March 2, 2010
Contrary to the old saying that March is supposed to "Come like a Lion", today's meeting was rather meek. Attendance was fairly good, however we had little business to discuss. King Lion Ken announced the birthday Lions for March - Mel Thompson, Rudy Spanich, Traci Sandstrom, and Tracy Pelan. Only Mel was present to hear our lilting birthday serenade, and pay his fine.
A couple of announcements before we proceeded to the program for today: ...A reminder that we will meet at the new Immanuel Baptist Church next meeting 3/9. .....Students of the Month for February - March 16 meeting....While scouting the highway to determine the need for litter pick up, Lion Jerry Erickson noticed that someone had dumped a mattress along the road. He returned a few days later and the mattress was gone? ( In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the Lion sleeps tonight.)
Lion Paul Prichard introduced our program for today - Jeff Myers, Chief of Police for the City of Hoquiam.
In keeping with his philosophy of "Citizens need to know and have the right to
know what happens in their Community", Chief Myers shared with us the 2009
Hoquiam Police Department Annual Report.
He says that after the lowest crime rates in over ten years for 2008, crimes were up significantly in 2009. [ editor's theory : As 2008 was an election year, most of the crooks took time off to politic?] Although the crime rates are up in 2009, they are more in-line with the rate of 2006-07. Jeff states, " There are no valid links, however I feel strongly that the deep National recession had a direct impact on our local crime rates."
During 2009, all law enforcement related incidents increased by 231 from the number recorded in 2008 (13,064). Officers were involved in 13.295 law incidents during the 2009 year. This number represents all calls for service, as well as traffic stops and other police officer-initiated law enforcement issues. Of the serious crimes, the most significant increases were Burglary (+40) and robbery (+8). The number of reported thefts also increased by 25 incidents.
As always, Jeff's report was very complete, very knowledgably presented, and very appreciative of the job that our City of Hoquiam Police officers are doing. After answering many questions, Jeff thanked us for having him today and concluded.
Mike Lytle's name was drawn for the attendance pot.
March 9, 2010
Today's meeting was held at the newly completed Immanuel Baptist Church in Hoquiam. Lynda Dokke and Linda Hurd treated us to great sandwiches and super delicious home-made vegetable soup. Pastor Kent Gravelly gave us a very detailed recounting of all of the work, donations (both labor and money), and teamwork to get this facility erected and doing God's business. He then guided us on a tour through the Church. A very impressive building indeed. Below is my first attempt at what will be self explanatory....if it works?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPHWZrJ36gM
March 16, 2010
The meeting started with Lion Rudy being a bit miffed for not serenading him for on his birthday. After much discussion, it was determined that this was the first meeting that Rudy has attended this month. After "Calming the Cro", we rendered an award winning rendition of Happy Birthday to Rudy. We had two guests today; Lion Paula Dean introduced her friend Dawn Schoch. Paula has asked Dawn to join our Club. (the issue is still in doubt)...Lion Ray Pumphrey introduced his guest, Wes Nagatta. Wes represents an ambulance company in Centralia.
Having no further business, save reminding all members of the Charter Party March 25th, we moved to the program of the day.
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Lion Paul Dean regaled us with a report - replete with pictures - on his most recent Healthcare Ministries mission to Ecuador. This was a six-day mission that visited three villages. The villages were accessible only by dugout canoes and from the pictures Paul showed, looked a tad dangerous. Several hundred natives received, medical, dental, and optical attention. Paul's area of expertise is in optical assessment and providing refurbished eyeglasses to the people in need. Many of the glasses provided were ones that our Club had collected. As always, Paul's presentation was very interesting and, above all, very complete.
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Once again the great "God's of Chance" have smiled on yours truly and willed that I win the pot.
March 23, 2010
As has been the normal lately, we had no business after the bell. Further - and completely out of character for our Club - there wasn't even any monkey business. ( I observed Roger looking around the room and mentally taking measurements. I think that he noticed the laid-back attitude this day?)
After the final reminder of the Charter Party Thursday, we proceeded to our program for today.
Lion Secty Jerry introduced our speaker for today - Scott Olmstead, Co-founder
of Panel Tech Industries in Hoquiam.
Scott has spoken to our Club in the past so today's message was more of a Company update than an introduction to Panel Tech. He did however remind us that Panel Tech has several ecology awards and is recognized as a forerunner in the industry of eco-friendly composite manufacturing.
As business is very good for the Company, they have partnered with other companies to sell combined shares publicly. In the future Panel Tech will possibly issue Corporate shares to sell publicly.
He shared with us some of the products that Panel Tech manufactures and explained thoroughly how the product is fabricated. Scott said that the Company is always looking for new applications for their product and customers for such new products. He showed three recent product applications that are on the market. 1) Handles for kitchen utensils. The customer being a high-end kitchen utensil company.
2) Rims used in the manufacturing of musical (?) drums. The customer being a well known musical instrument company. (Scott mentioned the name, but I forgot) 3) Handles for the famous Buck knife. Interestingly, Panel Tech fabricates the blank handle and they outsource the fit and finish work to a small company in Raymond. (a few more people off the unemployment roles.)
Scott's presentation today certainly made us thankful that Panel Tech opted to do business in Grays Harbor County. The Company has 45 full time employees with a management team that truly cares about the Twin Harbors.
Mark Maxfield's name was drawn for the attendance pot.
March 30, 2010
The sound of the bell today ushered out the month of March. Sadly that sound reverberated over many empty chairs. Lion Schaefer thanked all who attended the Charter Party and the Club, in turn, thanked Jerry and Nola for once again facilitating a successful evening.
Today's meeting was our monthly business meeting and we discussed several issues. Once again our ongoing school audio and visual screening was discussed, and once again we thanked Lion Dr. Ed Wayman for his magnanimous dedication to the project.
The problems surrounding our newspaper drop box was again visited. Of late, we have had several calls from the City directing our attention to clutter around the dumpster due to over-filling. The person in Elma, with whom we are doing business, is apparently a ghost. No one in our Club seems to know his name or address, just his phone number. He will replace the dumpster only after numerous phone calls. Nobody seems to know when last he gave the Club our share of the recyclable paper sales? Rather than start a dust-up with this - obviously less than honorable - person, a motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously, that we have him remove the dumpster and consider our association with him ended. Further, we asked that he remit all monies due our Club from the past association. (Good luck with this?) This writer volunteered to write an explanation to the citizens of Hoquiam for publication in the Daily World. (Not the Monday edition either.) We will continue to pursue a more manageable site for newspaper recycling.
The name drawn for the attendance pot was Vern Al Equinox.
