Thursday’s program was an example of two important aspects of Rotary – the development of a project to address needs of the most needy, and a life broadened through involvement in Rotary. Our speaker, Rich Lalley, described a plan to plant, harvest and process breadfruit in one of the poorest areas of Haiti, the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. 
The effort would entail sustainable local jobs, self-sufficiency, much needed food, and a source of commercial income for the area. He encouraged our club’s participation. For more information, click "Read more". Also, at “…more” you’ll find a brief description of Rich’s background and Rotary life. He joined Rotary, has been a significant help in the field of communications, and found his current job through Rotary. His current career and skills have developed by using the opportunities provided through Rotary service. And for club announcements, shared happiness and our quiz, see "...more" too.
Our speaker, Rich Lalley,past president of the RC of Winnetka-Northfield, is currently Sec./Treasurer and is our Dist.’s Technology Coordinator as well as an Assistant Governor. He serves in our multi-district zone as Public Image Coordinator. In 2012 he was acknowledged as Dist. Rotarian of the year. Through his involvement in Rotary he secured his job as Development Director of Operation Warm – Coats for Kids Foundation (https://www.operationwarm.org/ ). His education and early career was in marketing, with jobs at the national level dealing with large corporations.
Rich explained a remarkable commingling of efforts by several NGOs, the Rotary Grant process, and the efforts of several Rotary clubs. The breadfruit project builds on success in other areas, such as Jamaica. It is a valuable, sustainable development tool for several reasons:
· Breadfruit is native to the Pacific Islands and grows best in sunny and humid climates. About 80 percent of the world’s hungry live in tropical and subtropical regions. Because these regions are best for breadfruit trees, breadfruit has the potential to feed thousands of hungry people.
· Breadfruit trees grow easily and begin to bear fruit within three to five years. They are not high maintenance and continue to produce fruit for decades. On average, larger trees can produce between 400-600 fruits while smaller trees can produce approximately 100 fruits.
· Breadfruit is nutritious. It is high in fiber, carbohydrates, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, thiamine, and niacin.
· Breadfruit can be prepared in a variety of ways including fried, frozen, fermented, pickled, boiled, baked, and roasted. It can also be ground into flour.
A part of the project described is a mill to make the flour. The whole effort is practical in several ways – the mill is a facility which can process products in addition to breadfruit, -- the types of breadfruit will be varied so as to be ripen at different times of the year (breadfruit ripens, falls to the ground, and needs to be processed within a few days), -- efforts will be made to ensure the local populace will get benefits from the product rather than absentee landowners.
Some challenge with the project are the land ownership system in Haiti, the image of breadfruit being “slave food” (which was why it was initially brought to the Caribbean), and the treat of hurricanes. Our club will be considering whether to donate funds in support of this project.
Announcements
A Poker Pub Crawl by the Rotary Club of Carpentersville will be 4/28/17. See “Read more” for details.
- Tuesday, 4/10/18 are our Monthly Board and Foundation Meetings, 11:30 down the street at Birch River Grill. All club members are welcome.
- Save the Date 5/12/18 for a club activity with the Beach Boys.
- Save the Dates for District Conference May 17-18 at Wisconsin’s Blue Water Resort.
- Save the Date 9/3/18 Rotary Road Trip to Milwaukee’s Miller Park for baseball, a tailgate fellowship, and a chance to support and honor Veterans. Proceeds will benefit the One World Medical Foundation which provides research and treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury and Moral Injury.
Happy Fines and Thanks include Jason for his work on the New Member event last week. Barb and Trey received their updated/formal Paul Harris awards. Jim Hassenplug’s trip with family to Poland, Randy Recklaus and his wife in Hawaii, Sue Ducheck joining in wedding in Mexico for the sister of former exchange student Ivan Soberon Azuara (ask her about non-Spanish speakers celebrating throughout the night and into the next day with the 400 guests!), Bob Paddock appreciating no fees being due Kerry Pearson for his beautiful landscape photo in the Daily Herald, Dr. Chris Wood’s opportunity to provide eye care at Ak‘tenamit, Guatemala…followed by an aunt’s 105 birthday plus some skiing, and Tim Corrigan’s twin grandchildren (ask him to show you a photo!).
Our Fine Troubador of Charitable Happiness, Mark Tauber, quizzed us about popular culture including Joan Jett, Rob Petrie’s nemesis (the Ottoman), knighted Beatles Ringo and Paul, Allen Parsons Project and Charley Rich both performing The Games People Play, Garfield Goose’ Romberg Rabbit and Blood Hound Beauregard Burnside, and Canadian signers Celine Dion, Joni Mitchell, Shania Twain, Helen Reddy. Thanks, Mark, for the walk down memory lane!