Posted by Jeff Benson on Jul 24, 2018

Co-President John Marg-Patton opened the meeting with the pledge of Allegiance and Sue Ager presented the Invocation.

 

Geoff Hollimon reminded us that we are helping to run the CPY inflatable recreation area at Stockyard Days again this year.  Check your email from Geoff or Mary Stewart for a link to sign up for one or more 2 hour shifts from August 10-12th.   Geoff also has tickets for the CPY Golf Ball Drop. 

 

Geoff will continue to gather donations for our deployed servicemen and women in conjunction with Citizens Supporting Our Armed Forces (CSOAF), a 501(c)3 non-profit.  Next Tuesday, July 31st, is the deadline for donations.  The supplies list and more information about CSOAF can be found by clicking here.

 

Cindy read a thank you letter from Rotaract member Laura Skubic, thanking us for our support for her mission trip to Lebanon.  Laura will speak to the club on her return.

 

Your email for July 20th should include a note from Jason Slama with an opportunity to support Mounds View’s community festival, just as we support New Brighton’s Stockyard days.  The Mounds View opportunity also involves inflatables so you won’t need to learn any new skills.  There are three time slots on August 18th.  Please contact Jason, Geoff or Cindy to sign up for a shift.

 

Bob Barmore was proud to announce the birth of his first grandchild, Penelope Kay, last week.  The vitals are: 22 inches and 8 pounds 14 oz.  Mom and daughter are both doing well.

 

Cindy Carlson’s foursome came in first in her flight and first overall in a golf tournament last weekend!

 

Always a good time manager, Cor Wilson managed to both retire and recover from hip surgery in the month of July.

 

Mark your calendars for August 24th…Our Norwegian exchange student, Maria, arrives that afternoon and we’d like to give her a warm welcome at the airport, if you are available.  Sue Ager has accepted the role of Youth Exchange Counselor.

 

Sue Ager introduced today’s speaker, Rotary World Peace Fellow, Amanda Ottman.  You’ll probably remember that Amanda accompanied Jilla Nadimi, when she spoke to us recently.  At that visit Amanda was representing the American Refugee Committee (ARC).  Today’s presentation focused on how Rotary, and specifically the Rotary World Peace Fellowship, has shaped her desire to make a difference in the world.  Her first contact with Rotary was as a Rotary Exchange student in Argentina in 2000.  The exchange experience increased her awareness of service opportunities and started her on a path that eventually led her to apply for the Rotary World Peace Fellowship.  This fellowship is awarded to only fifty of the most qualified and motivated students each year.  Argentina was one of the options that year, so Amanda naturally gravitated to the country where she had exchange program ties.  The Fellowship is a 2 year Masters program in International Studies.  It offered her an opportunity to make a strong connection to the local Rotary Clubs, share the mission of Rotary with others, and be an ambassador for peace.  She spoke about how venturing out at night in the poorest part of town to engage with the locals sharpened her vision of her mission for the future.  Upon completing her fellowship, Amanda has worked with Save the Children in Morocco, El Salvador and Haiti, and recently joined the American Refugee Committee, helping to improve the lives of refugees in the Nakivale Settlement Camp.  You’ll remember that our club donated $500 to support the efforts of the Nakivale Rotaract Club and that the Rotaractor’s efforts were chronicled in a 12 page spread in a recent Rotarian Magazine.  Amanda (and the ARC) are partnering with the Rotaract Club to provide services to the 90,000 refugees in the camp.  Amanda thanked us for our support for this mission and encouraged us to contribute generously to the Rotary Foundation.  Sue and Amanda are shown below.