Newsletter for May 14, 2008
LP reporting..JPB editing..DJ shooting

Next speakers:
5/21   Dark
5/28    Richard Spotswood, political columnist    Perspectives in an election year   
6/4    Lynn King    Tomorrow's Leaders Today    Russell Rice

First time note taker Linda Postenrieder gets the call for one of the busiest meetings of the year.

The room was a buzz in the social half hour with a full house waiting to hear from the Nigerian GSE team.  Colors and patterns of African fabric treated our eyes.  The crowd was particularly large as the word got out of our special visitors, so many visitors that we had to add tables.  In fact, Rancho Cotati Rotary event brought their badge box with them.  

Call to Order by president Sally Johnson.

Pledge led by Forrest

Thoughts for the Day:  Jim O’Grady 
Arnold  Palmer always make a total effort even when the odds are against you.

Announcements: 
 Jim O’Grady: May 21st dark due to Golf Tourney  Next Thursday, May 22nd, Million $ golf tourney.  9 par 3s & ends with 1 person golfing for $1M.  Scholarship winners will be at the dinner.  Everyone welcome

 Birthdays and Fines:
 Russell Rice turned 50.  Went to the East Coast NYC to celebrate 3 hours early.  $100 to PVR Trust  Yea!

Ron Johns: turned Daughter visited  through Mother’s day.  $50 to pay off fine schedule DING!

Pamela Tuft in San Diego Charlotte Elizabeth born last Tuesday at 7:11am 19”.  Also, Sam & she celebrated 34 years of marriage celebrated with 16hours work. Retiring June 30th. 

Bruce S older son turns 11 today.  Shrimp scampi dinner & sailing.  $100 to Harold Alexander.  Yahoo!

Jim O’Grady in the club 4 years.  $50 to Petaluma Valley Rotary Trust Fund


Jennifer Carter in the club 5 years.  $20 to Petaluma Valley Rotary Trust Fund.


Guests:
a. Rancho Cotati: Warren, Katherine, Lily, rosemary, Robbie Christie Rich, Peggy, Louise, Sandra, Greg
b. Petaluma: Lou Steinberg
c. Petaluma Sunrise: Lee, Jerry, Chris
d. SR Sunrise: Mu
e. SR: Meril
f. Rohnert Park: Dale with GSE team
g. Sonoma Valley: Rich
h. Forrest’s son-in-law Paul
i. Sheila’s Interact guests, Shelby & Jimmy  Presented $1000 check for Osukuru.  With matching funds, it becomes over $3000.

Sally picked up Book & discovered that a new pile of letters arrived from Osukuru.  Kids want footballs (soccer probably)

Linda: Stanley Mouse to be painting in the Gallery on  5/17
Michael:  Xandex product line that is 60% of income is gone…  Michael no longer works there & is looking for work. 

Elly: At Cinnabar Theater this weekend is Choral concerts & next weekend Private Lives opens. Break a leg!
Bob: Volunteers are needed to judge Casa Grande Senior projects. Sign up asap.

Raffle: 5 marbles Julie Draws and NOT the blue.  Ahhhh…

GSE Team introductions by Bob Hill:  (be sure to visit the PVR photo link for more great pictures)

GSE started in the mid 1960’s and funds travels of young people between countries promoting international understanding & good will.  Today’s Exchange group is from Nigeria.
 Olu introduced the rest of the team from District 1910. The GSE program is for young people age 25 – 40 and must have at least one Rotarian as a leader.  They come from the around the equator & appreciate the heat.  First, Olu offered thank you’s for Rotarians in this District who have adopted villages and commend efforts to end Polio in Nigeria.  He challenged  Rotarians in this District to invite more black teams.  AIDS is a major problem in Africa. Kids in orphanages and Education is such a major need for them. The idea of orphanages is not popular in their area so the kids who survive AIDS are absorbed mostly into the extended family.  They are then provided clothing and food as if a member of the family.  Rotarians in Olu’s area  have only reached 500 of the 5000 children with educational funds. By 2010, they want to reach 15,000 children. Donations welcome.

Each team member introduced him/herself brief history & pictures.
1. Adebisi Grillo:  Bisi for short: born 1976.  Graduted in Enclish From Lagos State U. Works for HP Nigeria.  Youngest of 3 kids. 
2. Tosin Eleshinnla, Born 1967 BS Chemical engineer, Worked with Cevron International E&P in Nigeria.  Married to a banker with a 2 year old son
3. Kunle Fakiyesi: born 1981 Graduate of accounting in the UK, Works at Diamond Bank .  Second child of 5
4. Enoh Udjoh born 1976, graduate of BA from Uof Benin, Works with Siemens Medicals.  1st of 7 kids

Overview of Nigeria: Bound by Niger & Chad,  Gulf of Guinea.
Land mass of 923K KM.  Temp 20 – 40.  250 different languages.  140M people. 

Eyo festivals are flamboyant, fun and colorful. 
Game reserves.  Obudu Cattle Ranch is the pride of Nigeria.
Argungu Fishing Festival is a unique event because fishermen do not use traditional fishing tools. 
The Durbar, celebrate the New Yam Festival of the Igbos which is rooted in the ancient worship of the gods. 

Other attractions: Olumo Rock at Avbeokuta City.  Suma rock at Abuja, said to have a human face.  Ikogosi warm spring, Gurara Waterfall.  Yoruba Marriage Ceremony, a very interesting set of rituals that include gifts and exchanges.  Igbo Marriage Ceremony also includes rituals & gifts, dancing & celebration.

Agriculture: Tobacco, Groundnuts, Rubber, Cocoa beans, cotton, soybean, paulm kernal, cashew nuts. 

Notable Nigerians: Bashourun MKO Abiola, Beko Ransome-Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Olusegun Obasnjo former president, Hakeem Olajuwon, Ken Saro-wiwa, Wole Soyuinka, Chief Emeda Anyaoku, former Commonwelth
Noable Women: Lady Kofo Ademo?

Sports: football,
Entertainment: MTV stars. Nollywood stars

Typical Work day in Lagos, the capital city:  Leave the house at 6am leave work around 7pm.  Traffic to and from work is very difficult. 
Religions: Islam, Christianity, African religions. 
350 Tribal tongues.  3 main languages. 
Money throughout Nigeria.  Emphasis on education. 
Rotary meetings have fellowship, business with total 1.5 hours. 

Who are major trading partners: Technology with Europe & Asia, Oil & Gas with French & America.

They work too keep the country together by requiring each child to learn one of the 3 primary languages.  When graduating from college, each young person is required to spend 1 year in service to the country and to learn about the various parts of the country (north, east & west). 

Presentation of Rotary banners to clubs present:  Petaluma, Petaluma Sunrise,  Rancho Cotati, PVR.

Ding: Adjourned.

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