Greeters:  Edwina Castle and Walter Haight; John Larsen provided the Inspirational Moment; The Pledge of Allegiance was then led by Art Bradley

Lee Vasquez was honored for another birthday.  Lee contributed a generous

Johannes Goddick received kudos for another birthday.

Brandon Malloy announced the Habitat for Humanity Masquerade Ball, to be held April 18th at the Grand Ballroom. All proceeds will go to McMinnville H4H. The event includes a prime rib dinner. See Brandon for tickets or call him at 503-434-5128.

 

Always the innovator, Darrick Price provided a cultural moment by having two members (Van Keck and Walter Haight) read a portion of the Balcony Scene from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”.  As Romeo, this reporter found himself looking up from time to time to see if the audience had been lulled “to sleep, perchance to dream”.   O, what men dare do……

AUSTIN PALACIOS, a member of the High School Interact Club, announced that he was inaugurating a fundraising effort as part of his quest to be named Mr. Mac High. All donations will support the Doernbecker Children's Hospital in Portland.

Chuck asked Kristi Brill to spend a few minutes reviewing a recent issue of The Rotarian.  Among the articles she shared was a very interesting one about a Rotary Club from Orlando, Florida that was devoting itself to the upgrade of a local public school.  She also called attention to the ongoing support of Bill Gates (founder of Microsoft) to help eradicate polio once and for all.  Following a visit to India, Mr. Gates offered a second grant of over a quarter-million dollars, provided that it be matched by Rotary.

President Chuck Pattishall made his weekly pitch for the “Pennies For Polio” program. The club has collected hundreds of dollars since its inception last Fall. Chuck announced that Ezra Koch’s wife, Hanni, recently passed away. Also, he reported that Colin Armstrong’s wife, Milly, is recovering from recent back surgery. Finally, Chuck mentioned that an inspection of Tice Park had recently been performed, and that the Board will review the recommendations set forth in the report. Although the park is in good condition, there is evidence of some vandalism that needs to be addressed.

MAIN EVENT

Molly Walker and Jim Walker gave their Vocational Talks to the membership.  Molly led off the program with her presentation.

She was born and raised on the southern Oregon Coast in Gold Beach, the third of four daughters.  Coming into the world on Halloween, she was affectionately referred to as “my little ghost” by her mother.  Her parents published a local newspaper, the Curry County Reporter, and Molly was raised in a household where the family business was, at times, a 24-hour job.

The family raised animals, and the kids were actively involved in 4-H.  Molly was her father’s “fishing buddy”, often accompanying him on charter trips off the coast.  Once, when she hooked a fish, she was exhorted by the Captain “Son, fight that fish like a man!”  Such was the world in the early 60’s!  Molly’s mother taught the children about the natural world, taking them on mushroom hunts embellished with instruction on the local flora and fauna

Over the years, Molly attended college, raised two sons, and held practically every position at the Curry County Reporter.   Her parents turned the business over to her and Jim in 1997, and they remained co-publishers for the next ten years.

Speaking of Jim, the two were married in 1983, both with a couple of sons.  The fact that Jim’s sons were 23 and 21, respectively, earned Molly a few interested looks from time to time (“So, Mrs. Walker, you were five when your first son was born?”).  Although Molly’s own sons were only 4 and 6, the four boys became, and remain, good friends and brothers to this day.

Molly was first proposed for membership in Rotary by her father in 1987.  Up to that time, there had been no women members in the local Rotary Club.  Her eventual induction into the club (with three other women) actually resulted in three members quitting, although one eventually returned. 

Jim Walker followed Molly with his presentation.  Also born in Gold Beach, Jim was raised in the small town of Pistol River, which lies south along US 101.  His family came to America from Canada during the Civil War, and eventually emigrated to Oregon.  Two of the Walkers spent time as County Sheriffs in Curry County, and his great-grandfather presided over the only official hanging to take place in the county. 

Jim spent his first years living in a small cabin under very modest conditions in Pistol River, surrounded by many aunts, uncles, and cousins.  His father ran a local cheese factory, and the cheddar cheese that was produced earned widespread acclaim.  Among the famous people who dropped by for a sample were Clark Gable, Esther Williams, Gabby Hayes, Roy Rogers, and Gene Autry!

Jim matriculated at Gold Beach High School, where he lettered in four sports.  He attended Pacific University, playing baseball for George Tall Chief (a former president of the Osage tribe in Oklahoma), before earning a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree at OCE. 

For the next few years, Jim taught and coached in Salem, Regis High School, then Thurston High School.  He eventually relocated to Gold Beach, where he married his second wife, Molly, in 1983.  He joined the Gold Beach Rotary Club in 1997, where he served on the Board, along with a term as President in 2003-2004.

Now in “semi-retirement”, Jim continues to pursue his hobbies and interests, such as golf, exercising, and collecting works of Shakespeare (this reporter apologizes for his horrendous interpretation of the Bard, Jim!).  He enjoys travelling with Molly, and spending time with his family and especially his grandchildren.

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