May 18, 2017 Spoke
Today’s Program:
Tom Burman, UW Athletic Director
 
May 11, 2017
Meeting Summary
Presiding: Drew Johnson
Inspiration: Christie Roberts
Professor’s Quote:
Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan & Wayne Butler
Guests: John Freeman introduced County Attorney Peggy Trent.
Exchange Student:
Visiting Rotarians:
Junior Rotarians:
Rotaract Students: Carson Hutchinson, Jojo Coates, and Jori Smith.
Humor: Todd Pearson
Foundation Drawing: Larry Struempf won $10 with 33 cards in the deck.
O’Dwyers Drawing: Chris Rucinski won a $20 gift card from O’Dwyers.
 
Upcoming Programs:
May 25 – Mary Flanderka, policy advocate, Wyoming Outdoor Council
June 1 – Debbie Ockers, Ivinson Home for Ladies
June 8 – TBA
June 15 – Mary Katherine Scott, UW International Programs
 
Announcements:
  • Caitlin White announced that the Albany County Public Library will host the Maurice Sendak Memorial Exhibition May 30 – July 8.
  • Drew Johnson and Larry Struempf spoke to the club about the possibility of a Rotary Park. Members are encouraged to check their email and vote on if they are interested in continuing with the park project.
  • Drew Johnson announced the Harlem Ambassador Basketball game. It will take place May 11 at Laramie High School. Tickets can be purchased from Drew for $5/ticket.
  • Anne Brande told the club that she recently set up a gallery of student photos at Laramie High School.
 
Special Presentation: Becky Maddox and Ron Van Ekeren celebrated birthdays with a donation to the club foundation.
 
Rotarian of the Week: Amy Aldrich and Talisha Mottinger were nominated for graduating from their first year with Leadership Laramie and their leadership with the Whiting High School project.
 
Special Guest Speaker: County Attorney Peggy Trent asked the club for volunteers to work with youth in the juvenile justice system. Attorney Trent is in need of community leaders to volunteer to assist youth through “community conferencing” in the diversion program. Facilitators would sit down with youth and talk to them with the purpose of encouraging them not to reoffend. Trent needs about 50 volunteers to help the youth understand the gravity of the situation and to be able to properly reflect. Volunteers would need to go through a 4-6 hour training in June or July. Interested parties should contact the county attorney office.
 
Introduction of Program: Drew Johnson
 
Kelly Neville, Tim Sullivan and Rotaract student Carson Hutchinson presented on the Guatemala trip and grant progress.
 
Kelly started by telling the club about the project’s location at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. The project was on the southwest are of the lake. Twleve different communities that are named after the apostles surround the lake. The project goal is to eventually go all the way around the lake.
 
The lake is a volcanic crater with no natural drainage. It is used for drinking water, agriculture irrigation, fishing and tourism.
 
In these communities, dirt pit latrines are common, and families cook over open pits in their houses. Unfortunately, the lake is polluted from laundry, chemical pesticides, soil erosion, solid human waste, fish dying, and water impurities. These living conditions often cause health problems such as: intestinal bugs, skeletal problems, and fire/sun exposure.
 
Our project involved helping households by providing them with a water filter, new stove, and eco-toilet. The estimated need of eco-toilets in this area is 11,000. Eco-toilets aren’t as popular with the community as the new stoves are, but they are very important. Before a household receives this help, they must be trained, provide 72 hours of service, make a labor contribution, work on cultural sensitivity, and agree to continual modifications of the eco-toilet design. Locals are hired to facilitate the program.
 
In 2017, the club provided 250 units for $97,443. Our club in particular contributed $15,000 to the effort. The group checked up on the eco-toilets that were put in through this project in 2014 as well.
 
These changes are big improvements for the local Guatemalans. The stoves take twigs, instead of full tress to work. It is estimated that this saves 12 trees per family per year, which is helping to reduce deforestation.
 
Responding for the club: Christie Roberts
 
Response: The Rotary Club of Laramie will make a donation to the Albany County Public Library’s Children’s Book Fund in the speaker’s name.
NOTE: We Do Not Donate a Book!
 
Rotary 4-way Test:
Of the things we think, say, or do
  • Is it the Truth?
  • Is it Fair to all concerned?
  • Will it build Good Will and Better Friendships?
  • Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
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Spoke Editor: Caitlin White