The Flywheel
Archive issue

NEXT MEETING: May 16, 2014

Nigeria's post-independence through the eyes of a young Peace Corps worker

When Dorothy Crews Herzberg, author of “Me, Madam,” joined the Peace Corps in 1961, she was unaware that the program had not yet been approved by the U.S. Congress. The Corps’ proponents were hedging the strategy that having four hundred volunteers already working overseas would strengthen their case. While serving in the Peace Corps Dorothy Crews married Hershel Herzberg, and from 1961 to 1963 they wrote letters to her parents. Dorothy’s father saved and carefully preserved the fragile blue air letters.

Every page of “Me, Madam,” her new book, illuminates the energy of Nigeria immediately after independence. The author’s letters convey with intimacy what it was like to be there as the people struggled to create a new democracy.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Henry Moe and Tom Waller reported that Nikki Basas, Salesian Interact Student, competed at the 4-way Test Speech. She did a great job. The winner was a young man from Orinda.
• Rosemary Corbin, former mayor of Richmond, announced a charity golf tournament at the Richmond Country Club, to take place on Tuesday, May 20th. Its purpose is to raise money for Ujima, http://www.ujimafamily.org/ $60 per person Call Rosemary to reserve a spot (510) 235-5779
• Rotarians are asked to continue to bring dictionaries, educational books, text books, flash cards and puzzles to donate to the India Project. Please bring them to the next meeting.
• Mark Howe reminded us of the Peace Garden work day (actually a lot of fun), June 14th, beginning at 9 AM. Talk to Mark about the details.
• Also on June 14th, Mark Howe and Stoney will host their famous barbeque, an auction item, beginning at 3:00pm at Mark’s home.
• Liliane suggested that Henry Moe invite Interact Parents to the Bocce Ball Tournament, again on that very full day of June 14th.
• May 31 is Fishing Derby at the San Pablo Dam.  Alan Blavins reminded us of this joint project with the Kiwanis Club. Chaperones are in place for the 30 children who will attend the event. Volunteers can show up at 9:00am through the fist entrance and can meet at the Gazebo near the Café..
• The District Governor sent a thank you letter from the town of Burkina Faso for the two concrete bricks sent from Richmond Rotary in the name of each weeks speaker led to 2 schools constructed from the donations. The District Governor was present for the dedication of the new buildings.
• Two weeks ago, Barbara McCullough, the executive director of Brighter Beginnings, announced an appreciation day for the volunteers and donors to the Rotocare Clinic on Thursday June 5. She enthusiastically invited Richnond Rotary members. It so happens that last week, the clinic, its mostly volunteer personnel, and the role of Rotary, were all spotlighted in an article published in the online Richmond Pulse. Be sure to read it!

MEETING OF May 9, 2014

Welcome

President Liliane opened up the meeting. Herb led the pledge and Stoney led the invocation. Sid gave his thought for the day and the gist of it was In person not purpose.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Jan Brown’s guests were Kathy Anderson and her Husband, Byron Brown. Jim Young brought Linda Young and Mark Howe’s guest was Rosemary Corbin.

Special Events

• We welcomed a new member to the Rotary, Stacey Street. We look forward to learning more about her through her “Who am I” speech, and her attendance at our meetings.
• Josh Surowitz was honored for bringing in new members and was presented with a pin.
• Jim Young and Tom Butt were given Bronze Pins for bringing in multiple new members

Recognitions and Happy/Sad Dollars

• Mark Howe had a birthday.
• Dan Tanita celebrated his 12^th wedding anniversary.
• Alan Blavins had his 12^th Club Anniversary.
• Tom Waller had his 8^th Club Anniversary.
• Joan was happy to back at Richmond Rotary.
• Herb was happy for the Bourbon served at Josh’s house.
• Jim Young was sad about the passing of one of his relatives and happy about Richmond Rotary being honored for their involvement in the Lost Secrets of the Iron Triangle (pictured).
• Tom Butt was happy about the upcoming Annual Blue Grass Get Together at his house
• Henry Moe was happy for the 12 Interact students sponsored by a group of Richmond Rotarians to attend the Interact Boat Cruise and sad that his mom would have celebrated her 89 birthday today
• Don Lau was happy that his daughter got married
• Josh Surowitz was happy about his upcoming trip and the villa he will stay in

Norm’s Nonsense

A man is lost in the desert. He walks for miles and he’s dying of thirst when he sees a tent ahead and cries out, “Water! Please water!”
A Bedouin comes out of the tent and  says, “How’d you like to buy a jacket and tie?”
The man says,  “No I need water. Please.”
The Bedouin says there’s a tent about two kilometers south where the man can get water.
The man drags himself over burning sands for two kilometers to the next tent, where he collapses and cries out, “Water!”
A Bedouin comes out in a tuxedo and says, “I’m sorry, but you’ll need a jacket and tie.”

Program

Jan Brown and Nick Despota reminded us of the value of the 9-year-old Teen Mom Project, which presents mothers with gift bags packed with useful babycare products, and includes an encouraging handwritten note from a Rotarian.

At this meeting everyone pitched in to pack the bags and pen the notes. In the next week or two (date unknown at time of this writing) a group of our members will present the gifts to the teen moms in their high school classes.Send an email to jan@spokewise.com if you would like directions and details.

Rotary especially thanks Burt’s Baby Bees and Gud for their baby and young teen products, the Linus Project for handmade baby blankets, Dan Tanita for dental hygiene packets and Spokewise for stationery. Nick Despota and Doris Mitchell helped round up diapers and books for young hands. Thank you to all who helped.

Good will will do good.

Henry Moe, Rotating Scribe