With deep thanks to those who worked for months to put together our Inaugural Charter Night, it is awesome to report the sold-out event was a big hit.
 
Many of the attendees who provided feedback after the event said it was "great". People loved the location at Summit Grove Lodge, the music by Nehemiah Brown, the food, and the program.
 
It was an event jam-packed with fun, so must important of all, Emcee John McDonagh found a way to still get the whole thing done on time!

Charter Members were introduced, a new member was inducted, club officers and directors were inducted, some "awards" were handed out and keynote Roni Sasaki shared an awesome inspirational story. Click here to see the slides Roni had intended to share with us, but was unable to due to technical difficulties.
 
There certainly are a number of people to thank, starting with the committee - Shirley Gross, Susanne Holmberg, Jolene Nelson, Lisa Abrahamsson, Kristi Straight, Kelley Campbell, Carol Keljo and Tom & Barb Crozier.
 
Big thanks also go out to the Rotary district and zone representatives who attended. By many accounts, it may have been the biggest number of past district governors attending the same Charter Night as had been seen in a long time.
 
Carlos Noriega from the Rotary Club of Gresham did a great job with photography, donating his time and talent to us. You can see Carlos' photos online by clicking this link. There is also a slideshow on our club website and Facebook page.
 
And many thanks to the sponsors and supporters of the event who made it happen.

Salmon Creek Farmers Market President Ann Foster was our special guest at the March 16 meeting of the Rotary Club of Three Creeks at Northwest Smile Designs.

Her program delivered great details about the market and about the importance of buying locally produced food.

The regular market 2017 season opens, Tuesday, June 20, at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital, 11 a.m.-3 p.m weekly through September.

Salmon Creek Farmers Market is a rain-or-shine market, and the majority of the vendors are outside the entrance to the hospital.

Foster said announcements regarding the market's Spring 2017 activities highlighting Earth Day and the Clark PUD Home & Garden Idea Fair, both in April, will be updated on the market's website, www.salmoncreekfarmersmarket.com.

The importance of buying locally produced food can not be underestimated. Although grocery store food is OK, if we lose our ability to produce our own food, we lose more than just locally-produced food.

As Foster says, "Buy local - often!"

Congratulations to Steve Pash, the Rotary Club of Three Creeks' February Rotarian of the Month.

President Susanne recognized Steve at the club's March 16 meeting at Northwest Smile Designs after his hard work to pull together our hands on projects including Santa's Posse in December and the Clark County Fire & Rescue smoke detector installation project at Ridgefield's McCuddy's Marina on March 11.

In addition to those projects, Steve has worked with his service projects committee to organize a list of potential future hands on projects for the club, which will be shared with the club at a future date.

President Susanne presented Steve with a special Rotarian of the Month pin at our March 16 meeting.

The Rotary Club of Three Creeks is proud to announce that it has confirmed inspirational speaker and US Paralympics gold medalist Roni Sasaki as the keynote speaker for the club's inaugural Charter Night, March 25, 2017 at Summit Grove Lodge in Ridgefield.

Tickets for the event are available now by clicking here.

Charter Night festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with a social including entertainment by Nehemiah Brown, followed by a buffet dinner and a presentation by Rotary District dignitaries Tom Markos, Barb Crozier, Renee Campbell and Neal Brown.

Emceed by John McDonagh (President & CEO of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and President of the Rotary Club of Vancouver), the program will include a recognition of the first new Rotary Club in District 5100 since 2012, induction of the club's officers and board members, as well as Sasaki's keynote. A more specific agenda will be announced soon.

About Roni Sasaki
Roni Sasaki was born with only one leg. At her birth, the doctor who declared she was born with a birth defect also said she would probably never walk. She learned to walk on an artificial leg just before her second birthday. Walking was never one of her problems. Her greatest struggle as a youngster was learning to love and accept herself for being "different."

Roni harbored a secret desire to become an Olympic athlete, even though she realized it was a ridiculous dream for a disabled child. She attempted various sports and spent a lot of energy trying to prove that she could do anything anybody else could do. In spite of her efforts, she rarely measured up to the other kids.

During her senior year in high school, Roni received a phone call that altered her future and ultimately lead to the fulfillment of her secret dream. The woman’s voice on the other line said, “Would you like to learn how to ski?”

Sasaki went on to become a world-class disabled ski racer, skiing on only one ski. She placed and won numerous regional, national and international races during her ten-year racing career. Finally in 1992, at the Paralympics in Albertville, France, she won a gold medal and two bronze medals. Her secret dream was no longer a secret.

Roni challenges audiences of all ages to love themselves just the way they are. She encourages others to believe in themselves and embrace the unique characteristics that could ultimately become each person's greatness.

At our regular club meeting on March 2, Dan Sockle presented a Rotary Peace Pole to Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center.

Shirley Gross, a club member who works at Legacy and is one of the people heading up the Healing Garden, said the Peace Pole will make a lovely focal point addition to the new garden. The rooftop garden on the third floor is currently under construction. When complete, it will provide a serene outdoor location for patients and families of patients to meditate and relax while at the hospital.

The idea to present a Peace Pole to Legacy was driven by Sockle, who is very much involved in Rotary's Peace efforts.

Clark County Public Works Director Heath Henderson probably wasn't quite sure what to
expect from the Rotary Club of Three Creeks as he prepared to speak to our club at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center.

Our club was prepared with good questions, as well and engaged in a wonderful discussion with Henderson, who also enjoyed it very much.

But he provided great insight about the Clark County Public Works department, and many of its major projects ranging from Highway 99 - which our own Scot Brantley is managing - to pothole repair after the winter weather, the NE 10th Avenue bridge, and a major interchange project at Interstate 5 and NE 179th Avenue.

Did you know that there are hundreds of acres just waiting for development at the 179th/I-5 junction and that the rebuild of the interchange there is a catalyst to economic development in the Discovery Corridor? Well, it's true.

Other topics covered during the evening's program included the I-5 bridge at the Columbia River and what should be done there, the City of Vancouver's soon-to-happen annexation of the area north of Club Green Meadows which includes the Costco and Home Depot area near Padden Parkway and Andresen, and how to report potholes and other maintenance needed around the county. Henderson pointed members in the direction of the county website to report maintenance issues.

Also at our meeting on March 2, Dan Sockle presented a Peace Pole to Legacy Salmon Creek from our club. This Peace Pole will be proudly displayed as a part of the new Healing Garden which is currently under construction at Legacy.

Special thanks to guests and visiting Rotarians who attended our March 2 meeting. Those include: Ralph Akin, Sam Kim, Robyn Kim (Lewis River), Paul Montague (Greater Clark County),