Another full house at Rotary lunch on Thursday !!  President Dan started the meeting off by auctioning off a gift from the Lincoln High School Zebra Baseball team for our successful support of their Baseball Fundraiser Dinner last Friday night.  We had about 16 in attendance and had a reserved table. The Baseball T-shirt and other prize auctioned were won by a Zebra Alum, Jeff Culbertson.  Wear it with pride, Jeff.   Click here for LHS Baseball Fundraiser Pictures.

 

The Thought for the Day was in regard to Rotary's Designation for the Month of March as Water and Sanitation month. Rotary Int'l has tons of projects to bring both water and good sanitation measures to developing countries.  The key point that Pres Dan made is that it does no good to simply dig a well and bring water.  Sanitation has to be taught or there is no gain and illness and death still occurs.  One is 3 people in the world do not have adequate sanitation facilities.  Rotary incorporates both in our projects under our mandate to make all projects sustainable.  

 

To further underscore this issue, when we have traveled to Ajijic Mexico, we have had many discussions on water for the barrio.  The leaders there tell us that two large companies, Coca Cola and Nestle own most of the water that is sold in large jugs called garafons which hold about 5 gallons of water.  They charge 21 pesos for a garafon, with the water purification system we provided them which is solar powered, they are able to set up their water station, employ a local person who washes and fills the garafons and sell them for 5 pesos.  Everyone wins. 

 

Visiting Rotarian Gary McDonald who is Executive Director of the Lighthouse was in attendance.  He thanked the Club for donating to the Leadership of Lincoln class for their project to build a new dog park at McBean Park called Bark Park.  It will not only provide a great facility for local dogs, but also designed to reduce the intrusion of Homeless and other potentially unwelcome visitors.

 

During the lively Happy Bucks collection by the Hawaiian shirted Fine Master, Paul Radcliffe reported on his THREE week trip to Hawaii.  He and wife, Gail, visited the Honolulu Rotary Club and found that they are hosting the Rotary International Convention in 2020.  Paul suggested that would be a great International Convention to attend and urged Club members to plan on going.  He will look into all of us staying at his time-share per the Fine Master's urging.  (How long since you exchanged a banner?)

 

 

Chris Clark asked how many had noticed anything different at the Woman's Club when they came in.  Many had not noticed anything, however, before fines could be arranged, Wild Bill yelled out that the big tree was gone.  The Palm tree was removed.  This prompted Dan to remind us that the RI President challenged every Club to plant at least one tree this Rotary year.  We should make that happen.

 

Kris Wyatt announced that the Interact/Key Club members will be serving us at Taste of Italy on Friday night.  "Where were you on a Friday night when you were in High School?" she asked.  Not serving food at a Rotary fund raiser, most likely.  The message was to tip your servers well, it will be going to a good cause.  Claire asked of all the members at lunch, who is NOT coming to Taste of Italy.  It was both astonishing and gratifying to see that no hands were raised, everyone present was coming.

 

There is no report or photos on the speaker as there is a blackout of info until next week.  Check back then to find out who and what it was about.