The meeting was called to order by the president, Duane Clark, at 7:05 pm. 

MINUTES: The minutes of the November 6, 2008 meeting were approved as distributed. The December, 2008 meeting was a dinner meeting. No meetings were held in January and February of 2009.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Duane reported that the ASCA Board approved the donation of $1000.00 to the Anacortes Public Library Foundation towards the cost of the needed audio and visual improvements in the “conference room”. (See attached letter).

Duane called attention to the Anacortes American full page coverage of the ASCA Student Travel Program, published in the February 25th edition.

Duane presented David Rapella with the Sidney, BC chair pin. (LONG overdue!)

Duane then presented an ASCA pin to our speaker, Dr. Steven Miller.

TREASURER: Mark made two reports, November/December, 2008 and January/February, 2009:

Savings Account Balances:
General Reserve:   $2,994.38
Operating Reserve: $12,852.67

                 Dedicated Reserve:    $20,691.43
Official Travel Reserve:  $1,000.00
Cookbook Reserve           $  403.00
Sidney Committee Reserve   $  116.34
Student Travel Fund           $7,500.00
Golf Tournament Reserve     $10,428.59
Vela Luka Reserve            $1,243.50
Total Assets:  $41,428.07

Significant Items:
We received an anonymous donation of $2000.00 for the Lois Worthington Student Travel Fund.
We reimbursed the Town Crier $902.10 for official expenses and billed the city for its share under our tourism contract.
Cookbook sales revenue totaled $187.50.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2009
Checking Account Balances:   $5850.45
Savings Account Balances:
General Reserve:   $2,994.38
Operating Reserve: $23,281.26

                 Dedicated Reserve:    $10,262.84
Official Travel Reserve:  $1,000.00
Cookbook Reserve           $  403.00
Sidney Committee Reserve   $  116.34
Student Travel Fund           $7,500.00
Vela Luka Reserve            $1,243.50
Total Assets:  $42,388.93

Significant Items:
Per discussion at the February Executive Board meeting, I closed out the Golf Tournament accounts from 2008 and transferred the balances into the operating reserves.

The City of Anacortes reimbursed us a total of $962.05 for expenses in connection with the Town Crier and the flag pavilion.

We donated $1000.00 to the Anacortes Public Library Foundation for upgrades to the meeting room, as approved by the Executive Board.

We received $1050.00 in dues income.

VICE PRESIDENT:  John Lovric reported that the Highway 20 flagpole light needs replacement.  Duane will contact the Chamber of Commerce for the bulb replacement

ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT:  Don Lapworth announced that the new chairperson of the Lomonosov Committee will be Suzanne Harris (who is out of town).  The committee will select 2 boys, 2 girls and l alternate from the recent applicants for the trip to Lomonosov, Russia.  All 8 applicants are well qualified and it will be a difficult, necessary decision. The trip is an 18 day trip, with an overnight in Amsterdam.  All arrangements have been completed, including confirmation from Zoya that homestays are confirmed for the August trip.  Jessica Koberle, a retired counselor from AHS is the chaperone.  Don reminded the members that the students are “fund raising” for the trip and the next event is a car wash on April 11th at the Select Styling Hair Salon parking lot.  ASCA donates $500.00 to each student and the chaperone towards their expenses for this trip.

KISAKATA:  Cora Lijek, Co-chair, reported that the 12 students, (going to Kisakata next year), have completed one month of their Japanese classes to date.  The students will be selling paper lanterns at the Scott Milo Gallery tomorrow night, March 6 during the Art Walk.  Next month, they expect to be selling at several galleries during the Art Walk.  The lanterns are also for sale at the McCool Gallery.  They are also signing up businesses for the “tulip painting” on windows.  The Youth Sports Coalition Auction has received quite a few less donations so far this year.  The deadline for turning in items was March 4th, but if any member would like to make a donation, please contact Cora asap at: coralijek@yahoo.com.  Cora thanked members Anne Martin McCool, Maria Pappritz, Diane Davidson, Joy and Gary Walter and the Cap Sante Court Retirement Community for donations to the auction.  The Kisakata committee is also considering an ADULT TRIP TO KISAKATA.  If you are interested, please contact Cora as soon as possible. (A picture of the 12 students traveling to Kisakata was circulated.)

VELA LUKA: Nikki Lovric, chairperson, described the three students arriving from Vela Luka in August. (A picture of the three students was circulated).  She also presented the Dalmatian Orange Fig Jam available to members at $8.00 per jar. If you wish to order a jar, please contact Nikki at: nikki@windermere.com    

GOLF TOURNAMENT:  Scheduled for June 27th.  The Golf Committee has sent cards to all last years golfers/sponsors to “save the date”.  Two sponsors have already contacted Duane.  Duane announced that, this year, David Rapella will be PLAYING GOLF and food will be the responsibility of Stan Stewart, the new Hospitality Chairman.  Stan then took the floor and explained the three options: (1. David will cook. (Can’t, he’s playing!); 2. Geri-A-Deli  prepare food (too expensive!);  3. The Hospitality Committee should be responsible for the food at the Golf Tournament!  (Yes!)  Stan circulated a sign-up sheet so that members could sign up for being responsible for specifiedtasks: clean-up, set-up, serving, preparation of food, etc.!  All members are encouraged to SIGN UP.  Stan can be contacted: sbstewart1@earthlink.net . 

SAVE OUR FERRY: Duane updated the group on the “Save the Ferry” efforts and displayed a pin that is available at the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce at no cost.  He reminded the members that the Website: www.saveourferry.net includes public comments and contact information for legislators.  He specified the Washington State Senate Transportation Committee and the Washington State House Transportation Committee are the most effective to contact.  He reviewed the BC communications to our legislatures and indicated that there is a lot of energy from BC to KEEP THE FERRY!

OPENING DAY FOR THE FERRY RUN is March 29th!  Duane will be contacting members regarding what we can do to help make that ferry run FULL OF PEOPLE!  Our Town Crier, Rich Riddell, will be there.  Plans are also being made to provide opportunities for the Sidney people to express their concerns, as well as Anacortes citizens.

THE ANACORTES/SIDNEY, BC ferry run is rated as the 4th most popular ferry run in the WORLD!  (1st is Hong Kong; 2nd is Staten Island, NY; 3rd is the San Francisco Bay Ferry).
David reviewed his recent trip to Sidney, BC via Tsawwassen. He takes brochures from businesses in Anacortes to Sidney and FROM Sidney businesses to Anacortes annually. The trip was too long.

Duane introduced Dr. Steve Miller who presented a Power Point of his recent mission to Nepal.  His presentation was great!

The meeting was adjourned at 9:03pm.
Respectfully submitted,

Jo Fuqua
ASCA Secretary