CASCADE SPRING FLING June 11th 6pm TC&GC
$45.00 per person
Italian Buffet including wine during dinner
Your check is your reservation Must be received by June 4th
Please mail to:
Cascade Club of Tacoma
P.O. Box 39393
Lakewood, WA 98496
Or give to Rick Carr no later than May 22nd
CASCADE CLUB MEETING OF MAY 21, 2019
Our last meeting until September 10, 2019
A big crowd, including guests, was disappointed when our scheduled speaker, Ed Troyer, did not appear because of an emergency. In years past, this may have been a lousy end of the Spring Season, but
because of an excellent “Who Are Those Guys” presentation by our own Steve Anderson, our Spring Season ended on a high note of great
fellowship.
Steve’s background includes being a track star at the U of Oregon where he was almost an Olympian. After about 60 years, Steve’s school record in the 100 yard dash still stands and may never be broken. He told us why. Steve also brought tears to his eyes with his “woulda, coulda, shoulda story” in that for the lack of $1,000, he could have been an initial investor in Nike, which was being founded by his fellow track team member, Phil Knight. Had Steve been able to invest then, his $1,000 would have become $50 million!
When we reassemble in September, our New Board of Directors and Officers will be: President: Jim Rooks; Vice President: Dick Muri; Treasurer (for Life): Rick Carr; Secretary: Mike Jones; Program Chairs:
Bill Jackson and Dave Sheean; Web site administrator: John McGowen
(in abstentia); Scribe (for Life): Phil Sloan (and You?); Additional board Members: Bill Abbott, Bud Winter, Dave Cotant and Dale Hall.
LAST EVENT BEFORE SEPTEMBER 10, 2019
SPRING FLING: JUNE 11, 6 PM at TC&GC. $45 per person,
featuring an Italian Buffet, including wine during dinner. Your
(valid) check payable to Cascade Club of Tacoma, P.O. Box
39393 Lakewood, WA 98496 must be received by June 4 in the
mail. Guests are especially welcome, but reservations for all
are required. A big crowd has already signed up, but there is
still room for those who haven’t — if their check is received by
June 4.
Scribe’s commentary: This has been a great year under the leadership
of Rich Wall. Hats off to him and the program chairs, Bill Jackson and Dave Sheean for all the great programs – arranged with the assistance of you, our members. The entire Board, save for Rich, Carroll Simpson and Everett Cooper will return for the Fall Season. With your help, the Fall Season will be even better!
Please email your suggestions for programs to Bill Jackson at
bjackson1936@yahoo.com and mark your calendars to return for our first meeting on September 10.
In the meantime, HAVE A HEALTHY AND HAPPY SUMMER.
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, lonely scribe who is still looking for
a regular back-up.
CASCADE CLUB MEETING of May 14, 2019
Twas a fine Spring day with mixed rain and sunshine when a goodly crowd gathered to be enlightened about the many programs of Safe Streets as told by Wanda Rachelle and Eric Harstedt. Several of us admitted to knowing nothing about the mission of Safe Streets, one of whom said he thought it was the pot-hole commission for the county.
On the contrary, Safe Streets is a non-profit organization which connects you with resources and education to take charge, make change and ensure your Pierce County neighborhood is a safe and thriving community. To learn more about Safe Streets go to www.safest.org.
WHO ARE THOSE GUYS” There was no presenter this week. This program has been a roaring success but we need volunteers for the Fall Season.
Coming Events:
Meeting of May 21, 2019: Last meeting of the Spring season. Ed Troyer of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department returns to complete his report on the Sheriff’s Department. His comments when he spoke to us a few weeks ago about the homeless problem in Pierce County were so compelling and drew so many questions that he ran out of time. He has a lot more to say, including about scams perpetrated on seniors.
SPRING FLING: JUNE 11, 2019, 6 PM at TC&GC. $45 per person,
featuring an Italian Buffet, including wine during dinner. Your (valid) check payable to Cascade Club of Tacoma, P.O. Box 39393 Lakewood, WA 98496 must be received by June 4 in the mail or handed to Rick Carr no later than at the meeting on May 21. Guests are especially welcome but reservations for all are required.
The Spring Fling will be our last get together before the Fall Season. However, Jim Gallanatti welcomes all to join him for lunch on Tuesdays in the bar. He says if you miss a meal, you will never get it back!
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, scribe who is still looking for a regular back-up.
HAVE A HEALTHY AND HAPPY SUMMER
CASCADE CLUB MEETING MAY 7, 2019
Twenty-eight Cascade members and one guest sat down to lunch at the Tacoma County Club to hear Mary Dodsworth, the Recreation and
Community Services Director for the City of Lakewood.
Her talk “What’s Happening in the Parks” gave us an update on the topic.
Safe, Clean and Green is their motto to create open sp;aces for all the
citizens of Lakewood.
Now the Parks Department also takes care of the city streets after they are built.
Some activities include the Farmer’s Market on Tuesdays from June to Sept. 10. It is on Tuesdays because none of the other 80 plus markets in our area are open then. Over 50 are on weekends. The farmers use Mondays to prepare for the week so Lakewood’s market starts with the freshest products.
SummerFest is the City Festival on July 13 at Fort Steilacoom Park where you can find arts and crafts along with food and a car show.
Truck and Tractor Day in the Fall with hay rides, the Holiday Festival on Dec. 7 with the lighting of the City’s tree.
They run Day Camps for kids and a Senior Center with lots of activities.
They also build parks and new signage for the entrance to the City. The next big project will be the Harry Todd Park along the water for fishing, a paddle club, picnicing etc., all ADA accessible.
Fort Steilacoom park is their main park near Pierce College and JBLM and they are in the process of restoring the H barn their – probably a $6M project. They are expanding the Chambers Creek Trail in conjunction with U.P. and Chambers Bay. Lots more on the horizon.
Don’t miss the Spring Fling coming up June 11. Get your checks in to Rick Carr at $45 per along with your dues payment. Next week we will hear from the Safe Streets people and the last meeting of the year will bring Ed Troyer back.
Respectfully submitted by the substitute scribe as once again Phil Sloan is going down (or is it up?) the river – the Mississippi that is and Rich Wall will be heading up a tour in Europe to visit WWII haunts.
MINUTES OF CASCADE CLUB MEETING of APRIL 30, 2019
It was ironic that on this day when Spring was bursting out all over, the rhododendrons, tulips and daffodils were in full bloom and pollen counts high, that 28 Cascadians gathered to hear Chris Fruitrich tell us about the services of End of Life Washington, an organization which supports people preparing for their final days and advocates for their right to a peaceful death.
Mr. Fruitrich stressed that regardless of a person’s philosophy about the manner in which they want to die, everyone should plan ahead by setting forth their wishes in the numerous forms and procedures available to them from organizations such as End of Life Washington. Its forms are available for free on its website www.endoflife.org/documents.
He also clarified the widely misunderstood Washington Death with Dignity Act. Its details can be reviewed at https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYour Family/IllnessandDisease/DeathwithDignityAct.
By proper preplanning, decedents’ wishes can be heeded and their families can be spared the heartaches and expense of disputes which usually occur without proper documentation.
“WHO ARE THOSE GUYS”
Our presenter was our esteemed Secretary Dr. Michael Jones, DVM. Mike has lived his entire life in Tacoma where he followed in his father’s footsteps at the Jones Animal Hospital. For 20 years, Mike volunteered, without pay, one day a week at the Tacoma Zoo where he was the only veterinarian. He was succeeded by 2 full time and paid vets, which could cause a cynic to wonder if, unlike his successors, Mike believes in Death with Dignity for the zoo’s animals.
Coming Events
Meeting of May 7, Mary Dodsworth, Lakewood Parks- Recreation and Community Service Director. On Lakewood Projects.
Meeting of May 14, 2019. A representative of Safe Streets with tell us of its programs. Details next week.
SPRING FLING: JUNE 11, 2019, 6 PM at TC&C. $45 per person, featuring an Italian Buffet, including wine during dinner. Your (valid) check payable to Cascade Club of Tacoma, P.O. Box 39393 Lakewood, WA 98496 must be received by June 4 or handed to Rick Carr no later than May 22.
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, scribe who is now drafting his End of Life Directives.
MINUTES OF CASCADE CLUB MEETING APRIL 23, 2019
They’re back! Like the swallows of San Juan Capistrano, our snowbirds have returned and we had the biggest crowd in several weeks. They could be spotted among us by their now fading suntans.
Our speaker today was Ed Troyer, the “T.V. face of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department” who gave us a frightening inside look at who the real residents are of he now 28 known encampments of the “homeless” which have sprouted around Pierce County. Contrary to popular perception, today in Pierce County there are very few single mothers living in abandoned cars and tents with their children because they can get assistance from shelters who feed them. Instead, the typical residents are drug users and addicts who have chosen to “live off the grid” and to reject the assistance and opportunities available to them, choosing instead to make their living through theft and drug dealing in the surrounding communities. The majority of the residents are not from this area but instead have come from all over the country and Latin America, many from drug cartels. Over 90% of the residents are drug users. Theft rates among merchants and residents near the encampments have soared. For example, an Albertsons store near one formerly made 3 calls per month o the sheriff’s department to report theft. It now averages 85 calls per month.
The “residents” are increasingly sophisticated and have set up their own governing bodies. including “mayors” with expertise in taking advantage of the law to prolong their squatting on private and public property and are skilled at litigating in court to enforce their rights under the law. They use social media and fences to sell stolen goods, including lawnmowers. barbecues, bicycles, tools, automobiles and especially equipment from construction sites.
Bill Jackson, one of our returning snowbirds, was our “Who are those Guys” presenter. Bill told us how he grew up in the oil country of Oklahoma and after floundering about for several years after high school in search of what he wanted to be when he grew up, he had to settle to be a doctor.
Coming Events
Meeting of April 30, 2019: Speaker Chris Fruitrich, former Washington DC journalist on End of Life choices and the Death with Dignity program in Washington State.
Meeting of May 7, 2019: Mary Dodsworth, Lakewood Parks- Recreation and Community Service Director. On Lakewood Projects.
SPRING FLING: JUNE 11, 2019, 6 PM at TC&C. $45 per person, featuring an Italian Buffet, including wine during dinner. Your (valid) check payable to Cascade Club of Tacoma, P.O. Box 39393 Lakewood, WA 98496 must be received by June 4 or handed to Rick Carr no later than May 22.
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, hypochondriac scribe who can’t wait for next week’s program.
CASCADE CLUB MEETING April 16, 2019
Today we had Brian Minnich who is the assistant director of the Freedom Foundation as our speaker. He came to Washington in 1991, prior to that he was in Washington D.C. working for Mitch McConnell. He has been with the Freedom Foundation for about four years. The Foundation has transitioned from a Think Tank putting out White Papers on education reform, property rights etc. to work against government employee unions that work against government reform.
Looking to free all who want to be free from mandatory union membership under the Union Reform Project in Washington state. They work to tell employees that they have the right NOT to be a member of the government employee union. They have cost the SEIU (State Employee Internat’l Union) about $27.53 M in the last four years in lost Union dues income. Janus v. AFSCME case says that a government cannot force employees to be members of the union as a condition of employment. The Freedom Foundation informs them of that right by law.
They work in Washington and Oregon and have expanded into California by filing law suits and by extending outreach using email, direct mail, phone calls, person-to-person and social media to enlighten people of their rights. They tell the employees how the union spends their dues and how most of it goes nationally rather locally to further the union’s agendas.
The Foundation sets up Opt Out Today websites to allow union members to opt out of their government union in each state. 17,268 Wa. State union members have opted out in the past year due to the Foundation’s campaign of information. On average each of the workers pay $800 per year in dues. The Foundation also has a legal team of nine attorneys with 55 ongoing cases focusing on forcing unions to adhere to the Janus decision by the Supreme Court and campaign finance complaints against expenditures by the unions, union fraud in forging dues cards etc. The Foundation indicated that if our state legislature passed a Capital Gains tax that they would challenge it legally as it would be considered an income tax that is unconstitutional in this state..The Freedom Foundation is funded through donations only. The Foundation encourages a local union representation over a statewide or national union that spends much of it’s money on political issues rather than representing and negotiating for the local employee.
Remember the SUB visit is Thursday with a departure time of 07:30 from the Country Club parking lot. Bring your passport etc.
We are looking for Candidates for the offices.
If you have a speaker for any of the last five meetings of the year let Bill Jackson or Dave Sheehan know.
Our Spring Fling is set for June 11 (no meeting during the daytime that day) with an Italian Buffet including table wine for a mere $45 each (Your check is your receipt).
Later he spent his career with Merrill-Lynch helping many of us make money so that we could retire like him. (See the newsletter from two weeks ago).
If you are on the SUB trip don’t forget to bring your ID (Passport or Enhanced Driver’s License), wear soft soled shoes and meet at 07:30 sharp in the parking lot of the Country Club (or for those of us on the west side of the bridge at the old Fred Meyer parking lot of Olympic drive at about 8am) Expect to be finished with Bangor by about 2:30 (14:30 for you military types) leaving about an hour to visit the Undersea Museum. We should return about 5pm (1700 hours).
CASCADE CLUB MEETING ON APRIL 2, 2019
Twenty-five members and one guest, Mark Lewington, a retired New Zealander came to hear our speaker.
But just to avoid being scribe Phil Sloan spoke to us about what it’s like to be alive today. Philip Roscoe Sloan Jr. is getting over three months of illness and has spent his time reflecting on the deaths of his high school and law classmates.
He has thought about what person has been the most influential person in his life – his dad.
Growing up in Adams City, a small town in Colorado that he describes as a shithole. His dad was too old to join the army to go off to war and thus they moved to California where dad worked in the shipyards and afterwards returned to Colorado.
On to the Univ. of Colorado (at a cost of $100 per semester for tuition in that century) where he studied anthropology.
Phil’s dad grew up in Oklahoma during the Depression years but moved to Colorado where he tried his hand at dry-land farming only to loose it during those hard times. He quit school to ride the rails to wherever he could find work to support his family. His hard work kept them going. The last 30 years of his life was spent in Denver at a turret lathe to make pistons. He also bought old shacks to fix up for rental income (young Phil doesn’t think any of us would live in any of them today) that gave he and his wife income until he died at age 77 – always a pessimist.
Phil Jr. went to Boulder in the 1950’s as it was a party school with $1800 in his pocket. He discovered 3.2 beer and California girls, one of which he married and sired a child with six months later. Two more came in rapid succession at which time he was earning $600 per month working for the father-in-law at an insurance company in L.A., California. After fourteen years there he entered night law school at South Western where anyone could get in who had the money. This is where he met several life long friends (who are now passing to the other side causing much of his reflection). He started law school with a wife and three kids and graduated with three kids. He became a lawyer for a start-up insurance firm where if he had accepted stock for payment today he would be a rich man (instead he took a $2000 signing fee – the owner is now a multi-millionaire). Private practice brought him a new wife, an airline stew who introduced him to much traveling but also spent much time away an thus it led to another divorce.
By now he was into boating, sail at that time – stinkpots today, and his kids were headed off to college so Phil felt unneeded as a family man. He has been “single” since 1982 but has lived with Sandy Bobrick for the past 36 years. A New York lawyer, she has been his house partner and law partner just to take care of him all these years.
Hoping that he was adopted Phil has discovered that his parents actually are his as he inherited his mother’s bad eyes, bad hearing, bad ailments and bad attitude.
But from his dad he discovered the most moral individual ever as well as religious (Phil religious???). His (dad) tithed all his life as he felt that as poor as they were there was always someone who needed things more than they did. (On a personal note this scribe has been with Phil when he nonchalantly would give money to a down and out person on the street corner and then strike a most eloquent conversation to find out that individual’s story). Even though life always seemed to be “dumping” on him, he never gave up and even started his own well digging business just to have it go bust (twice).
Phil today has learned that the closer he gets to his end the more respect he has for his dad’s Christian moral life. His dad was the best man he could be.
The SUB tour on April 18 is “full” with over 30 participants. The Gig Harbor group will be picked up in the Olympic Village parking lot between McDonalds and the old Fred Meyer – look for Phil or Mike Jones with a Cougar flag on his car – and the first group will board the bus about 7:30 am at the Country Club parking lot.
Next week we will hear from Col. Jay Miscelli who is the Commander of the 2nd Stryker Brigade at Fort Lewis.
Respectfully submitted by the substitute scribe since Phil didn’t want to have to write about himself.
MINUTES OF CASCADE CLUB March 26, 2019
To be added later.
MINUTES OF CASCADE CLUB OF March 19, 2019
Thanks to El Presidente Rich Wall, our speaker was Erin Shannon, Director of the Center for Small Business and Labor Reform of the Washington Policy Center (WPC) which describes itself as an independent, non-profit, non-partisan think tank which brings a “credible, free-market perspective to the public debate in Washington State”. Whether one agrees with Ms. Shannon or not, she is such an effective presenter of her positions that one wonders how long it will be before she runs for at least state-wide office, if not Congress. Pity any opponent who tries to debate her. Because of our busy agenda of upcoming events, space does allow for a detailed summary of her talk, however you can learn more at www.Washingtonpolicy.com.
Our own past president Ralph Johnson was our “Who Are Those Guys” speaker. Ralph has accomplished so much and received so many professional and avocational honors in his 93 years that it causes one to wonder how he did it all in such a short time. Ralph has been a member for many years and yet it wasn’t until this meeting that most of us learned of his great life.
Next week’s presenter will be Bud Winter. Please keep volunteering to tell your story-learning more about each other enriches the experience of being a Cascadian for all of us.
COMING EVENTS
Meeting March 26, 2019 Major Tuttle of the Army Special Forces
APRIL 18, 2019: This is the REVISED date for the all-day field trip by bus to the Bangor Submarine base. The limit of 35 attendees has been fully subscribed and we now have a waiting list. To finalize your reservation your check in the amount of $35 per person payable to Rich Wall along with the last 4 digits of your social security number(s) must be hand-delivered to Rich at the April 2 meeting or received by mail by Rich at PO ox 99539, Lakewood 98496 no later than April 3. The waiting list will be offered seats in the order their checks are received. The bus will leave the Country Club at 7:30 AM (sharp) and at the Olympic Village Shopping center in Gig Harbor at 8:00 AM. At the gate of the Base, you must present roof of citizenship: a passport, an enhanced driver’s license OR a birth certificate and complete other forms. Bring your own pens. Lunch will be served at the commissary for $5.50 per person. (Navy Bean Soup??) You may bring your own booze for the trip back (but not on the way there.)
We have a more detailed summary of the General Requirements to Attend, Privacy Act Statement and Request to Tour which you must execute. For additional data, contact president @rich.wall@ymail.com. NO RECORDING DEVICES OF ANY TYPE WILL BE PERMITTED. Leave them at home. REMEMBER this is a unique opportunity to visit a highly secured and strategic military site.
Tuesday JUNE 11, 2019, SPRING FLING 6 PM at TC&GC. Details later (Save this Date)
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, temporary scribe until Mike Jones (finally) ascends to the office.
CASCADE CLUB MINUTES MARCH 12, 2019
A Back by Popular Demand performance was given today by Curt Scott of the Preparedness Coalition and Steve O‘Donnell regarding how to be ready for the next “Big One“.
Our last major earthquake here at the Nisqually region was a 6+ shake but the Cascadia Subduction is expected to be 8+ (100 times more devastating) with only a couple of minutes pre–warning. Where will you be? Expect numerous quakes, not just one.
Every 300 to 500 years we expect this size of a quake and the last one was in the early 1700‘s (you can do the math). At this time we are the only area left in the Ring of Fire around the Pacific that has not had an 8.0+ in the last 60 years and thus we are due.
GET READY!!!
- 1. Drop, Cover and Hold until the shaking stops. 2. Protect Your Head, Hands and Feet 3. Shut off the gas, any gas, anywhere 4. Shut off and preserve water 5. Post HELP or OK signs on an exposed window 6. Have fire extinguishers and put some outdoors for others to use in the neighborhood 7. Go to a “Gathering Site” within your neighborhood 8. Form Disaster Response Teams 9. Help your neighbors – work together
Whenever you enter a building or room check it out to know your escape or your safe spot for cover. Stuff flys sideways. Have something to protect your head, leather gloves and heavy shoes for your feet and a flashlight. Keep it handy – like under your bed for easy access.
Keep your shut off tool next to the valve for the gas and know how to shut it off and check the gas meter afterwards to confirm it is off. Reduce your fire risk. Fire always accompanies quakes.
know where your water house shut off system is to avoid contamination and trap the water in your house by shutting off the hot water heater to use for drinking.
Figure out a central gathering place for the neighborhood and help your neighbors. Neighborhood needs this place picked out ahead of time.
Your neighborhood needs a medical team, a search and rescue team and a care team for kids, elderly and pets. Someone in your neighborhood should be a ham radio operator as the cell towers most likely will be gone as well and you may not be able to get out of your neighborhood.
Map your neighborhood to organize, coordinate and work with your neighbors.
Supplies – If you don‘t have it, you won‘t be able to get it. Groups survive better than individuals. Be self sufficient for at least 21 days. PREPARE NOW (before the crisis)
BE A SURVIVOR – NOT A VICTIM
The SUB visit to Bangor has been re–scheduled to April 18 due to operational requirements of the sub itself (Hopefully they aren‘t planning to go to war).
Randy Lindblad gave us his bio. Born in 1939 he became an ophthalmologist practicing in Puyallup after a stint in the Navy. While his wife was alive they enjoyed skiing and sailing but in the last 4 years without her life has slowed down.
NEXT WEEK: Erin Shanahan with the Washington Policy Center and March 26 will be Major Tuttle with Special Forces.
Your regular scribe promises to return by next week.
MINUTES OF CASCADE CLUB OF March 5, 2019
To be added later.
MINUTES OF THE CASCADE CLUB HELD FEB. 26, 2019
As presented by a SUBstitute scribe as Phil Sloan is still in the hospital with SUBtle problems being addressed.
Twenty-three Cascade members along with two speakers gathered at noon to hear Andy Neiditz, the Executive Director, on the SUBject of the South Sound 9-1-1 System. It was far from a SUBcaliber presentation on the origins of our upgraded system of communications that the voters approved of in 2011 with a 25 year sales tax increase, Place it in your SUBconcious to SUBmit a request for a tax relief in 2036. The new system allows 19 police and 22 fire departments in Pierce County to communicate well and be dispatched correctly with one beginning call to 9-1-1. (Note that 911 was a U.S. tragedy in 2001 and that there is no 11 on your phone for your kids to punch in to get a dispatcher). The systems also deals with warrants, concealed weapons permits, fingerprinting, pistol transfers etc. that are Submitted to the courts and into the system. The annual budget of $47,800,000 is not SUBlime in any stretch of the imagination but well worth the expenditures as the previous jurisdictions were SUBdivided into numerous districts. This interoperability of public services agreement is not SUBpar as the many SUBdivisions were brought together and will be moving into a new state of the art building at 35th and Pacific within the next year.
Our weekly member presenter was Tom Morgan, a retired Army artillery man who has served all over the world including some time in Viet Nam but finally decided to SUBmerge himself here in the rainy Pacific Northwest for life.
Next week we will hear from Curt Scott who is with the Peninsula Emergency Preparedness Coalition whose major mission is to help local community and neighborhood residents prepare for large scale emergencies and major disasters including large scale earthquakes, wild fires and similar catastrophes. Mark your calendars and don’t miss it.
Speaking of SUBMARINES: Be sure to sign up soon by emailing Rich Wall at rich.wall@ymail.com with your full name, last 4 of your social security number date of birth for the background check that must be SUBmitted prior to the trip by several weeks. April 18, (Thursday) is date of the excursion. You must be able to traverse a 30 foot ladder down into the SUB. You will also be asked for an enhanced driver’s license, a passport or a birth certificate. The trip is limited to 35 attendees; members, then wives of members and finally guests. Be sure to submit all information for all potential riders and get the info in ASAP.
Respectfully SUBmitted, by a non-SUBversive but SUBdued and SUBstantle SUBcontractor to the real Scribe.
MINUTES OF CASCADE CLUB MEETING OF FEBRUARY 19,2019
An enthusiasticgroup of survivors of the Great Storm of 2019, including two guests, gathered amongst ambiguity as to whether there would be a meeting and/or a speaker. We had a meeting, but not our scheduled speaker. However,our own Dr. David Cotant was previously scheduled to be our “Who are those guys” presenter and with the expanded time, gave us a great program about his career as an oral surgeon. He proved once again that within our membership lie stories which are as informative and entertaining as our best outside speakers.
COMING EVENTS
FEBRUARY 26, 2019: Andrew Neldttz, Director 9/11 System. The Pierce County 911 System. Member Bud Winter will be our “Who are those guys?” presenter.
APRIL 18, 2019: An all-day field trip by bus to the Bangor Submarine base. There will be no meeting that day. The bus will pick us up at the Country Club and in Gig Harbor. There is room for only 35 attendees on a first-come, first-paid and preapproved preliminary security clearance basis. Several members have already expressed a desire to go, however all attendees must now pay the fee and be cleared by the Navy. To start the process, email to Rich.Wall@ymail.com your complete legal name (no nicknames); last name; first name; 0.0. B.; last 4 digits of soc sec no.; whether you are a US Citizen; occupation and if you are retired. Dick will advise you the amount of the fees, including the bus fare. At the gate, for final clearance and admission, you must present proof of citizenship: a passport, an enhanced drivers license OR a birth certificate. (No tickee, no shirtee). There will be a short waiting list until a few days before April 18 in the event of late cancellations after which there will be no refunds.
We have a more detailed summary of the General Requirements to Attend, a Privacy Act Statement and Request To Tour which you must execute. Upon your emailed request to psloan@sloanbobricklaw.com. this scribe will email the forms to you. IF your questions are not answered in those forms, contact president Rich Wall at Rich.wall@ymail.com.
WHO ARE THOSE GUYS? Don’t forget, if you don’t volunteer in advance, you may be commanded to make a spontaneous presentation. We want to hear YOUR story and you will be glad you told it. Please volunteer by emailing Rich Wall at rich.wall@ymail.com.
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, future (ancient) submariner.
Minutes of Cascade Club of (UN) Meeting of February 12, 2019
This scribe’s smug cynicism expressed in the minutes of the meeting of February 5 about the Great Storm of 2019 was wiped out when the storm arrived a week late and shut down the Great Northwest, including the Cascade Club’s meeting of February 12. Nonetheless, we are undaunted and absent another deluge of snow and ice, we will resume on February19.
BTW, the caption under the cartoon was omitted. It said “Two feet of snow in Tacoma — HA!”).
COMING EVENTS
FEBRUARY 19, 2019: Wesley Wenhardt, Executive Director, Foss Waterway Seaport. Seaport’s new developments and Directions.
FEBRUARY 26, 2019: Andrew Neiditz, Director 9/11 System. The Pierce County 911 System.
FIELD TRIP: APRIL 4, 2019: Save this date! An all-day trip to the Bangor Naval Submarine Base. By now those of you who are on our email list will have received the email of February 13 from Jim Rooks via Rich Wall with a list of fascinating facts about the class of nuclear submarine we will be touring. IF you hurry and sign up, you will be viewing an incredible weapon which we all hope will never be used. We are limited to 35 attendees. (first come-first served). Background checks are required, so three weeks in advance of April 4 we must submit a list of the names of attendees, their dates of birth and the last 4 digits of their social security numbers. At the gate, you must show one piece of I.D. An enhanced driver’s license, a passport or a birth certificate. President Rich Wall will present detailed Instructions for submitting this data soon.
WHO ARE THOSE GUYS?Don’t forget, If you don’t volunteer in advance, you may be commanded to make a spontaneous presentation. We want to hear your story and you will be glad you told it. Please vounteer by emailing Rich Wall at Rich Wall@ymail.com.
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, formerly smug scribe who apologizes for pissing off Mother Nature.
Minutes of Cascade Club of February 5, 2019
Despite the near hysteria our politics-weary media tried to whip up with dire warnings of pending storms, a hearty group braved the nearly one inch of snow to enjoy a great meeting. Our speaker was Michelle Douglas, executive director of the Emergency Food Network (of Pierce County). Her enthusiasm and knowledge is inspiring. When she asked how many of us had been involved with the EFN, her cryptic response to the number who raised their hands was “you can’t convince me that your motto is Self above Service”. EFN acts as a distribution center to its 71 partners. Last year, with a budget of $3 million and 3,000 volunteers, EFN distributed $22 million in food and had 1,300,000 visits. There is a constant and growing need for volunteers. For answers to questions or to learn how to volunteer or donate, ask any of us who have volunteered or go to the EFN website at www.efoodnet.com The “work” is easy and gratifying.
COMING EVENTS
FEBRUARY 12, 2019: Captain Bobby Tuttle, Special Forces. Modern Special Forces in the Army.
FEBRUARY 19, 2019: Wesley Wenhardt, Executive Director, Foss Waterway Seaport. Seaport’s new developments and Directions.
FIELD TRIP: APRIL 4, 2019: Save this date! An all- day trip to the Bangor Naval Submarine Base. There will be no meeting at the TC&GC that week. We are limited to 35 attendees (first come-first served) and you must submit the numbers of 2 pieces of i.d. for the Navy two weeks in advance for a background check to authorize your attendance. A copy of your birth certificate, the numbers of your driver’s license and passport will suffice plus the last 4 digits of your social security number. Instructions submitting this data will follow soon.
WHO ARE THOSE GUYS ? Thanks to the suggestion of Chuck Forster, this feature of our meetings is a roaring success and is now a tradition. This week we heard from Fred Willis and Bill Abbott, more proof that we Cascadians are indeed an impressive lot! With our military veterans, we could start our own militia. We want to hear YOUR story and you will be glad you told it. Please volunteer by emailing Rich Wall at rich.wall@ymail.com.
2 Feet of snow in Tacoma.
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, Scribe,
who, as a mere child, in Colorado walked barefoot for miles uphill both ways in 3 feet of snow to and from school with his sister on his back.
CASCADE MINUTES OF JAN 22, 2019
We were entertained by our Pierce County historian par excellence and past Tacoma mayor, Bill Baarsma. With his amazing memory of events and people he painted the inside story of the year that the Seattle Sonics played their home games at the Tacoma Dome while their arena in Seattle was being remodeled. Mayor Baarsma calls his presentation Tacoma Art of the Deal”. Bill was mayor of Tacoma in 1994 and recounted the complex multiple negotiations that were involved in landing the contract with Barry Ackerley, owner of the Sonics, to have the team play their home season at the Tacoma Dome. After winning the first game of playoff against a lesser rated Los Angeles team Seattle lost the second game by one point. Los Angeles went on to win their series depriving Tacoma of possible several millions in profit in playoff revenue.
January 29, 2019: Next week our speaker is George Pessemeir’s grandson, Josh Dunn,publisher of Premier Media Group who will talk to us about Media Current Trends.
Our biographers this week were Rick Carr and Everette Cooper
Rick Carr’s ancestral roots sink as deep as you can in Tacoma, Job Carr and his two sons, who were early settlers. Job Carr was the first mayor of Tacoma and his small cabin has been restored in north Tacoma. Rick related his interesting history beginning in the Proctor district, meeting his wife Francie, graduating from UPS and practicing his CPA profession in Tacoma.
Everette is from Long Island, attended the Maine Marine academy, and traveled the world on ships as a chief engineer officer, subsequently rising to head of all ship repairs in the Pacific for SeaLand, A Maersk Company.
Bangor submarine field trip is planned on April 4. Further notification will be forthcoming. Rich will need your name, birthdate, and last four of your ssn and if you pass the security clearance one of several ID cards. We anticipate our competent, professional scribe will return next week.
Your amateur stand in scribe Bill Jackson.
Minutes of Cascade Club of January 15, 2019
Our speaker was our own Chuck Foster who titled his talk” Tales from the Laboratory by an Ancient Nuclear Physicist”. Chuck received his PhD in experimental nuclear physics in 1967 and ever since, up to this very month, has been actively involved teaching and doing experiments with simularlyinclined scientists around the world. He did not say, but this humbled scribe wonders if they wear tin-foil hats when they meet and he apologizes for the lack of content, but he has no idea about what Chuck was speaking except he did hear words such as cyclotrons, protons and outer space.The best way to learn more about Chuck’s work is to corner him after a meeting. Beware, he has a penchant for bad puns.
COMINGEVENTS
JANUARY22, 2019: Bill Baarsma, Historian and past mayor of Tacoma,returns by popular demand, speaking on “The Art of the Deal”, how he brought the Sonics to Tacoma. (Scribe’s note: Howard Schultz still has not been invited).
JANUARY 29,2019: Josh Dunn, President, Premier Media Group, Speaking on Media and Current Trends.
FIELD TRIP: APRIL4,2019: Save this date! This is a change from the previously announced date. An all- day trip to the Bangor Naval Submarine Base. There will be no meeting at the TC&GC that week. We must submit a list of attendees and 2 pieces of their I.D. two weeks in advance. More details to come nextweek.
WHO ARE THOSE GUYS?
In response to President Rich Wall’s call for “volunteers,” on January 22, we will hear from Rick Carr, who has been our treasurer since dues were paid in buffalo hides and Everett Cooper, retired Merchant Marine Captain -Chief Engineer.
To avoid being conscripted, please volunteer by emailing Rich Wall at rich.wall@ymail.com.We want to hear your story!
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, scribe who got a D in College Physics.
Minutes of Cascade Club of January 8, 2019
The string of great programs continued into the new year with our speaker,Dr.JessicaKennedy-Schlicher,MedicalDirector,Virtual Health and Mission Control who brought the story of how CHI Franciscan Health is the fifth health care system in the world to haveinitiatedasystemofvirtualmedicineinwhichhome-bound patients in remote locations can receive state of the art multidisciplinary medical care from providers who are back in their hospitals and offices. For details of this exciting and revolutionary program, go tohttmps://Franciscan.anytime.org.
COMING EVENTS
JANUARY 15, 2019: Our previously scheduled speaker, General St. Louis will not attend due to a conflict in his schedule. Rest assured, we will have another outstanding speaker in his stead.
JANUARY 22, 2019: Bill Baarsma, Historian and past mayor of Tacomareturnsbypopulardemand,speakingon”TheArtofthe Deal”, how he brought the Sonics to Tacoma. {Scribe’s note: Howard Schultz has not beeninvited).
WHO ARE THOSE GUYS ?
Dugald Stewart was the second presenter of our new weekly feature of “Who are those Guys?” Dug gave us a fascinating review of his 93 years of successfullife.
On January 15, Chuck Foster, our resident physicist and, if there is time, possibly one or two others will present up to a 5 minute review of theirlives.
President Rich Wall is calling for “volunteers.” BEWARE: as a retired Colonel, Rich knows how to conscript volunteers! To avoid being conscripted, please email Rich Wall at rich.wall@ymail.com.We want to hear yourstory!
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, sun-craving scribe
Minutes of Cascade Club of Meeting of December 18, 2018
Our 2018 season ended with the most entertaining meeting of the year. Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor surprised us when he showed up to address 33 Cascadians and two guests in lieu of Det.EdTroyer who had been scheduled.The sheriff has spoken to us in the past and was as always entertaining and informative, but now that he is a “lame duck”as term limits occur in his third term, he can let it all hang out. He cautioned that he was about to offend people of all political inclination because he was no longer concerned about being politically correct. While he “Told it like it was”, none seemed offended- he was preaching to the choir. The sheriff is an East Coaster. Most of his anecdotes about how far off the track our culture has become because everyone tries to be politically correct, ended by asking “Does that make sense?”and followed by “Give me a break.”
Most of his presentation was about the intractable homeless problem and the challenges for the police specifically and society generally. He also discussed mental illness, the ubiquitous drug problem, and the lack of skills among some to survive in society.
Pierce County is going to miss him as our sheriff. Several of us have offered to start a campaign to draft him to run for Governor !
COMING EVENTS
JANUARY 8, 2019: Contrary to rumors, there will be a meeting. Our speaker will be Dr.Jessica Kennedy-Schlicher:
subject is “The Virtual Hospital: Mission Control for Health Care:
Putting Patients first.”
JANUARY15,2019: General St. Louis, Commanding Officer I corps
I CORPS and Joint BaseLewis-McChord.
NOTICE: Our first session of “Who are those Guys?” a new weekly feature of our meetings was a success with Jim Gallinatti and Jim Rooks presenting. Each week we will ask for 2-3 volunteers to present up to a 5 minute review of their history. If there are no volunteers, Rich Wall will “appoint” volunteers. Dug Stewart has volunteered for January 8. We need one or two more for January 8 and 2-3 each week thereafter. To volunteer, please email Rich Wall at rich.wall@ymail.com; Bill Jackson at biackson@yahoo.com or Phil at psloan@sloanbobricklaw.com.We want to hear your story!
HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW VEAR !
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, politically incorrect scribe
Minutes of Cascade Club of Meeting of December 11, 2018
It was a dark and stormy afternoon when a full house of Cascadians and two guests, Connie Bacon, Al’s wife and Jack Oneil, brought by Dave Sheean, gathered to hear the history of the Simpson Pulp and Paper Mill in Tacoma from Don Johnson who spent 37 years working his way up the ranks from the bottom to its V.P. and General Manager at his retirement in 2008. He now serves as a Port of Tacoma Commissioner.
The Pulp Mill has had several owners from its beginning in 1928 with Simpson owning it from 1985 until 2014. Simpson remains a family owned business and still owns thousands of acres of forests in Washington, Oregon and California. In his tenure, Mr. Johnson had to deal with several major issues, including environmental problems with air and water pollution, replacing old and obsolete manufacturing equipment, financing during downturns in the economy and the public’s perception about the infamous Tacoma Aroma.
COMING EVENTS
DECEMBER 18, 2018: Detective Ed Troyer, Media Relations Director of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department: The growing homeless population.
DECEMBER 25, 2018 and January 1, 2018: Closed for Christmas and New Year’s Day.
JANUARY 8, 2019: Dr. Jessica Kennedy Schlicher: The Virtual Hospital/Mission Control for Health Care: Putting Patients First.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU (or, as Robert Redford asked Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid: “Who are those guys?”). Beginning with the meeting of 12/18, each week, 3 or 4 members will be called on to give a brief resume of themselves. Jim Gallinati, who claims to be our longest tenured member, (Jim has promised to tell one of his notorious jokes), John Peterson, a many- year member and Chuck Foster, a new member, will be our first presenters. Future presenters will be given prior notice that they will be called on. Volunteers are requested.
REMINDER: Please be sure to wear your name tag at each meeting.
JOKES: We need more jokes!
Respectfully Submitted, Phil Sloan, Rain Weary Scribe.
Minutes of Cascade Club of the Un – Meeting of December 4, 2018
There was no meeting during the day on December 4, 2018.However, that evening we held our annual Christmas Party and it was a roaring success for the 50 members and guests who signed up except for John and Audrey West. They did not attend because that day John was involved in a minor fender bender. The good news: John wasn’t injured. Our traditional parties are always fun because our mates are so much better looking than us, but this party was especially fun, at least in part, because of the energy brought by our new members. Accolades to Fred Willis for providing the entertainment with one of his famous Cajun tales.Now, as they say on the radio, we have only a few remaining seconds for this message: At the request of several new (and old) members and to refresh our failing memories, each week 2 or 3 of us will be called on to give us a brief resume of himself. Who knows, it is possible that you will learn that that friendly guy who usually sits at your table and looks familiar is your former brother- in-law.COMING EVENTS
December 11, 2018: Port Commissioner Don Johnson: History of Simpson Pulp and Paper Mill.
December 18, 2018: Ed Troyer, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department: The growing homeless population and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department experience.
December 25, 2018: Closed for Christmas.
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, scribe with a loss for words.
Minutes of Cascade Club of Meeting of November 27, 2018
Minutes of Cascade Club of Meeting of November 20, 2018
On the Saturday before this meeting, the UW and WSU football teams walloped their opponents to set the stage for the biggest Apple Cup in years. The excitement and revelry apparently so exhausted many of our compatriots that a smaller than usual crowd turned out to hear Roseanne Mills, Pierce County Director of Parks and Recreation. She gave usa fact laden history of the Foothills National Recreation Trail project which took over 30years of negotiation, litigation and construction before 21 miles of continuous trail on former railroad rights of way from the Western Terminus in Puyallup to the Eastern terminus at Buckley was dedicated in May 2018.
For our optimistic members who like to make really long range plans, many more milesof trails are on the drawing boards for the future.
This scribe knows several people who regularly haul their bicycles from Tacoma and Gig Harbor out to the East Puyallup Trailhead to ride the trail to South Prairie where they enjoy liquid refreshment (and sometimes food) before riding back. They swear by it, the trail is flat and safe from cars and trucks.
COMING EVENTS
NOVEMBER 27, 2018: Stuart Early, CEO of Pierce County Humane Society:Programs and status of the Humane Society. The word is he is hilarious. There is a perhaps apocryphal rumor that there will be door prizes: First Place: one puppy; Second Place: Two puppies.
DECEMBER 4, 2018: NO NOON MEETING; HOWEVER, that evening is our annual CHRISTMAS PARTY. For Details, see the Newsletter of November 6, 2018 and our website, www.TacomaCascade.org. Space is limited and folks are signing up now, so make your reservations early.
NAME BADGES: We have several new and enthusiastic members (andsome old members) who would like to learn your names, so please wear your name badges at each meeting.
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, football weary scribe
Minutes of Cascade Club of Meeting of November 13, 2018
Thanks to Rick Carr, our speaker was his life long friend and soon to retire as Executive Director of Tacoma Community House, Liz Dunbar. She gave us a concise overview of the laws governing immigration and the good work of the non-profit Tacoma Community House which has been helping immigrants, refugees and low income South Sound residents for over 100 years. Its 4 core programs are education, employment, immigration and advocacy for victims of crime.
In 2017, 3832 clients were served. Its clients come from all over the world with the top 5 countries being Mexico, the USA, Vietnam, Ukraine and Moldova.
377 active volunteers assist the paid staff.
TCH has an excellent web site, www.TacomaCommunityHouse.orgwhere you can learn more of its services and, under the Media Section, make copies of its brochures.
COMING EVENTS
NOVEMBER 20, 2018: Rosanne Mills, Pierce County Director of Parks and Recreation: Rails to Trails: Past and Future.
NOVEMBER 27, 2018: Stuart Early, CEO of Pierce County Humane Society: Programs and status of the Humane Society.
CHRISTMASPARTY:December4,2018.ForDetails,see the Newsletter of November 6, 2018 and on our webite, www.TacomaCascade.org.Space is limited so make your reservations early.
ADMONISHMENT OF OUR PRESIDENT RICH WALL
After pleas for jokes for weeks were ignored and then threats to replay the Rossi-Schrier TV commercials if none were told, several members rose to the challenge and came prepared with jokes, including our erstwhile Joke-Meister, Fred Willis, who, after hours of rehearsing, was ready to regale us with another of his authentic Cajun yarns, but alas, President Wall was so engrossed in debating the content of Ms. Dunbar’s presentation that he forgot to call for jokes, the introduction of guests an do other matters of cosmic significance .In retribution, the Board has voted to suspend his company car privileges and 401K contributions for the balance of this season.
Minutes of Cascade Club of Meeting of November 6, 2018
Our speaker was Lindsey Wade,the Attorney General of Washington’s senior investigator/analyst for the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. In 2017, our federal government granted the AG 3 million dollars to test and investigate the backlog of 6,000 plus previously untested sexual assault kits, some of which were collected as far back as the 1980s. To date, about ½ of the kits have been tested for DNA matches resulting in the reopening of cold cases and already leading to several convictions even though the sexual assault may have occurred many years ago. Even if the accused may have died or is incarcerated, the victims and their families gain the comfort of knowing that the perpetrator is no longer a threat.
Once the DNA is identified, inquiries can be made across the nation for matches.There are multiple data banks which have DNA records, such as 33 States collect DNA from all persons who are arrested. Washington, however, only takes DNA from persons after they are convicted of a felony or in certain specific named crimes. The data will remain available for future access by law enforcement and other agencies.
You can learn more of this fascinating program at www.atg.wa.gov/sexual assault kit initiative.
COMING EVENTS
November 13, 2018: Liz Dunbar, Executive Director, Tacoma Community House: Immigration Issues.
November 20, 2018: Roxanne Mills, Director of Parks and Recreation: Rails to Trails: Past and Future.
ChristmasParty: December 4, TC&GC 6:00 PM Social and 7:00 PM dinner.
Your check is your reservation: $75 per person, $150 per couple.
Mail your check to Cascade Club,PO Box 39393, Lakewood, WA 98496.
Indicate your menu choices on your check: Chicken Cordon Bleu, Chilean Sea Bass, and/or Slow Roasted Prime Rib.
WARNING – we need more jokes- if there are none next week, we will replay all the Dino Rossi- Kim Schrier TV Ads.
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, election exhausted scribe.
Minutes of Cascade Club of Tacoma meeting of October 30.2018
It may have been because Jupiter wasn’t aligned with Mars, maybe it was because the Huskies lost or because we are all suffering from election fatigue, but whatever reason our crack scheduling team failed to get the ball over the goal line and our speaker, Michelle Douglas, the new Executive Director of the Emergency Food Network did not make an appearance. She is however now scheduled for Feb 5, yes that would next year. The members present, that would be the ones who have not departed to desert, engaged in intellectual and stimulating conversation sprinkled with our attempts at jokes.
COMING EVENTS
November 6, 2018 will have a very interesting presentation by the director of “The Sexual Assault/DNA Kit Initiative” of the AG office. Ms Lindsey Wade, Senior Investigator of the Criminal Justice Division Will talk about the disgraceful backlogs of untested kits and Washington State initiative to remedy this injustice.
OUR WIVES AND INTERESTED FRIENDS ARE INVITED TO THIS MEETING.
November 13,2018
Liz Day, Tacoma Community House Executive Director: Immigration Issues
OUR POPULAR CASCADE CHRISTMAS DANCE AND DINNER WILL BE HELD ON DEC 4 AND FURTHER NOTIFICATION AS TO COST AND OTHER ISSUES WILL BE FORTHCOMING.
Note the corrected date.Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, Solitary Scribe.Cascade Club of Tacoma Website; HTTPS://www.TacomaCascade.org
Tuesday October 23, 2018
It was a “yuge” crowd today to hear liberal Democrat AG Bob Ferguson address what may be comfortably assumed to be conservative Republican Cascadians (gasp…what hath God wrought?) One might also safely assume that in the latter there were probably no more than a handful of card carrying members of the ACLU. All of that said, one could hope that there was universal agreement that the AG was an extremely bright, well- spoken and committed civil servant. As for the “bright”, scarily so. Allegedly, Bob is a chess Grand Master once playing 30 people at the same time and loosing but once. This author knows from nuttin’ about chess but assumes it is a bit more complicated than checkers. The AG’s office has a staff of 640 attorneys. With that being said, you could almost see the mental calculators multiplying 640 x salaries, x 640 overheads, X X X. That was quickly addressed in that some of the larger segments of the AG staff not only are revenue neutral but are positive cash generators, and actually contribute to the State’s general fund via successful verdicts on behalf of the State. The AG’s office does not make policy or dictate direction. It is the law firm for the people of Washington. It does not make laws, it enforces laws made by the legislature. It is truly an independent bi-partisan function of government; certainly an anomaly is the hyper partisan environment we have come to expect on a national basis .One of the largest sections of the AG’s office is consumer protection. It receives between 20,000 and 30,000 requests annually. The AG has also filed 32 lawsuits against the Trump administration. So far 14 have been won and 6 more have won initial rulings and are being appealed. In some cases, the lawsuits are filed in conjunction with other Attorneys General. As often as not, joined by California and New York. One of those being appealed is on behalf of the 18,000 “Dreamers” living in Washington. But the AG is an equal opportunity suer. President Obama was sued on behalf of the workers at the Hanford nuclear facility.
In a brief Q&A, Ferguson was asked the inevitable question as to whether he might be seeking higher State office such as governor. After a craftily offered response, it was obvious that just maybe he has been asked that question before and the quality of said response and obfuscation demonstrated a seasoned pro. We should all hope that names like Nikki Haley and Bob Ferguson are not driven from future government service by a pervasive atmosphere of destructive partisanship and will be seen on future ballots.
On a personal note, this is my last venture as scribe. Asked how long I have been doing it, my response was that the earth had cooled, but not for long. This oft yellow journalism on yellow foolscap could not have been done without the incredible patience of my wife correcting the grievous results of one finger typing and on one occasion, OK maybe two or possibly EVEN three occasions, the creative use of Anglo-Saxon words directed at my laptop. So goodbye company car and good luck to new Scribe, Phil Sloan.
“til the anon (for the last time)
D. Loving
Not even Scribe Emeritus
MINUTES OF CASCADE CLUB October 16, 2018
Our speaker, Art Dolan, a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, came to us for the second time proudly wearing his Revolutionary War Soldier’s uniform and presented us with a (very) fast-paced review of the history of how “Old Glory” evolved to its present form of 50 white five pointed stars on a blue background and 13 red and white horizontal stripes.
About 400 years ago, England, under Queen Elizabeth 1 and while flying flags with a blue background with white stripes, defeated Scotland in a battle under the command of James VI, son of Mary Queen of Scots. Scotland’s flag was red and white. When Elizabeth died without children, the crown of England went to Scotland’s James VI and he combined the flags of the two countries using red and white stripes with white stars on a blue background which was the beginning of the use of red, white and blue color combinations in the British flags and later in flags of the United States.
In 1775, in an early battle at the start of our Revolutionary War, 70 colonists defeated 700 British Redcoats. The colonists flew the flag of The Fitch Tavern which bore the motto in Latin, “Conquer or Die”. Soon thereafter, George Washington led a battle carrying the “Washington Flag” which had 13 white five pointed stars on a blue background. Subsequently, a star has been added for each new state. The 42 nd star is for the State of Washington.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
October 23: Our speaker will be Bob Ferguson, Attorney General of Washington State. This program promises to be a highlight of this season because of its timeliness of being two weeks before the midterm elections on November 6 and his national leadership amongst Attorneys General of many states in filing suits against the Trump administration. All spouses, past and present, and prospective members are especially invited. Space is limited, so it will be necessary to make a reservation by calling or emailing Bill Jackson at 253-759-4875 or BJackson1936@yahoo.com.
REMINDER: Save the date of December 6 for our annual Christmas party.
Refer to our website which will soon have more information.
SCRIBE’S NOTE: Mr. Dolan’s presentation was too fast for this over challenged scribe to keep up with him because his hearing aid batteries were old and weak so he apologizes for the incomplete notes of a fascinating presentation. For more details, borrow a civics book from the junior high kid down the street.
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, obsolete scribe.
MINUTES OF CASCADE CLUB OCTOBER 9, 2018
First and foremost, a sincere “thank You” to Brer Phil Sloan who has done such a great job during my absence as your lowly scribe. ‘Tis nice to be back with pen proverbially poised to paper to share with you a recap of the speaker you just heard or to “throw some shade”, which is the au currantand quite trendy and hip (as we are) way of castigating you for being AWOL.
Our speaker today was Mary Anne Lindblad, Washington State Medical Director, who shared with us an update on the Washington State Medicaid program and Apple Care. This author had seriously considered recapping the whole Medicare and Medicaid programs in great detail in one paragraph utilizing simple declarative sentences and monosyllabic words. The Affordable Care Act would have been added parenthetically as it is also easy to explain, and as Joe Biden so euphorically claimed talking to President Obama after the passage of the bill but, unbeknownst, in front of an open mike “this is one great f****** deal.” Ya just gotta love Joe for his candor. Anyway, as is the norm with most Power Point Presentations, said program had some technical difficulties. The combined extremely well educated expertise of we Cascadians would not have exceeded the technical skills of a seventh grader. Eventually the presentation sprang to life; color pie charts and all. Medicaid in Washington is huge. Approximately 1.8 million people are on Medicaid. The total nationally is 7.2 million people. Washington State dramatically illustrates the national dichotomy of the very rich and the very poor. In our state 50% of the children are on Medicaid! (Ed. note: There was hardly a murmur of astonishment at the announcement of that statistic.) That translates into half of the children in our state live at or below the poverty line. On a biannual level, the State spends $22B on the” Meds” and $17.1B of that is on Medicaid. It is difficult to finitely delineate the various conditions for determining the poverty level. For an individual it is $16,000 a year. The level for a family thankfully increases based upon a number of factors such as number of family members. In Washington, medical expenditures is second only to that spent on education. Medicaid cannot be expressed in terms of physical expenses only. As is to be expected, significant monies are spent on mental health and substance abuse areas. All in all, the whole Medicare, Medicaid, ACA and single payer health issues are extremely complex, expensive and as often as not, not easily quantifiable.
There will be a speaker next week, and most likely, once again, it won’t be D. B. Cooper. But, be there anyway to find out.
‘Til the anon,
-
-
- Loving
-
Substitute for the Substitute Scribe
Minutes of Cascade Club of Meeting of October 2, 2018
Today, 38 of us, including two guests who have applied for membership, Bill Triquart and Art Ozolin, MD, heard a fascinating history of the evolution of the marine cargo container industry from Terry Thomas, President of PNW Equipment, Inc. of Kent, WA from its earliest days fifty years ago to the present. Today, because almost all ocean cargo arrives in containers, the black markets in consumer goods that “have fallen off a truck” have faded away. Over time, the dimensions of containers have evolved into just a few standard sizes which allows them to be interchangeable for stacking on board and meeting the size and weight restrictions of highways and rail roads.
Labor relations and turf battles amongst ship owners, Teamsters and
Longshoremen are known to have been somewhat amicably resolved on occasion in the back room of Vito’s Restaurant on Capitol Hill in Seattle.
The earliest container ships held 750 20′ containers. Today, there is a French ship which carries 23,000 containers. With the expansion of the Panama Canal, it is anticipated that future Panamax ships will have even greater capacity.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
October 9: Mary Anne Lindblad, Washington State Medical Director, on the Status of the Washington State Medicaid Program and Apple Care. October 16: Art Dolan, The Evolution of the American Flag
October 23: Bob Ferguson, Attorney General of Washington State
REMINDER: Refer to our website for lots of information.
JOKES: We had a few this week, but we can do better!
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, Reluctant Scribe
Minutes of September 25, 2018
Our speaker, Pat Lowinger, instructor of Anthropology at Tacoma Community College, returned to Cascade Club in response to popular demand to give us a fascinating lecture about the history of the ETRUSCANS. A good crowd was in attendance, including two guests, however, one of our prominent members is rumored to have said he skipped the meeting because he wasn’t interested in the topic because he is allergic to shell fish.
Contrary to popular belief, it is now believed that it was the Etruscans, who were most likely native Italians, and not the Romans, who founded Rome in approximately 750 BC. They were aggressive soldiers who formed a league of 12 city-states in what is now Italy which were ruled by kings who were elected to serve one-year terms rather than inheriting their positions. Many scholars now believe that those city-states were the earliest forms of democracy, preceding the Greeks. All property owners were citizens and could vote, but slaves, who did not vote, did most of the labor. The city-states grew wealthy by controlling trade in that part of the world. With their wealth, they developed a high level of art, particularly in ceramics. Rome was an early “colony” of the Etruscans, but between 450 to 250 BC, the power of the Etruscans declined as the power of the Romans grew and the Romans gradually gained control of the city-states.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
October 2: Terry Thomas, whose family pioneered in the field, on the History of development of Containerization of Shipping and trucking.
October 9: Mary Anne Lindblad, Washington State Medical Director, on the Status of the Washington State Medicaid Program and Apple Care.
For the full schedule of speakers, go to our website: TacomaCascade.org.
JOKES- We need Jokes-
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, subservient scribe.
Minutes of September 18, 2018
Our speaker, Pierce County Auditor, Julie Anderson, returned to Cascade Club and gave us an enthusiastic and reassuring update on the role of the Auditor’s Department in managing our elections. The Auditor is responsible for maintaining the integrity of all phases of our elections, including registering voters, verifying their eligibility, preparing ballots and voter information booklets, counting, auditing and certifying the results.
There are approximately 500,000 registered voters in Pierce County. All voting in the upcoming General Election on November 6 will be mail. Postage will be pre-paid by the County. We no longer have polling places in this county. The Voting by Mail system is working very well. In the last election, only about 1% of the ballots were returned as undeliverable and less than 1% of ballots which were received from voters were not counted.
Under Federal Law, various categories of people will now automatically become registered to vote, such as those renewing their driver’s licenses, however, one will still have the right to specifically opt out of registration. Teenagers will be allowed to pre-register to vote at ages 16 or 17. The apparent rationale for such registrations is to increase the percentages of eligible citizens who vote.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
September 25: Pat Lowinger, Instructor in History at Tacoma Community College will introduce us to The Etruscans. October 2: Terry Thomas on The History of development of Containerization of Shipping and Trucking.
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, solitary scribe.
Minutes of September 18, 2018
Our speaker, Pierce County Auditor, Julie Anderson, returned to Cascade Club and gave us an enthusiastic and reassuring update on the role of the Auditor’s Department in managing our elections. The Auditor is responsible for maintaining the integrity of all phases of our elections, including registering voters, verifying their eligibility, preparing ballots and voter information booklets, counting, auditing and certifying the results.
There are approximately 500,000 registered voters in Pierce County. All voting in the upcoming General Election on November 6 will be mail. Postage will be pre-paid by the County. We no longer have polling places in this county. The Voting by Mail system is working very well. In the last election, only about 1% of the ballots were returned as undeliverable and less than 1% of ballots which were received from voters were not counted.
Under Federal Law, various categories of people will now automatically become registered to vote, such as those renewing their driver’s licenses, however, one will still have the right to specifically opt out of registration. Teenagers will be allowed to pre-register to vote at ages 16 or 17. The apparent rationale for such registrations is to increase the percentages of eligible citizens who vote.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
September 25: Pat Lowinger, Instructor in History at Tacoma Community College will introduce us to The Etruscans. October 2: Terry Thomas on The History of development of Containerization of Shipping and Trucking.
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, solitary scribe
Minutes of September 11, 2018
The opening day of our fall season was called to order by Rich Wall, our new president, before an enthusiastic 35 attendees. Being a rookie, Rich under-standably had stage fright and forgot a vital part of the agenda: the jokes! He promised to do better next week. (We need YOUR jokes)
Before the meeting, the Board unanimously elected Jim Rooks as our Vice President and all directors were re-appointed except for two of our key members, Dave Loving, scribe emeritus, and John McGowen, our webmaster. Both are moving to the Heartland of America to be near their families. John graciously will continue to maintain our web site from Illinois. Thanks to both of them for their years of service and friendship.
Our speaker was Alan Stay, Attorney for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, who has spent his entire 48 year legal career working for Indian Tribes. He presented us with an enlightening summary of Treaty Law as it applies to Indian Tribes and how the U.S. Supreme Court based its Boldt Decision in 1975 on that law. Treaties are the supreme law of the United States, equal in force to the U.S. Constitution. By a series of treaties, Congress settled with the Indian Nations by giving them sovereignty over 800 million acres, 64 million of which went to 20 tribes in Western Washington. Afterwards, disputes arose over whether the government would honor the Tribes’ Treaty Rights which they retained in a settlement in which the Tribes gave back to the government much of their lands. Those retained rights included the rights to take defined percentages of fish and privileges of hunting, gathering roots and berries and pasturing horses on that land.
The Boldt Decision by the US Supreme Court in 1979 upheld, with some unilateral modifications, those tribal treaty rights. Although for years afterwards the commercial fishing industry resisted that decision, today both sides are prospering because the fishing industry and the tribes are collaborating in restoring the fisheries.
COMING PROGRAMS
September 18: Julie Anderson, Pierce County Auditor. She will give us an encore report of the election processes in our county.
September 25: Pat Lowinger, Instructor in History at Tacoma Community College will introduce us to The Etruscans.
Reminders: December 4- our Christmas Party. Our website, created by John McGowen, TacomaCascade.org is a great resource.
Respectfully submitted, Phil Sloan, lonely scribe