"A small group of thoughtful people could change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."  Margaret Mead, by way of Rich Shearer.

VISITING ROTARIANS

None, at least none visible.

GUESTS OF OTHER PERSUASIONS

Thomas Kunkel -- Robbie's handsome son

Carolyn Kunkel -- Robbie's charming daughter

Glenda Fillinger -- Paul's ever-gracious Queen

Ulrich Luscher -- Joanne's handsome prince

BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS GOODIES

No Al Sevilla sighting, but he'll have to face the B&A music. Wait and see.

Alex Arnold was here and did face the music for Mary Jane's birthday. Alex said they had nine people for dinner, but I don't believe him because I'm much bigger than either he or Mary Jane and I can never finish more than two at one sitting -- three if I'm really starving. But I digress -- $20 was generously tendered by Alex.

Another $20 was offered by Dave Isenberg for Evie's birthday. No reports of cannibalism or anything like that, but a party was said to be in the offing. 

King John (as in Fazel) decided we should celebrate a couple of other anniversaries as well.  The dates were 1994 and 2000.  The events?  When Skip McCowan joined our Merrie Band, and when Ray Welles rejoined said Merrie Band, respectively.  Skip tossed in $10, and Ray Welles offered considerably more (a C note) by way of his birthday or Jackie's birthday or some such.  Chaulk it up to what every ex-Prez recognizes as Stupid President Tricks.

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS DEPARTMENT

The bad news: Jackie Welles busted her hip and had to have surgery. The good news: She is doing fine.  The very good news: Hip replacement deemed unecesary, with a pin or screws or something like that.  The very bad news: Jackie is consigned to the tender mercies of Ray's cooking. OMG!

All kidding aside, we're sorry to hear about the mishap, Jackie, but we are delighted that you are on the mend.

A MOMENT WITH AYMERIC

Aymeric, our foreign student extraordinaire, wants to go to go to the top of Mt. Diablo on a nice, clear day or anywhere else we might think might be interesting. This is a hint. 

Meantime, he has been active in a film class in San Francisco, although by the time you read this he will have been to Cloverdale on Sunday with said class.

Aymeric explained that his ever-expanding pin collection comes mainly from other Youth Exchange students, but not all.   Others have come from the places he has visited.

And in the finest traditions of Club efficiency, Aymeric received his very own Club Badge -- blue, no less - and a mere four months since arrival.

AND SPEAKING OF BADGES

There George Chaffey was, minding his own business, sitting down and enjoying his breakfast -- badge visible -- when Herr Fazel busted him.  George was not, in fact, wearing his own badge, but rather that of a certain Becky Ware, our outbound Youth Exchange Student who, being in Argentina Youth Exchanging, was in no position to defend herself. Ten dineros for the patent perfidy, George.

ADOPT-A-FAMILY PROCEEDING SMOOTHLY

Mike Edwards thanked all who signed up to take part in the "Adopt-A-Family" program this year, which, once again, is being spearheaded by Blair Howard, an Acalanes High student and veritable force of nature.  Mike is e-mailing everyone to remind of what they signed on to do. If you aren't sure, or still want to take part, contact Mike. 

"MOTORAMA" UPDATE

Yes, that really is the name of the upcoming (Fathers' Day, June 20, 2010) our first - but, hopefully, not last -- automobile/motorcycle/bicycle extravaganza.  For those who haven't been paying attention, this out-of-box-thinking event supplants the dinner auction, last of which was in 2008.

Mark Roberts reminded us that we need your input on possible sponsors and advertisers.  "Be creative" is the mantra.  Remember, this is how we will fund our projects in the Peeks Administration (John Fazel's favorite phrase), so it is vitally important that you all put on your Santa thinking caps and come up with some potential backers.  Starting NOW!

THE DOG ATE HIS HOMEWORK, TOO

The always prim, proper, genteel Brad Davis rose to give Dan Rogers a new badge, which Dan claims was liberated from him by nefarious means at the Veterans Hall during the recent join LSR/nooner club/Chamber of Commerce shindig. Money changed hands, and now all is right with the world. Or so we are led to believe.

NOW, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BRING THE STUFF IN

Zookeeper Fazel announced that we have found a place to store all the gazillions of crutches and walkers that we are going to bring in for folks who need them.  No one was paying attention.

ROTARY MOMENT FOR THE WEEK (QUIZ TO FOLLOW)

Most of you are well acquainted with Polio Plus, the largest and most successful private health initiative the world has ever seen.  Twenty years ago, Rotary International took on the challenge of eradicating polio. Not coincidentally, the number of new polio cases in the world is now less than one percent of what it was the when Polio Plus launched.  But you already knew that, right?

What you did not know was that on December 2 of this year, Itzhak Perlman, the virtuoso violinist, joined with the New York Philharmonic in performing a concert benefiting Polio Plus before a packed house in the 2,700 seat Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.  All net proceeds are ticketed for Rotary International.  As Mr. Perlman observed, "There is absolutely no excuse for anyone to get polio."  And why is Itzhak Perlman so passionate about polio eradication?  At least in part because he himself is a polio survivor who had to fight the disease to become the world-renowned musician that he is today. 

RENO TRAIN TRIP UPDATE -- SIGN-UPS OR THE TRAIN DOESN'T LEAVE THE STATION

Here is the good word from Reno-meister Chuck Kenney.  Note that they need 40 sign-ups by December 23 for the Jan. 24-25 excursion or it's a no-go.  So sign up pronto, please.  Now for Chuck's missive (and we quote):

"The Reno Train Trip sign-up is not on track. We need all interested Rotarians to register by Dec. 23. Please sign up now if you are going. We need to reach 40 participants, or the trip is scratched.  Link to where website where sign-ups are being handled: http://www.keyholidays.com/rotary.html

"As you have been told, the train trip is not being handled through our Club but by Key Holiday Travel. The advantage is that you can select various parts of the trip and not others. For example, you can select your hotel different than other club members, or if you have a place in Reno, you can choose not to forgo a hotel reservation. Likewise, the lunch with the Reno Club is an option. If you wish, you can pay with plastic and garner those coveted freebie points.

"We will all be together on the same train car. Although food arrangements have not been finalized, I expect we will continue to share with the Berkeley club.

"The train trip is January 24-25 and, if history repeats, promises a fabulously fun time. Sign up as soon as possible. For those who prefer to share a room, one should register and the roommate will be a guest. Be sure to sign the guest up for the lunch etc. if they want that. There is no ability to sign up separately and then book a double.

Any questions call me (Chuck Kenney) at 925-377-7538 or e-mail me at ckenney@52Tax.com

"PS:The organizers have asked me to provide them with update information so as you sign up, please e-mail me to confirm that you have done so. Here is their request to me for feedback."
 
Thanks for spearheading this again, Chuck.  So, January 24-25.  Fun on the train with fellow Lamorinda Sunrisers and Rotarians from all over the East Bay.  Beautiful scenery. Chicken in a Pot with George "Man in Black" Chaffey. A whale of a good time.  Who's in?

PROGRAM
 
Today, it was our privilege to welcome back Budd MacKenzie.  He is a past president of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, and was Lafayette "Citizen of the Year" for 2003-2004.  But that isn't why he appeared today.
 
He was here because of Trust in Education.  What's that?  Let's let Budd answer that himself:
 
"Trust in Education (TIE) is a grassroots, nonprofit organization founded in Lafayette, California, in May 2003.  TIE provides health care, education and economic development programs to villages in Afghanistan.  TIE first provided funding to build a secular school that opened in March 2005.  TIE sponsors classes during the winter, when other schools are closed.  TIE also funds classes for girls inside village homes, to avoid threats posed by the Taliban."
 
There is a lot in that short paragraph.  There are multiple schools where none existed before, for both boys and girls. This is huge in a country where education is far from universal and where for many education for girls is anathema.  And yet, parents are happy for the assistance. Why? Because it's  "exit strategy" from poverty for their kids. 
 
TIE's mission has always been to help the villages it serves develop what the people themselves say they need, not what we may think they need.  TIE and the local villagers and officials work together to identify needs and prioritize them, and determine what TIE can do.  As the TIE website declares: "It's the best way to go toward the ultimate goal, which is helping them free themselves from their dependence on others."
 
Much of this dependence on others is a direct consequence of the warfare that has gone back and forth across the rugged Afghan countryside ever since the Soviet invasion in1980. Areas that provided some strategic advantage for one party or another felt the scourge of war and the destruction of ways of life.  So it was in the area where Budd and TIE began their work. 
 
In the six years since it was founded, TIE has done much more than providing schools.  It also has instituted a micro-credit program, initially for both men and women, but now mainly for women because, unlike many of the men, they repay the loans almost without exception.
 
TIE has funded a $20,000 irrigation program to replace one destroyed by combat and that now delivers water to 150 acres that for years had lain fallow. They provided almost 22,500 fruit trees to farmers who are able to resume making a living for themselves without having to resort to growing opium poppies (a.k.a. heroin). And they provided seeds, fertilizer, and instructional courses that have helped make their lands more productive and, not incidentally, more profitable. Finally, TIE has delivered more than 12 tons of clothing, blankets, shoes, school and medical supplies donated by American families. 
 
One of the keys to TIE's ever-growing success is the flexibility it has to partner with others toward a common goal.  Reverend Billy Olsen and his North Carolina congregation heard about TIE, and were motivated to help.  This partnership, along with Stop Hunger Now, has led to food and clothing being distributed by TIE to refugee camps in the city of Kabul.  Teaming with Aschiana, a Kabul-based nonprofit, has led to Americans' sponsorship of street children in Kabul.  Many of these are children who are sent out on the street to make money for the family -- and you can guess how.  A $20 per month sponsorship is enough to allow the kids to get off the streets long enough to get into school, where a real future is possible. 
 
Budd firmly believes that a major part of what TIE does is to connect the people of America and the people of Afghanistan.  He reports that the Afghan people very much understand that we Americans make possible what TIE does, and he reports that they are genuinely grateful. 
 
To keep the connection going, Budd sees it as an important part of his mission to let donors know where their money has gone.  For example, today Budd reported that our money went to help finance a project to construct rock and concrete culverts and diversion ditches to prevent flooding and to provide irrigation, thus increasing available, arable acreage and increasing productivity. 
 
This outreach by Budd goes right down to perhaps the most important source of support he has discovered -- the kids of Contra Costa County.  A number of grade schools sponsor a "Change for Change" program, where children bring in whatever loose change they can and put it in a jar in their classroom. 
 
Budd loves going back to these schools to tell them where their money went, and how it helped other kids.  For example, he will be telling the kids at Springhill Elementary School that the change they put in their jars will keep four Afghan kids off the streets of Kabul and in school.  At $260 per child for a year's sponsorship, that's a money-well-spent investment.  Oh, and the Springhill kids will know that the Kabul kids will be in school -- and the parents won't just take the money and run. This is because Aschiana and TIE have set up the project in a way that makes the Afghan parents honor the commitment to the child's education or they don't get the money. 
 
What else has TIE been up to?  Glad you asked. Building soccer fields at schools.  It has been distributing the soccer jerseys that the Orinda Girl Scouts have collected (Budd reports that the Afghan kids love their jerseys -- they don't take them off.) 
 
TIE also has been setting up other athletic facilities for girls -- apparently, the universal mind set, male and female alike, is to wonder why girls would ever want to play soccer.  Where a schoolroom proved to be too small, TIE found a way to get a new, larger schoolroom built, complete with desks, which the old room lacked,  and then converted the old space into a computer room.
 
What's next?  How about serving more than 200,000 meals to refugees this winter.  Moreover, TIE is collecting warm coats, blankets, anything that can help get a refugee or other needy person through the brutal Afghani winter.  As if this were not enough, it is helping to build a bridge over a river. We were shown  photos of the project getting under way. Unfortunately, Budd was unable to visit  the site to personally thank the workers because of fears of his being kidnapped for ransom - seriously!
 
Budd reported on a phenomenon that he found at once  fascinating and heart-warming. One of the things he feared when TIE started getting into the business of distributing goods at refugee camps was hoarding.  He wondered if people would just grab whatever they could, and more than they needed, with the idea of trying to sell the surplus.  Budd said he has seen no evidence of this.  People have no problem going through the clothes to see if things will fit them or be of use, but they universally take what they can use and no more. 
 
Part of his PowerPoint show was a video of a little girl who was "shopping" for her family.  She had a garbage bag that as big as she was.  She carefully filled her bag, and when asked if she had enough, she said "No."  She found the one more item she was looking for, put it in the bag, and then announced that she had enough.  Off she went, but not before a volunteer had made sure she received a teddy bear.  Bear and bag in hand, a la Santa Claus, off she trod for home, with her bounty at least as big and probably close to as heavy as she was
 
Budd also reported that the e-mail newsletters are beginning to generate the kind of regular donations that TIE will need to become self-sustaining, So please, he asks, forward the e-mail newsletters to anyone and everyone you can think of who may be interested in helping support this commendable work. 
 
Budd shared his reaction to President Obama's announced troop increase.  While he had cogent thoughts about why the President decided as he did, he expressed disappointment with the fact that no one is talking about what our obligations to help rebuild the country.  After all, we helped arm the Taliban and trained them to fight when the Soviets were a common enemy.  And now we have armed and trained others to fight the Taliban.  A great deal of fighting and suffering has been unleashed on many corners of Afghanistan on the past 30 years. Much of it  has been perpetrated with our active assistance or as the result of U.S. policy decisions.  Budd thinks that our nation, having helped the various peoples of Afghanistan wage war on each other, should take a more pro-active role in helping them repair the damage.  Alas, there is no public discussion of this happening.
 
Thanks, Budd, for the update.  You continue to do important and admirable work that reflects well on all Americans. 
 
If you want to help, Call TIE at 925-299-2010 or check the website at www.trustineducation.org.  Of course, you could always drop a check in the mail to P.O. Box 936, Lafayette, CA 94549.  Donations are tax-deductible. 

CALENDAR