OCT 9, 2012 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Rotary in Review

Past President Tom Farnham brought the meeting to order in the absence of President Dan McKeown.

Jerry Faletti led the club in singing God Bless America with Bob Jones at the piano.  Tom recognized greeters Bob Chandler and Sunday Olayinka and scribe Michael-jon Pease.  Jean Vukas Roberts  (now with HealthEast!) gave an invocation that resonated with many members. An inspiring break in the day! 

Trixie Golberg introduced visiting Rotarians, who included Dr. Ellen Kennedy of World Without Genocide (Minneapolis-University Rotary) and guests of Rotarians, including Pat Woodford, widow of long-time member Gary Woodford.

Clyde Nelson read a memorial resolution honoring the late Gary Woodford, who died on May 14, 2012. Gary was a member of Rotary for 30 years and was a multiple Paul Harris and Elmer Andersen fellow, as well as a member of the Centennial Society. He and his wife Pat worked tirelessly for Camp RYLA and Gary served on the Rotary board. He graduated from the University of North Dakota and worked for many years at Olson Graphic Products as CFO. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed his winter games with friends in Rio Verde, AZ.  Activing President Tom rang the bell for a moment of silence in Gary’s memory.

Vicki Gee-Treft reminded the club that this is the final week to apply for the next Friendship Exchange to British Columbia and Idaho, May 21-June 2. Your only out-of-pocket costs will be transportation (isn’t great to be a guest!?)

Darrell Butterwick, that enthusiastic advocate of Rotary and our club, introduced new member Doug Knowlton. Doug is the new Vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at MNSCU, serving most recently as president of Dakota State University in Madison, S.D. His wife Sharon will join him in Minnesota when she finishes her term as principal at Madison High School in S.D. Before taking his current position in 2004, Knowlton was vice chancellor for academic affairs and a tenured professor at the University of Minnesota, Crookston; chair of special education and the Department of Teaching and Learning and associate professor of special education at the University of North Dakota; a faculty member at the University of North Dakota’s Conflict Resolution Center; director of child evaluation and treatment at the University of North Dakota Medical Center Rehabilitation Hospital; and a consulting psychologist at the Minnesota Health Department. He also has served on what was the Minnesota State Board of Technical Colleges and the Minnesota Higher Education Board before the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities began operations in 1995. Most importantly, he is a Rotarian who has served in clubs in Crookston and Madison. Welcome Doug!

Valdi Stefanson triumphed over technology to give an update on our World Community Service project to provide clean, safe drinking water in Nicaragua. Now in its third phase, the project will bring cholorinating systems to 30 communities this year. These mostly rural communities collect water from mountainsides as they have no terrain for wells. Each community requests the chlorination system (which costs us very little) and agrees to provide the maintenance and upkeep. 80% of Nicarguans do not have clean drinking water and 90% of the deaths from water-borne illnesses are children., so our investments make a tremendous change in the world.

Valdi then introduced today’s speaker, Tiffany Easthom from Nonviolent Peaceforce, who spoke on the work the organization is doing around the world, most specifically the last 2 ½ years in South Sudan. This, the world’s newest country, has been in conflict for multiple generations – no native resident has known peace. Nonviolent Peaceforce works to support local civil society and build local capacity for peacekeeping and civilian protection. Modern warfare and conflict targets and affects civilians in significant ratios. Nonviolent Peaceforce uses specially trained professionals locally and internationally to direct strategic engagement of all participants and groups in conflicted regions; working to build relationships and ease tensions.

Michael-jon Pease, Scribe