June 22, 2010 Meeting Minutes
Present: Mary Metcalf, Davis Koier, Jason McArthur, Roy Marble, Geoffrey Blume, Rudy Loyola, Marcia Marble, Susan Bartlett, Linda Martin, Deanna Wood, Dr. Phil, Gary Nolan, and Sharon Menard.
Happy Dollars were collected by Davis from: Susan, Jason, Rudy-Congratulations on his and Elvira’s 50th Wedding anniversary!, Dr. Phil, Geoffrey ($2.00), Marcia, Deanna, Mary, Gary, and Davis.
Meeting was called to order by Vice President Davis Koier.
Geoffrey gave a very informative talk on his time in southeast Asia and Rotary. He originally joined a Hispanic Rotary Club in Chicago-a club other than the #1 club in the down town. Geoffrey was a charter member for Rotary Club of Phnom Penh, Cambodia which had their installation dinner on June 27, 2003.
Their meetings were held in a five Star hotel at a cost of $10.00 per meal. Singapore sponsored his club. There was no Rotary in Laos or in Vietnam. Thailand has a strong Rotary. Relations between Thailand and Cambodia are similar to those between North and South Korea-we just don’t hear about the tension. Lately, his Rotary club has been influenced by Thailand and Geoffrey is not sure how the club is doing.
Geoffrey trained as an engineer and served two tours in Vietnam with the Army Corps of Engineers, he has worked on one of the tallest buildings in Chicago as well as a water plant in Guatemala. His work in Cambodia at present is with a potassium mining concession with all the mineral now being sent to China. 95% of Cambodia is rural and is one of the most bombed countries in the world. The Singapore Rotary has donated five million dollars and a significant sum in kind towards improving the health of the poor in Cambodia. Much of this effort has been in eye care. In 1993-4 400 eye lenses were donated and transplanted in fifteen minute operations over a two week period of time.
Polio Plus Program in Cambodia: the Khmer Rouge did allow polio volunteers to immunize the children.
Cambodian schools are of very poor quality. Classrooms would have 60-80 students that have to pay their teachers regularly. If they do not pay, the students do not get their grades. This is one of the reasons that Geoffrey has returned to his home in Wolcott, Vermont so that his 17 year old son can attend Peoples Academy.
Hospital food: is typically provided by the patient’s families. Singapore Rotary donated many blankets to Geoffrey’s Rotary Club for donation to area hospitals.
Beaches in the area are pristine. China is moving in people and influencing all facets of life in Cambodia and in Laos.
Geoffrey wants to be involved in Morrisville Rotary and International Youth Exchange. He hopes that we can sponsor youth from Cambodia to come and get an education as well as the opportunity for cultural enrichment by the youth and Vermonters.
NEXT MEETING: June 29th SORT DUCKS at 5:30 PM at Karen Lynch’s home at 377 Trombley Hill Road, Hyde Park. Call Tim at 888-2000 on Monday so he can order pizza!
July 5th: Morrisville 4th of July Parade at 11:00 AM- please help Rudy sell duck tickets starting at 10AM
4:30-6:30pm-sell Duck tickets and organize ducks for the drawing to be held about
6:30PM DUCK DRAWING at Peoples Academy- between high school and track.
Minutes submitted by Marcia Marble
Recent Comments