. April 28. April 28. Got it? Be sure to put it on your calendar. That is the date of the 2018 auction at The Allison Hotel. The theme this year will be EAT DRINK PLAY YAMHILL COUNTY. Club members brainstormed ideas last week to try to meet a goal of raising at least $70,000 this year. According to Denise, some important ways to do that are to buy a sponsorship, which starts at $250, or a Golden Ticket for $100. Auction proceeds allow our club to offer scholarships and grants that benefit local kids and organizations like Helping Hands, The Mountain View Middle School Resource Room, the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony and so much more. There will be an auction committee meeting after lunch on the 24th.
GUESTS
Nicky Colo’n, president and events representative with the nonprofit “PNW for Puerto Rico Relief,” visited with us again. He said they are having a crab feed fundraising event on March 9 from 5:30 to 8:30pm at the Beaverton Elks. Tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance. For more info, call 503-757-3391.
Alex Davis has moved to the area from Grants Pass, where he went through RYLA. He wants to stay active with Rotary, so came to check us out.
Also checking us out was Patrick Bancke, a real estate broker specializing in Newberg, Bend and Lake Oswego. He said his family has been in Rotary “forever,” and now that his last kid is in college, he has time to give back.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. EVENT
DEEMED A SUCCESS

A full house at the Cultural Center watches the Edwards Elementary School Folkloric dance troupe perform.
Our club is a supporter of Newberg’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday event at the Cultural Center. Approx. 350 attended this year’s gathering, which featured Ines Pena, the first ever Latina to be the keynote speaker. Much of the program, which also included a variety of performances by local talent, was translated into Spanish.
CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT TRAINING NOW AVAILABLE IN NEWBERG
Thanks to the leadership of Club President Todd Engle, a new option for a career path in the health care industry is available in Newberg. In his role as executive director at Friendsview, Todd saw a need in the community for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training. He gathered together local interests, such as Providence, the Newberg School District, Willamette Valley Medical Center, Rotary and Chemeketa Community College to develop a certified, two-month program that meets state requirements. The class will be offered at Newberg High School for the second time in February. For more information, please contact Todd.
BITS AND PIECES
Dave Parker reported that the Scholarship Committee is gearing up to award close to $50,000 to local high school students this year. Informational materials will be sent to schools the second week of Feb. Readers will be needed to review the applications in early May, so if you have an interest in volunteering, please contact Dave.
Before she left for vacation in Mexico, Marge O’Connell told Paula Radich that a total of 83 tee and polo shirts have been ordered by both clubs. They are expected to arrive in mid-Feb. According to Paula, Marge will not let you have your shirt unless you pay first, so start saving! Kudos to Marge for her work coordinating all the orders.
Corey Zielsdorf thanked the club for its support in providing tee shirts for the Newberg High School Robotics Club.