Bulletin 11 November 2013

Rotary Club Bali Ubud Sunset

District 3420 / No. 79571

Meeting every Monday at 5:30 PM at Maya Ubud Resort, Ubud

“You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it’s a little thing, do something for others – something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it.”  – Albert Schweitzer

Bulletin November 11, 2013

Announcements, Reports, Correspondence

Pres Sue Winski, president, opened the meeting on the dot. The following Rotarians visitors attended the meeting: Patricia Chaumet (Orleans, France), Judith and Bill Schneider (Foster City, Ca), Diane Parker (Ogopogo, Can.). Rich Foss (Interquest, Co.) We also enjoyed the company of Ron Dixon, Mandy Brauer, and Henry Abramson.

VP Philip was concerned about young children driving motorbikes and has prepared stickers in Bahasa to affix to motorbikes discouraging the use of motorbikes by underage people. He also reminded everyone that elections will be taking place and get those nominations in pronto. Rtn Judith explained that November was Foundation month and proceeded to outline ways that money can be obtained for projects. She encouraged looking at Global Grants(GG), District Designated Funds (DDF) and clubs themselves. Many have funds to share and even a club’s own foundation.

Rtn Cat delivered the good news that the Australian government had allocated funds for two shredders for the Ubud Recycling Center. Garbage will not go away so Sunset is always looking for clever ways to recycle, reuse or reposition garbage.

Rtn Probo was excited about the Bali Reforestation Festival 2013 which aims to plant 3,500 tree seedlings at Toya Bungkah, Kintamani. They plan to have a limit of 200 enthusiastic people who want to see this bare area reforested to its prior lush forest. While the trees will take water they will create an atmosphere of lushness that will encourage further saving of water by the environment.

Rtn Bruce reminded us of the delicious fundraiser which is right around the corner. Dec. 15 at Taksu. Sixty lucky people will attend a traditional expansive holiday buffet feast complete with hard to find cranberry sauce. In addition numerous generous gifts have been donated for a raffle. One half of the tickets are already sold so don’t delay or you may be disappointed.

A visiting Rotarian, Patricia Chaumet from RC Plauce Sologn, Orleans, France exchanged banners and told us of some of their work in France. The men of the club have a project network called Zeromacho Network (http://encorefeministes.free.fr/zeromachoGB.php3) with a motto “Men Just Say No To Prostitution”. They have a web site and are seeking men everywhere to visit the web site and sign in support. With the proliferation of AIDS in Bali this would be a good motto to espouse here.

GUEST SPEAKER

Finally we came to the gem of the evening. One of our favorite people, Mary Northmore MBE, who was recently at Buckingham Palace to receive her Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).  Her award was announced during Queen Elizabeth’s New Year’s honors on Dec. 31 last year and presented on June 22, 2011.  Her MBE was for her work helping sufferers of cranio/facial disorders receive treatment across the east of Indonesia through the Smile Foundation of Bali, or Yayasan Senyum Bali as it is known in Indonesia.  

Tonight she spoke of her recent journey to

Iran. She was part of a tour group that turned out to be only her because the others were unable to get visas. She used her Indonesian passport and had no problem. She took a step way back  to a time before the Persian Empire. While much damage has been done in Iran there still remain thousands of art treasures both small and enormous. She was assigned a female guide who took her where ever she expressed an interest. In the process she met other tourists from around the globe. The food was fantastic and plentiful, the people kind, the populace diverse especially in their dress. It was off season so in some places she was the only guest which gave her a chance to fully observe architecture and construction. She thoroughly enjoyed the trip and highly recommends

others give Iran a visit.

 

 

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