President Chuck Snyder opened the meeting reminding us all to vote.
Announcements:
URGENT HELP NEEDED: Can you help pick up and deliver lunches for Rotation Day on November 23rd? If so please contact Lori via email lori@lorimicheleleavitt.com or cell 360 303 4617.
President Chuck Snyder announced that we will be holding a Club Assembly next week, November 9th. Attached is a preview document including questions that will be asked and instructions. These documents are also on the home page of our website at bellinghamrotary.org under Club News.
President Chuck also announced that the 50/50 Annual Foundation Dinner will be held at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club on November 14th; cocktails start at 5:00 p.m. with dinner to follow at 6:00 p.m. The Rotary Leadership Institute is also meeting November 21st in Surrey BC. You can go to www.district5050.org to register.
Jim Vos, Chairman of the Bell Ringing Committee, announced that the bells will be run at 4 locations on December 19th. Sign up sheets are on the tables and will be at next week’s meeting as well. We need 32 Club members to participate.
Scott Hume reminded all members that the Club is fundraising for our major project which is supporting the Bellingham Theatre Guild. 30% of the total funds have currently been raised, with 27% of members participating. He reminded everyone that you can donate online, by check, and that the Club can also take stock donations.
President Chuck announced that the Nominating Committee will be meeting on November 3rd at 7 am to discuss Board nominations.
Guest of Rotarians:
Teri Treat introduced Speaker WWU Professor Emeritus, Rand Jack
Bob Sytsma brought Sooraj Sall with VSH
Sallye Quinn introduced Burton Eggertsen, new attorney with Barron Smith Daugert PLLC
Monty McAllister brought Rich Bowers, new Executive Director of Whatcom Land Trust and spouse of our Stephanie Bowers.
Presentations:
October 26th Tattler Correction:
- Past President Brad Burdick inducted new member Dr. Matt Dorsch proposed by Joe Coons & Dick Tucker to fill the classification "General Dentistry". Welcome to the Rotary Club of Bellingham Matt!!
Program:
Rand Jack joined the Club to share his experiences in Nepal. Rand originally went to Nepal in 2000 when his wife, Dana, was offered a Fulbright Grant to teach and do research for one year. Upon arrival in Nepal, Rand began volunteering for The Mountain Institute in Katmandu which is where he met Karma. Karma, as far as Rand could tell, was paired with Rand to “watch” him on the Institute’s exploration of a site for a new national park. Karma and Rand began a friendship and Karma offered to take Rand to his village in the upper region of the Arun Valley which has the most intact Tibetan culture in Nepal, largely consists of farming communities and belongs to the Bhote ethnic group. However, at this time, there was an uprising and it was not safe to travel to Karma’s village. In 2007, things had settled and Karma contacted Rand again to invite him and his wife to his village, Chyamtang.
It took Karma, Rand and his wife 8 days of arduous hiking to get to Chyamtang. Along the way, the group climbed steep terrain, traveled over many types of makeshift bridges and saw beautiful sites as was evidenced by the pictures Rand shared with the Club. They also came across many different ethnic groups which was noted by the jewelry worn by the individuals. Rand and his wife arrived with Karma to his village and were met with open arms. Rand described the Bhote people as industrious, hard working people with average annual income is $125.00. The crops grown by the Bhote people largely consist of millet, potatoes, corn and beans. Rand described the existence of the Bhote people as tenuous and marginal with that existence being easily interrupted by the elements. There are very limited medical resources and the school teachers are absent more than they are present.
During Rand’s visit to Chyamtang, Karma and Rand began discussing a project cultivating medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP project) for the Bhote people to sell to China in order to bring additional income to the Bhote people and improve their quality of life. Rand and Dana agreed to be the primary fundraisers for the first two (2) years of the MAP program. Beginning in 2010, the Bhote people began to receive training on cultivating and harvesting the medical and aromatic plants. When Rand and Dana last visited Chyamtang in 2014, it was evident that the earnings from the MAP program have and continue to vastly improve the life for the Bhote people. There is now a private school, farmers are able to use their income to put metals roofing on their homes, and, most importantly, the Bhote people are able to preserve their culture and community. Rand discussed the next steps for the MAP project which include: diversification of the products, reaching villages that don’t have the MAP program, increasing value for farmers, and increasing training for farmers so that they have a better understanding of management and business.
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