January 11, 2008

{No photos today… you’ll just have to picture the meeting through the eyes of special guest correspondent, Phil Shore:} 

 Although the sun was mightily shining as we began our meeting, Joy Menius regaled us with a batch of rainy day songs that bolstered our spirits and upholstered our conversation. The chatter at my table mostly had to do with a bunch of Carolina sports fans declaring it unfair to allow giants to play basketball.

Mini Singh introduced our guests.  Jim Biggers, Jackie Biggers, and Ann Grey were guests of Sandy Grey.  Carol Matney brought Christie Smith.  Emily Ledwell was the guest of Jerry Hill.

We hosted two student guests from Asheboro High School.  Brandie Tew is a varsity cheerleader, a member of the National Honor Society and the Key Club.  Her hobbies are photography and laying out in the sun.  She plans to attend either East Carolina, Western Carolina or Appalachian to major in physical therapy or exercise science. With her was Eric Araj.  Eric belongs to the Board Game Club.  He enjoys cycling, racing, soccer, and football.  He will pursue a major in engineering at a yet undetermined institute of higher education.

President H.R. noted that Carole Gilliam’s two daughters had written a note of thanks to the club for its concern and caring after Carole’s death.  They included a $300 donation to the Rotary Foundation with their message.  This was much appreciated by the membership.

Russ Williams called an area Rotary event to our attention.  There will be a Valentine’s Day dinner and concert offered shortly in Greensboro.  Stay tuned for more details.

We will have a vist from the Taiwan GSE team in April.  They will be in our area April 16-19.  Two host family homes are needed.  If you care to open your home to these exciting visitors, please let Rob know.

Our speaker today was Dr. Larry Simpson, a history professor from High Point University.  Jamie Stitt asked him to return to bring us up to speed on events and causes in the Middle East.  Ladies and gentlemen, your humble scribe did not understand what he heard.  This was not the fault of Dr. Simpson whose presentation was brief, factual, and well organized.  It is the fault of too much information attempting to enter a much too inferior brain.  Dr. Simpson presented a paper to us on the underlying causes of tension between the US and Iran.  In his last visit, Dr. Simpson emphasized his opinion that there is a high likelihood of conflict between these two nations.

Today he delved beneath the surface to the economic and political reasons.  This has mostly to do with Russian and Chinese (PRC) support for Iran.  These three less than democratic entities have aligned their needs to form strengths.  China needs oil and is willing to invest in Iran’s production infrastructure.  Russia as an oil producer  seeks to stabilize prices and keep business flowing.  Beneath these subterranean currents, deeper still, there is trade in weapons and equipment to make weapons that may or may not be those of mass destruction, but who can tell?  It was a gloomy picture in any case, one of nations playing hegemony cricket, rugby rules.

I have feeling that the powers, thrones and dominions of the world would benefit from a copy of the Four Way Test.

October 5, 2007

We filled up the room last Friday, and many of the crowd were visitors. Just at the Scribe Table, we had Jaci Betts hosting her long-suffering husband, Dr. Charles Betts (heh, just kidding Jaci!), together with Shawn Poe, soon to be a new member. Shawn works with the Career Center at RCC, and is married to Darrell Poe, OSHA inspector and Caraway stock car owner. (I know we’ll hear more about all that later.) Then we also had, with Sandy Grey, his wife Ann and friends Jim Biggers and Adrienne Bailey. At the table next door there was another crowd, all guests of Jamie Stitt: his wife Janice, neighbor Add Penfield, and Peggy and Howard Kilburn. Tom Barton, Ralph Hardison and Aaron Slafky were all visiting from the Randolph Club, where Elizabeth Mitchell, Sandy Grey, Jerry Hill and Your Scribe had all been present Wednesday to hear Elizabeth talk about United Way. [The speakers may change, but the food remains the same...]

Chronologically I’m ahead of myself, but Assistant Sergeant at Arms Mini Singh really did eventually introduce all those people after the usual Four Way (Jamie Stitt) , POA (Prez HRG), and Invocation (Everett T with two prayers for peace). Doug Aiken introduced our student guests from AHS. Caroline Cox, Talmadge Baker’s neighbor, is the daughter of Beth and Craig Cox; she plays on the undefeated AHS volleyball team, is President of the Key Club, and plans to go to ASU and study Insurance Risk Management and Spanish (she was in Spain just this summer, as a matter of fact). Chad Shannon, son of Kathleen, plays baritone in the marching band, is on the Quiz Bowl team and in the Latin Club, and is applying not only to ASU but to Oxford, hoping to study history, philosophy and English. He’s interested in teaching on the university level.

This being the first Friday of the month there were lots of birthdays, most of which passed by me in a whirr, except for October 20th, which I heard is shared by Elizabeth Mitchell and Ted Matney. In Rotary anniversaries, we have John Redding, 11 years, Lyn White 12 years, and Lib Cox, 14 years.

On October 17th, the Book Committee and any other interested parties will meet at 8:45 AM at the YMCA. Under the supervision of Patrick O’Hara, they will then travel to 7 elementary schools and give all the Third Graders their very own Dictionary. If you’ve got the time, be there and help out!

ATTENTION!!! NOTICE!!! ACHTUNG!!!

    There is no meeting for us at AVS next Friday!!!

    We will meet WEDNESDAY, jointly with the Randolph Club, at AVS, to hear Senator Richard Burr, the junior United States Senator from North Carolina.

    Remember, we meet on WEDNESDAY. If you come Friday, you will be LONELY.

Also, the Friday after that we will be hosting the District Governor; and the Friday after that we will meet at REMC, not at AVS. Keep those acronyms straight.

Tar Wheel Archive: from December 11, 1974. Dan Thomas introduced the Student Guest who Your Scribe Red Underwood heard to like “fishing, women and motorcycles.” Alas, “women,” really was “swimming.” Red attributed the difference to Dan’s mumble, though Red (80-something at the time, I think) thought everyone was mumbling then.

Welcome to New Members!

George Bain, Master Trash Sweeper, introduced Roma Cheek to the club. Born a Swindell in Robbins, NC, she started out as a dental hygenist and then went on to dental school at Chapel Hill, so now she has a shingle of her own. One might think being born in Robbins is enough of a farm connection, but George says she is also a member in good standing of the Cow Pie Supper Club, three couples who may not be too finicky about what they eat. For good measure George also threw in a farm joke involving a cow, barbed wire, and “udder destruction.”

Linda Cranford next arose to introduce Cathy Carter Clark, owner of Carter’s Family Pharmacy which back in the day when it was founded by her father Leo Carter, was The Medicine Shoppe. Leo and wife Helen used to be the award-winning rose growers of Asheboro. Cathy’s a member of First Presbyterian Church (no farm connection here- she’s connected to the real Old Boy Network) and is a member of the Randolph County Board of Health. Her daughter Ann Lee now lives in San Jose, CA.

Our own Professor James W. Stitt, Chairman of the Department of History and Politics at High Point University, introduced his fellow Professor of History Larry Simpson. We aren’t clear if this is the 4th or 5th year Larry has been to speak to the club about current affairs in the Middle East. You may remember that Larry has degrees from Waynesburg College in Waynesburg, PA (go Yellow Jackets!); Troy State (now just plain Troy University, in folksy Alabama); and a PhD from West Virginia U (the Mountaineers are the pride of Morgantown). Besides all the courses he teaches on the middle east, Africa and Russia, the HPU website also reveals the Larry is the faculty advisor of the College Republicans. [The days of liberal academics are long past, folks.]

If Winston Churchill hadn’t already used the title, Larry says we could call the current state of middle eastern affairs “The Gathering Storm.” He expects something big to happen after Ramadan, and is particularly worried about the Iranian nuclear program. Just last month there was a secret Israeli air strike on a site in Syria just 40 miles from the Iraqi border, and the lack of public comment indicates to Larry that it was something everyone wants to hide- like nuclear materials from North Korea. Syria claims that they never saw the Israeli planes, implying that the US has given them some kind of stealth technology. Added to the tough talk about Iran’s nuclear program, and the recent PR strike to villify Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Larry won’t be surprised if we see some kind of US military action against their nuclear program. Since Iran has a history of standing up to the big powers, that means that it’s a near certainty Iran would retaliate. We tend to underestimate Ahmadinejad and the Iranians, he says.  Even though the Iranian economy is in tatters, he expects they’ll have a nuclear program before they have any kind of internal social change.

There were lots of questions, as usual. Larry says he supported going into Iraq, but is afraid there would be anarchy if we engage in a speedy withdrawal. Stepping out is not as easy as getting in.  It’s also complicated by China’s support of Iran, which is all about the oil [just like America's involvement in Iraq, huh?].  China has no oil, and wants to knock “the American hegemon” out of the Middle East.  The time ended, but the questions continued after class…  

REMEMBER:  GO TO ROTARY ON WEDNESDAY FOR THE JOINT MEETING!!! 

May 27, 2005

Posted May 31, 2005

IN GEAR—May 27—Back in our own digs again after last week’s visit to Keith Crisco’s elastic plant.  Joy Menius tickled the ivories today.  After the Pledge of Allegiance, David Roudabush raised the invocation.   Sergeant at Arms Carole Gilliam introduced two visiting Rotarians:  Jeannine Thompson from the Bakersfield (California) Club and Kenn Clark from the Randolph Club.

            President Mary Joan Pugh reminded us about how prominently Asheboro Rotary has been in the news this week with the dedication of the Rotary stage cover at Bicentennial Park (before a record setting crowd of almost 1500—most of them were there for the concert) and the Senior Boards at Asheboro High School which has had strong Rotarian support since the program began five years ago.  Mary Joan also let us know that if we weren’t involved with the Lunch Buddies program we were missing out.  This is the twice-a-month lunch date with a 6^th, 7^th, or 8^th grader who needs an adult to rely on.

            Tom White reported that the collections for the Boys and Girls Home donation from the club were lagging behind other year’s totals.  He said he wouldn’t be at the back table any more but he did leave envelopes ready for dropping a check into and mailing.  Checks should be made out to Boys and Girls Home of North Carolina.

            June 13^th—installation of District Officers at the High Point Country Club.  $30 per person.  This is when District Governor Don Allred will hand over the operations of District 7690 to DGE Phil Morris.  (Their District Conference will be in Myrtle Beach, by the way.)

            Next week Linda Cranford of the Social/Fellowship Committee has arranged for Bob Williams of the Courier-Tribune to tell us some of his best tales of Asheboro.

            Peggy Morrison still needs photos and info sheets for the September fundraiser.

            There will be a brief board meeting at the conclusion of the session today.

            Jaci Betts reported briefly that the GSE team is still having a great trip.  They will return next Wednesday at 6:30.  We look forward to hearing from them in the near future.

            Green Talk—Ozone: turn engine off if you’re going to stand more than a minute.  Check tire pressure.  Properly inflated tires save fuel (and cause better tire performance—John Revell added).

            Jaci Betts had decorations and a special cake for DG Don Allred’s birthday—our beloved leader went to Summerfield instead.  Thankfully the red, white, and blue balloons passed for Memorial Day decorations too.  Happy Birthday to Don, to Linda Cranford (also absent) and Maxton McDowell.  We sang mightily!

            Before turning the program over to the Club Bulletin Committee, Attendance Chair Maxton McDowell let us know that we need to come early and often—April attendance, 73%.

            Philip Shore introduced Wendi McMillan of Siler City to the gathered Rotarians. Wendi is a Rotary World Peace Scholar.   She is a K-8 teacher.             She has been in the Army, has traveled extensively and lived abroad for a number of years.  She has a degree in linguistics and a Masters Degree in English as a second language.  She has been married for almost three years.  She enjoys languages, calligraphy, and fitness.

            Wendi brought to the podium two rather thick tomes.  They were her dissertation from the University of Bradford (UK) and an extensive research paper.  Her dissertation was on the ethno-nationality of the Carpatho-Russines.  She threatened to read them for the program.  With a quick God Save the Queen to Elizabeth Mitchell  (Wendi met many of us in Charleston), she began by saying that she was impressed by the friendliness and activism of members of our club, based on the earlier remarks by Mary Joan.  She promised to give us an account of her thoughts and experiences as a Rotary World Peace Scholar.

            The University of Bradford, on the Yorkshire Dales near Scotland, is one of seven Peace Centers.  The program lasts two years.  The first twelve months were dedicated to obtaining a Masters Degree in conflict resolution studies while second year was an opportunity to do research on anything that interested her.  She chose to study neurotoxins.

            Study trips were a big part of the program.  She went to Ireland.  Others went to Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka.  Taking study trips proved to her how small groups can effect big changes.

            She and her husband John had been married only a few weeks when she began the program.  Wendi said it was the perfect opportunity to study conflict resolution.

            She also simply enjoyed living in England observing its social and political customs.  The openness of Prime Minister Time in which the PM answers questions and defends his decisions in Parliament to the cheers and jeers of the peers.  She thought that unimaginable in the US.

            Aside from class work what stuck with her most was her associations with her class of 90 students from 30 countries.  Peace studies is a very broad topic, not just a narrow little subject.  Embarking on the course of study she found herself to be an optimistic skeptic.

            What is peace, she asked us to ask ourselves.  Is it the absence of war?  The time after war when resources are stretched to the maximum during recovery?  The cold war—a time not of armed conflict but nervousness and stockpiling of weapons?  She mentioned that there are more surveillance cameras in London than anywhere else in the world.  She mentioned Peace Walls—thirty-foot walls topped with glass and concertina wire.  She mentioned life in an abused environment.  She mentioned “full fledged democracy” that imprisons without charges.

            Global security means better sharing of resources and the practice of little things that add up to big savings in the environment—the things Mary Joan said about ozone and tire pressure for instance.

            Conflict exists at all levels.  Conflict resolution has to be practiced on multiple levels.  200 million refugees in the world.  80% are women and children.  90% are civilians.  The bottom line is humanity.  With regard to Memorial Day, she asked, what country’s fatalities are more important?

            If you are interested in promoting peace (and as Rotarians we are…) she suggested being informed from multiple sources; asking questions; discover what drives you—passion or money; appreciate everything and everyone.  Actions on a daily basis have an important effect.  Volunteer time is better than a simple monetary donation.

            Global connectedness is more apparent every day.  It’s never too early to promote peace.  With her final words Wendi thanked us for putting the World Peace Scholar into her life.  She took several questions from the floor.

            Jim Culberson informed the club that Ken Gobel is doing very well and will soon be coming back to our meetings.  President Mary Joan declared the meeting adjourned.