Thanks again to Mike Caruso for providing the Zoom account allowing our on-line meeting!
Meeting notes from both Paula R. and Kathie B…….and photos by Auggie G…
Thanks to The TEAM!
Rotary Club of Newberg Zoom Meeting
Wednesday, June 03, 2020
Call to Order
President Corey Zielsdorf welcomed Rotarians and Friends of Rotary to the Rotary Club of Newberg Zoom meeting at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
Rotarians and Friends of Rotary
Zoom meeting participants: Mike, Julie, Kathie, Dale, Laura, Dan, Gene, Shannon K. Corey, Joe, Paul, Kim, Michelle, Matt, Om, Michael, Tony, Paula, Shannon B. Auggie and Brandy
Rotary Guests
Britta Stewart, Newberg Downtown Coalition
Grace Kuto, Rotarian, Tigard Rotary Club and Today’s Speaker
Rotary Moments
Thanks to Kathie, Om and Skylar for volunteering for June 2nd Meals on Wheels. Om reports Kathie was the “absolute best at doing dishes” while Kathie reports dishwashing is not a favorite kitchen activity!
Corey expressed “thanks” to Rotary District 5100 Governor Diane Noriega for governing during a challenging year of COVID-19 dilemmas and decisions.
Britta Stewart reports the Newberg Downtown Coalition is now responsible for the weekly Newberg “Farmers Market.” There is need for additional volunteers and vendors. Britta asked Rotarians to contact her regarding their interest in volunteering for a one (1) hour shift at the weekly Market. Volunteers help enforce social distancing and keep attendees moving the appropriate direction. There is also need for a “tear down crew” at 8:00 p.m. This task normally takes about 30 minutes. To volunteer, please contact Britta at: events@newbergdowntown.org
Kim thanked a long-time local Daycare Provider who has offered services. To thank the provider, Kim is organizing a “drive by”. The drive by is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2020 at 2:00 or 2:30 p.m. Participants please meet at Windrose Conference Center at 2:00 p.m.
Dale reports his son and daughter-in-law recently welcomed their third child, a son, Elliott—9 + pounds or as Dale said, “a real lunker in fisherman’s terms.”
Kathie gave a “shout out” to Om, Michelle, Shannon K. and Denise – all helped to make more than 1,200 candy leis to be distributed at high school graduation ceremonies.
OK…newsletter readers….Auggie provided me/us with a LOT of pictures….SO…rather than trying to spot each photo in an “”appropriate” location in the newsletter…they are going to get “lumped” together here…and YOU can sort them out! Most are self-explanatory. Hope this works! 🙂 Rick
Harambee — Grace Kuto
“Harambee” is the name of Grace and Paul Kuto’s mission. It means, “Let’s Pull Together” in Swahili. Grace and Paul pull people together for the good of community by connecting people of the Pacific Northwest with people of diverse cultures of Africa.” The goal is to support self-sustainable projects in rural Kenya and Uganda.
The Chwele Community Resource and Peace Center
Grace, is a retired clinical administrator with OHSU, a Tigard Rotarian and founder of the Chwele Community Resource and Peace Center. The center is a compound that includes a medical clinic, extensive health care services, a guest house and retreat space.
Grace and husband Paul helped raise money for the purchase of the village’s first ambulance. Grace says her experience seeing sick and injured people coming into the clinic on a common form of transportation in Kenya — motorcycles — pushed her to begin seeking an ambulance for the clinic years ago. It broke her heart to see how many motorcycle passengers died on the way seeking help.
Donations for the ambulance came from a variety of sources including the Tigard Community Friends Church, with help from area Rotary clubs and donations collected through hosting African dinner fundraisers. The Tigard Community Friends Church was instrumental in making sure the ambulance a reality. “So many of the people at the Tigard Friends Church have been to Kenya,” she noted.
Over the years Harambee Center provided scholarships to students in Kenya and gifted 100 sewing machines with business training to more than 200 women in Tanzania. Through a $200,000 grant from Nike Corporation, Harambee built a dormitory for 420 girls at St. Andrews High School in Uganda, and sponsored volunteer cultural exchanges.
The Chwele Clinic was built in 1998. The clinic includes a Comprehensive Care Center for HIV/AIDS for a population of 60,000.
The Chwele Resource and Peace Center was built in 2013 along with two elementary schools of 1807 students, and a 1500 student high school.
Three Natural Disasters have recently occurred in Kenya: locusts, COVID- 9 and severe tropical storm floods leading to an increase in water-borne illnesses.
Grace said, “this is the life I lived when I was growing up. I was born and raised in Kenya.”
African Prayer
“Let us take care of the children for they have a long way to go.”
Fundraising
Grace Kuto hopes to host an Annual African Fair and Dinner to support projects in Kenya and Uganda, organized by the Harambee Centre and several area Rotary Clubs. To learn more about the dinners: harambeecentre.org/benefit-dinner
Rotary Programs for June 2020
Respectfully submitted, Rick Kaufman, Newsletter Editor
WISDOM:
We often build upon our own old foundations, adding what we can as we go. We build upon each other, too, and we can choose to build one another up. Whenever we add to another’s life, we also add to our own. Build with strength and character, no matter whose foundation you’re on. “Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.” ~ Roy T. Bennett
TRIVIA:
“River River” may seem a redundant name, but the evolution of language is funny like that sometimes. As the word “Avon” is Celtic for “river,” the River Avon literally means “River River.” Located in the United Kingdom and running from the village of Acton Turville in South Gloucestershire down through the spa city of Bath, the scenic river glides by the Cotswold Hills and the Arden woods. The river is associated with the literary works of Shakespeare, who was born and died in Stratford-upon-Avon, a town along the River Avon. Other rivers in the United Kingdom also use “Avon” as a term for river, such as the Avon of Bristol and the Avon of Wiltshire.
HUMOR:
……”Next summer I’m applying for a job cleaning mirrors. It’s something I can see myself doing.”
…..”Guess who I bumped into on the way to get my glasses fixed? Everyone….”
…..”What sounds like a sneeze and is made of leather…..A shoe…..”
…..”My friend keeps saying ‘Cheer up, man it could be worse, you could be stuck underground in a hole full of water. I know he means well.’ “
Toop si dah!
[..That’s “Cheers!” in Korean! – Rick]