Tuesday, 9 May 2006

Guests and Announcements – 5/2 Meeting

Momoko and Mali

• Bob Youmans opened the meeting with a prayer.

• There were no visiting Rotarians.

• Steve Keena, who has been accepted for membership by the Board of Directors, was welcomed, as was prospective member, John Bollentin of Creative Photography, in the Burnt Hills Plaza.

• Other visitors included several spouses, Cathie Currin, AFS Coordinator, and Momoko Ito, AFS Exchange Student.

• President Rey reported on his and Gini’s participation in the District Conference, displaying a citation awarded to the BHBL Rotary Club, noting that we have gained in membership numbers, while the district overall has lost 54 members. The district is in the process of incorporating as a non-profit organization. Gini described the meaningful and moving ceremony held for deceased members, and distributed memorial trees to be given the families of our Floyd Baker, Fritz Neuman and Gerald Smallwood.

• Steve Caine’s birthday was celebrated in song.

• John Bollentin described Creative Photography’s program in which $10 will be returned to our club for each family, child or pet photography session.

• Mark Gasparovic has the signup sheet for the Rotary Work Projects starting in mid-May.

American Field Service Program 5/2

Mary Anderson described the club’s support of the AFS student exchange program, and introduced Cathie Currin the local AFS coordinator and Momoko Ito, exchange student at the BHBL High School. Momoko wore a traditional Japanese kimono, while our own Mali Naksanga attended in an elegant Thai dress.

Momoko is employing her year here to improve her English. She is interested in a career in a space program. Her dream is to become an astronaut. To that end she attends a special Tokyo high school. Rather than a school bus as in the BHBL school district, she travels an hour each way by train to school. She will attend a university in Japan, selected for its ability to help her to advance her goals.

Mali, who holds a Masters Degree, is a

rural elementary school mathematics teacher when home in Thailand. She described her black and gold dress as handmade for special ceremonial occasions. She wears a head cover in public because of her Moslem religion.

Mali presented a Thai dance employing two fans, explaining their use because Thailand has a hot climate.

Mali has traveled extensively in the US with her American mom and dad, Gini and Rey. She leaves us on 13 June, expecting to join a Rotary club in Thailand upon her return. Our club presented her with two gifts, a clock, so that she will remember her time here, and a pen so that she can write back to the club.

Reported by Fred Baily