Reporting Meeting of 29 October

(For Distribution 19 November)

· President Ron extended a warm welcome to the Friends Forever group from Northern Ireland and remarked that we are honored to have a small part in this world peace initiative.

· Visiting Rotarians and spouses were acknowledged and welcomed

· Chris Nyhan went through the Apple Pie Festival assignments with the membership. Set up begins in the high School cafeteria at 4:00PM on Election Day. Basically everyone is asked to do the same job they did last year.

· The road clean-up and town in Bloom projects were rescheduled to Saturday 3 November because of weather. All who possibly could were asked to attend.

· President Ron thanked all who helped to make the Apple run such a success this year. Gross income was over $6000.

· Dick O’Rourke announced that all proceeds from sale of entertainment books have to be turned in by mid November.

· Bob Youmans announced that an initial check for $500 had been delivered to helping hands for Thanksgiving food baskets. Donations are requested for the Christmas season.

· Paul Lewandowski will lead our participation in the Festival of Trees sponsored by the Women’s association. Doug Turpen has graciously donated an artificial tree to the cause.

“Friends Forever” is a program designed to break down sectarian barriers between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland beginning with the youth. Groups of ten teens, five Catholics and five Protestants, are formed and prepare in a series of team meetings for a two week trip to the USA. The purpose of visiting USA is to allow the team members to bond in a neutral environment that is an example of tolerance. The team continues to meet for a year after the trip to maintain continuity and promote good will. The program is organized by the Central YMCA of Northern Ireland and strongly supported by Rotary at the club level. It has been running since 1991.

The program was introduced by Jim Lynn who was called out of retirement to lead his eighth team. One of the group sang a very touching Irish folk song and was followed by three speakers from among the youth. It was clear from their presentation that the lives of these teenagers are still marked by violence even though there is a peace process in place in Northern Ireland. There are still extremists on both sides who, while a small minority, continue to foment terrorism. Each of the teens who spoke had a friend or relative who had been directly affected. Most of the people want peace and these teens exemplify that sentiment. They are committed to building peace one person at a time.

Jim Lynn closed the meeting with the analogy of the life raft. “When the ship is sinking and it’s time to man the life boats, no one asks if you are Catholic or Protestant. They just ask you to pull on an oar.” In some ways these teens are thrown into a “lifeboat” situation in a strange country and form lasting bonds as a result. Jim mentioned the many successful people who have graduated from Friends Forever and fluorished in their communities. Friends Forever is indeed a program that saves and changes lives.

Reported by Garry Morrow