Rotary News

Kalamazoo Rotary - October 1, 2007

Editarian - Mary Jo Hawk

Invocation by Tucky Elliott

Visiting Rotarians:  Gayle Charbeneau, Troy Walden, Stephen Gibson

Guests:  Jan Lathan, Ken Collard, group of Palestinian women, Teresa Thrash

Announcements:  Ann Drummond announced the blood drive - Monday, October 15 from 10:15 - 4:15 at the Radisson - takes about 1 hour.  Excuses you from one meeting.

Flu shots will be given on October 22 at 11:30 at the Radisson.

Jeff Lee has tickets to the annual Community Prayer Breakfast Northside Ministerial Alliance on Oct. 9 at 7:00 a.m.  Contact Jeff at 207-4007.

Greta Williams presented her report from the Group Study Exchange Trip to South Korea on 5/7/2007.  She showed slides showing the new and old in the country.  She was impressed with the rapid progress being made while keeping many of the old customs.  They found the people very courteous.

Group Study Exchange is looking for another team leader for the next trip - need to be a Rotarian, over 40, and be able to travel and be available for a month.  Contact Greta for more information.

Program:  Pat Norris introduced Dr. Howard Dooley, professor of International Affairs at WMU.  His presentation was "Middle East - an Ungrateful Volcano".  He gave the history of the Middle East and the beliefs, the leaders, etc. leading up to our current crisis in Iraq.  The conflict is six-sided - a culture war, identity war, proxy war of Fundamentalists, war of resistance, US. Cold War, and a war about oil.

He recommended a book - The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright.  A great book to tell the story.  His presentation is very thorough and one you need to hear to understand all the very detailed implications of the various countries and situations.  He ended by summarizing that when the U.S. withdraws, the Shiites will war on each other for the oil.

Next meeting:  Bo Parfet's climb of Mt. Everest.

New Member Proposals:  The following have been proposed for membership.  All have been approved by the Membership and Classification Committees.  Any comments or objections must be received by the Administrative Secretary within 10 days. 

Bryan Zocher of Irving S. Gilmore Foundation by Dan Busby, classification:  Foundations, Boards & Associations; Theresa Thrash of Kalamazoo Communities in Schools by Brian Kaufman, classification:  Education, Primary, Secondary & Vocational.

The Board also approved a transfer of membership for Tom McComb of The Salvation Army from the Rochester, Minnesota Rotary Club, classification:  Youth & Social Welfare Organizations.