May 17

Third Thursday Social at the Rock Bottom, Downtown Bellevue (at the Galleria, free parking); 4:30 pm. Please join us for a beverage, some hors d'oeuvres, and a generous helping of BBRC Fellowship. Counts as a make‑up!

June 30

Rotating the Wheels Dinner.  $35  Register Here

• Cocktail reception: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
• Dinner and Program: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
• Dancing: 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM
• Attire: Caribbean theme, so the dress is Island casual
• Where: Red Hook Brewery

July 23

Charity Golf Classic.  $180 per player.  Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Register here.

3-5 May 2013

District 5030 Conference at Coeur d'Alene.  Click here for more info.  Register on DaCDb here

RECENT BBRC PROGRAM

Bill Grace spoke to us about enriching the common good for all

Bill is an activist and teacher of common good. He worked at Seattle U and founded the Center for Executive Leadership where he served as executive director for 15 years. Bill’s work promotes the common good.

Bill started his presentation with a quiz: What comes to mind when you hear the words “common good”?

The club’s suggestions included:

• benefits all
• best you you can be
• something that no one of us can do alone
• requires a community
• equal protection and due process
• everyone is equal under the law
• acceptance of everyone
• prosperity for all

Bill’s insights on common good:

Frances Bellamy wrote the Pledge of Allegiance during the Civil War and Bill noted that he must have been a good man to write that pledge which included the words “with liberty, equality, and justice for all”. He took the pledge to the sitting congress which told him that he needed to delete the word “equality” for all.  It was removed and we now recite it as Congress mandated.

Bellamy probably used the word “all” more liberally than we do. At that time,“all” probably excluded women, people of color, young people and people with developmental problems. We in this room are probably accustomed to charity that helps us live more civilized lives with each other. In addition to charity we also needed to incorporate “justice” into our world. Bill used the analogy of being invited to the campfire – if you’re invited to the warmth and the light, life is good. If not, because you’re marginalized, you’re out in the dark.

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