The speaker was introduced by Marc Heminger, who met him at the recent Yakima centennial party. LTC Wittmer was backed up by his deputy Heather Lelby.
The Yakima Training Center is the premier military training facility in the entire Pacific Northwest! It provides training support for transient units and organizations by sustaining training lands, range complexes, and support facilities in order to enhance readiness. The installation's customers include not only Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Army National Guard units, but also Special Operations Command, Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, local and federal Law Enforcement, and allied forces from Canada and Japan.
Yakima Training Center is 327,000 acres which provides an ideal environment for military training and enables the Yakima Training Center to continue to grow as the military's premier training destination in the Pacific Northwest. Most of his PowerPoint images are shown below.
LTC Luke A. Wittmer is a native of Merriam, KS. He entered the U.S. Army on 1 June 2002 upon graduation from West Point where he was commissioned as an Infantry Officer. READ MORE
Rotary member Ken Robertson, retired Army LTC himself, recommended the book "Battlegrounds" by Lt. Gen. HR McMaster.
President Kory Kalahar opened the November 5th ZOOM meeting to about 40 members. Scroll to bottom to view attendance. There was no meeting last week, but a Fellowship outing October 31 at Alice Meyers' orchard. Kory surprised the secretary with birthday greetings, echoed by the members.
WRF donations. Joe St. Jean announced donations approved and made by the WRF board, using auction leftover funds, with advice from the Community Outreach Committee: Two Rivers Gallery, $2K; The PAC, $2K; N/Central Education Foundation teacher grants, $4K; Stuff-A-Sackpack, $4K (see Chelsea Lenker's presentation in the Appleseed Review HERE. )
Those Education grants. Kory stated how the teacher grants would have a positive impact on WestSide HS, where he is principal.
Cards for Chelsea. Kory also shared Chelsea's request for volunteers to help write the cards of encouragement which go into the sackpacks. Several members volunteered. Contact Kory HERE if you wish to help and read on .....
Chelsea says - "One way your group could make a collective impact is to write cards of encouragement. We will randomly put at least one card into each sackpack with inspiring messages, personal stories that relate to teenage struggles (all of kinds), “don’t give up,” holiday wishes, etc. Whether on card stock, holiday cards or lined paper in a standard envelope is at the discretion of whoever is writing each card. The only guidelines are that no effort to directly contact teens be made through the correspondence. One person can do multiple cards, invite their family members of all ages to participate also, have a card-writing party with a group, etc. These cards are a very important part of Stuff-a-Sackpack & I will accept as many as you can collect, if you are interested. I would like to have all cards by December 1st. If this is something that you or others would like to participate in, please let me know or email me with questions at any time. "
Service projects.
Allan Galbreath repeated his request for volunteers on Wednesday, Nov 11 at Wenatchee Foothills. Seven volunteers for ½ day to work with Interact Club members to plant native shrubs inside deer enclosures at the future Broadview Trailhead. Contact Allan HERE.
Rotary Park. Rich Peters thanked many who turned out to help last week to create work teams
Polio Plus donations. Donations amounted more than $5300. Donation winners announced : Judy Conner, Dave Gellatly, Jay Smith; all will receive cup cakes. DG Richard DeRock has announced to the district that we gave double the amount of any other club.
Cougar Gold Cheese. Joe St. Jean says: "Garry Sparks and I were working with Central Lions to help put on the Tailgate Luncheon that many Rotarians had attended in the past, but alas/alak, it is not happening this year. But the Cougar Gold cheese is still available and since Lions are good folks too, let us lend them support by putting out the word on the Cougar Gold. We can still support the cause and the Central Lions – the other good service club in town! Get your Cougar Gold cheese today! World famous WSU Cougar Gold is available now for your virtual tailgate parties, holiday gatherings, or your midnight snacks. Price - $30
To order your Cougar Gold Cheese or have questions, contact either: Garry Sparks Wenatchee Rotarian – 679-5653 – floorsgs@aol.com; or Janice Lawell, wenatchee Central Lions – 663-6204 – jlawell49@gmail.com
Leavenworth Rotary Auction. It's the "give thanks" auction online; go HERE! They continue to add new items each day until Nov 11. Bidding begins at noon, Nov. 14. They have some amazing items.
Pybus Bistro special. Chicken on the Run promo video on Confluence's Facebook page: On November 18th you can order the chicken dinner at Pybus Bistro and have it delivered to your car by a Rotarian. Confluence fund raiser! $36. Leslie says the Bistro's fried chicken is "breath-taking". It's comfort food for a good cause! Take home a delicious fried chicken dinner from Pybus Bistro and support Rotary scholarships and projects in our community. Pybus Bistro is doing the cooking and Confluence Rotarians will be delivering your food to you curbside. The meal will include fried chicken, Pybus Bistro's delicious gruyere mac & cheese, plus roasted vegetables, a dinner salad, and fruit crisp for dessert! Plus you can order beer, wine and/or cocktails for pickup as well. Reserve your order today! Order online at pybusbistro.com.
Would you rather? Dry eyes or a runny nose each day? It appears no one likes runny noses.
KORY'S STUPID STUFF
President Kory related how on a family trip
into Mexico with friends, he filled his
25 gallon water container before leaving
Wenatchee, whereas, his
smarter friend waited until they arrived
in Mexico to fill his.
Ten (or more) things we didn't know about Claudia DeRobles.
Photos show Claudia then and now. She joined Rotary in January 2011.
Born in 1977 in Corning CA
Parents worked in agriculture and I would be sitting in a high chair during cherry season along side my parents' ladders; 1st job at 1 1/2 was taste-testing cherries (pits removed!).
Lived in Monitor for 22 years then moved to Wenatchee
Attended school in Cashmere from K-12, 12th grade was class president so I will forever be in charge of planning our class reunion
Learned English by Kinder and by watching TV even though parents had limited knowledge of the English language; 2nd job was a translator for my parents and was the go to person during class
Started officially working at age 15 at the social security administration office as a clerical assistant
Employed with Cashmere Valley Bank for 23 years, starting as a drive up teller in Cashmere working part time and going to school. Trained in the underwriting of loans, opening new accounts, marketing, and assistant supervisor, then supervisor. Promoted to branch manager in 2009 and to Vice President 2014
Was married in 2002 for 7 years
We had two beautiful daughters that are 11 months apart and both are seniors this year
Love to cook, family get togethers, and spoiling my girls!
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
November 12 - WASHINGTON FARM BUREAU
With Tom Davis & Breanne Elsey w/Britt Dudek
Farm Bureau is a grassroots volunteer advocacy organization representing the social and economic interests of farm and ranch families at the local state and national levels.....
Tom Davis is the Director of Government Relations for the Washington Farm Bureau. His lobbying responsibilities include budget, taxes, agriculture, fish and wildlife, and natural resources. Prior to coming to the Farm Bureau, Tom served as the legislative liaison at both the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife. He began his career working for the state House of Representatives as a natural resource policy adviser.
Breanne Elsey is the Associate Director of Government Relations at Washington Farm Bureau and focuses on labor, transportation, carbon and general agriculture policy. Prior to joining Washington Farm Bureau, Bre was employed by the Washington State House of Representatives and the Washington State Senate. Bre holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Central Washington University and lives in Ellensburg with her husband, Aaron, and two children, Abel and Clare.
November 19 - HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
With Ray Taylor & Beth Stipe
SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
Our current sponsors are those who generously sponsored
November 05 - YTC
We will randomly put at least one card into each sackpack with inspiring messages, personal stories that relate to teenage struggles (all of kinds), “don’t give up,” holiday wishes, etc. Whether on card stock, holiday cards or lined paper in a standard envelope is at the discretion of whoever is writing each card. The only guidelines are that no effort to directly contact teens be made through the correspondence. One person can do multiple cards, invite their family members of all ages to participate also, have a card-writing party with a group, etc. These cards are a very important part of Stuff-a-Sackpack & I will accept as many as you can collect, if you are interested. I would like to have all cards by December 1st. If this is something that you or others would like to participate in, please let me know or email me with questions at any time. "
On November 18th you can order the chicken dinner at Pybus Bistro and have it delivered to your car by a Rotarian. Confluence fund raiser! $36. Leslie says the Bistro's fried chicken is "breath-taking". It's comfort food for a good cause! Take home a delicious fried chicken dinner from Pybus Bistro and support Rotary scholarships and projects in our community. Pybus Bistro is doing the cooking and Confluence Rotarians will be delivering your food to you curbside. The meal will include fried chicken, Pybus Bistro's delicious gruyere mac & cheese, plus roasted vegetables, a dinner salad, and fruit crisp for dessert! Plus you can order beer, wine and/or cocktails for pickup as well. Reserve your order today! Order online at 
