Newsletter for Meeting of October 30, 2013
October 30, 2013 Newsletter
By John Hammer
Charlotte Shelburne Rotary
Wednesday, October 30, 2013, 7:15 a.m.
Trinity Episcopal Church Community Room
Welcome
President Dave Jonah opened the meeting with the Pledge. Kris Engstrom gave the invocation.
Guests: Bob Bloch, Director of Bring Your Own Biz Program at Champlain College
Peter Deng, Speaker
Quote of the Day: “I was naked and neglected – no food, nothing.” Peter Deng when describing his life before emigrating to the U.S.
Upcoming:
November 1 – Car Raffle – Shelburne Farms Coach Barn
November 6 - Doris Sage, Stigma Foundation
November 13 – Club Assembly
November 14 – Board of Directors’ Meeting
November 20 – Boy Scouts of America will present their World War II Program
April 25-27 – 7850 District Conference, Hilton Hotel, Burlington
District 7850 Calendar: Hot Link http://www.clubrunner.ca/Portal/Events/EventsCalendar.aspx?accountid=50051
Announcements
Shelburne Halloween Parade
Dave Rice thanked all who participated. It went off without a hitch, no problems.
Car Raffle
Ric Flood reported that there were still nine non-responsive past ball holders. He feels that five are safe, but he feels uncomfortable about the other four, thus putting more pressure on ball sales. “It’s going to be tight.” Fritz requested that all door prizes be brought in today at the latest as the packages are being put together this evening. All the volunteer teams appear to be filled and ready. The set up crew needs to report at 3PM. The cocktails start at 6 with dinner at 7. Everyone should be out by 9:15. Two pumpkin raffle tickets were drawn today with the winners being Carol Obuchowski and Virginia Simmons.
Rotary Plaques
A number of plaques recognizing Rotary support for volunteer projects have been made and will be distributed in the coming weeks.
Hands to Honduras – Tela
Linda Gilbert asked for any members who are cleaning out their storage spaces to donate luggage suitable for carrying extra materials down to Honduras during the next project trip in February. These bags would be used to carry, then will be distributed to needy families in Honduras.
Sergeant at Arms – In his battle to ensure that today’s youth get good nutrition, Richard fined anyone who did not intend to hand out healthy food on.
Howard Seaver – He lives far out and rarely sees Trick or Treaters, though his wife, Barbara buys masses of candy.
Roz Graham – Had a wonderful family reunion in Ontario. She also attended a very interesting meeting of the Vermont Attractions Industry Association in Hildene where she heard that everyone in the tourist industry had a good year last year. And, she has laid in an enormous stock of candy for Halloween.
Linda Gilbert – Paid fine as she lives in the woods and never sees Halloween Trick or Treaters.
Dave Jonah – Thanks for Dave Rice and all his crew for their great work on making the Halloween Parade such a success.
Kris Engstrom – For a great Halloween Parade.
John Hammer – Snow fine, there’s snow on the Adirondacks and Greens.
Sam Feitelberg – Celebrating his 60th year as a physical therapist. He also warned everyone to read the backside of the Affordable Care Act, as there are changes to the physical therapy coverage for rehab. Check and make sure that you will get the coverage you need.
Linda Barker – Had a blast Sunday at the Halloween Parade. She has lots of candy at her bank.
Robert Maynes – For missing the Halloween Parade. He was in Maine babysitting.
Ric Flood – Sad fine – last Sunday was the first time in ten years that he wasn’t able to suit up to be a clown at the Halloween Parade.
Steve Dates – Happy that Teena forced Ric to stay home to get his voice recovered. He thanked all for a great Halloween Parade.
Carol Obuchowski – Great parade!
Joan Lennes – Almost ready to book a flight to Austria to see her hockey player son.
Mark Joczik – Going to Charleston this weekend.
Eric Hanley – Just spent the last weekend at duck camp where he had a fantastic time with a 25-year-old tradition. Happy to report that his two girls are active in hockey and for the first goal by Lauren.
Dennis Webster – Happy that Peter Deng found us here and for Elizabeth who doesn’t like candy.
Bob Bloch – Happy to be here again.
Fritz Horton – Happy to have Bob Bloch here. Happy that Bob is President of the Board of the Community Sailing Center. Going over to son Andy’s house because he lives in a target neighborhood where they expect to see 200 Trick or Treaters tomorrow night.
Bob Sanders – For a month in Florida
Bill Root – Lives off the Trick or Treaters’ grid
Dave Rice – Thanks to everyone for helping with the Halloween Parade and making it so successful.
Denny Bowen – Had a nice weekend in Charlotte, NC visiting his daughter, Ingrid. And, yes, he has come back much improved.
Howard Seaver – For finally seeing light in the morning when he gets up.
John Beal – Wife’s store finally opened.
Ric Flood – Paid a notoriety fine for Ric who has been recognized as the best up and coming super lawyer.
Steve Dates’ number was called and he drew the Ace of Diamonds. Roll over the pot of $228.50.
Speaker – Peter Deng – A new U.S. citizen as of last year.
His presentation began with telling his history. He grew up and was orphaned at the age of five in East Central South Sudan. He was taken in by a relative’s family where he was abused, got little to eat and was naked. He decided early that education was the only way out. He went to school on his own and has fought for his education ever since. He came to the U.S. in 2007, and came to the realization that he could help orphans in South Sudan go to school in 2010. He concentrates on orphans in his home state of Jonglei.
He started his Deng Opportunities Foundation (DOF) in 2010, starting with two students with a scholarship to a boarding school in Uganda. Since then he has managed to send seven in 2011. They were mostly dropouts with no hope. Now they are doing well. Four graduated in 2013 and they have been replaced. He went home in 2012 to visit his project and his recipients called him, Dad. This brought home to him how important his work was. He has also taken care to have equality in gender because in the South Sudan women are discriminated against. Only 0.01% are educated. They are seen as property to be married off which results in a payment of cows for the bride. Now he is keeping his level at eight students.
What keeps him awake at night is the thought that, “I was naked and neglected – no food, nothing.” And there are many children in South Sudan that need the kind of help Peter had to get out of this awful life style. Orphans are especially vulnerable because the girls are sold into marriage, thus bringing a dowry of cows. The orphan boys are seen as a liability because they go out and bring in a woman from another tribe, thus creating the need to provide cows to go out of the tribe.
Peter credited his Champlain College ‘Bring Your Own Business’ leader, Bob Bloch, with encouraging him to write his book Lost Generation, the story of his childhood and his coming to America. The book was written by Peter, edited by a Champlain student and published by Champlain College. Profits from sale of the book go to support the work of the foundation.
Peter described his businesses, beginning with DOG Express which began with one 14-passenger bus to provide transportation in the area of Bortown in South Sudan where he grew up. He also has established a financial services business that assists people in making money transfers and also encourages them to save and invest.