Meeting of February 25, 2014 - Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan

Photos and reporting by Joan Firkins. 

Rum Donations are rolling in to support the New Orleans Dinner. Pictured here with their donations are:
David Philip, David Maxwell, David Westler, and David Sills (No, you don't have to be called David to Donate!)

Standing in for President Pete was Acting President Brian Lamb. Brian opened the meeting with words of wisdom from the Pres. and in deference to Governor Pete and Kristine being in attendance, we heartily sang both O Canada and The Star Spangled Banner.

After Sandy Currie gave a short Grace, guests were shown to the front of the line to start the lunch buffet with everyone else following suit.

Mike Hodges did an exemplary job of introducing the Visiting Rotarians and Guests:

   Governor Pete Taylor and Kristine - Tacoma 8

   Jill Leslie - today's Speaker from CW4WA (Canadian Women 4 Women in Afghanistan)

   Ryan Gisler - guest of Janna Malo

Eugen (Big Stick) Bannerman took to the lectern in his final week as Sergeant at Arms and levied various fines relating to Rotary in general: Everyone coughed up loonies for various reasons: Switzerland Rotary remains predominantly male which prompted Ron Cooley to ask "Who does all the work then?" (The women in our club should have paid you for that Ron!); and as an aside, Jessica brought to our attention that women in Switzerland only became eligible to vote in 1972!  Eugen hosted the 4 David's in our club at his table today; he also called out Jessica and Wyn for being late (that really is a Big Stick - they were there weren't they?)  

Happy and Sad dollars: Janna received a Young Business Entrepreneur award which was noted in the newspaper; Brian Lamb celebrated 39 years in Rotary; many noted they were sad the Olympics were over and Vicky noted the stunning view of Mt. Baker this morning on her way to Rotary. Tom Lidkea told a cute joke which bears repeating (which doesn't happen very often!) - Three sisters were with their father and he was telling them what properties he was going to leave them upon his demise. To the first one he said "You will receive all the houses and buildings in the village on Oak Bay Avenue; to the second daughter he said "You will receive the houses all along Rockland Avenue" and to the third he said "You will get the all houses in the Uplands".  A friend who overheard the conversation came up to the girls afterwards and said he didn't realize their father was so well off and owning so many properties. To which the daughters replied "Oh he doesn't own them, he's giving us his paper routes!"

Announcements:  Joan Peggs read a letter from Steve Sharlow (son of former member Bill Sharlow) indicating he is moving to Victoria and would like to join our club.  Governor Pete got up to say a few words, starting with Hockey Schmockey in reference to the US/Canada hockey game - no further comment. Pete and Kristine are now doing some second visits because he cares what goes on and wants to show their support. He recognized all that is going on in our club right along with our accomplishments. In a lighter vein, Governor Pete referenced our infamous Toronto Mayor Rob Ford by saying being the Mayor of Toronto really wasn't what it is "cracked" up to be!

Governor Pete (on right), along with club Foundation Chair, Neil Rawnsley (left), presented multiple Paul Harris pins to Jack Petrie, Anne Sims, Will Carter and Wolf Schopper - well done to each of you and thank-you!

Our speaker, Jill Leslie, was ably introduced by Jack Petrie. Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan is a non-profit founded in 1996 with 13 volunteer chapters across Canada. The group organizes ongoing education and fundraising activities for women in Afghanistan with the goal of the programs in Afghanistan to advance education for Afghan women and their families and to educate Canadians about human rights in Afghanistan.

  Facts of note:

    - 17% literacy rate for women in Afghanistan

    - 1 in 5 women are literate

    - one of the poorest countries in the world

    - not enough calories consumed daily for a healthy life

    - 48% of the population is under the age of 15

    - less than 25% of adults have been to school

    - 6% of girls are married before the age of 15

    - many edicts for women: example - no white socks and no noisy shoes

   - many edicts for everyone: example - beards must be 10 cm long; music is illegal; TV is banned; curfew nightly

  Major problems are insecurity, corruption and lack of jobs - most of which has occurred since the emergence of the Taliban in 1990.

  There have been improvements since 2001 in health, education and literacy and since 2002, women are now back in the public eye, they are allowed political participation, they are integrated into the business and workforce and with improved health care there is a reduced mortality rate.

    [Bulletin reporters note:  It was interesting that the speaker did not mention the fact that in 2009 Rotary Districts and clubs across Canada, including our own, started raising money to build a school in Afghanistan with the help of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). In short, a 20 classroom school in Jalalabad, accommodating 4000 students, at the cost of in excess of $250,000, was opened on September 26, 2010. Go Canada!]

    Ron Beyer thanked the speaker for her insightful information and we all rose to sing The Queen!