Todays speaker is Laurie Burke, fellow rotarian, as a continuation of her January presentation on the environment.
Nancy shared opening words.
Ric led us in the four way test.
The club welcomed back Susan from Kenya where she recently travelled to volunteer at a Dental facility. The dental clinic she worked at has several Rotary connections from around the world. Covid is not as big of an issue there and is mostly endemic. The numbers are low and people are vaccinated.
The Rotary Club of Mayfield (Kentucky) sent a thank you note for our recent donation to their work caused by the devastating tornadoes.
Susan suggested we send a note on our new post cards to the members who do not attend or participate regularly. We’ll do this as a project at our weekly meeting in the near future.
Susan announced the Rotary District Speech Contest still has no participants, however there is interest in RYLA from the schools.
Dave Micklas reported he is still available to deliver furniture to The Refugee Resettlement Center for the incoming refugee’s.
Susan and Carrie reported on the work being done in Shelburne and Charlotte schools. Charlotte is struggling, having had a Covid outbreak recently. Susan will check in with the Shelburne school this week but they have had help outside of Rotary.
Linda Gilbert is departing for Honduras February 12. She had some details of the work they will be doing with the club recently. Now she is wiring money today to replace a birthing bed that was damaged in the clinic, this will be the first hydraulic birthing bed in Honduras.
There are two snowshoe races coming up and Chris will check in with Rayne about Rotary help.
Chris is delivering more winter clothes to Gadue’s today. He will obtain some information from Gadue’s on distribution of the clothing and our club’s participation.
Carrie mentioned the Day of Service as encouraged by the Rotary International/President. Perhaps April or May might be a good time for this project and incorporating the environmental work we would like to do.
Happy Fines were collected by Denis and we shared what we do to participate in saving the environment.
Laurie continued her presentation and proposal she started on January 5.
Greta Thunberg is her hero but there are many, many great authors and activists on the topic, Laurie really recommends her book. Bill McCibben, Rachel Carson, Naiomi Cline, Al Gore, Paul Hopkin are all leading authors on the topic. “The End of Nature” by Bill McCibben published in 1989 is also a great resource. “End Game 2050” is one of the many movies and/or documentaries also available.
Laurie challenged us to create an action plan for our club to participate in for this critical issue, which has also been emphasized by Rotary International. A task force will be a good starting point.
Laurie tested our knowledge on the issue and events that occured at the global summit on climate change.
Why doesn’t the global population take this more seriously? Is it because it is so large of an issue, we think nothing we do will matter?
Many ideas were sent to Laurie, plant trees, local library displays, clean up along our waterways, engage our schools, etc. Let’s see what we can do!
Laurie finished with “The Story of the Mexican Fisherman” which can be found at www.bemorewithless.com/the-story-of-the-mexican-fisherman/
Susan adjourned the meeting at 8:30.