Weekly Bulletin - January 16, 2014 Meeting
Lee explained that Stop Hunger Now’s niche is getting food to people in developing countries. Stop Hunger Now’s vision is, “A world without hunger.” Their mission is, “To end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-saving aid to the world’s most vulnerable and by creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources.” This is a big goal, comparable to the effort to eradicate polio, but they believe it is possible.
Stop Hunger Now began in 1998 and created its meal packaging program in 2005. A package of six meals costs only $1.50 to make and is a combination of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, and a packet of chicken flavoring mix that also includes 21 essential vitamins and minerals. Meals are shipped to non-profit organizations, not governments. The non-profit organizations have to pay for shipping and send quarterly impact statements to Stop Hunger Now. With such a commitment from the local non-profits, the meals get to the children instead of getting stolen. When these meals are cooked, local flavorings and seasonings are added to make them tastier. Meals are usually distributed at school feeding programs to encourage childhood education. This meal is typically their only meal of the day. Research has shown that for educated girls, there is less early pregnancy. Plus, once children can read and write, they are better able to get jobs. There is also a 50% greater likelihood that educated mothers will get their children immunized.
Lee and Jim (our fellow Rotarian) gave a demonstration of packaging meals. It is a simple process that is easy to learn. Each ingredient is measured before it is added to the plastic bag. Before the bag is sealed, it is weighed. If the bag weighs too much, food is removed until it weighs the correct amount. Our club will package 10,000 meals on Saturday, January 25 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For more information and to volunteer for this event, contact Laura Spear at info@nashobarotary.org.
Next meeting on January 23 at Nancy’s Air Field Café in Stow, 5:45 p.m., Club Assembly.
Guests:
- Lee Warren, Stop Hunger Now
- Mark Vermouth, Stop Hunger Now
Rotary and Club Announcements: (Capitalized events earn points for our club!)
- Local projects:
o Raise the Roof completed the roof on 12/18 – just in time for the holidays and the arctic air!
o Thank you for the Season to be Thankful gift card donations to Warm Hearts of Stow. For Christmas, Warm Hearts served 50 families (some single seniors) and 62 children/young adults. Our little bit helped!
o Stop Hunger Now: January 25 for food packaging at NRHS from 9-1 p.m.
§ Littleton and Clinton Clubs have both committed to sponsoring, so we are sharing the cost three ways.
§ The NRHS Community Service Club is participating.
§ The public is invited! Invite your friends and family! Help get the word out!
o Reality Fair 2014 is on March 14 at Nashoba Regional High School. Please let Laura know if you are interested in supporting this event! Also please contact Laura if you would like to be part of the planning committee. We will be kicking off planning meetings very shortly.
o An Ethics in Business networking event is being planned for April 10 (tentative date). RichardS, Karin, and Nanci are coordinating this event. More information will be forthcoming. You can also check our club calendar on our website www.nashobarotary.org for more information.
o Amy’s Angels is a Lancaster organization. Karin, Mary, and Nanci are meeting with the high school’s local service club about a project for Amy’s Angels.
o RYLA Bob reported that our club will sponsor two students again this year.
- International projects:
o Board news: We approved funding two new projects for the Dominican Republic: $500 for a Public Health program and $500 for a Pregnancy Prevention program. Many thanks to Natascha for initiating these and to Chris for offering to be our club liaison and project manager. Additionally, Dr. Compere will contact the sponsors of a similar project feature in the December Rotarian.
o Sister Club: The Rotary Club of Aurangabad West (India) is interested in having our club be a sister club. Natascha may be interested in serving as a liaison to this club.
- Dues news:
o H2 dues are due ($60) – you should have received an invoice.
o To cover RI and district dues, we’ll be increasing dues to $150/year ($75 semi-annually) starting July 1, 2014.
- Foundation Minute: Richard Simon
o New We Are One video on YouTube: http://youtu.be/udHv3LQtiIo
- Laura has posted the Best Club award criteria and the updated 2013-2014 Calendar of Activities on our website www.nashobarotary.org.
- Rotary Club of Marlborough is sponsoring a Texas Hold-em Poker Tournament on January 25. Registration is at noon, and cards start at 1 p.m. Register online at www.marlboroughrotary.org.
- John Moynihan: Rotary Club of Greater Salem, NH. His club is holding its 4th annual Polar Plunge on February 1, 10:45 AM, at the Cape Ann Motor Inn in Gloucester to raise funds for Polio Plus. Dana will be taking the Polar Plunge! To sponsor Dana email your pledge to Dana or Karin. A website will be up soon to make online donations that qualify for Paul Harris awards.
- Rotary Club of East Fitchburg: Asking us for help with Superbowl brunch on February 2 from 8:30-12. Contact President Mark (markminnucci@yahoo.com) if you’d like to help that day or sell tickets in advance. Contact Laura (laura@spear.net) if you’d like to donate an item for a basket. Chris C. said that the basket will go towards a Chinese auction. The club is also accepting donations of Silent Auction items, such as weekends away.
- Dick Manelis is leading a trip to Brazil this year as part of the Hands-On Service club. He is also looking at donations and participants for a trip to Puerto Rico next year. Contact Dick if interested.
- Check out the new district website! www.rotary7910.org
- The new theme for 2014-2015 is Light Up Rotary!
- First ever Zone 24-32 Avenues of Service - Zone Photo Contest
- The most important rule of the contest is to “have fun.”
o The photographer must be a member of a Rotary, Rotaract, or Interact club in Zone 24 or Zone 32 (our club is in Zone 24-32).
o Photos submitted must be in JPEG file format with a maximum size of 3 MB and be submitted on or before March 31, 2014.
o Each photographer may submit up to 3 photos that were taken between July 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014.
o Each photo should represent one of the 5 Avenues of Service that the photo best illustrates: community service, international service, youth service, club service, and vocational service.
o To enter the contest and upload a photo, click HERE.
o For contest rules and small print, click HERE, and for the judging criteria, click HERE.
o Rotary Zone 24-32 website - www.RotaryZones24-32.org
Nonclub/public announcements:
- Minute Man Air Field Annual Kick Off Party: January 23 at 7 PM (right after our club meeting) – We are sharing a review of Wings & Wheels. Everyone is invited to attend!
- Lancaster Community Blood Drive: Wednesday, January 29 from 2-7 PM at the Perkins School gym, 971 Main St. Walk-ins welcome!
- February 1, from 9 – 1 p.m. is the next Bolton Repair Café in Davis Hall (hall attached to the First Parish of Bolton Church on Main Street, Bolton – next to the Houghton Building). Contact ray.pfau@oracle.com if you want to help.
- Nashoba Valley Winery Benefit Event for the Healing Garden: Thursday, February 13, 6:30-9:30 PM.
Birthdays:
- Fatima Serra: January 7
- Matt Tucker: January 11
- Bob Johnson: January 18
Happy/Sad Fines:
- Chris was happy for the cards he received after his Mother’s death.
- Jim was happy because it was the first day of his retirement!
- Karen was happy to be here.
- Ron was happy about his successful trip to San Diego for training to work with CEOs and advisory boards. While in San Diego, he stayed with his old college roommate. His alma mater won the national college football championship at the Rose Bowl!
- Carol was happy that our new District Governor Elect is in San Diego for training.
- RichG was happy to be here.
- Lisa T was glad to be here.
- Barbara was happy to be here.
- Lee was happy to be here. She is from the South Hill, VA Rotary Club and exchanged banners with Laura.
- Laura was sad that RichardS could not be at the meeting today due to an operation. She was also sad that Stow lost a couple of good people recently. Ernest Goldman was 100 when he died. He was a holocaust victim. He was the co-founder of Sounds of Stow and its long-time pianist. Russ Willis also died recently. Laura and Russ served together on the Lower Stow Village Committee.