Rotary Club of Casper WY
Meeting Summary
10/30/17
President Richard Schwahn called the meeting to order at 12:30, welcoming everyone to today’s meeting.
Inspiration, Pledge, 4-Way Test:
Becky Byron
Greeters:
Dave Bruni and Anne Ladd were the greeters today, and Dave introduced the members who brought guests:
- Exchange Student Frida was in attendance at today’s meeting;
- Charles Schoenwolf introduced Carley Applegate;
- Susie McMurry introduced Tassma Powers;
- Dave Bruni introduced his wife, Jeanne Bruni;
- Jimmy Goolsby introduced Steve Carpenter;
- Heidi Foy introduced Brandi Richardson;
- Victoria Ziton was visiting from 5 Trails Rotary Club
Song of the Week:
Gary Pehrson led us in a rousing rendition of Cowboy Joe.
Rotary Tidbit: None
Rotarians of the Week:
- Bill Schilling nominated John and Lauren Griffith for winning the People’s Choice award at the Dancing with the Stars event.
- Bill Schilling also nominated Cori Cosner-Burton for an excellent job on her Dancing with the Stars event.
- President Schwahn nominated Dick Jay for leading last week’s club meeting.
- Barry Johnson nominated Kevin Murphy, Pinky Ellis, Tom Lockhart and himself for attending the Kappa Kappa Gamma 90th year at UW fundraiser with their wives.
- Anne Ladd nominated all members who attended either the Dancing with the Stars event or the Wyoming Dementia Care Trivia event for their dedication to the community.
- Jim Porter nominated Charlie Shopp for being an exceptional cheerleader at the recent KWHS game.
- President Schwahn nominated Susie McMurry for being honored at the upcoming Boy Scouts of America’s Strength of America banquet on November 10.
Family of Rotary:
Liz Becher spoke about visiting Don Harris for his 86th birthday and taking him a rose from the club. He is in room 218 at Shepherd of the Valley where he is at peace.
Student of the Month:
Martha Rakestraw announced our Student of the Month, Destiney Largent from Roosevelt High School.
Announcements:
President Schwahn announced that the Casper Rotary Clubs are hosting a dinner party on Friday November 17th. Doors will open for cocktail hour at 5:30, with dinner at 6:30, and a program to follow. This dinner is a collaboration of all of Casper's Rotary Clubs to celebrate the 100 year Anniversary of The Rotary Foundation.
Program (Frida Contreras Rivas - International Exchange student from Zacatecas, Mexico):
Dick Jay introduced Frida to the club. Frida began by saying, although she is currently a senior at Natrona County High School; she actually graduated from her high school in her hometown of Zacatecas, Mexico. She told us a few facts about Zacatecas. It is located in central Mexico, about eight hours north of Mexico City, in 2010 there were 1.490 million inhabitants. Zacatecas is a mining state where silver mining is still important. Some of the abandoned mining tunnels have been converted into other things, such as, a museum, and even a disco. Zacatecas is known for its beautiful churches, museums, and cathedrals.
Frida told us a little about herself. She is the youngest of three children, having two older sisters. She has a LARGE extended family, on both her mother’s and father’s sides. Both of her parents are doctors – her dad is an OB-GYN, and her mother is a generalist. Her future plans are to pursue a career in psychology; however, the entrance test will be given the same month she returns from this exchange program, so she may have to wait to start.
School in Mexico is different than it is in the United States, but, she likes many of the opportunities here. In Mexico, school is stricter, for example, some teachers here play music in class where that would never happen in Mexico. The teachers are more structured and rigid and there are no electives and no class choices. There, the students stay in the same group and the same classroom all day, the teachers rotate. She said that she feels this builds closer bonds between students. Most of all, she is enjoying being able to take a psychology class, as that is her chosen career field.
She has many goals for participating in the Exchange Program. She wants to make friends from different parts of the world; she has not only made friends in Casper, but has met other exchange students as well. Learning about different cultures, improving her English skills and especially, enjoying the experience are all very important to her. She spoke about how difficult it was for her to leave her family and all of the tears that were shed. However, her host family, Dr. Schwahn and his family, is great. They have helped her feel at home, and they treat her like family.
Her experiences so far have been zip lining, attending a baseball game in Denver, which she LOVED. It was her first baseball game, and now she says is a fan! She had a chance to play in the snow, even getting to build a snowman, and has even gotten to shoot pistols. Just recently, she visited Spokane, Washington where the trees were changing colors, she said has never seen anything like this except in photos.
When asked to talk about activities she would like to do, she said that there is SO much she wants to do. She did say that she would love to go to Yellowstone National Park and wants to have as many experiences with the snow as she can, but, she is open to ideas!
President Richard Schwahn adjourned the meeting at 1:30p.m stating that next week’s meeting will be at the Ramkota Hotel.
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