Speaking Next
9/19
Grant Livingston Perspectives of living in Brazil and
the Amazon
9/26 Club members Craft Talks
10/3 Frank Schuler…Art Trails Sculptor
Wednesday, September 13, 2007 convened by President Sally, theme for the year ‘Lead the Way’.
Forrest F. led the pledge.
Thought
of the Day: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only
thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
INTRODUCTION
OF ROTARIAN GUESTS: Holly Wick, Athletic Soles (guest of Linda
P.), Paul Berringer, son-in-law of Forrest; Sara Mills-Gaines, loan
specialist (guest of Tricia P.); Janice Lever (aunt of Bruce’s wife).
VISITING
ROTARIANS: Al Kaplan
(underground construction), Petaluma;
Klaus
Espe (boat sales), President of Petaluma Sunrise.
ANNOUNCEMENTS / EVENTS.
Adobe
Road Winery, 1995 South McDowell Boulevard is the “second Friday”
event, was this Friday. A good Friday it was! Wine Porsches and friends
*Board meeting – this coming Tuesday at Sunrise.
*SCARC – September 27th at Rooster Run, hosted by our very own Club.
*Oktoberfest
sales is going well, the three-member committee needs some help with
sandwich boards and banners (Jim O’Grady, Dave Johnson, and Mike Levin
stepped up to the plate). Julie R. updated the Club members on
their assigned sale requirement (4 tickets – just a family of four,
easy stuff).
*JoAnn P. is coordinating the hotel
accommodations for the RI convention in LA next June. We are
staying at the Buenaventura – mention the Pozzi suite group when you
register for a room. Deadline: by the end of this week get
your room reservation in please.
HAPPY DOLLARS, FINES, ETC.:
Fines:
Forrest paid for a great article in the paper about him; Mike R. was
fined for the fabulous 
new car he is driving (his sponsor, Sheila,
augmented the fine); Russ F. didn’t know anything special, but
President Sally recognized his Club anniversary (31 years) with a fine
(boosted up by Past-President Ron J..
Red to Blue Badge:
Tabatha and Layne were recognized for progressing from their red to
blue badges. Past-President Connie helped remind President Sally
that a fine is usually applied and the red badges come back for reuse
for new members.
Dog and Pony Show: Jo T. and Pamela T.
presented some upcoming highlights of their trip to Uganda. Jo
outlined the itinerary and Pam talked about getting ready to go to
Uganda. Diane Z. read a few excerpts from the Pen Pals written by
local 6th grade students to be hand carried to Uganda.
RAFFLE:
50/50 raffle ($424) the blue marble was selected by Elly, Linda, and
Deni. Linda designated her share of the funds (20%) to Cool Kids
Camp.
PROGRAM: Bruce S. introduced his
wife’s Aunt Janice Lever. Janice spent more than 17 years in
Kampala as an educator. Janice thanked Bruce for the invitation
to speak to the Club. Left her four grown children in the US in
1987, expecting to go to Kenya. Had a job waiting for her, but
found that the job was not there when she arrived. A friend asked
her to visit a friend at the Tesoro Girls School; traveling by
train. Janice showed slides of first friends she met in
Nairobi. One friend from the Congo, a PhD teaches a literary
program; another a Kenyan and a Ugandan. In order to stay in
Uganda she had to get employment, she ended up Headmistress at the
Baha’i Girls School. The school was a model for an independent
design. Attended by all races of the middle class. Pictures
included two students, full of sincere smiles, views of the rural areas
around her school; fellow teachers; classrooms. English is the
primary language of Uganda; most beginning students did not have a good
command of the language; the school prepared them to continue their
education. One of the tribes (Buganda) still has a King, with a
history connected over 1,000 years. The monarchy was
re-established in 1993, strictly cultural, no political power.
The Buganda was the favored tribe under British rule. The tribe
is sustained by the plantain, steamed and spiced with a peanut type of
oil. Most cattle were rustled and taken into Kenya. 
Janice’s
presentation was interrupted often (with her permission) with great
questions from Club members and guests. The Uganda language
adjusted easily to the phonics of English. Before the kids moved
on to primary school, within 3 years, they were conversant in
English. After six years, her youngest son came to visit; he is
still there, married to a Uganda native with 2 children. They own
and operate a hostel “Little Village”, sixteen units. Janice
showed a picture of the Baha’i House of Worship choir; focusing on
racial unity.
Janice shared the story of a
friend, mother of seven children; who kicked out her alcoholic husband
(not done in Africa), saved money and sent all seven children to
advanced education.
Unique land laws – Buganda
tribes were given access to certain sections of the land; overturned in
the last 2-3 years in the Kampala region. She did know one
Rotarian – he owned a backpacker’s lodge. There is no larger
sense of community, mostly connections to the larger family rather than
someone else in the community.
Fabulous chat –
super questions and comments from the Club. Goodbye from your
part-time editor, see you when we return from Uganda; take care!
pt
