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Ghida Neukirch presented the TABU group with the City's proclamation of TABU week (March 28th - April 6th). The program has been breaking down prejudices since it started in the 1980's. Our Club began exchanging students with the Belfast Rotary Club in 1992. 
Chris Warnock accepting Highland Park's TABU Week proclamation from City Manager and President-Elect Ghida Neukirch.
Suzanne Gibson, a District Governor Nominee, presented the Northern Irish visitors with centennial Rotary pins. Yesim again thanked her International Committee, Cynthia, Phil, Martha, Dick and Mary Beth for all their efforts and their commitment to the program. She believes in the youth making great things happen in the future. Martha Gray talked about our TABU friend, Brian Byers, who passed away in February. Brian looked at the world differently and that view inspired many. A past president of the Belfast club, he was committed to the TABU program. He came to Highland Park eight times over the years and in 2006, our club bestowed him with a Paul Harris pin with a sapphire. He left behind his wife Olive and daughters Lucy and Helen. Lucy will be competing in the Chicago Marathon in October, so we hope to see the family at that time. In Brian's memory, Len Tenner presented Chris Warnock, on behalf of the club members who wanted to help pay for a student from N.I. to come here next time. The gift was £1000 British pounds. Chris was deeply touched by this gesture from club members. He added to the recalled memories of Brian Byers as the Badges and Banners Man - something the students called him. Brian was a tremendous advocate for TABU, and he held the progress and development of the TABU students and all children to heart. Chris took the opportunity to cover the high points about the program. TABU gives the students four points of growth: conflict resolution, gaining experience and exposure from skilled practitioners who show great tenacity and patience; gain more information about Rotary and finally the awareness of their inner selves. Our six visiting students then gave a brief bit about themselves and their time here to date. Each came from different schools around Belfast and its surrounding communities. Many of them enjoy the studies of politics or history. So far on their trip here, they have seen the difference between our high schools and theirs; were impressed with a tour of Rotary International and were moved by the efforts of Curt's Cafe to help those young people who are at risk to gain work skills. Spending time with our Interact club has inspired them to begin an Interact club back home. They have felt the expansive freedom in relaying their thoughts and feelings on social issues and that empowerment will only continue to grow . Many of them hadn't heard of Rotary before this opportunity and one student on this trip saw how it inspired her brother who was here in 2016. Several students were encouraged to apply by their teachers. The 2018 TABU entourage are: Chris Warnock, Bryan Johnston, Alan and Fleur Rundle as the chaperones, and Matthew Black, Theo Burton, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Stanley, Martyna Eron and Sarah Hand. When Lyle Staab asked how the students in this program have benefited from it, Felicity Hector-Bruder, a host to a couple of the NI girls and a TABU 2017 student told him how it sparked her passion for politics but most of all, living with the families helps the students see what is different about their lives, and how much more it is like their own. It is their similarities that will help bring understanding and compromise. Martha Gray said over the twenty plus years, many of the TABU alumni have become doctors, Washington D.C. interns for Senator Barney Frank and Dick Durbin. Others have become investment bankers and one has used TABU as a stepping stone for bringing the world view closer to many more by becoming a film maker focusing on human rights in countries like India. Alan Rundle said it would be interesting to start an audit of all the students to see where they are now. One thing the students agreed upon was that the time here has been enlightening and going by so quickly! 
l to r: Yesin Sonmez, Chris Warnock, Alan Rundle, Matthew Black, Lucy Hamilton, Martyna Eron, Grace Stanley, Sarah Hand, Theo Burton, Fleur Rundle, Cynthia Plouché, Phil Lazarus and Bryan Johnston.
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