Aug 8, 2017-Rotary Forum

PROGRAM: August 8, 2070: Steve and Linda Curry and Karen Zappia: “Uganda Trip”

President Jeff King began the meeting at 12:36 PM with the introduction of the many guests to hear the special program today.

Pres. Jeff He called upon Scott Astrosky to give this coming Saturday’s Summer Sizzle (SS) fundraiser update. Scott turn to Ashlea who stated that we have now 93 auction items valued proposed to sell for $11,000. We have about 20 wine bottles short of the 100 we need for the live auction. Michael Boyer stated that we have 11 live auction items having a value of about $17,000. Every member is responsible for selling 2 SS tickets along with the raffle tickets, 2 bottles of wine, and 2 silent auction items. Connie O’Henley stated that she will not be at SS because she is attending her boys first day of college so all ticket stubs and money should be in her hands by this coming Thursday. Thereafter, Karen Zappia will be taken over this responsibility.

Next week’s program will our best stories about the SS fundraiser.

PROGRAM: Steve and Linda Curry and Karen Zappia: “Uganda Trip”

Steve Curry began by explaining what our Club has been doing in Uganda for the past 6 years. In our initial project we dug a well so that the villagers avoided having to walk miles to the nearest waterhole. After Valence Lutaisire graduated from college, he came back to his village and built a grammar school. Soon it became apparent to Valence that grammar school graduates had to walk too far to go to high school, so he built one in the village. Our Club joined other clubs to put together a $37000 project to outfit the high school with solar lighting, a computer lab and other improvements. This coming year we are seeking an RI grant for a school bus for the kids that currently spend 3 months in dorms because they live too far from the school. Steve and Karen Zappia proceeded to comment on the slideshow that included slides of the grammar school children, the dorm room, the garden to produce fruit and vegetable for the school kitchen, 5 Dell computers that were donated this year with the 10 in the background that were donated last year, the restroom of a hole in the ground, and the outdoor kitchens. For their meals, the children sit on the floor without a spoon or table. He had a video presentation the kids put together including several dances. They found the weather in the 90s with 90% humidity unbearable, unlike the Ugandans. English is the national language of Uganda and the students are versed in English whereas their parents are not. It takes about $360 for this a student to attend the school and Karen is one of the many Rotarians that are sponsoring students.English is the national language of Uganda and the students are versed in English where is the parents are not. Uganda is about the size of Africa and has a very young population that went from 9.5 million people in 1969 to about 35 million in 2010. One of the food staples is cooked fish which are sold in open markets and dried fish that is used for soups. The cities have some dangerous areas, but out in the villages they felt no danger whatsoever. Steve presented Valence with a Paul Harris fellow. Steve gave each child a $20 bill on a trip to town and most of them bought bread to take home for the families. After their time in the villages, Steve Linda and Karen went went on a safari on the other side of the country. They all agreed that they got more enjoyment out of their visit with the children in the village rather than 2-day safari.

“Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.”

PROGRAM: August 8, 2070: Steve and Linda Curry and Karen Zappia: “Uganda Trip”

President Jeff King began the meeting at 12:36 PM with the introduction of the many guests to hear the special program today.

Pres. Jeff He called upon Scott Astrosky to give this coming Saturday’s Summer Sizzle (SS) fundraiser update. Scott turn to Ashlea who stated that we have now 93 auction items valued proposed to sell for $11,000. We have about 20 wine bottles short of the 100 we need for the live auction. Michael Boyer stated that we have 11 live auction items having a value of about $17,000. Every member is responsible for selling 2 SS tickets along with the raffle tickets, 2 bottles of wine, and 2 silent auction items. Connie O’Henley stated that she will not be at SS because she is attending her boys first day of college so all ticket stubs and money should be in her hands by this coming Thursday. Thereafter, Karen Zappia will be taken over this responsibility.

Next week’s program will our best stories about the SS fundraiser.

PROGRAM: Steve and Linda Curry and Karen Zappia: “Uganda Trip”

Steve Curry began by explaining what our Club has been doing in Uganda for the past 6 years. In our initial project we dug a well so that the villagers avoided having to walk miles to the nearest waterhole. After Valence Lutaisire graduated from college, he came back to his village and built a grammar school. Soon it became apparent to Valence that grammar school graduates had to walk too far to go to high school, so he built one in the village. Our Club joined other clubs to put together a $37000 project to outfit the high school with solar lighting, a computer lab and other improvements. This coming year we are seeking an RI grant for a school bus for the kids that currently spend 3 months in dorms because they live too far from the school. Steve and Karen Zappia proceeded to comment on the slideshow that included slides of the grammar school children, the dorm room, the garden to produce fruit and vegetable for the school kitchen, 5 Dell computers that were donated this year with the 10 in the background that were donated last year, the restroom of a hole in the ground, and the outdoor kitchens. For their meals, the children sit on the floor without a spoon or table. He had a video presentation the kids put together including several dances. They found the weather in the 90s with 90% humidity unbearable, unlike the Ugandans. English is the national language of Uganda and the students are versed in English whereas their parents are not. It takes about $360 for this a student to attend the school and Karen is one of the many Rotarians that are sponsoring students.English is the national language of Uganda and the students are versed in English where is the parents are not. Uganda is about the size of Africa and has a very young population that went from 9.5 million people in 1969 to about 35 million in 2010. One of the food staples is cooked fish which are sold in open markets and dried fish that is used for soups. The cities have some dangerous areas, but out in the villages they felt no danger whatsoever. Steve presented Valence with a Paul Harris fellow. Steve gave each child a $20 bill on a trip to town and most of them bought bread to take home for the families. After their time in the villages, Steve Linda and Karen went went on a safari on the other side of the country. They all agreed that they got more enjoyment out of their visit with the children in the village rather than 2-day safari.

“Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.”