Scribe for Spokesman from October 31, 2011

 

VISITING ROTARIANS AND GUESTS  Visiting Rotarians included Lori Pappas, our speaker and Rotarian from Ethiopia, and Robin Simmons-Bainbridge Island Rotarian and volunteer for Lori’s program in Ethiopia.  Guests included Pam Going, Jim’s wife, Jim Castlebery-President of Northwest University and interested in joining this club, and Bill Wood’s friend Joanne Wright.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

·        It’s Thanksgiving Basket time again with Elizabeth Rusnak leading.  Plan on bringing your donations for three lucky John Muir families.

·        Next week will be Rotary Foundation night.  All Paul Harris Fellows are urged to wear their medals.

 

HAPPY DOLLARS  Chuck Brockway led us in Happy Dollars this week.  As usual, a good time was had by all.   

PROGRAM  Lori Pappas, a retired successful entrepreneur in the software industry from Minnesota became consumed with an urge to help the Hammar tribe in Southwestern Ethiopia in 2006.  The Hammar are a 2 day drive on dirt roads from Addis Ababa.  She started the Global Team for Local Initiatives (GTLI), a 501c3 nonprofit organization, in 2007 and has spent many months each year with the Hammar.  Kirkland Rotary has donated $3000 a couple years ago and $2000 last year; these donations with others turned into $37,000 and $75,000 programs which Lori told us about.  In brief this organization believes that “Outer behavior follows a path of the inner mind”, that is, to change behavior we must understand the thinking of the person and change that first if we are to be successful.  The initial program we supported was directed at health by successfully helping the Hammar to desire and recognize they could be healthy with some changes directed toward hygiene.  First the Hammar had to realize their traditional habits caused the rampant illness from fecal contamination.  Wells were kept cleaner by women that otherwise had to walk hours to carry water from contaminated rivers and primitive toilets were separated from the water supply.  Trachoma, an easily treated illness commonly causing blindness was treated with an inexpensive antibiotic significantly decreasing this disabling illness.  The second program mentioned above was a literacy program primarily among native women which also was successful.  A new program is to develop  income generating microbusinesses like chicken farming and making beaded jewelry for sale.  Robin Simmons, Bainbridge Rotarian brought beaded jewelry to sell.  The program was excellent and there were many questions expanding on the above.  The GTLI website, www.gtli.us, has much more detail on every aspect of this wonderful program.

 

TICKET DRAWING AND ADJORN   Jim Going presided over the Joker Pool activity which is now up over $900 in the pot.  Chuck Brockway paid for his raffle tickets this evening but his draw allowed the pot to continue growing.  President Brandon adjorned the meeting at 7:40 PM.

 

 Respectfully submitted         Bob Webb