August 8, 2014
NEXT MEETING: August 8, 2014
Sex and Romance After 60
Keeping the flame alive! This is important whether a person’s in his/her 40s, 50s, or older. Dr. Victoria Bentley, a Clinical Psychologist and fellow Rotarian, advises people to look to sex, loving relationships, and intimacy as possibly the best ways to maintain quality of life and increase longevity after age 60. Contrary to some current ideas about aging, she believes that later years in life should be a time of inner expansion and exploration. As the external world demands less of us, we can turn inward and connect with others on a deeper, more intimate level, even sexually in ways we haven’t previously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
• David Brown waxed on (and justly so) about David Calfee and his constant generosity. He again donated his clubs dues plus another $1000 to our club. A big thank you, Judge Calfee.
• Josh Surowitz was glad to be back from a long stay in Spain. He and his family then spent a week at Josh Genser’s cabin. He said a good time was had by all—even the fish, which Josh S managed to not catch.
• Mark Howe was back from his amazing sailing trip to Hawaii with his girlfriend. They must have found the adventure very engaging…because Mark bought a ring. Congratulations to you both
MEETING OF August 1, 2014
Welcome
Our new President Stoney welcomed everyone present and offered an invocation. Always ready to leap from the sacred to the profane Sid offered this thought-for-the-day: If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Rotarians with Guests.
Jim Young welcomed his wife Linda. And Charlie Fender welcomed his soul mate—of 72 years!—Clavel. Connie Tritt introduced her friend, Ted Ma. Don Lau introduced his son Jordan to the group. And
Josh Genser brought Nico Veran, who, Josh told us, has decided to become a member. Welcome, Nico!
Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars
• Josh Surowitz celebrated his 10th wedding anniversary while they were in Spain. He wasn’t sure exactly where he/they were on the day in question, he said would ask his wife.
• Josh Genser celebrated his 33rd wedding anniversary. He and Elaina went bowling and saw the play, Once in San Francisco. The play had an actual bar on the stage where they had drinks. He also celebrates a birthday next month.
• Charlie Fender had to speak up on the subject of anniversaries, he and Clavel just celebrated their 72nd… enough said!
• Josh Genser also had Happy Dollars because his daughter got a new job and can stay New York, even after her first job dissolved when the firm self-destructed.
• Jim Young was happy (very happy) for his Medicare co-payment for his hospital stay. Looking good, Jim, with your 25-pound weight loss!
• Don Lau was happy his son, through his new job, is staying close to dad in Richmond.
PROGRAM
Cambodia Literary Program
Jim opened the program with a verbal and visual summary of Siem Reap, the host town where the average income is $2 per day. Here 34 American volunteers, each carrying 100 pounds of school supplies, made camp. Since the tragedy of the Khmer genocide educational resources for Cambodian children have been very limited, teacher training poor and literacy rates lagging. This is why Linda and 33 other volunteers under the professional leadership of Literacy teacher Trainer Charlotte Knox with logistical support by Ksenija Olmer, vice president of the Cambodian child’s dream Organization (CCDO) to help train English Teachers teach.
The story really begins as the group leaves Siem Reap for a visit to the local school in a village called Ta Pang. We see students biking to school some with 3-year olds in tow. They will attend pre-school at the rear of the main building. The day starts with a hand wash at the “tippy-tap,” a home made contraption that consists of a plastic container that is tipped by a rope attached to a pedal. Combined with the soap-on-a-rope, the set-up offers the means for a simple but effective hand wash.
The students all work the garden that helps provide lunch for the whole school. The kids wash their own dishes. The volunteers started the actual training with an all day workshop on a Saturday. All the school teaches attended unpaid in super-hot classrooms with glass-less windows and no electricity.
The strategy to improve students’ language was read-aloud and active participation. The theme: “I do it,” “We do it,” “You do it.” Large visual aids—included in those100 pound packages—were adapted to be more culturally-friendly. For example, a model of a local house (created by Jim) is built in front of the class and students learn and recite the names of each part.
With strong coaching follow-up the school’s staff have made significant accomplishments: A library of hundreds of English Language books (contents, again, of those 100 pound packs). Four English teachers trained & coached. Two pre-school teachers trained and supplied with toys and games. Librarian hired. Supplies still being provided. Intern social workers are working with orphan children. And after the volunteers returned home, there have been Skype follow-ups with English teachers.
Another literacy mission trip is planned for January 6-18, 2015. If you wish to volunteer please contact: Kesenja Olmer, Vice-President , Cambodian Child’s Dream Organization Telephone, 925-708-0770, or email Ksenija@theccdo.org
Alan Blavins, Stand-in-Reserve Scribe