Pledge: President Keith
Prayer: Donna Lash (a silent prayer)
Song: Andy Anderson
Brent's Flim/Flam: A high hand with 3 5's, won by Joan Camire
Guests: Arnie Cordell, Rick Beck and Jay White from the home of the 'Little Red
House", Wallingford, VT
Raffle Winners: Ken Roche, Al Lindquist & Matt Vogt
Happy $'s:
Many wishes for Gail Antoniac's continued recovery. More $'s for Andy's loss
to Bob Antoniac. Bill Suits with a good story. Jay White with greetings from
Wallingford, VT. Stan Niemerski on upcoming 50th Wedding Anniversay trip
to Vancouver BC and Alaska! Our congratulations to the happy couple!
Announcements:
President Keith mentioned a short meeting of the 'Outreach Committee right
after the regular meeting this morning.
The club recieved an invitation to a 'Black Tie' fundraising event later this summer
for the Katherine Hepburn Center, see President Keith for details.
Walter Osborne mentioned that the Shoreline Activities, magazine with a distribution
of 180 thousand, will be runnig a half page promotional piece on the 'Warm the
Children program that we participate in. This piece will run for the next several
months and is being done FREE, thanks to Walter!
Gerri Lewis mentioned help is needed at the Art Show food booth Saturday
afternoon and also Friday night (for setup of the tent etc.).
Mike Velgouse reminded us that dues are due and some members still have to
pay up!
New Member Induction:
Gerri Lewis and Mike Velgouse did the honors in bringing in Rick Beck, formerly
from Jupiter FL, into our club. Rick has been a regular attendee over the last
several meetings and will be a welcome member to the club! He indicated he is
very happy to be joining us.
Program: An Update on Ghana by John Donnelly.
John indictated that our club has been involved in Ghana for a bit of time with
matching grant applications for the "For One World" project which would provide
school desks and books to a nursery to 9th grade school and a clean water
project. Both he and Gerri indicated that the matching grants should be finalized
soon. Interestingly enough, the president of the non-profit "For One World" project is
James Mason who lives in Old Lyme. John said that Ghana is the only functional
democracy in Africa, being run by a tribal/cheiftan system with a democratic
overlay government. Ghana has a population of approximately 24 million people.
The life expectancy in Ghana is between 50 and 60 which is very good among
African countries. John feels that, with help, Ghana can become the "China" of
Africa. The people are industrious and willing to work. Their economy is growing
from the grass roots up with small start up help to get business going. Aid
apparantly doesn't go to the government leaders, who in many counties skim off
the top, but to the smaller business entrepeneurs who John feels will bring the
country out of the 3rd World status. Sounds like good Rotary principals being
applied here!
asl
