Posted by Dick Dannells on Nov 06, 2018
TODAY’S PROGRAM November 6, 2018: Valance Lataisire-“YOFAFO (Youth Focus Africa Foundation) ”
Pres. Scott opened the meeting at 12:35 PM with the usual introduction of guests that included about to be inducted Rae Alee Breen. Steve Curry took to the podium to do the honors for Rae’s induction and gave a summary of the contributions of many members over the 34 years we have been a Club. After Rae’s induction and her husband Dick Dannells’ unsuccessful attempt at pinning on her Rotary pin, Steve took over. Rae then spoke of why she wanted to become a Rotarian.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Pres. Scott thanked Shelby McLean and the others that helped in putting on a Vocational Visit to Dana Adobe. Jeff King donated $50 Happy Bucks for the wonderful dinner party for Martha Murphy to honor her 80th birthday. Jeff thanked Cale Kunkle the organizer and chef, Cale’s friend Sarah Walker, John and Marsha Traversaro, Lee Ann Liscombe, Shelby McLean, Dick Dannells, and Rae Breen, and Harlan Silva for their participation in this dinner. Last week Pres. Scott awarded Cale a $1000 Rotary Paul Harris Fellow for putting on the Murphy dinner party. To start off the Rotary Foundation month, Paul Holden circulated a raffle sign-up sheet for a $50 chance to win $1000 Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. Pres. Scott announced the next board meeting will be this Thursday at the Arroyo Grande Hospital Annex. Ashlea Boyer stated that the next Club social will be 5:30 PM, Thursday, November 15 at the Mason Bar in Arroyo Grande. Linda Osty circulated a sign-up sheet to help with the 6th annual Christmas movie entitled “The Bishop’s Wife” on Saturday, December 8.  Pres. Scott presented a Fund Socks Challenge with his loud socks, but the Club voted to pick Shannon Bowdey in her very bright tights as the Challenge winner.
INSPIRATION DOLLARS (ID):
Pres. Scott auctioned off the ID-badge to Mark Olson for $35. He then imposed the following IDs: 50 IDs on David and Lori Archer for their 25th wedding anniversary; $75 IDs on Deenie Dotson for her club anniversary and for her husband Jim’s birthday; $100 IDs on Lee Ann Liscombe for her husband Dale’s birthday and $40 IDs on Linda Osty for her 21 years with our Club.
PROGRAM: Valance Lataisire-“YOFAFO (Youth Focus Africa Foundation)
Before Steve Curry introduced Valance, he stated that his first contact with Valance was when our Club had a project to build a well and pump at Valance’s school, which is still going strong after about 12 years. The next project was to put in solar panels and computers in a second school. Our next project is to put the same thing in another school. We are also starting a micro fund bank to help the mothers of the town start their own small businesses. Valance stated that his overall goal is to make the world a better place. Steve Adams was the president of our Club when Valance made his first trip to the United States and spoke to our Club. Over the years, he has been coming back to present updates on the progress in his community. They now provide schooling to 1140 children a day. Most of the men and children in the town work in the sugar cane fields each making $2/day. This environment does not serve as a good role model for the children that come from families of 4 to 5 without a father in the household in many cases. He is always inspired by the children that rise out of their environment and succeed in school. Some of the kids have to walk 5 miles to school. They have no potential in life if they don’t get a good education. If a student is successful and passes a university test, the government will pay for his tuition. One of the goals is to provide vocational education for those who don’t pass the test. The tuition for primary and high school education is paid for by the parents that can afford it and by the donors that sponsor qualifying students.
DRIVE TO INSPIRE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY BY SCOTT ASTROSKY
“Rotary is so simple that many people do not understand, and some even misunderstand it. Rotary is not a philosophy…not an all-embracing world point of view which answers every question… and satisfies all the dictates of the heart and mind. Rotary is merely an association of business and professional people united in the ideal of service.”
TODAY’S PROGRAM November 6, 2018: Valance Lataisire-“YOFAFO (Youth Focus Africa Foundation) ”
Pres. Scott opened the meeting at 12:35 PM with the usual introduction of guests that included about to be inducted Rae Alee Breen. Steve Curry took to the podium to do the honors for Rae’s induction and gave a summary of the contributions of many members over the 34 years we have been a Club. After Rae’s induction and her husband Dick Dannells’ unsuccessful attempt at pinning on her Rotary pin, Steve took over. Rae then spoke of why she wanted to become a Rotarian.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Pres. Scott thanked Shelby McLean and the others that helped in putting on a Vocational Visit to Dana Adobe. Jeff King donated $50 Happy Bucks for the wonderful dinner party for Martha Murphy to honor her 80th birthday. Jeff thanked Cale Kunkle the organizer and chef, Cale’s friend Sarah Walker, John and Marsha Traversaro, Lee Ann Liscombe, Shelby McLean, Dick Dannells, and Rae Breen, and Harlan Silva for their participation in this dinner. Last week Pres. Scott awarded Cale a $1000 Rotary Paul Harris Fellow for putting on the Murphy dinner party. To start off the Rotary Foundation month, Paul Holden circulated a raffle sign-up sheet for a $50 chance to win $1000 Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. Pres. Scott announced the next board meeting will be this Thursday at the Arroyo Grande Hospital Annex. Ashlea Boyer stated that the next Club social will be 5:30 PM, Thursday, November 15 at the Mason Bar in Arroyo Grande. Linda Osty circulated a sign-up sheet to help with the 6th annual Christmas movie entitled “The Bishop’s Wife” on Saturday, December 8.  Pres. Scott presented a Fund Socks Challenge with his loud socks, but the Club voted to pick Shannon Bowdey in her very bright tights as the Challenge winner.
INSPIRATION DOLLARS (ID):
Pres. Scott auctioned off the ID-badge to Mark Olson for $35. He then imposed the following IDs: 50 IDs on David and Lori Archer for their 25th wedding anniversary; $75 IDs on Deenie Dotson for her club anniversary and for her husband Jim’s birthday; $100 IDs on Lee Ann Liscombe for her husband Dale’s birthday and $40 IDs on Linda Osty for her 21 years with our Club.
PROGRAM: Valance Lataisire-“YOFAFO (Youth Focus Africa Foundation)
Before Steve Curry introduced Valance, he stated that his first contact with Valance was when our Club had a project to build a well and pump at Valance’s school, which is still going strong after about 12 years. The next project was to put in solar panels and computers in a second school. Our next project is to put the same thing in another school. We are also starting a micro fund bank to help the mothers of the town start their own small businesses. Valance stated that his overall goal is to make the world a better place. Steve Adams was the president of our Club when Valance made his first trip to the United States and spoke to our Club. Over the years, he has been coming back to present updates on the progress in his community. They now provide schooling to 1140 children a day. Most of the men and children in the town work in the sugar cane fields each making $2/day. This environment does not serve as a good role model for the children that come from families of 4 to 5 without a father in the household in many cases. He is always inspired by the children that rise out of their environment and succeed in school. Some of the kids have to walk 5 miles to school. They have no potential in life if they don’t get a good education. If a student is successful and passes a university test, the government will pay for his tuition. One of the goals is to provide vocational education for those who don’t pass the test. The tuition for primary and high school education is paid for by the parents that can afford it and by the donors that sponsor qualifying students.
DRIVE TO INSPIRE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY BY SCOTT ASTROSKY
“Rotary is so simple that many people do not understand, and some even misunderstand it. Rotary is not a philosophy…not an all-embracing world point of view which answers every question… and satisfies all the dictates of the heart and mind. Rotary is merely an association of business and professional people united in the ideal of service.”