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!