Q & A with Jane Porter

Jane Porter—best-selling author and a Bellevue Club member—is coming to the Club for a special wine tasting and author event on Wednesday, May 11. With more than 5 million books in print in 20 languages, Jane’s modern lit and romance novels have gained a worldwide following. One of her books, “Flirting with Forty,” was made into a Lifetime movie starring Heather Locklear.

Taking time out of her busy schedule of book readings, writing and being a mom, Jane indulged us with answers to some of our burning questions:

Reflections: Bellevue, Hawaii, Los Angeles, Texas—the geographic settings tend to play a major role in your modern literature novels. How do you decide where to place your characters?

Jane: I think I view setting as a character in a novel—where a book is set is as important as the people who populate it. Different places bring out different characters’ strengths—or in some cases, reveal weaknesses. Hawaii allowed Jackie in “Flirting with Forty” to relax, step back and get some perspective, while playing the high-powered corporate wife and living in an affluent Bellevue neighborhood brought out Taylor’s insecurities in “Mrs. Perfect.”  And after writing a number of urban settings (“Odd Mom Out,” “Mrs. Perfect,” “Easy on the Eyes”) it was really fun to go rural and rustic with “She’s Gone Country.”  My grandfather was Texan and I grew up spending every Easter and part of the summer on one of his cattle ranches in California near Paso Robles. We still have the ranch in the family so writing about that world was like going home for me.

R: Many of your novels focus on finding and loving oneself, especially through parenthood and career challenges. How does your own journey of self-discovery make its way into your novels?

J: Change is an inevitable part of life, but change can really throw us, make us feel unstable and insecure and afraid.  I love confronting those hard changes and showing that we can get through whatever life gives us.  Sometimes we need to lean on friends. Sometimes we need to reach out to family. And sometimes we need to dig deep down inside ourselves to find our real strength. I guess that’s heroic to me—women finding themselves and discovering they can take care of themselves, and have a happy life, with or without a man, with or without children, with or without money.  

R: Where do you find your inspiration to stay creative every day?

J: I think I’m just wired to be creative. It’s not even a choice. It’s just how I was made. My boys probably wish I was a little less creative and more of a traditional mom because I’m constantly telling them to think out of the box, to be different, to avoid what’s popular and find what’s unique—even if it makes life bumpier. I admire strong, original people. And I’m never afraid of people, or women, with some rough edges.  That’s what makes life interesting and I love interesting.

R: Between book readings, travel and parenthood, what habits have you developed to keep your life balanced?

J: I love to read. It’s my personal escape. I also have to work out. Bench press is my favorite exercise with seated rows coming in a close second. But no matter what I’m doing—writing, reading, traveling, speaking—I’m always aware I’m a mom and the boys come first.  The moment I feel as if things are out of whack, or I’m not with my boys enough, I push everything aside and concentrate on them.

R: If you had one free day with no obligations, how would you spend it?

J: Nothing to do? Oh, bliss. Well, I’d curl up in bed and read for hours. Then mid-afternoon I’d get a massage—a long one. And then to wrap up the day, I’d take my boys to dinner and a movie.

Wild Ride
Ed Dolan to span United States in support of ALA

Bellevue Club member and local dentist Ed Dolan is about to embark on a journey of epic proportions. Leaving Seattle on June 20, Ed will be biking with a group of 40 cyclists all the way to Washington, D.C., to raise funds and awareness for the American Lung Association.

The group plans to pedal the 3,300 miles in seven weeks—averaging 83 miles per day. Camping each night, a single truck will carry the group’s camping and cooking gear.

Ed’s interest in healthy lungs goes way back.

“In fifth grade, a person came around our classroom and showed us photos, saying we can either choose black lungs or pink lungs. I chose pink lungs, which is why I’ve never touched a cigarette,” he says. As an adult, Ed’s been an avid supporter of the ALA and is currently raising donations for the ride. Besides a ride from Seattle to Portland while in college, this is Ed’s first major bike tour.

And what part of the journey is he most excited about?

“Traveling through states that I have not been in before,” he says.

To donate to a rider or for more information, visit www.cleanairadventures.org/big_ride_across_america.

Run Baby Run

This summer, Bellevue Club members Nick Merrill and Liz Strathy Merrill are embarking on a 300-mile run from Vancouver, Wash., to the Peace Arch at the Canadian border. And they’re doing it in just five days.

Partnered with The Doingood Foundation and sponsored by Brooks Running, the pair are raising funds to build a nursery school in Uganda as a safe haven from the current AIDS crisis.

On Tuesday, May 24, Liz and Nick are hosting a fundraiser at the Bellevue Club from 6-8 p.m. Join them in the Ballroom for appetizers and beverages and a talk from the founders of The Doingood Foundation.

Contactlizstrathy@comcast.net to RSVP or for more information, or donate directly at www.doingood.org.

Spring Cleaning
Celebrate ‘Shredder Day’ with Kathleen Weber

Taxes are finished. The sun is almost shining. It’s time to purge your filing cabinets. Longtime Bellevue Club member and financial advisor Kathleen Weber is encouraging other members to bring all old documents down to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in downtown Bellevue on Saturday, May 21, from 9 a.m.-noon, for free shredding services.

Sponsored by the Weber Team at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, simply drive to the ground loading dock next to the underground parking entrance. Juice and coffee will be served. For more details, contact Cate Forsyth at 425.451.3316.


Calling All Up and Comers
New Young Professional program launched
This year, the Bellevue Club is investing in the next generation of community leaders with a brand new membership program.

Created specifically for young professionals on the Eastside with the goal of continuing the Bellevue Club legacy, the new program allows those between the ages of 25-29 to join the Club with a special initiation deposit payment plan and reduced dues.

If you know a family member or young colleague in the office that you think would be a great addition to the Bellevue Club family, have them contact Membership Services at 688.3221 for more information on the Young Professional Program. Private facility tours are also available.

In the Cards
Membership Card Reminder
In order to protect the Bellevue Club’s private membership status, every member who enters the Club must have his or her membership card swiped by a staff member.

Although most members become familiar faces around the Club, the card scanning policy helps stop unauthorized use by nonmembers and members who have been suspended or left the Club. Also, the use of membership cards creates a more efficient entrance environment, in contrast to manually entering each member into the computer.

For those with lost or missing cards, be sure to tell the Athletic Entrance representative so they can order you a new card. We completely understand that you may occasionally forget or misplace your membership card. However, any member who refuses to comply with our card-scanning policy will be subject to disciplinary actions.

Be Our Guest:
Guest check-in procedures
Guests are always welcome at the Bellevue Club. We encourage members to bring a guest for the day to enjoy use of the facility. All guests that are brought to the Club shall abide by the Rules and Regulations of the Bellevue Club. This includes checking in. To ensure that guests are eligible to use the facility, we ask that all members abide by the following rules:

• The same guest may visit the Bellevue Club once per month, but not to exceed two visits within a six-month period. The Bellevue Club does offer multi-day and weekly passes through Membership Services.
• The sponsoring member must be present with the guest upon check-in. The only exception is with special passes or arrangements made in advance through Membership Services.
• All guests must fill out a Guest Registration Form, which is to be signed by both the member and guest.
• All guests are subject to pay a guest fee upon check-in. The fee is $16 for an adult and $8 for a junior.

All the News that's Fit to Blog
Bellevue Club launches blog and Twitter
There’s officially a new blog on the block. The Bellevue Club recently launched a new media outlet with all the latest information and member news on the Eastside at www.bellevueclub.com/blog.

Created as a place for members to stay connected to the Bellevue Club community, the new blog is focused on posting timely stories and announcements about member and Club happenings. Along with member news, also look for fitness tips, recipes, social events and class updates.

If you or somebody you know is hosting a charity event or you recently won an award, the Bellevue Club Blog wants to hear about it. Send all interesting news items and tidbits to reflections@bellevueclub.com. And while you’re online, check out Hotel Bellevue’s new blog at www.thehotelbellevue.com/blog.

In addition to a shiny new blog, the Bellevue Club is also on Twitter. Follow the Club at www.twitter.com/BellevueClub to get last-minute class openings or cancellations, parking alerts, special offers and weather-related announcements, as well as information about community events in Bellevue.

Nominate a Member for a Profile
Do you know any members who have special talents or athletic abilities, unique hobbies, far-flung travels or interesting careers, volunteer or charity work? We are looking for members to feature for profiles in future issues of REFLECTIONS, and we’d love to hear from you. Call John Kinmonth at 688-3162 or e-mail johnk@bellevueclub.com with your nomination.

Sign Up for E-Mail Alerts
Bellevue Club members can now sign up to receive e-mail alerts about the latest fitness classes, social events, construction updates, restaurant specials and more. Visit https://members.bellevueclub.com and click on “Subscribe to E-mail Alerts.” From this screen you can sign up each family member to receive specific e-mail alerts about various departments at the Club. Tailor individual alerts to exactly what each person wants to know about at the Club, from last-minute tennis court openings to promotions at the Spa. Receive only the information you requested, and unsubscribe or change alerts at any time. If you have questions about
e-mail alerts, contact the web coordinator at 688-3293 or e-mail webcoordinator@bellevueclub.com.

See What’s Happening ‘This Week’
Stay up to date on the latest construction news, classes and happenings at the Bellevue Club with the new “This Week at the Club” page at www.bellevueclub.com/thisweek. The link will provide information about special events, current specials, promotions and sales around the club, upcoming events, construction updates, parking alerts, membership information and more.

Use Automatic Deduction to Pay your Club Bill
The Club accepts automatic deductions from your checking or savings account as a convenient, dependable and safe way to make your monthly Club payment.

To sign up for our automatic deduction program, pick up an Authorization Agreement form at Membership Services and return it with a voided check or preprinted savings withdrawal slip.

Once you drop off the completed form, we’ll withdraw your payment directly from your checking or savings account. Automatic deduction payments are made on the 15th of the month and will be reflected on your bank statement. We will continue to send you a monthly Club statement of activity for your review. For more information, please call Membership Services at 688-3221.

Parking Lot Theft Alert
There have been a number of automobile break-ins at the Club due to valuables being left unattended in cars. To reduce the possibility of this happening to you, please never leave valuables—or for that matter, anything—in your car. Do not hide items in your car, either. We have extended security’s presence in the parking lot as well as having the Bellevue Police provide random surveillance throughout the day and evening.

If you observe any unusual activity, please report it to the Athletic Desk immediately.

Save a Tree: Sign Up for Paperless Statements
The Bellevue Club is now offering paperless statements in addition to online bill pay. Sign up today on the Members Only site—https://members.bellevueclub.com—to receive your monthly Bellevue Club statement in your e-mail inbox.

Paperless statements do more than keep clutter off your countertops. An electronic statement saves the paper it is printed on, as well as the envelope it’s mailed in. According to James Van Dyke, president and founder of the independent research firm Javelin Strategy & Research, if every American household viewed and paid bills online, it would prevent 800,000 tons of solid waste a year in landfills and reduce greenhouse gasses by 2.1 million tons. Paperless statements also save trees: According to the National Arbor Day Foundation, it takes 24 trees to produce one ton of virgin printing and office paper—trees that otherwise could provide enough oxygen for 72 people.

Choosing to receive a paperless statement is easy. Visit your Account page on the Members Only Web site and select the checkbox indicating you’d wish to receive statements via e-mail. While you’re there, pay your bill online also, and save both the paper required for a check and the money it takes to mail your payment.

For more information about the new paperless statements, stop by the Membership Services Office or call 688-3150.

Locker Room Reminder
Please note that all members under 16 years of age are required to use the Family/Children’s locker rooms. Opposite sex children under 6 years of age are permitted in the boys or girls locker rooms when accompanied by an adult. Please be aware that adults do use these locker rooms. If you are uncomfortable for any reason please contact the Athletic Desk and we will arrange for a staff person to assist your child.

Club Employment Not Available for Members
Please remember that the Bellevue Club does not employ Club members, including Junior and Intermediate classifications. We appreciate your understanding and hope you will continue to enjoy all the activities available at the Club.

Child Care and Kids’ Camp Sick Policy
Please do not bring your sick child to the Child Care Center or Kids’ Camp. This includes a child with a cold, runny nose, cough or fever. We ask that you respect this rule for the protection of other children and our staff.

Reminder for Parents Regarding Junior Members
Summers are a busy time and we have many youngsters in the Club every day taking classes and camps. Please remind your children of the following junior member rules to make time in the Club more pleasant for everyone.
• Junior members shall use the Athletic Entrance upon entering and exiting the Club except when accompanied by a parent for dining purposes or when attending a social function.
• Junior members under 12 years of age shall be accompanied by a parent while in the Club unless participating in a supervised class/activity or open swim.
• Junior members 12 years of age and older are allowed to bring a guest without having their parents present. A membership card or identification must be presented at the Athletic Entrance.
• Junior members 16 years of age and older may use the adult locker rooms. All other junior members shall use the children’s locker rooms.
• Junior members are not permitted in Polaris restaurant, Cosmos, the ballroom or conference rooms, or hotel guest areas unless accompanied by a parent or while attending a supervised class/activity.
• The Junior Activity Lounge is provided for junior members. No rowdiness or foul language is allowed.
• Junior members shall use the Athletic Entrance upon entering and exiting the Club except when accompanied by a parent for dining purposes or when attending a social function.
• Junior members under 12 years of age shall be accompanied by a parent while in the Club unless participating in a supervised class/activity or open swim.
• Junior members 12 years of age and older are allowed to bring a guest without having their parents present. A membership card or identification must be presented at the Athletic Entrance.
• Junior members 16 years of age and older may use the adult locker rooms. All other junior members shall use the children’s locker rooms.
• Junior members are not permitted in Polaris restaurant, Cosmos, the ballroom or conference rooms, or hotel guest areas unless accompanied by a parent or while attending a supervised class/activity.