Jack Donaldson RIP, the DG's Visit, Hampers at Makro, Merle Langenegger, Attendance & Bicycles

Jack Donaldson RIP
We were all saddened to hear of the sudden death of Jack Donaldson immediately after his 80th Birthday.
We all join President Neville in our condolences to Pam and her family.
Jack was an exceptionally nice man.  We will all miss him and our thoughts and prayers are with you, Pam.

DONALDSON JACK (JOHN FREDERICK) 21/11/1935~ 24/11/2015 
The Funeral service for Jack Donaldson will be held on Thursday 3rd December 2016 At 11 am , St Michael's Anglican Church, Bryanston Drive , Johannesburg. In lieu of flowers donations to The SA Guide Dog Association. THOM KIGHT & CO 011 837 553

PDG Peter Margolius (Honorary Member)
Peter is gravely ill in hospital so keep him and Elaine in your thoughts and prayers.

Last Week

It was the District Governor's visit.  DG David Grant and DGA Margie were introduced by DGR Steve Margo.  David spoke primarily about the Rotary Foundation as it is Foundation Month.  We also hosted some of the eClub for lunch as you can see.

The Makro Teams
Hamper sales have exceeded all expectations.  I must admit that I was cynical about it with the price of a hamper going up from R99 to R160.  It's wonderful to be proved wrong.  All the hampers are bound for Phutadichaba in  Alexandra.  Congratulations to Mark Franklin for organising this.

Quarterly Dinner
I decided to cancel this as it was scheduled for the evening before Jack Donaldson's funeral and it would have been inappropriate to do otherwise.  Many thanks to those who emailed their approval.

Attendance
There used to be the provision of becoming "Senior Active" and this meant that if you missed attendance then it was not recorded in the club's statistics.  This has changed and if you have an aggregate of your age plus the length of Rotary membership equal to 85 or more then your attendance is again not recorded in the club's statistics.  In other words, if you are 60 and have been a member for 25 years then you qualify......if you are 85 you qualify even if you are not a member!
Please consider this if your aggregate qualifies and you find it difficult to attend meetings as it will make a big difference to our returns.  Just get in touch with me.

This Week
Merle Langenegger will be talking about herself.  It used to be called a "My Job" talk.  We are looking forward to Merle revealing all!

CYCLISTS RAISE NEARLY $3 MILLION IN MILES TO END POLIO RIDE

Riders set off on the 2015 El Tour de Tucson in Arizona, USA.

James S. Wood Photography

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The fight to eradicate polio got a major financial boost from the annual Miles to End Polio bike ride that took place 21 November in Arizona, USA. Rotary General Secretary John Hewko and a team of eight RI staff members helped raise $2.9 million. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match the funds 2-to-1, bringing the total contribution to PolioPlus to nearly $9 million.

This is the fourth year in a row that Hewko has biked in the 104-mile (167 km) El Tour de Tucson ride, one of the country’s top cycling events. More than 100 Rotary members from Arizona and around the world hit the pavement with the Evanston team.

The RI staff riders have been training together since September. “In the beginning, riding 104 miles seemed impossible,” says Jean Stanula, Rotary’s Global Events supervisor. “But we came together early Saturday mornings and rode 20, 40, 60, and 80 miles. After a while, it felt like we could do anything.”

Contributions of District Designated Funds (DDFs) were a big part in this year's fundraising effort, with more than $1.4 million collected. Districts can continue to donate DDFs to support the fundraiser through 30 November. President-elect John Germ will visit the district that donates the most DDFs, and the top five contributing districts will be recognized onstage at the 2016 Rotary Convention in Seoul.

Rotary members have taken part in the ride since 2009, when the End Polio Now campaign was designated an official beneficiary of the race, allowing Rotary cyclists to gather pledges for the campaign. In the first year, 27 cyclists raised $35,000. The number has grown exponentially ever since.

The DG's Visit, Christmas Lunch, Club Assembly & Equipping Leaders to build Peace.

DG David Grant

This Week
It's the District Governor's visit and we will be also be hosting the eClub for lunch.

The eClub receives their Charter.

DG David Grant we know but the presence of the eClub is a mystery.  Will their presence and any lunch they may require be purely virtual?   Are we able to communicate with them verbally or will we need to text?

When it comes to the dress code it was decided that we should wear our Rosebank Shirts.  Just make sure that Pam Donaldson knows if there will be extra people attending.

Dinner, 2nd December, Yamato Japanese Restaurant, Illovo
7,15 for 7,30, R200 per head including the service charge.  It must be one of the few Japanese Restaurants that is owned and run by a Japanese person though Cristina was actually born in South America!

Christmas Lunch, Friday 11th December

This will be at Wanderers and will probably be in the region of R120 per head though we don't have a firm price yet.  It was suggested that we bring our own champagne and pay corkage.  Wanderers may not allow that and if they do you must just make sure that you don't bring something on their wine list because they are then quite justified in not accepting it.
Please book with Mark Franklin. Spouses, consorts and guests are welcome.  I say "consorts" because Eleanor Bron prefers the word as it sounds more fun than "partner".....I like the idea, consorting is much more fun than partnering.  Eleanor Bron was in the Beatle's film 'Help!'
You can see her HERE....and the Beatles as well, of course.

Club Assembly, Friday 4th December
This will take place immediately after our normal lunchtime meeting and will probably take about an hour.  Please do your best to attend.  President Neville is back this week and no doubt Lyn Collocott will send out the agenda as soon as he has drawn it up.

CHULALONGKORN CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF EQUIPPING LEADERS TO BUILD PEACE

Rotary Peace Fellows at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok discuss peacebuilding strategies during a field study.

Photo by Stephanie van Pelt

Bobby Anderson was helping former freedom fighters in Aceh, Indonesia, adjust to life after combat when he heard about the Rotary Peace Center at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

Anderson, who became part of the 2010 class of Rotary Peace Fellows, says the program allowed him to reflect upon the work he had already done and gain a larger perspective beyond day to day practicalities. 

“To be able to meet other people that had done similar work in other places and to be exposed [during field study] to the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration situation in Nepal was fascinating and helped me change how I think about the way I manage my own programs,” Anderson says.

Through its six peace centers, Rotary is developing leaders to become catalysts for peace in their communities and around the globe. The Chulalongkorn program offers a professional development certificate to individuals already working in fields related to peace.

Unlike the 15- to 24-month master’s degree program, the Chulalongkorn course lasts just three months. Because of the shorter time commitment and emphasis on relevant experience, the program attracts a broader pool of applicants. Chulalongkorn, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, has graduated 355 peace fellows from 69 countries.

Its curriculum emphasizes equal parts instruction and learning from peers.

“There are two main aspects of the program,” says Jenn Weidman, deputy director of the center. “One is the academic skills, what you actually learn, the steps of mediation, theory of analysis, etc. The other is the transformation.”

“We take professional people and remove them from their role, place them in the same space with diverse people for three months, and then challenge everything they’ve ever believed or held dear,” she says. “You get reflection, and we walk alongside and guide that, asking a lot of questions and creating a safe space for discussion. Some come and leave totally different people.”

Professors, from both Thailand and outside the country, are chosen each year for a curriculum that is constantly evolving. Fellows also complete two field studies, one in Thailand and one in a postconflict setting outside Thailand where they put their training into action.

“It’s an incredible opportunity for me as an instructor in the program to be able to interact with people working on the frontlines in Afghanistan, or Kenya or South Sudan, but then also the U.S.,” says Craig Zelizer, associate director of conflict resolution at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and founder of the Peace and Collaborative Development Network. “The diversity of participants and the change they are already affecting and what they’ll do as a result of this program are incredible.”

Jennifer Jacobson, a police constable in Canada, attended the center in 2012. She says the group exercises and interactions with classmates altered her views of her work.

“A lot of it is bonding with other people, because you are together all day long, pretty much seven days a week,” she says. “I’ve taken something from every little piece of the program.”

Since completing the program in 2007, Meas Savath, of Cambodia, founded the Cambodian Center for Mediation, which provides training and social dialogue, building conciliation between former Khmer Rouge and non-Khmer Rouge factions. Although the country’s brutal civil war ended more than 35 years ago, Savath says, there is still a lot of mistrust between the two sides.

“In my program, all parties are invited to share their experience and understanding, as well as their perceptions of the two groups, and afterward they have a relationship that didn’t exist before,” he says.

The 10th anniversary celebration culminates with the Innovating Global Peacebuilding conference at the end of this month. Program staff are also collecting short video testimonials from alumni that are being compiled. You can see the videos on the center’s website, and following #rotarychula10 on social media to get updates of the celebration.

Read stories from peace fellows on the Rotary Peace Center at Chulalongkorn University blog

Find out how to apply for a Rotary Peace Fellowship

Business, Gary Jackson again? Swedes, Scamjam, Champs & Polio Plus

This Week
It's a Business Meeting;  the last one of the year.

Last Week
Gary Jackson's talk on Healthy & Ethical Food was so entertaining that everyone wanted him to come back and talk more about it.  Surprising, because it sounds such an earnest subject!  I think it was his unusual upbringing...speaking Japanese before he spoke English....and his life at McDonald's and the affect it had on him that made people think.
At the end of January/beginning of February we will have a dinner at Jackson's Real Food Market.  We will sort out the meal between us.  I'll keep you informed.

Swedish Friendship Exchange

Here are some more photos from Mike Lamb to add to last week's collection.  They are taken on the trip to Baragwanath to see our Palliative Care Project in partnership with Clubs in the UK and to Soweto.  The obvious non Swedes are Dr Charmaine Blanchard and her colleagues who are involved in the Palliative Care Project.  I haven't a clue what the drums were for!
Jean & I attended the dinner in Boksburg where the Swedes made a presentation on Sweden and it was a most enjoyable evening.
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No, this is not a Political Meeting!
Melodene Stonestreet looks on whilst Lori Bramwell-Jones canvases for votes?  No, it's the Scamjam!

Lori and Melodene presented to a group at Harveston Methodist Church on the 12th November.  The whole purpose of the Scamjam Project is to point out to elderly people the dangers of financial and internet scams and how to recognise them for what they are.

This is proving to be a very valuable and much appreciated project and it was certainly well received at the Methodist Church.


Dinner on the 26th
I have been finding it very difficult to get anything out of the restaurant so far as they seem unable to realise that the amount of food that they want to give us is far too much per head which makes it too expensive.  I have decided to postpone the dinner to Wednesday 2nd December.

Champs Golf Day
Lori Bramwell-Jones and Pam Donaldson assisted at Champs Golf Day last Thursday.  The Club sponsors prostheses for Brandon, one of the little children.  Over to Pam:

On Friday Lori and I assisted Dr. Brooke Puttergill at her annual golf day fundraiser at Wanderers Golf Club.  Unfortunately she had 4 Fourballs cancel at the last minute so only had 8 Fourballs playing.  With raffles etc she was still hoping to clear R40,000 which would provide a prosthesis for two toddlers. She is the most amazing young woman and incidentally has just written her final exams, with the highest pass in SA, to qualify her as a specialist physician.  
She invited SADGA  (The SA Disabled Golf Association) to attend and their CEO Eugene Vorster, who has lost an arm, was there as well as their Gauteng coach, Andrew Corthing who is a Pro Golfer and two of his young golf pro assistants.  All amazing young men.  Brooke had 6 of her "boys" there- three 3 yr olds who have all had a leg amputated (2 born with no muscle in the leg like Oscar and the other with no bone in the leg) including Brandon whose prosthesis we sponsored last year and 3 teenagers who have all lost a leg through train or car accidents.
SADGA do a huge amount of work in rural areas and townships with the disabled to encourage them to play golf.  Andrew took the teenagers and put them through various tests to show them the importance of vision, balance etc to play the game whilst the other two young men let the toddlers have a lot of fun playing with little plastic clubs.

Dress Code for the DG's Lunch on the 27th
We all received a circular from the region stating the Dress Code for Lunch with the DG and the eClub.
I have been asked a number of questions about this though I hesitate to discuss the requirements for ladies.

It's important because we only had one male member present last week who conformed to the dress code and would have been allowed into the DG's Lunch.  I asked him if this was a dummy run and would he be present but unfortunately he will be away.
Now the questions:
a)  Tie:  This is an almost extinct article of male apparel consisting of a, sometimes, multi-coloured strip of material, beautifully tailored, that is worn around the neck under a shirt collar which is done up.  Its purpose is to hide the collar button.  In the past the collar was attached with a back and a front stud so it was a necessity.  Young men tend never to wear them and will often wear a suit with an open-necked shirt.  If in doubt ask some-one older than yourself especially if you have forgotten how to tie a Windsor or Half Windsor.  It is quite acceptable to wear one without a shirt now-a-days.
b)  Jacket: I know it's hot but we have been told that we would be given permission, almost immediately, to take them off.  The next question was why wear one if we will be given permission to take them off?  I don't know.
c)  T-Shirts:  These are not acceptable because sometimes the slogans can be offensive to some.  I saw one the other day that resonated with me... "Rotary is not an Adult Toy". Of course it isn't a toy, it's much too serious for that.
d) Ladies' Apparel:  I am not going to attempt to discuss this merely to say that if in doubt think of your school uniform.  A skirt or gymslip that allows for growth is acceptable but one that you have outgrown is not.

CELEBRITIES, HEALTH OFFICIALS COME TOGETHER TO HAIL PROGRESS TOWARD POLIO’S END

Jeffrey Kluger, Time magazine editor at large (left), talks with Dr. John Vertefeuille, polio incident manager for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as part of Rotary's World Polio Day event on 23 October in New York City.

Photo Credit: Rotary International/Alyce Henson

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After an historic year during which transmission of the wild poliovirus vanished from Nigeria and the continent of Africa, the crippling disease is closer than ever to being eradicated worldwide, said top health experts at Rotary’s third annual World Polio Day event on 23 October in New York City.

More than 150 people attended the special Livestream program co-sponsored by UNICEF, and thousands more around the world watched online. Jeffrey Kluger, Time magazine’s editor at large, moderated the event.

Anthony Lake, executive director of UNICEF, lauded the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s efforts. After nearly 30 years, the GPEI, which includes Rotary, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is on the cusp of ending polio. It would be only the second human disease ever to be eradicated. 

Lake urged the partners not to lose their momentum: “At a time when the world is torn by conflicts, when the bonds among people seem weaker and more frayed than ever before, ending polio will be not only one of humanity’s greatest achievements, but a singular and striking example of what can be achieved when diverse partners are driven by a common goal -- when  we act as one,” he said.

The event highlighted recent milestones in polio eradication: In July, Nigeria marked one year without a case, and in August, the entire African continent celebrated one year without an outbreak. That leaves just two countries where the virus is regularly spreading: Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In a question-and-answer session with Kluger, Dr. John Vertefeuille, polio incident manager for the CDC, discussed the reasons for Nigeria’s success, including strong political commitment at all levels and the support and engagement of religious and community leaders.

“The foundation to Nigeria’s success has been the incredible dedication of tens of thousands of health workers who have worked, often in difficult circumstances, to ensure that all children are reached with the polio vaccine,” said Vertefeuille.

Innovative changes, including strategies for reaching children who were often missed in the past, better mechanisms for ensuring the accountability of health workers, and the engagement of doctors, journalists, and polio survivors, also aided Nigeria in reaching its goal.

Polio eradication is progressing in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In Afghanistan, cases dropped from 28 in 2014 to 13 so far this year. In Pakistan, transmission of the disease dropped dramatically, from 306 cases to 38.

Kluger and Vertefeuille agreed that eradicating polio is a wise financial investment. Vertefeuille said financial savings of $50 billion are projected over the next 20 years.

Failure to eradicate polio, he noted, could result in a global resurgence of the disease, with 200,000 new cases every single year within 10 years.

CELEBRITIES ADD THEIR VOICES

Archie Panjabi, Emmy Award-winning actress and Rotary celebrity ambassador for polio eradication, praised Rotary’s success in banishing polio from India in 2012. “I’ve immunized children, feeling pure joy when I placed just two drops of vaccine into a child’s mouth, which are like two drops of life,” she said.

The audience also heard from musician, activist, and Grammy award-winner Angélique Kidjo, who performed a song from her latest album, “Eve.”

Dr. Jennifer Berman, co-host of the Emmy Award-winning television show “The Doctors” called Rotary’s role in eradicating polio “one of those transformative initiatives that uses the insights of science to improve the human condition.”

The program also featured video messages from Bill Gates; Mia Farrow, actress and polio survivor; Heidi Klum, model and celebrity businessperson; and two new Rotary polio ambassadors, WWE star John Cena and actress Kristen Bell.

“How do we stop polio forever? How do we ensure that no child has to suffer this disease ever again? It’s easy to help. Spread the word, donate, or simply take this opportunity to learn more,” said Bell.

ROTARY BOOSTS FUNDING

Rotary General Secretary John Hewko announced an additional $40.4 million Rotary will direct to the fight against polio. More than $26 million will go to African countries to prevent the disease from returning. Rotary has also earmarked $5.3 million for India, $6.7 million for Pakistan, and $400,000 for Iraq. Nearly $1 million will support immunization activities and surveillance. Since 1979, Rotary has contributed more than $1.5 billion to polio eradication.

“Our program this evening will show how far we have come -- and what we still have to do -- to slam the door on polio for good,” said Hewko. “Once we do, not only will we end the suffering of children from this entirely preventable disease -- we will also create a blueprint for the next major global health initiative and leave in place resources to protect the world’s health in the future.”

Event sponsors included Global Benefits Group, Spencer Trask & Company, Sanofi Pasteur, and Grant Thornton.Devex was the event’s media partner.

Organic & Ethical Food, Abhu Dhabi, a Swedish Rotary Friendship Exchange & a Bra Collection

This Week
Our speaker is Gary Jackson of Jackson's Whole Food Market in Bryanston.
Gary has had an interesting career in retailing after studying at UCT.  He even has a Degree in Hamburgerology from McDonald's!  He ran four McDonald's franchises at one stage and also owned a very successful Woolworth's franchise before they discontinued franchising.
It's quite a switch from McDonald's to Organic & Ethical Food Products.  It will be interesting to hear if he had a Damascus Road Conversion or if it was a more gradual process.
He is also one of the founders of the Twice as nice 4 Kids Foundation that seeks to improve the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in Johannesburg so he is on the same wavelength as ourselves.

Last Week
Johnathan Hollard talk to us about Abhu Dhabi as a tourist destination and showed us a number of videos.

It's obvious that his job is to sell Abhu Dhabi but I was delighted that he was well aware of the controversies surrounding human rights and particularly the plight of foreign workers as he had seen how they are housed.

Swedish Friendship Exchange

 They had just arrived on Friday morning and were, no doubt, feeling somewhat frazzled!  Mike Lamb welcomed them as you can see top left and, bottom right, the tallest one is not a Swede, it's Mark Franklin standing in for President Neville!  Don't be misled by "Danmark" on the banner, it's not the same place.
The idea was that they would attend our lunch but somehow or other we seem to have more involvement than that as we as we are hosting two couples and some of us will be attending the dinner in Benoni.
Mark Franklin organised little canapes before lunch which were very nice and a brilliant idea particularly as Wanderers produced the most bizarre lunch we have had for a long time.  I'm sure that most of Sweden will soon believe that South Africans always eat ravioli with rice!

Quarterly Dinner
I brilliantly announced the wrong date for the dinner at the meeting on Friday!  It's actually Thursday 26th November and will be Indian.  I will organise a set price per person for the meal.  More details will follow.

Sue Wilson wrote about this fascinating project which aimed to recruit new members for her club as well as raise awareness of what Rotary can do:

Our Club, the Rotary Club of Ormskirk Clocktower in West Lancashire has been working with Against Breast Cancer to recycle bras to raise much needed funds as well as supporting ladies' international communities.
Most men are entirely oblivious to the fact that these items of used clothing are very often not taken to charity shops because bras are classified as underwear and are not acceptable.
Our Club has been strategically placing donation boxes and asking ladies to donate their bras to charity instead of just throwing them in the bin.

In the first instant the bras are weighed and Against Cancer gets 1 pound per kg for Cancer Research.
Secondly, the bras are then transported by a global textile company to under privileged countries and sold to women who would normally not be able to afford a bra.
These Bra Bins are located in offices, churches, slimming groups, golf clubs, libraries and many other places and each time a bra bin is sited there has to be a conversation about the project.  Everytime non-Rotarians find out about Rotary and it refutes the image of elderly men having lunch in hotels and it shows that Rotary improves the lives of women across communities and countries.
Rotary needs to be seen to be involved in more female-related charity work as a way of opening up to more prospective members.

ROTARY HONOURS SIX ‘GLOBAL WOMEN OF ACTION’ AT THE UNITED NATIONS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND HUMANITARIAN SERVICE

 Rotary will honured six women – all members of Rotary clubs across the globe – at its "Rotary Day at the United Nations" event on Nov. 7. Rotary's 'Global Women of Action' will be recognized for donating their time, talents and expertise towards helping thousands of people in need throughout the world.

Since the volunteer service organization's founding more than 100 years ago, Rotary has harnessed the strength of professional and community leaders to tackle humanitarian challenges at home and abroad. Today, Rotary provides a platform for successful men and women of all ethnicities, faiths and cultures to make the world a better place through volunteer service.

"Every day at Rotary I see first-hand how our members work to change lives and make significant impact around the world," said Rotary International President K.R. Ravindran. "Through hard work, dedication and selflessness, Rotary's 'Global Woman of Action' embody Rotary's motto, 'Service Above Self', and I extend my warmest congratulations to them for their outstanding service to humanity."

Rotary's 'Global Women of Action' are:

Kerstin Jeska-Thorwart, Nuremberg, Germany: A member of the Rotary Club of Nurnberg-Sigena, Jeska-Thorwart is the creator of the "Baby Hospital Galle" project, which she launched after surviving the devastation of the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka. With a budget of USD 1.8 million and the support of 200 Rotary clubs and 6,000 members, the project rebuilt and equipped the Mahamodara Teaching Hospital in Galle, Sri Lanka. In the 11 years since its inception, the project has helped more than 150,000 children and provided healthcare services to more than 2.2 million women.

Dr. Hashrat A. Begum, Dhaka, Bangladesh: A member of the Rotary Club of Dhaka North West, Begum has been at the forefront of the women's health in Bangladesh, implementing several large scale projects to deliver health care to underserved communities. She works to organize free weekend clinics for slum dwellers, providing vocational training to girls who have dropped out of school, empowering women to earn livelihoods as seamstresses, and working to raise awareness of social and health issues among young people. Begum also works to fund a clinic for the people of Washpur, a densely populated slum township outside of Dhaka with virtually no access to clean water or health facilities.

Dr. Deborah K. W. Walters, Troy, Maine, United States: A member of the Rotary Club of Unity, Walters, a neuroscientist, has served as the director and supporter of Safe Passage (Camino Seguro), a non-profit organization that helps to provide educational and social services to children and families who live in the Guatemala City garbage dump. Walters also led an initiative to improve water systems and build latrines for people living in and around the dump.

Razia Jan, Wellesley, Mass., United States: A member of the Rotary Club of Duxbury, Jan, an Afghan native living in the United States, has worked for decades to build connections between Afghans and Americans while improving the lives of young women and girls in Afghanistan. She is the Founder and Director or the Zabuli Education Center, a school that serves more than 430 girls in Deh'Subs, Afghanistan. The school teaches the girls mathematics, English, science, and technology, as well as providing practical skills, preparing them to succeed and achieve economic freedom within a challenging social environment. She was recognized as a CNN Hero in 2012.

Stella S. Dongo, Harare, Zimbabwe: A member of the Rotary Club of Highlands, Stella Dongo leads the Community Empowerment Project in Zimbabwe. The project provides basic business skills and computer training to more than 6,000 women and youth infected or affected by HIV in urban Harare. She is working to expand the project to serve an additional 600 participants in the region. She has served on the boards of World Vision Zimbabwe and Women's University Africa.

Lucy C. Hobgood–Brown, Hunters Hill, NSW, Australia: A member of the eClub of Greater Sydney, Hobgood–Brown is a communication and project management specialist and educator with more than 30 years of experience living and working in nine countries. She is the co-founder of HandUp Congo, a non-profit organization that strategically links existing and potential collaborators with grassroots community initiatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Working with Rotary clubs, she raised funds and led a team of experienced health care workers to support public health infrastructure for Ebola containment in the Congo.

Abhu Dhabi, J Brooks Spector and Cycling for Polio Eradication

This Week

Our speaker is Johnathan Hollard, Trade and MICE Executive for the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.
Before he became involved in the tourism industry Johnathan was with Brandhouse, the liquor wholesalers who represent Beers, Spirits and Liqueurs.....and a number of rather nice single malt whiskies!
Instead he will be talking about Abhu Dhabi.
Abhu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates...we heard about Dubai a few weeks ago.......and the most prosperous as it has oil, though the oil price is a problem at the moment.
I wondered what MICE was, wondering if they have a rodent problem in Abhu Dhabi.  Apparently MICE Executive is not a politically correct name for a Rat Catcher, it stands for "Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibitions"!

Last Week
J Brooks Spector spoke to us on the various Democratic & Republican hopeful candidates for the forthcoming US Presidential Elections next year.
The Democratic candidates were quite boring as Hillary Clinton is so far ahead.  The Republicans were much more fun, especially those who lean to the right, not forgetting that liberal in an American sense is usually far to the right of anything that Europe has to offer. Brooks has the ability to be entertaining and informative.  Maybe he should stand himself on hairstyle alone?
I always remember that Hillary Clinton campaigned for Barry Goldwater in her youth.....makes you think!

HELP PROPEL MILES TO END POLIO ACROSS FINISH LINE WITH DISTRICT FUNDS

Your district could earn a visit from Rotary International President-elect John Germ by contributing district designated funds (DDFs) to support the Miles to End Polio fundraising goal.

On 21 November, Rotary General Secretary John Hewko and eight Rotary staff members will ride in El Tour de Tucson, an annual bicycle race in Arizona, USA, to raise funds for PolioPlus. The team’s goal is $3.4 million, which will be tripled by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for a total of more than $10 million.

Last year’s team raised over $7 million, and DDF contributions from districts were a big part of that success. Germ will visit the district that donates the most, and the top five contributing districts will be recognized onstage at the 2016 Rotary Convention in Seoul. Rotary President K.R. Ravindran will visit District 2650 in Japan to thank members for making the top DDF donation - $500,000 - to last year’s race.

El Tour de Tucson is one of the top cycling events in the U.S., attracting more than 9,000 cyclists every year. The Rotary team from Evanston, Illinois, will be joined by Rotary members from Arizona and around the world.

• MEET NORAH
 
 

NORAH WEBSTER 

Norah, who has worked at Rotary nearly 11 years, is a Global Events learning specialist, focusing on the Rotary Convention. She’s a well-seasoned cyclist who’s finished other long rides, including a 450-mile trek over six days. Norah is excited to take the fight against polio from her desk to new surroundings with other Rotary volunteers.

 

• MEET LINDSAY
 
 

LINDSAY GRISWOLD

Lindsay is a Youth Exchange senior specialist at Rotary. Her passion for working with young people grew during her time with the Peace Corps in Kenya. When she moved to Chicago, she bought a bike from a shop that supports at-risk youth through its earn-a-bike program. To Lindsay, Service Above Self means being generous with her time, being open to new experiences, and putting others’ comforts before her own.

 
 

JEAN STANULA

Jean is Rotary’s Global Events supervisor. As a kid, she knew she wanted to make a difference, whether she was collecting pledges for the American Heart Association or collecting nickels in a jar for the American Cancer Society. Today, her desire to help others is even stronger. As an athlete, she sees El Tour de Tucson as her way to support and rai

• MEET KRISTIN
 
 

KRISTIN BROWN 

Kristin is the manager of Rotary Service Connections. A member of the Rotary Club of Evanston Lighthouse and an avid cyclist, she feels El Tour de Tucson is the perfect combination of her commitment to Rotary and polio eradication. Last year, Kristin served as the Miles to End Polio team captain and raised $4,000 to support the campaign.

• MEET JOHN
 
 

JOHN OSTERLUND

John Osterlund is the General Manager of The Rotary Foundation and has worked at work for Rotary for more than 20 years. During that entire time, he has been actively engaged in the fight to eradicate polio. Polio has deep personal meaning to John as his father-in-law is a polio survivor. He is dedicating his ride to his father-in-law and fight to end polio once and for all.

SCOTT DANIELS

Scott is a Procurement Services manager and has worked for the organization for four years. He enjoys staying active and considers cycling a great alternative to running. As both a staff member and a Rotary member, he understands the importance of eradicating polio and looks forward to training for the ride in Tucson with his co-workers and fellow Rotarians.

• MEET DEBRA
 
 

DEBRA LOWE

Debra is a senior regional Major Gifts officer and has worked at Rotary for over six years. Participating in Miles to End Polio is her way to honor all the Rotary members who have generously supported PolioPlus. And riding alongside her colleagues will allow her to combine her two greatest passions, fitness and Rotary, to raise funds in support of a polio-free world.

 
 

NAISH SHAH

Naish is Rotary’s Member Benefits program manager. His motivation to end polio is personal: While he feels lucky that he was born in the U.S. and received the polio vaccine, two of his cousins in India, who weren’t as fortunate, passed away after contracting the disease. Having volunteered to do the ride last year, Naish is ready to face this year’s challenge with his teammates.

MARGA HEWKO

Marga Hewko is a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago and the wife of Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko. She is a passionate advocate for clean water, improved sanitation and polio eradication. This will be Marga's third time participating in Miles to End Polio. She is dedicating her ride to the staff of Rotary International.