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PETALUMA VALLEY ROTARY

VIEWPOINT

 

Sovereign Sally calls the meeting to order.

 

Forrest leads the flag pledge.

 

Thought for the Day:

Derek quotes President Harry S. Truman:

“It’s not the hand that signs the laws that holds the destiny of America .  It’s the hand that casts the ballot.”

 

PVR guests:

David Trisko, owner, Head Gear Promotional Products.

Stu Gan, Rotarian and Terri’s main squeeze.

Al Kaplan, Petaluma Club.

Joseph N., Derek’s Nelson Associates guest.

Andy Kern, new prospective PVR member.

Dr. Matt Carter, Jennifer’s husband.

Don King, Santa Rosa , kitchen designer.

Damon Doss,  healthcare, Sunrise Rotary club.

Kevin Downey’s family: Starr, Emerald, Daniel, and Sierra.

 

Announcements:

 

Reminder that semi-annual club dues are payable now- help Sally, Walt, and Liz by getting yours taken care of if you haven’t already.  Thanks.

 

4/11- 4/12, District Assembly in Ukiah, nine PVRs signed up already- club pays for registration and reception with form from Liz.  Sign up for Hornblower cruise now if you are going.

 

2/15, First Friday is at Tres Hombres, 5pm.

 

Rotary on River Meeting after today’s meeting.

 

Passed the hat for Pedro the PVR exchange student to raise $100 for sports programs- done deal, good job gang!

 

Dave Johnson: ceremony for Rickie Roark who becomes our newest Hal Alexander Fellow!   Congrats Tigger!

 

Bob Hill:  presents a Lend-A-Hand to Education Grant check for $3368 to Diane Zimmerman, PVR and school superintendent, for distribution to the teachers and their projects.

 

Finery

Happy Birthday to Christine who celebrates with a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

 

Liz M. celebrates her 9^th club anniversary- remembering her number like the pro accountant she is!   Congrats girl, we love ya!

 

Denny celebrates daughter Sarah’s 28^th birthday with a roller skate trip- fun!

 

Kevin’s son Daniel turns 8 years old with a PVR song!

 

Gordon (moi) announces the opening of his wife’s chocolate café tomorrow- inviting everyone to come to the open house (free candy, chocolate fountain, etc).

 

Sally: we have a 93 percent attendance rate- if we can get 100, she pays a fine so lets get her!

 

Al Kaplan: announces the Petaluma Clubs Raffle with $8000 first prize!  Get your tickets now!

 

The Uganda camera arrives tomorrow so stay tuned for some pictures!

 

Jim Furuli- won first quarter Superbowl pool and contributes of his good luck to the club- what a guy!

 

Sue and Walt’s grandson Ray also picked it right in the Superbowl- now he can buy that Xbox360 right Walt?!

 

Raffle:

Maureen draws for $428 and WINS!  Yeah, Mo!  Whatcha gonna do with all that loot?!

 

Speaker:

Kevin: in celebrating Rotary World Understanding Month…

 

Ms. Emer Deane

Consul General of Ireland

Dublin , Ireland

 

Ms. Deane discussed the history of the Irish conflict and of the peace process today:

     Between 500-600 AD, England colonizes Ireland .  In 1847, the Great Potato Famine hit Ireland causing great migration and social unrest.  In 1912, England grants Ireland home rule, however six counties in the north-east part of the country resists independence and desires to remain a part of England (Ulster- Scots).  These six counties had strong English, Scottish, and other British Isle culturally Protestant heritages while the rest of Ireland was Catholic.

    During World War One, all the Irish fought for England but strove for different goals: the south to gain eventual independence and the Ulster- Scots to remain a part of England .  After the war in 1916, England reneged on home rule resulting in the execution of Irish revolutionaries which changed public opinion resulting in both a war of independence as well as a civil war with fighting against the six loyalist counties.  In a three way fight, no one side trust either of the other two. This continued into the 1970s, when the IRA terrorist organization flourished.

     The only way to resolve this conflict was with a third party all the sides could trust.  This happened to be the United States .  With a large Irish immigrant population of its own (partly due to the famine), the USA was the only nation which could bridge all sides bringing a third party perspective and experience.  There could be no change in the situation unless there was pressure from outside the conflict.  Both President Carter and Clinton offered to help.

    The main impetus for change came after 911 however.  After 911, terrorist organizations lost their popular cache and were shunned.  In addition, the USA stopped issuing visas to Ireland , IRA fundraising efforts floundered, and popular support faded.   This caused many in the Irish resistance to change to political parties.  People were also getting tired of war.

     Also at this time, Ireland and England joined the European Union, putting Ireland on more even footing with its former colonist, the mass media was working for reconciliation, and the Catholic church began separating from the government.  These factors all helped in the peace process resulting in the Good Friday Agreement, a compromise in which the 26 southern Irish counties respected the independence of the six loyalist counties until they were ready to join the rest of Ireland and whereas England plainly stated that she had no strategic or economic interest in Ireland and would stay only if it was the will of the people.

     Today Ireland has two separate governments (except in matters of defense) which now enable both communities to talk to each other in matters of healthcare, integrated education, environmental policies, economics, and cultural areas.  This didn’t exist before and has greatly enabled reconciliation.  There are differences still- the south uses kilometers and the loyalist, miles.  But at the borders, there are no more armed checkpoints as in the past- you can drive easily between the two areas without much notice. 

     Economically, Ireland has seen a boom in high tech and pharmaceutical companies, many of which have their headquarters in Ireland now (its also the banana hub for bananas shipped from the tropics!)

     Thanks you Emer for that easy to understand synopsis of the Irish conflict as well as giving us some interesting facts about the Irish (did you know DNA tests the same for all the English, Irish, Scots, etc?  In addition some southern Ireland has some Iberian DNA- from survivors of the defeated Spanish Armada who beached in Cook County !)  Great talk- thank Consul and Kevin, most enjoyable.

 

Xiajin,

 

GMW

More pictures can be seen by clicking here.