October 6th - Great Meeting at Birmingham Rotary
Posted by George Stern
on Oct 12, 2014
Rotary Minutes
October 6, 2014
President Steve opened the meeting at 12:15p with the Pledge of Allegiance. Bob Gualdoni led the Club in singing “You’re a Grand Old Flag”. Joe Bauman led the club in reciting the Four Way Test. Norma Jean Evans gave the invocation. Tom Post, who has been missing for many moons, and who just had both knees replaced, was given a hearty welcome as were the wives of Bob Swanson and Ed Aswan. Chuck Gosh, husband of Shirley Bryant, announced that he has made application to join the Club. Wendee Haugh introduced Francisco (Fran) Mestre, this year’s exchange student from Denia, Spain. He is attending Groves High School.
Ahmet Karaca sold luncheon tickets. Ryan Quinn sold raffle tickets (Shirley Bryant won the daily pot of $13 but no one could extract the Ace of Spades). Gene Tomlinson greeted and Chris Mclogan took attendance. Charles Wickins acted as Sheriff.
Ahmet Karaca reminded everyone to Save the Date – October 24th for the Club’s 90th Anniversary celebration at the BAC. Charles Wickins reported that the golf outing was highly successful with 40 golfers. Ryan Quinn and his team won with an astounding 7-under par. Pat Grady thanked those who helped clean up Maple Road. George Stern announced that 10 people have signed up to work on October 25th to help flood relief victims in Detroit clean their homes. The group will gather at 7:15a at 13 Mile Rd and Woodward Ave.; then proceed to the Woods Church on 13 Mile just east of Schoenherr.
Joe Valentine, Birmingham City Manager, was inducted to Club membership by President Steve. Joe was sponsored by Marcia Wilkinson. It was noted that the Club has missed having the City Manager as a member. It has been many years since Bob Kenning held that post. Cris Braun, newly appointed Executive Director, BASCC, who was in attendance today, was encouraged to become a member too.
The Club, led by Tom Post sang Smiles. Charles Wickins acted as Sheriff.
President Steve introduced Ad Aswan, a former member of the Birmingham Rotary Club and now a member of the Claremont, California Club. Born in Lebanon, he is Professor Emeritus at University of Michigan, Dearborn. Ed started his talk by explaining the geography and demographics of the Middle East. He explained that 80% of the 350 Arabic speaking million population is Sunni Muslim, 10% Shia. He said beheadings are not the cause of strife in the area; there are deeper root causes: extreme income disparity, a 7-year draught which has caused massive migration from rural to urban areas, high population growth, 40% unemployment, and government corruption and totalitarianism. Much of the latter problem derives from colonialism after World War I and failed attempts at Socialism.
Syria has suffered the destruction of Aleppo, Homs and Damascus, its three largest cities. 190,000 people have died and 500,000 wounded. Six million are homeless. There are two million refugees and four million displaced persons. Syria is in chaos. Ad’s hope is that Assad will be given asylum in some country; that Syria will be run by a consortium of the United States, Russia and Iran. But if Iran develops a nuclear weapon and Israel attacks, all chances for peace are gone.
The meeting adjourned at 1:15p.
Respectfully submitted,
George Stern