El Cerrito Rotary: The Wheel February 25, 2010
Editor: Gary Buffon
Week of February 25, 2010
(www.rotary5160.org)
www.elcerritorotary.org
President Tracy welcomed everyone to the Friendly El Cerrito Rotary Club. Jim Sheppard led the flag salute and Ilhami provided the thought for the day.
Secretary John: No guests today
4-Way Test Presentation: Charlie led us in reciting the 4-Way Test
Announcements:
- Karen announced that 17 people have signed up for the St Patrick’s Day party. There is still time to sign up but you have to hurry
- Marty announced the bowl-a-thon and woman car clinic. Both are to support Rotovision in purchasing a surgery microscope in Thailand
- Jack announced the demotion dinner for Tracy will be June 5th at Trader Vic’s. Reserve the date it will be a great time
- Nobuko presented a $150 check to our club for the candy sale
- Nobuko had Gary B auction a 2 pound box of candy to the club which was scored by Lee for a donation of $60 to our club foundation
Happy dollars: Kathleen is happy to be featured on radio station KPFA where she will share her expertise in estate planning to the listening audience. Jane is $5 happy for the outcome of the Richmond Chamber crab feed which had to be accomplished with a power outage. Tracy had $10 for the great trip she and daughter Sarah had to go skiing. Tracy also is happy about Kathleen bringing Jim Sheppard into our club creating a great win-win for all of us.
Today’s Program:
Ilhami introduced Jeff Munnis to speak to us about the Seeds of Learning program that builds school rooms and school houses in Nicaragua. Jeff explained how when he met his wife to be, who was from Nicaragua and ultimately married her, he and his wife were on a plane heading to Nicaragua with a group known as Seeds of Learning which is based in Sonoma. He became interested in the organization and when he began his studies in Northern Cal to become an ordained minister one of his mentors is the Executive Director of the organization.
This was the beginning of Jeff’s involvement in Nicaragua in helping with one of the school builds. Jeff gave us a audio/visual presentation of the experience. The main points of the program depicted that agrarian nature of the country and the little or no infrastructure to support things required by an organized society.
A team of 15 people go on the build and work in ten day shifts. After one team does their part another team come to the location and continues until the build is completed. This is an example of people helping those in a 3rd world country by providing a team effort with the citizens of a community to build the education system for that community.
Obviously a great program for both the citizens and team assisting them. This was a quality presentation and I hope you got to experience it.
Jeff Munnis speaking on Seeds of Learning
Genie Stone: Steve had his ticket pulled and won the magic stone for the month of March
Today’s Lottery Winner: Sil had his ticket drawn and pulled a blue marble winning $2 and a bottle of wine. Next meeting the pot is $60.
Thought for the Week:
Education makes people easy to lead, but difficult to drive; easy to govern, but impossible to enslave.
--Henry Peter Brougham
|
