Monday Noon, Los Robles Lodge
925 Edwards Ave., Santa Rosa, California

Building a Better World by Sharing the Global Economy

President Brian opened the meeting promptly at 12:30 with Noel Buehler leading the group in the pledge of allegiance. Susan Nowacki led us in a special remembrance emphasizing that our troops are engaged in conflict in Afghanistan this day.

Visiting Rotarians were introduced by David McDonald. Senior Active (a now outdated classification!) Carl Meyer from Guerneville was in attendance as well as six members of the downtown Santa Rosa Club. It was noted that two of the six (Barbara De Oddoni and Kathie Simmons) who are lawyers who were joined by lawyer Rick Williams from Santa Rosa East. This significantly increased the ratio of lawyers in the room --- Bob Marigo was reported to begin sweating profusely.

Neil Silverman introduced his guest, Mr. Gus Favo, former United Nations Worker, and Ginny Pitts introduced her guest for the day, Tarina Hall. Susan Nowacki gave a sunshine report on Rotarian Terri Evans. Terri remains homebound with a broken foot, with a continued need of elevation. Since the limb is elevated, Terri would appreciate any communications from members to elevate her spirits to equal height.

President Brian them embarked upon some appropriate recognition. New member Tina Montgomery (brought into membership at the Bartley barbeque) was fined $5.00 for failing to give President Brian the opportunity to introduce her a week earlier.

Paul Stychno and Joe Perez were recognized for their different directions in life. Paul insisted he was going "down" for which he paid $25.00. Conversely, Joe Perez advised that he and Deirdre were "movin' on up" to a new 3300 square foot home in Vistera, which is a prestigious Cobblestone development at the top of Fountaingrove. Joe deftly escaped a fine.

Don Ling paid $5.00 for the Santa Rosa West fishing license which covered his opportunity to fish the Klamath River, even though it was catch and release only. Don avoided larger fines by failing to advise President Brian that he actually had caught a 24-inch steelhead while on the river. Bob Harris paid tuition for his stint as adjunct professor at Sonoma State University is in a seminar for environmental law. PDG John Withers should have been fined for his one minute joke depicting an averted international incident between Canada and the United States: Something about a Canadian lighthouse and an American aircraft carrier.

President Brian advised that the Board meeting would be at Josef's on Tuesday, October 9, 2001. The Club secretary (He who really keeps it all together) Fred Zmarzly reminded everybody that there was a Sonoma County association of Rotary Club meeting scheduled to take place in Monte Rio on October 25, 2001. For those of you new members who have not had the opportunity to share the joint fellowship provided by a meeting, which involves all of the Rotary Clubs of Sonoma County, this would be a great opportunity to do so while enjoying the river hospitality of the Guerneville Rotary Club.

Ginny Pitts reminded people that the "Honor our Vets" luncheon on November 6, 2001 promises to be a great event. All Rotarians are encouraged to attend and bring a vet. That event will take place at the Santa Rosa Vets Memorial Hall at noon and will feature General George ("Jim") Eade, a retired Strategic Air Command General--who incidentally is on his way back to the mid east to advise on activities involving the events in Afghanistan. Please note that our club, as well as the other Rotary clubs in the Santa Rosa area will be dark that week in order to support this program.

Caroline Fox advised that the crab feed committee would be meeting on site at the Hall of Flowers, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, at 7:30 on October 11, 2001 to review the facilities for next year's crab feed.

Chris Parr noted that the prizes this year would once again include a romantic weekend in San Francisco at the famous Club Telegraph hosted by AM Properties and PDG Mike Merrill. Louie Capuano cautioned that 21 corporate tables had already been reserved and that opportunities for group tables would only be open for two more weeks.

Club foundation chair Harry Rubins reminded everybody that the major push for foundation donations via raffle tickets was upon us and that he had raffle tickets available. As usual, there are a number of terrific prizes and all are encouraged to buy at least 12 tickets. The district's minimum goal for foundation giving this year is $120 per Rotarian, which would be accomplished by the purchase of that many tickets. To put it into perspective, that amounts to $.32 per day which is a small price to pay for the tremendous programs and opportunities that become available to Rotarians and those in need throughout the world by your donation. Also this year, the District will be celebrating and acknowledging those who have been so generous with their donations at a gala event at the Sonoma Mission Golf Course. It is a black tie event, tickets are $75 per person, and the District Governor promises a fun filled evening with "no boring speeches".

Visitor, Kathie Simon, failed to draw the right marble thereby reducing the number to 19 in the fabled bag. 

President Brian then introduced Paula Wrenn who presented the speaker for today's meeting.

Dr. Peter Holten, born in Ukiah, California is a graduate of the University of California Berkeley. He has spent a great number of years in Sierra Leone, Africa and has served as a professor at the University of Sierra Leone and the Fourah Bay College of Freetown. Dr. Holten is a member of the Freetown Rotary Club (now somewhat defunct). He founded the Sierra Leone Youth Achievement group as well as the Boys and Girls Society of Sierra Leone. He is currently working in a project called the Partners for Africa, a group seeking to establish business relationships between entrepreneurs and the United States and businesses in Sierra Leone on a private basis. (Partners for Africa may be contacted at rph@wco.com).

Sierra Leone is a country whose religious composition is divided equally between Muslin, Christian, and undecided. It is also very rich in natural resources such as diamonds, gold and titanium, but has suffered through violent civil strife for many years.

Dr. Holten believes Sierra Leone, as many other poor west African countries, emerged from the colonial era with a history of trial allegiances that were ill suited to function in the normal western style democratic society; primarily because those tribal societies relied on consensus to accomplish goals as opposed to the normal democratic processes. He highlighted the extensive problem of AIDS in that community, as well as the long term civil strife and problems with corrupt governments. Dr. Holten also expressed strong concern that the relief being provided by other nations and the United Nations through the significant number of foreign workers in that country was tending to undermine the values and the opportunities for the country more than helping those they are there to serve. That belief as stirred his passion for the establishment of the partners for Africa. Dr. Holten believes that the students and young people of Sierra Leone are eager to move towards a more positive government, and for a way out of oppression.

"Thank you for the opportunity to talk with the Rotarians. I asked the Rotarian Secretary to include in the bulletin something about the initiative. Please pass on the attachment as further background material."

Best regards,
Peter

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Sierra Leone.

It's in Africa. It's tiny. It's poor. It's wrecked from years of civil war. It does not have an army to help us fight Osama bin Laden. It is not going to import American products in a big way anytime soon. But I want to acquaint you with Sierra Leone because we need to worry about this nat on an elephant and the events since Sept. 11, unfortunately, support me. I think.

We're in a war against a mad man and a group of unknown size that is committed to following this mad man whose mission is to hurt us as much as possible. We need to find this fellow and stop him and stop people like him. We can all agree on that.

But at the same time, it is in our interests right now and for the long haul future for us to understand what might have created or twisted this mad man and enabled him to attract a group of followers who are prepared to do anything to hurt us.

I'm not suggesting we assign blame to anyone. Not the USA. Not Europe. Not Israel. Not the Middle East monarchies. Not Chevron Oil. Nobody. That just gets in the way.

What I would suggest we do is we agree that "history" has created a situation in the Middle East in which this man has flourished. History has created a nursery in which generations of unhappy and crazy people have been raised and now they want to strike out and vent their rage.

Who are they going to attack? Why not the biggest and most powerful country in the world, the USA? So, I suggest we try to understand how this nursery was created, how to alleviate some of the problems that make people so crazy, and hopefully put people like Osama bin Laden out of business. But what has that got to do with Sierra Leone. Everything, I think.

The people of Sierra Leone are products of history, too. A rough and unfortunate history, and the world runs the risk of producing a generation of angry, crazy and desperate people.

Hope and opportunity, education and stability, I think are what I think are the keys to overcoming the harsh realities history is delivering to Sierra Leone. This is why I'm going there. To try to figure out a way to give the children and young adult generation of Sierra Leone a stake in the future, an alternative to conflict and war, something else to think about but the anger they will feel if the world turns its back on them and thus creates another generation of Osama bin ladens.

SET UP A SYSTEM WHERE FOREIGN FINANCIAL AID WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES TO START BUSINESSES ETC. SO THEY HAVE A STAKE.

Not charity, but a grub steak.

In the future, maybe create a climate of opportunity we all will want to hear about when not being overwhelmed with concerns about Osama bin Laden, et. al.

Bulletin written by Mike Merrill

Bulletin Editor: Jim Valinoti

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STANDBY BULLETIN WRITERS ARE:
John PALMER & Tom LAENGLE

Changes or comments?

Contact Jim Valinoti at valinoti@sonic.net or (707) 829-2300.

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