Newsletter - Archive  Apr 28, 2010

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Rotary Club Business and Member News

April 28, 2010

Opening:

Pledge     Pres. Richard

Prayer      Amos

Song        Brian

Visiting Rotarians and Guests:

Jacques Reijniers     Utrecht-West Club of the Netherlands

Dave Dubois             Assistant District Governor, RC of Rochester

Announcements:

Pres. Rich      District Conference, May 15 in Portsmouth

                       Charter Night, May 8 at Flag Hill Winery.  Need 35 sign-ups

                       Bobcat Bolt, May 15.  Need 10 volunteers, 6am-12 noon

                       Quackfest, May 8.  Need 2-3 more volunteers

                       Need Citizen of the Year nominations

                       Still no word on spring roadside cleanup date

                       July 4th effort: need help soliciting ads from Newmarket         businesses.  This is also an opportunity to recruit new members.  Madbury has 54 businesses, so we need help here as well.

Happy Bucks:

Amos           Apr 26th "Time" magazine article (rifle company commander building a school in Taliban territory).  A good read.

Pres Rich     Weekend in Connecticut

Anon.           Four days in DC

Bill D            Too many weeks in Italy looking for bad wine

John B         Not Italy, but did get to rake leaves in backyard

Dave L         Back from Anaheim, CA,  Too much rain but saw some baseball

Chip             Induction of Kate Tanguay.  She will be serving on the Community Service committee and helping with the upcoming Bobcat Bolt.

Program:  Thuy Nguyen, Dover Adult Learning Center (DALC), and Beata

                  Umugwangwali and Espranna Uwambyeyi, Students at the DALC

Thuy described the mission of the DALC as serving the learning needs of the adult population in Strafford County.  Courses range from English as a second language to GED prep to computer software training. 

Many volunteers assist in making its services available to a population with limited resources which means that the Center offers child care while the parent(s) are in class, and that instruction often is brought to the learners' community considering many do not have transportation.  Volunteers teach what they know best to those just looking to communicate in their new language.  Tutors are always needed in a variety of subjects.

Beata and Espranna presented their personal experiences with the Center and how it helped them to start a new life here in the United States after a devastating one in Rwanda.  Both ladies lost most of their families and arrived not able to speak a word of English.  Since their arrival, they have acquired the language skills, and are working toward full certification in their former professions.  In her Masters program, Beata continues to use the Center's computers.

Both women talked about their work in Rwanda.  Beata has linked up with a Rotary club and Habitat for Humanity to rebuild and refurnish a school house in her former village in an effort to give back for all that she has received.

President Rich reminded club members that we contributed funds some years ago to support a district-wide project to ship clothing and shoes to Rwanda after the genocide.

Megabucks:

Bill had the ticket but couldn't pull the right card.  That was OK seeing as how the $10 was more than the pot.

Upcoming Programs:

May 5     Ian Stevenson, Sweitzer Foundation

May 12   GSE Team from India

May 19   Jen Martin (yes - ours), Home Instead, Senior Care organization

May 26   Club Forum

Your Scribe: Allison