Well there we were, 25 strong – not enough the break-even again. Even our scheduled scribe was missing in action so you’ve got me instead.  But we had a bunch of guests and they had no reason to sense this it was not the way it should be: Exchange students Mara Sawamori and Anel Neumann, and Marni Alexander guest of Jamie Edwards, Nate Gowan guest of Wayne and Sam Murray our speaker.

 

Past president Janet announced the findings of the Nomination Committee. The nominees for the Rotary Year 2019/2020 are President Elect- Owen  McElhinney, Secretary- Catherine Brady, Treasurer- Keith Williams, Directors: Karmel Sakran (for a second time around) and Bruce Maybury.

 

We heard news of Katri our in-bound exchange student from what? 5 years ago maybe. Katri from Finland, I thought wanted to be a firefighter, but apparently, I was wrong, she wanted to be a physiotherapist and she has now achieved her goal and just graduated from university. And wouldn’t you know it, now she’s moving to Switzerland where her boyfriend has just accepted a lucrative position.

 

This is the way it goes, countries educate their brightest only to see them wave goodbye in favour of opportunities in another land.  Back in the 60s it was big issue in the UK, the Brain Drain they called it. And more recently it’s happened to one of mine, educated here and now living and working in Copenhagen. I suppose the quid pro quo is that we get our share (maybe more than our fair share?) of other countries’ talents.

 

Speaking of wandering youngsters, Mana (from Japan) reported on her experiences at a Timmys as a cultural experience. Has it come to that? Every day is exciting but she finds it very cold, well you know how it is at the end of September what with the shorter days and all that.  She noted that Japan doesn’t have a Thanksgiving celebration. Frankly it never occurred to me that they would! We don’t all have to ape the Pilgrim Father-worshiping Americans.  Instead Japan recognises and celebrate the good works of farmers, which is where it all begins after all.

 

Also, recently returned traveller, President Lawrence reported in passing that he and Chi-Ling had a great time in Gander.  Everyone sat bolt upright. Okay, so what makes for a good time in Gander we wanted to know. Well, said Lawrence reflectively, they serve bigger chicken at the Swiss Chalet. They do say that travel broadens the mind.

 

Our speaker, Sam Murray from Plan International Canada (formerly Foster Parents Plan), was making a second appearance in a year.  She came to give an update on Plan’s work around the world.  Plan International's work to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty is based around eight core areas: Education, Health, Water and Sanitation, Protection, Economic Security, Emergencies, Child Participation and Sexual health.

 

 

Plan makes a special effort wherever they operate to promote the welfare and future prospects of girls and women.  Every day, millions of girls around the world are denied their basic human rights – simply because they're girls. Because I am a Girl is Plan lnternational's global initiative that supports the youth-led movement for girls' rights and gender equality.

 

Sam told us of a health-care programme they’d got off the ground in Bangladesh called Zambulance, a contrived human-powered conveyance, for example a bike or motorbike-drawn rickshaw, designed to provides easier and safer access to health care, particularly to mothers about to deliver a baby. You can imagine, I think, how much easier it would be to get to hospital on wheels rather than by walking.

 

At this point (not being the scheduled scribe) my notepaper was filled, the last entry being – Lots of information – see web for more!