NOTES ON OCT 1 CLUB MEETING

SPEAKER OF THE DAY-NANCY SHIRLEY

Neil introduced our speaker of the day, Dr. Nancy Shirley, Associate Professor, Creighton University College of Nursing. Nancy spoke on her missions trips to the Dominican Republic in the last 30 years, in conjunction with the Institute for Latin American Concern (ILAC) which is an international Christian, Ignatian-inspired, collaborative health care and educational organization that e3xists to promote the integral well-being and spiritual growth of all its participants. Nancy is a student of the late 60's and was influenced by the Peace Corps, JFK and the book, "A NURSE'S STORY.

Many of the participants include students from several Omaha Area High Schools as well as Medical and Community Health specialists. Nancy discussed the specific locations in the Dominican Republic that she had served as an ILAC volunteer. She also had slides showing the mountain path they had to walk daily from their living quarters (did I say cold water showers yet?) to the upper villages where they served.

Nancy discussed the indigenous health workers that are training by the ILAC, the high schools developed by the ILAC, the living quarters for volunteers at Santiago and elsewhere. Nancy told us about Santo Hoyo De La Cruz with is the remains of a church at the site of where Christopher Columbus planted the first cross in the New World. (in the face of protests, some violent, from the local indigenous population).

Nancy concluding slide had the following quotation; PREACH THE GOSPEL AT ALL TIMES; WHEN NECESSARY, USE WORDS. Saint Francis of Assisi