Chris Boldman: Peace Corps Service in Guatemala
Following our holiday break, we gathered again this Wednesday morning at the Blue Canyon for our first regular meeting of the new year.
After a lovely invocation by Paul Williamson and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Steve Patrick, Sergeant at Arms David Bardwick introduced visiting Rotarian Jim Hutcheson (Missoula Noon Club) and guest Jack Sturgis (guest of Anne Guest and/or Diane Fladmo).
Chris Warden advised that the Board had met this morning prior to the regular meeting, and he introduced current Board members (Susan Cramer, Margot Belden, Anne Guest, Kim Anderson, Hugh Jesse, Kris Paffhausen, Julie McFarland and Adele Gibbs) and thanked them (and Board member Arnie Didier who is currently traveling) for their service. Treasurer Margot Belden mentioned that semi-annual dues billing will be sent out this month.
Given the new year and a return to work for most, David Bardwick showed some examples of jobs we likely would rather not have - helping to keep us appreciative of those jobs we do have. (If you missed the meeting, an example included being the person who holds the big green garbage sack at the south end of an elephant as he "relieves" himself. You likely get the picture!)
David Bardwick called Ellie Hill up for a wheel spin, only to have her payment be to take two bags filled with travel toiletries back to the Poverello Center. Chris Warden reminded us that the Pov is in continuous need of these items, so when you travel, pick up the extra shampoos, soaps, and other toiletries and bring them to a meeting so we can get them to the Pov. And, of course, cash donations are always appreciated.
Chris Warden read and circulated a thank you note the club received from a representative at Missoula County Schools for the wonderful new playground equipment at Jefferson School. There were also photos of our Rotary crew hard at work installing this equipment. Thanks again to all who helped!
Chris also announced the nominees for the following positions for the coming Rotary year: President Elect Nominee: Bill St. John; Foundation Committee/Director: Al Jensen; Service Committee/Director: Bobby Clay; and Public Relations Committee/Director: Julie McFarland. Per our bylaws election of officers will be held the third Wednesday of January - January 21st. Chris announced that our Club Assembly (which previously had been held jointly with the officer election meeting) will be moved to April 15 so that it will be more aligned with the planning process for the next Rotary year.
Hugh Jesse announced that the Foundation Committee meeting scheduled for today was cancelled and he will contact the members to reschedule.
Al Jensen, who took some "abuse" via stories involving sling shots and underwear on his 50th birthday two months ago, had a present for Rusty Lockner: a monkey slingshot which he shot across the room to Rusty. Good catch, Rusty!
Susan Cramer announced that Donielle Engebretson's husband broke his back at a construction site several weeks ago. As a club we've decided to do "Dinners for Donielle" and provide a meal each Wednesday to Donielle and her husband. Susan will take care of next Wednesday and will have sign up sheets next week for future weeks. A simple dinner with main dish, any sides and a dessert would be appreciated. If you sign up to help, the meal can be brought to the morning meeting and Susan will see that the meal is delivered to Donielle at work. Please keep Donielle and her husband (and their first child due in a few months!) in your thoughts and prayers.
The Rotary Minute was provided by Denise Moore who said the current issue of The Rotarian is the best "keeper magazine" she's seen. She read from the article entitled "Kindess dividend" (page 23). This is an excellent article with some wonderful tips and reasons that we should always remember to be kind. Read it for some great ideas - and put them into action!
Curt Belts graduated from Red Badge to Blue Badge. Congratulations, Curt!
We sang Happy Birthday to Kara McCarthy, celebrating her birthday today. Happy day to Kara! Kara thanked us and announced that on February 4th from 4pm to 8:30pm Community Medical Center is providing a free public event featuring keynote speaker Elizabeth Edwards. More details will follow, and this sounds like a don't miss event!
Our two newest members were inducted this morning: Peg Novotny (sponsored by Anne Guest) and Julie Titchbourne (sponsored by Linda Pijon). Welcome to both Peg and Julie!
Ellie Hill then proudly introduced our speaker, her brother Chris Boldman. Chris is a graduate of the University of Idaho and is currently working on his Master's in Natural Resources. He has worked for the US Government (BLM, Forest Service, and as a smokejumper) for ten years. Last spring he returned from a 27-month stay in Guatemala where he served with the Peace Corps. Ellie spoke about how the three goals of the Peace Corps closely mirror Rotary and our Four-Way Test and how there are many connections between the Peace Corps and Rotary. In fact, Missoula Sunrise Rotary helped to fund a grant for a project Chris worked on in Guatemala.
Chris Boldman spoke about his adventure which started in January 2006 and ended in March 2008 when he returned from Guatemala. Chris first provided some general information on the Peace Corps, which was started by John F. Kennedy in 1961. The Peace Corps has more than 8,000 active volunteers and since 1961 has involved more than 182,000 volunteers. Chris encouraged participation and suggested anyone interested check out the Peace Corps at peacecorps.gov.
Chris's program was focused on environmental education and income generation and ecotourism. Chris explained that he spent his first three months in training in Antigua, Guatemala, where he lived with a host family. His training included 4 hours per day learning Spanish and well as field training. Following training, Chris went to the US Embassy in Guatemala where he received his assignment. He learned that he was assigned to a town called Chilasco in the central highlands in a mountain range that was part of a protected area. In Chilasco Chris spent the first three months with a host family and became immersed in local culture and food preparation (he showed very interesting photos of the making of corn tortillas-served at every meal!). Chris then got his own house. He shared photos of his home and the homes of his host families in Guatemala and the very basic living conditions (including a "shower" which consisted of a bucket and a cup). In Chilasco almost 100% of the farmers grow broccoli for export.
Chris explained that Chilasco was at the edge of a cloud forest, thick with lush vegetation. The area is home to the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve and it was Chris's job to work with the local groups to promote sustainability and the development of community and ecotourism. The attraction in the area is the El Salto de Chilasco, a 400-foot waterfall found within the core zone of the protested area, approximately 3 km from Chilasco. Chris worked with the local group on trail maintenance and worked with the local craftspeople (hats, baskets) to promote the sale of their products to tourists. Chris also helped a local group with workshops and conferences, the creation of brochures and with competing in the national Rural Productivity Fair (of which Chilasco won!).
Chris thanked Sunrise Rotary for our help (along with RI through a matching grant and a local Guatemalan club) with a grant which was used to purchase interpretive signs for the protected area, and to complete improvements to the visitors' center. Chris showed photos of that completed work and proclaimed "mission accomplished!" Chris specifically thanked several Sunrise Rotarians and presented each with a jade keychain engraved with the RI logo: Ellie Hill, Carl Prinzing, Debbie Lillebo-Weisser, Chris Warden and Susan Cramer.
Chris Warden then thanked Chris Boldman for this informative presentation and told him that we'd be donating a dictionary in his name as part of our dictionary project.
As is tradition, we closed the meeting with a recitation of the Four Way Test.