.jpg)
Rotary Club of Marana
President Hunter rang in the meeting to a full house. Eighty-seven percent attendance plus three guests and our speaker. In spite of this plethora of outwardly appearing intelligent folk nary a thought could be gleaned from any of the attendees. When an appeal for anyone with a song in their heart was made this too resulted in an awkward silence. Tony saved the day with a promise of bringing his guitar next week.
Guests included Becky Penman who has relocated from Utah to be near her daughter and grandchild. Becky is a prospective member.
Marc Snow, Oro Valley Rotarian who wanted to here our presenter.
Rachel Cheeseman, prospective member who has visited four or five times I believe.
Abigail Wilhelm, our speaker, from "free ever after."
The Club welcomed back Randy and Mary from Cameroon project assessment trip. They arrived back in Tucson at 11pm last night after a 36 hour journey. They met with over 300 villagers, a hydrologist, a representative of The Ministry of women Empowerment and many many others. No sightseeing or fancy dining. This was a working experience. They were welcomed by the Rotary Club of Maroua. However, there was a distinct feeling that the villagers were suspicious of these two fair skinned foreigners. Randy mused that perhaps this derives from an historical perspective of white interaction in African continent. Buba Hamadou, the Tucson Rotarian and a Cameroonian indicated there is a cultural paranoia when it comes to outsiders. After our weary travelers have a chance to sync with Tucson time I am sure we will learn more.President Hunter sat in on the nominating committee for our DGE. A woman was chosen, who would be the third female in a row to hold the position of District Governor.
Tony also spoke of involvement by our club with Rotary's Freedom United. More on this later.
Happy Bucks
John- Happy for all the guests and our travelers safe return
David-Happy that the rattlesnake that was hanging out by his mailbox did not strike
Mary, Bob, Rachel, Denise, Marc Snow-All happy
Harold -$5 IOU happy about something
Peter-Wheels touched down in Tucson for a week after five weeks in Chili
Randy-Happy Mary and he returned safely and that the proposed Cameroon project will improve/save thousands of lives
Richie-Happy he was late????? May have been more to that.
Joke Off
Lynne won in a near unanimous decision. It was not close. Dominating. One sided. Did I mention Maeve was not here today?
Lynne had a segue for the ages. Following Randy and Mary's description of the very needy people in Cameroon, Lynne began with "On a lighter side a man had a heart attack". I kid you not, That's verbatim.Anyway, when he wakes up in the hospital there is a nun by his bedside. She abruptly asks how "How are you going to pay?" His response "I don't know."
Looking at the clipboard in her lap she asks,
"Do you have money?" "no."
" Do you have insurance?" "no"
"Do you have family?" He responds yes, but my only sibling is a spinster nun."
The nun looks up from her clipboard and says "Nuns are not spinsters they are married to God!"
The man replies, "Well send the bill to my brother-in-law."
.jpeg)
Abigail Wilhelm spoke on the mission and vision of "free ever after" Bridal Boutique. Sex trafficking occurs when there is force, coercion or fraud involved in a sex act for commercial purposes. This often occurs at an early age and the victims are not aware until later that their choices in life were taken before thy knew they had any. Sex trafficking is ongoing worldwide and Tucson is no exception. Often sex traffickers will follow major events such as sporting venues and even the Gem Show. The Bridal Boutique raises money via donated bridal gowns , they have over two hundred, that are sold to the public and occasionally given to victims. "free ever after" also sponsors 14 women in a mentoring program, led by a victim, that attempts to teach empowerment to women who have had little if any experience in that regard.
For more information or to donate go to WWW.freeeverafter.com
This scholarly synthesis has been brought to you by your Club Secretary, John Dooling. Complaints, concerns, additions or deletions should be submitted on the back of a twenty dollar bill and discretely slipped to me at our next meeting on 9/25/2018.
Caleb Hines is a K through 12 MUSD student. Mr Todd says Caleb is alert and attentive in the classroom and assists others in class and this is why he nominated Caleb for this award. Caleb intends to relocate to Nashville after graduation and become a tattoo artist with emphasis on "artist". He will be taking his guitar and possibly taking advantage of some "open mic" nights. With Caleb, Mr Todd and President Hunter all being guitarists and all at the podium together this writer was disappointed that NOT ONE thought to bring their instrument with them.
Janis Wilkom worked as a docent and met an elderly woman who needed assistance in order to remain in her home.This led Janis to Interfaith Community Services (ICS). ICS is a Four Star National Non Profit organization made up of 105 different faith communities in Tucson and surrounding area. ICS has four main avenues of service 1. Care Giving and Senior Services, the one Janis participates in, 2. Emergency Services, 3. Self-Sufficiency Programs and 4. Communiy Health Outreach. Space does not allow a detailed list of services, but I would encourage you to check out ICS at WWW.icstucson.org or call 520-297-6049.
