Do you remember WKRP in Cincinnati? That sitcom became a topic of conversation during our social time. Why, you ask? Our guest speaker was Caroline Phelps and she was joining us from Cincinnati, Ohio. Football, hockey, soccer (also called football) and health concerns were also discussed during our social time. Then an older sage intoned, “Well, Veronica, it’s time.” As if she had been waiting for this pronouncement, President Veronica then called the meeting to order.
Leon’s O Canada this evening was one recorded before a Canadian Premier League game on July 1, 2020. We were able to follow along in our homes with ease, and what I heard sounded great.
Announcements: Rotary Opens Opportunities; it is Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Month; and Veronica announced a number of upcoming events (e.g. District Training Assembly, Foundation Celebration), including the Langley Rotary Interclub meeting on April 15th.
Veronica introduced our guest, Brian Lott, from the Rotary Club of Langley Central. Brian informed us about Music Bingo Night, a “fun and exciting evening” planned for April 16 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. All four Langley Rotary Club members and families and friends are invited to join in to raise money with the proceeds going to the Langley Food Bank. Bingo tickets are $20 each and Rotary will retain $16-$17 from each sale. Members are asked to donate gifts for the live auction and/or for prizes for the various BINGO games. We will receive reminders about this special, social event.
Wayne read the Rotary Moment for this week, answering the question What is SHARE? He added a few personal observations as well.
Next we came to our main speaker, Caroline Phelps, who shared information with us about the Guatemala Literacy Project. This is an annual literacy initiative aiming to break the cycle of poverty in Guatemala, and our club contributed to the global grant this year. Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in terms of education, and two-thirds of children drop out of school by grade six. She showed us a woman whose grandmother is illiterate, whose mother is illiterate, and who now has a job earning four times as much as her father, thanks to this literacy project. Her daughter will be able to get an education too, and in this way the cycle of poverty is broken. You can see her slide presentation by clicking March 4, 2021 Presentation. Our meeting ran a little late as club members had many questions for Caroline, showing great interest in this project.
Club members are reminded to send their baby photos to Lana well in time for our meeting on the 18th (two weeks).
Happy and sad dollars were announced and recorded, and we closed the meeting with a toast to Canada. For more photos please visit March 4, 2021. Cheers!