Guests at our meeting were: Mary Bak, our Assistant Director: Rich Lalley had Arnie Klein from Wilmette Harbor Rotary Club, Mike McLaughlin from Trees That Feed Foundation and our speaker Gerald Keenan; Narooyan Murope, a member of the Barrington Rotary Club; and Tony had his wife, Carolyn, and Christine Kijange, head of a Montessori school in Uganda. Tony gave some background on the development of Rotary in Uganda and how Christine and her brother, Lanam, helped develop the first Montessori schools in Uganda. Roger Morris sponsored Christine when she became a Paul Harris Fellow and Tony is sponsoring her brother, Lanam, for the same award. Christine received her brother’s Paul Harris Fellow award and made a nice acceptance speech on his behalf.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: We were reminded that tax-deductible gifts can still be made to our Foundation. Rebecca Wolf announced that she was selling little ornaments that could be used for Christmas trees or favors during the holidays, the proceeds of which would go to our Kids for Hunger project. Robert Mardirossian reported that John Stone had a successful operation after his fall overseas and that his recuperation will take 4-6 weeks. Tom Nash recognized the good work of our catering personnel (Donna, Barb and Jill) and all the service they provide us throughout the year.
HAPPY BUCKS: Mary Bak contributed in honor of the Northbrook Rotary’s recent successful Christmas present packing project. Rebecca contributed for her availability to attend two consecutive Rotary meetings.
SPEAKER GERRY KEENAN: Rich introduced Gerry who lives in Glencoe and is with Zanmi Sasye (a U.S. organization), which works with Oganizasyon Zanmi Grandans in Haiti to provide technical, administrative and financial assistance to bread fruit growing and processing in Jamaica and Haiti. Breadfruit trees were destroyed or badly damaged in recent storms/hurricanes and these organization are trying to rebuild this important industry by planting trees and processing the breadfruit. OZGA has completed several construction and infrastructure projects and operates/manages agricultural project with 230 farmers in Jeremie, Haiti. Gerry is working on some of the same projects with the Trees That Feed Foundation (Mary and Mike McLaughlin’s operation) to provide bread fruit to needy people in Haiti. TTFF has a nursery and processor in Jeremie, Haiti, which is on the northwest side of the country’s lower “jaw” just north of Les Cayes, which is the country’s 4th largest city. A tree can produce 1000 pounds of breadfruit a year. The goal is to plant 5000 trees in this area of Haiti to supply not only Haiti, but also Jamaica since Jamaica cannot produce all the breadfruit flour it needs for its own country. A fresh breadfruit cut from a tree can remain ripe for 3 days, but if it is turned into breadfruit flour, it remains usable for a full year. The flour can be sold for 75 cents a pound, which can provide a local family $25-50 dollars a month, a significant income in Haiti. Haiti has had a recent change in its government’s leadership and it is becoming easier for projects like this to start and flourish for the benefit of all Haitians. Gerry’s detailed and informative power point can be accessed at:
After Gerry’s presentation Heidi Sibert not only had her ticket drawn but she drew the Ace of Hearts to become one of the infrequent winners of our raffle!
Nearly one in five American children live in poverty. More than 400,000 in the Chicago metro area.
For these families, deciding between food, rent, heat and medicine takes priority. Many children have to go without a coat during the cold Chicago winter.
You can help to bring hope,happiness and warmth to children living in need in Chicagoland with the gift of a brand-new winter coat. Your gift will help to improve a child's self-esteem, school attendance and overall wellness.
Our Goal is to Give 500 Children Brand-New Winter Coats Give today at www.operationwarm.org/wnrotary Or send a check payable to WNRCF to Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield 620 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka IL 60093
We partner with schools and non-profits serving disadvantaged children, including Inner City Impact in Cicero, Holy Family Ministries school in Chicago, Hope Community Church in Chicago, Open Arms Mission in Antioch, Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook (holiday gift program), Jewish Council for Youth Services in Highwood and Family Promise Chicago North Shore.
This year, we are also partnering with the Chicago Public Library on an innovative program that gives a new coat at the libratry, bringing children into a library of the first time.
Your donation will go to Operation Warm, our partner since 2009. They provide us with brand-new, high-quality, warm winter coats for our children. Operation Warm is a GuideStar Platinum-rated nonprofit and has helped over 2 million children since 1998.
The video below was sent to us last winter as a gesture of THANKS from Holy Family Ministries.
How many children can you help keep warm this winter?
Our Rotary Club's Charitable Foundation is now accepting tax deductible donations for our Hurricane Relief Fund. Donations may be made by credit card here:
Our Foundation's Board will take direction from Rotary Leaders regarding where to direct our funds. Here is a letter received from our represntative on Rotary International's Board of Directors Robb Knuepfer:
Dear District and Zone Leaders:
As you have been reading in the news, severe rainfall has caused historic flooding along the Texas coast, including in Houston, the fourth largest city by population in the United States. Deluged towns in the region are in desperate need of aid as thousands of residents were forced to flee their homes. About 6.8 million people have been affected by the hurricane, which made landfall on 25 August.
Late last week, Presidential Aide Don Mebus and Past RI Director Greg Podd hosted a strategy conference call with governors from Districts 5930, 5840, 5890, 5910 and 6200 in Texas and Louisiana to develop a cohesive response.
A Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Donor Advised Fund (DAF) has been established by Greg Podd and President-Elect Barry Rassin through The Rotary Foundation to collect relief contributions. Don and Greg are working with leaders from the affected districts to create a process for disbursing DAF funds to their respective district foundations or local 501c3 organizations to support local relief efforts.
Updated information about contributing to the Gulf Coast DAF is available on the Rotary website. This page will continue to be updated as needed. Contribution information is also attached to this email.
ShelterBox, Rotary’s partner for disaster relief, is providing tents for use as ‘privacy tents’ to be pitched within the convention centers housing families that have been evacuated.
Please circulate the news about Rotary’s relief efforts to Rotarians in your district. Please direct inquiring Rotarians to the web story on Rotary.org for the most up-to-date information or to contact RI by writing to relief@rotary.org.