Rotary Log 11-17-2914 (Nov 17, 2015)

The Rotary Club of Everett

Meeting of November 17, 2015, the Club’s 5,128 meeting & 20^th of President Deb

President Deborah Wright called the meeting to order and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Dave Surface had our group remain standing with a minute of silence to show our support and sadness for the victims of the recent attack in Paris.

After noting there were no visiting Rotarians, Will McMahan acknowledged many Rotarians’ guests:

Sally Lancaster: Jo Levine, Everett High School

Roy Yates: Mike Gillespie (related to guest speaker, but I couldn’t hear the relation…)

Eileen Simmons: Alexa Boswell, student of the month, and her parents

Gary Meisner: Fatuma Musaa-Hussein, student of the month

Tom Koenig: Adrian Monard, student of the month and his fiance, child, mother & brother

Will McMahan: Darcy Cooper, school counselor

Adam Ballout: Alexa Boswell, student of the month and her parents

Marybeth Dingledy introduced Jennifer Rancourt; she was inducted as a new Club member. President Deb welcomed Jennifer with a Rotary packet, pin and name badge.

Each of the November Students of the Month gave a nice talk about themselves and plans after graduation:

Adrian Monard: criminal justice

Fatuma Musaa-Hussein: community psychology, community service

Alexa Boswell: elementary education with a focus on special needs

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner was a great success! All Rotarians are encouraged to sign up next year. This annual fun event gives us an opportunity to get to know some Club members in a relaxing evening of fellowship, while dining at a fellow Rotarian’s home.

Tom Koenig reminded us that November is Foundation Month. The Club sold $50 cards today for the Paul Harris drawing later in the month. If you purchase a card, you could win a Paul Harris!

George Bowden thanked Ed Petersen for hosting the World Community Service committee dinner at his home recently. Our WCS will be partnering with many world organizations for our work in the Dominican Republic.

Thanksgiving: Our Club will be collecting food and cash donations for Thanksgiving at next week’s November 24^th meeting. Judi will take all donations directly to the food bank after the meeting.

Happy Dollars and Birthday Bucks:

Rod Moody:birthday bucks and beating Jim Schrader in racket ball (---or was it pickle ball?)
Joe Gaffney:birthday bucks and a fun family trip to Leavenworth
Janice Ellis:thanked Gail Larson for hosting Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner & meeting new member, Derry Ford
Sally Lancaster:acknowledged Commander Giles & students at the Club’s Veteran’s Day meeting
Jo Levine (guest):thanked Marc Baker & the Club for dollars raised for EHS to purchase turkeys
Mark Valentine:paid up for being a Hero and thanked Marybeth Dingledy for hosting Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Jim Schrader:birthday bucks and stated he would beat Rod once again
Bruce Timm: proud grandpa bucks for granddaughter’s & grandson’s grades

Raffle:

Winners were Zeb Cobbs, Jim Schrader, and Noni LaLone.

Prizes included, but not limited to each winner: wine, candy, Boeing bags and Seafair key chains.

“The Power of Human Rights Education for Community Led Development and Positive Social Change” was the topic for today’s program. Tammy Dunn introduced our guest speaker, Diane Gillespie, who is a Board Member for Tostan.

Tostan is an international nonprofit headquartered in Dakar, Senegal. Their vision is a world where everyone is treated equally and respectfully, and has the tools they need to reach their full potential. By facilitating the spread of human rights education and practical skills, they provide rural communities with the knowledge to determine their own vision and develop sustainably. They have spent over 20 years developing a way to put communities in charge of their own futures through a holistic education program. Their facilitators come from partnered communities and the hiring and training of African staff.

The Tostan model is a 3-year empowerment program. They set their own community vision while learning democracy, human rights, hygiene and health, and as part of the problem solving sessions, they decide which practices will either help or hinder their development. Prevalent issues are addressed, which include abandoning harmful traditional practices and empowerment of women & girls, along with the importance of early childhood development.

The Community Empowerment Program is human rights based, respectful and inclusive, holistic & sustainable. Programs include: child protection, peace and security, community development grants, prison projects, mobile phones for literacy, solar power, reinforcement for parental practices.

More information can be found at www.tostan.org or book “However Long the Night” by Aimee Malloy.

President Deb concluded our meeting by thanking our speaker, visitors and fellow Rotarians for their contributions.

It is always good to see this distinguish looking Past President at out weekly meetings,,,

See you all next week!!!