Baaab's Bulletin 
                                     Highlights of the meeting of Tuesday, September 4 

 a    Pledge - Mike Visse was missing in action (MIA) to lead the pledge, however Terry Jarvis said he knew the words and would help out.  He didn’t really know all the words, he just started with ‘I’ and the club filled in the rest. 

Invocation - Contrary to rumors this year’s auction really does have a prayer, provided by Rorry Dunbar.  

Song - Song leader Vicki Puckett was also MIA (first day of school being a real lame excuse).  Former jet plane instructor Al Marsh stepped up leading the club in the ‘Star Spangled Banner’.

Guests - John Creason received his Red Badge, be sure to seek him out.  Exchange Student Emeritus (German) Rosa and Current Exchange Student (France) Laura Topin were also present with Laura telling us she likes cinema, swimming, basketball and reading.  After graduation she would like to study international trade.  She likes the US as it is a big country with lots of different cultures.  Welcome Laura!

Exchange student Laura Topin and Superintendent Karen Forys

Speaker - Karen Forys, Northshore School District (NSD) Superintendent.  Dr Forys said if you are a Northshore parent you can expect your children to read comprehensively and write with clarity.  If you are an employer you can expect a labor force that can communicate effectively.  As a civic group you should know that your donations to special programs such as Kokanee Camp is money well spent. 

Ten years ago NSD was in the 35^th percentile for reading on a national test, which Forys considers failure as reading is the integral to all other subjects.  After a 7 year project to retrain elementary school teachers how to teach NSD is now in the 90^th percentile, a remarkable achievement. 

‘Just Write Books’ are now being used in classrooms written on the same topics, but at different reading levels so that everyone in the class can participate.  Second graders now speak of ‘theme’ and ‘author’s purpose’.  

Math is now being worked on.  NSD was in the 25^th percentile and is now in the 75^th percentile.  Forys wants this to improve.   

District funding is a perpetual problem.  The national average funding is $7,700/student, NSD is $6,600.  This means some programs will be getting cut such as traffic safety which can be obtained elsewhere.

Club News  

Prez Pisani is looking for a club coordinator for the District Conference in April. 

We have half the number of auction items we had this time last year.  Catalog cut off is

1 ½ weeks before the auction, however please get your procurement forms to Rorry this week if possible so that he won’t be buried at the last minute.  His fax number is 425-486-2344. 

Even though you have been billed for attending the auction, please send in the RSVP as we need to know your food preference.  If you can’t attend, please give your tickets to someone who can attend and will spend big bucks. 

We are also looking auction table managers to see that the tables are set up and that the successful bidders receive the correct items. 

See Truglio for purchasing an ad in the catalog.  They range from $200 to $600.  10 to 12 spots remain. 

Sgt at Arms 

Sgt Greenwood put the fear in Rotarians this AM holding up a list of what should be Happy Dollars.  Speak up or get fined double.  Whitsell/Truglio went boating.  Truglio is 8 days no smoking. Webster returned from Desolation Sound with her daughters just in time for school, Gratz’ & Cufley’s daughters got married, but to other people.  Anniversaries include DeSmet - 36 years, Hendrickson 38 years.  Leonardson sister just got married. 

Birthdays - Wayne Parris takes pride in retaining the title ‘Oldest Woodinville Rotarian’, with Gordy Green hot on his heels.