Art Haines covers Engrs w/o Borders

Great meetings can sometimes have humble beginnings. This morning’s flag salute was delayed by an ill timed mouth of breakfast for our flag salute leader, Cars Gonzalez. Then we learned a new version of the Lord’s Prayer from Pastor Bob Rosso. Somehow the “Amen” was replaced with “Go Ducks!” Not sure which liturgy this came from but no one seemed to be too concerned.

Rotary International. With so many needs in our own community and region, it is easy to forget that Rotary is indeed an international organization. Rotary has emerged as one of the leading international non-governmental organizations meeting a staggering array of needs throughout the world. Our lead program, Polio Prevention, has helped lead the effort to eradicate polio, an effort that has been maddeningly close to final success for several years.

In this tradition, Woodinville Rotary has supported several important international projects over the years. Since 2006 we have supported the projects of the University of Washington Engineers Without Borders (EWBUW) in Bolivia. EWBUW is part of an international organization of student and professional engineers whose mission is to create sustainable water, roads and other public works projects in small Third World communities.

At our meeting Tuesday Mark Raleigh, 2009-10 student president of EWBUW updated the club on their projects in Bolivia and a potential new water project in Suriname. He reported that EWBUW had grown to over 50 members and received the 2008 EWB Humanitarian Award for its work in Bolivia. Among the 2008 work project accomplishments were:

· Replaced the thatched roofs in 30-40 homes eliminating a deadly disease carrying parasite lived in the roofs and attacked the human occupants.

· Installed stoves with chimneys in these homes eliminating deadly indoor pollution from having open fires in unvented rooms.

· Installed a water distribution system from an existing water tank allowing the villagers to make a second annual planting and creating a cash crop surplus for the first time.

· Organized a project to reinforce the only road into the high mountain villages resulting in a road that was open two months longer.

EWBUW has ambitious 2009 plans to extend the roof and stove project to 55 more homes in other neighboring villages and to install an irrigation system in another village. The group has raised $40,000 of the $70,000 to meet this year’s objectives. In addition EWBU has received a $25,000 grant to continue with the road reinforcement projects.

It was gratifying for our members to see how the good planning and focused efforts of the students and faculty advisors of EWBUW were making such a difference to the people of high mountain villages in Bolivia. Woodinville Rotarians can be proud of being a small part of this success through our monetary donations.

Submitted by an anon R Reporter:

(At this point in the meeting, Reporter Haines had positioned himself to be detained elsewhere, possibly having been summoned for communications with the Cochabamba, Bolivia Rotary Club concerning, water, road and roof projects in the mountainous triangle of Yanayo Grande, Yanayo Chico and Cueva Pata).

In other developments, asst dist guv Morrie passed out some documents and attempted to persuade Rotary Club of Woodinville members to assemble at Ballard High School on Saturday.

Prez-Elect Al reported that Doc Maynard took a fall recently and is recuperating at Lakeview Gardens.

Wine’n Shine chair Eric “Bang the Drum Loudly” Greenwood and Maltby Bill Schink provided a somewhat encouraging report that procurement activity was beginning to provide a trickle of results. Past Prez Whitsell verbalized three outstanding items which he promised to commit to paper and submit on the proper form. In absentia, Viticulturalist Max Gustav Zellweger submitted a procurement form on which was described an offer for an auction winner to taste the 2009 pinot noir vintage of Reckonyard Gold just before it goes in the bottle next August! Chief Bronco Johnson held back in telling the crowd about the model minesweeper he has secured as an auction item. He was obviously waiting for the white, green or red marble to be drawn but had no luck there either. Raffle winners included Truglio, Dolan and Fiske (who was happy to be home from a rugged tour of duty in the Grand Cayman Islands).

Drummer Greenwood announced the Wine’n Shine dinner show and auction steering committee will meet Wednesday, June 3 at Rorry’s hideout in southeast Grace. 5:30 p.m. Audience development will get some attention.

Hugo reminded Triple Door Benefit concertgoers not to be late for the 5 p.m. bus departure (Ed. Note: Only Daryl Eckland turned up missing).

Sergeant (actually a navy guy) Erv was in form again, but a bit grim about his duties of extracting fines. With an unavoidable wide grin, Snappy capitulated to the Group Fining Activity (GFA) but was not seen reaching into his thin, timeworn wallet. Two members named Larry and Drummer Eric attempted to circle the room as GFA assistants.

Prez Boland said we were running overtime but promised to remember Steve Dolan’s 60^th birthday milestone at a future meeting.

Art Haines and friend reporting

Next Reporter:

Susan Webster
June 2

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