By Tim Dempsey

 

President Diana Taylor opened the meeting, Patricia Bleck gave the Pledge and Doug Fendon led us in prayer.

 

-Tony Collins and his wife celebrated their 25^th wedding anniversary in Greece.

 

-Rick Mittelman and his wife have just returned from a trip to South Africa. Program to follow.

 

-Pat Schwartz reported that the Love, Inc. fundraiser raised $88,000 last Friday.

 

-Jeff Harger attended the Love Inc. fundraiser and was impressed. He reminded us about

World Polio Day.

 

-Elliott will be handing out ornaments on 11/7. He needs help with tracking.

 

-Pumpkin fest was a success but one volunteer did not make it. Scott Adams paid $10.

 

-Winter fundraiser is 3/1/19. There will be a preliminary meeting in November.

 

-Salvation Army bell ringing will be 12/8 this year. Shifts will be 2 hours from 10 to 6.

 

-Feed my Starving Children mobile pack will be 11/30, 12/1 and 12/2 at the Pet Factory.

Parking volunteers needed for 30 minutes every 2 hours. Packing slots are also available. Goal is to pack 700,000

 

Dennis Kratohwil conducted a song game. The game should be renamed “Stump John Blair!”

 

Today’s program featured our own Teri Dreher reporting on her trip to South Africa to visit grant sites and socialize with the members of the East London Rotary Club. The trip was a cultural awaking. During the first half of the trip Teri, her guests and the Mttelmans stayed with Rotarians in East London where the grant project is happening. Phase 4 of early childhood development was training “Grannys” to teach. People make the difference. Each Granny gets 18 months of training. There are 50 childhood caregivers working with 3000 vulnerable orphans. 2 to3 get individual attention each day.

 

The early part of the trip was observing the grants in action. They then visited the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. Teri and company toured the Mercedes plant in East London guided by Rotarian Pete Bosh, the plant manager. They then visited Port Alfred on the ocean and the wild life reserve called Laliberia. They also did a garden tour in Capetown and visited the wine country.

 

Apartheid ended in 1993. It is hard to see the poverty. There are 18 million orphans. Unemployment is at 24% (40% in the cities). The government is corrupt. The President has stolen millions of dollars. These grants are ideal for us. The people on the ground work. There is little diversity. 10% of the population is white and they have 90% of the wealth. A lot of healing is needed.

 

Daily: $27 won by Dave Ritland.

 

Progressive: $27 (54 cards). Tony Collins drew the queen of hearts. Rollover!

 

Greeter & Prayer: Teri Dreher.

 

Fun & Frolics: Greg Hill.

 

Program: Nan Buckhart – Lake County Forest Preserves.

 

“Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.”  Niccolo Machiavelli