September has arrived and the Woodinville Rotary crowd was back in full force this morning will all tables filled, some to overflowing.  Vacation season appears to have ended.

                 

Attending Tuesday's meeting were Medic One paramedic Mark Donnell, Evergreen Hospital emergency room physician Chuck Pilcher
and emergency medical services-trained Woodinville firemen Lt. Darren Bunger, Ian Wagner and Dale Walling.

This morning the Sammamish Grange was the safest place in Western Civilization to have a heart attack.  We enjoyed the presence of no fewer than five emergency trained professionals at the meeting all in support of our program from them Medic 1 Foundation.  Tom Litchford, member of the Foundation's board, made a fine presentation on the status of Medic 1 in the region and the role of the foundation. 

Among the interesting facts:

     ·        The Seattle area is one of the top two regions for cardiac arrest survival rates: 46%

     ·        This area’s success is based upon a “tiered response system” that starts with citizens being trained in CPR and first aid, moves through firemen trained as emergency medical technicians and paramedics to our region’s excellent hospital trauma system led by Harborview Medical Center.

     ·        Taxes pay for the staffing, vehicles and equipment in the system but do not cover research, special training and medical quality review.  This is where the Medic 1 foundation steps it to raise money and cover the costs.

Medic One trustee Tom Litchford....also a candidate for commissioner of the Woodinville Fire and Life Safety District in November.

Other highlights of the morning’s meeting:

     ·        Our new exchange student Andrea was introduced.  In the short two days that she has been here she has visited the Space Needle and the Japanese Gardens and taken a boat trip on Lake Washington.  What is there left to do?  In her first mini-presentation to the club Andrea demonstrated a fine wit, a strong voice and poise that bode well for a fine year with our club.  Too bad the only activity left to do with Andrea is game of scrabble.

     ·        Alex Hopkins promoted the Rotary Academy and president-elect Erv will be our first 2009 student.  Watch out Rotarians!  Alex is co-chair of the Academy and clearly on fire.

     ·        Joe/Eric/Linda/Rorry reported on the October charity event.  Even though we are over half way to target procurements the message was to keep procuring.  Eric and Linda discussed the Audience Development program (AKA Butts in Chairs Plan).  Our goal is to fill the venue with over 300 people ready to spend.  Invitations are going out this week to all former attendees.

     ·        Sergeant at arms Larry Leonardson probably set a personal best in collections mixing old fashioned strong arm tactics and many happy type dollars.  He even extracted a real dollar from Snappy Jarvis.

Despite a very full and fun meeting President Al was able to ring the closing bell right at 8:30. The fall meeting season has started with a fine meeting!

           No marble reward for G.E.A DeSmet

                     ... but Roger "bagged" some Idaho trout