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First mtg for Pres Ben Fisher (oy vey)
Our new president started off by greeting members on zoom including PP Chris Bradford and Christine Clayburg.
Introductions
Song – “Good ‘ole summer time” led by Club’s Song Meister PP Ed Gauld.
Thought for day – PP Steve Day
Pledge – PP Chris Gaynor
Greeter - Janet Schwartz
Windmill – PP Mark Rogo
Visiting Rotarians – Dr. Bob Simon, visiting from Fullerton RC and newly retired to Westwood. Also, PDG Makiko Nakasone joined us.
Special Presentation
PDG Makiko made a special Presentation of Club Excellence to our Club, one of the highest forms of recognition in our District.
New member Induction
Samuel Botbol and Valeria Espinoza from Central America (Samuel already being a Rotarian) were sponsored by Pres Benjamin. As a very special honor, PDG Nakasone performed the induction, followed by a standing ovation from the Club members, welcoming their newest members. The PDG spoke to our Club with inspirational words about membership in Rotary, securing a pledge from Sam and Valeria to bring in one new member by June 2025.
Program
Today’s program was conducted by fellow D5280 Rotarian Peter Lattey from the Redondo Beach RC. Peter has been focusing on international development projects. He has been a member of Rotary for 32 years through several Clubs with the last 12 years being focused on water projects. Also, he is a Rotary International Cadre Club member with expertise in international water and sanitation projects for global grants.
Corruption, clean water, and education are three biggest problems in Kenya and elsewhere.
Peter has spearheaded efforts to Install 56 water tanks, 5 water wells and numerous other projects impacting 35,000 people (about twice the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden). RI claims every $1,000 donated saves 12 lives. His projects have put in about $350,000.
Peter shared with us an informative video from Kenya addressing water projects. It showed singing, dancing and celebration by families living in the region at completed water projects. Our Club found it very inspirational.
Peter always does his projects with local Rotary Clubs through Global Grants, to ensure the integrity of the funds and the project's completion. Our Club donated to Peter’s last water project, and he has a new one to fund. His next project will be working with eight African villages serving 1,000 to 3,000 people and will include the installation of an elevated water tank at each site. In the end, they turn the project over to the local community. The village women are the backbone of any project because they are the ones who fetch clean water and take care of kids when they are sick. His projects have also started to task the person attending the kiosk to distribute water into a small shop that also offers items needed for families. This newest project will be in two adjoining counties. He also has secured the assistance of USAID who will split the cost with the counties for the water tower.
Questions – from Sean McMillan, PP Michael Newman, PP Tom Barron, PPx2 Steve Day and PP Ed Jackson.
The water from the river is clean but requires huge time commitments for multiple trips each day. And there’s also the issue of making sure it is flowing, which is not always the case.
There is a noticeable enormous difference in village life once clean water tanks are installed. Half of village health stems from gastrointestinal problems that can be sourced back to unclean water.
Kenya has 90M+ people with 40 tribes each with their own language, which complicates the entire process. It’s an economic powerhouse in Africa, despite the infrastructure problems and tribal disputes. Peter pointed out that even in our own country, the Navajo tribes here have water issues. There are lots of political issues everywhere.
Peter talked about specific stories, and they were heart breaking. Peter also mentioned scholarships designed to keep kids out of sex trafficking. School costs $750.00 which most families cannot afford. Contributions towards scholarships for these children is a worthy project.
Our President thanks Peter for a wonderful presentation and presented him with a gift, in appreciation for his time.
Thus ended the first official meeting of the new President of the Westwood Village Rotary Club. It was a success and for all of us, we wish Benjamin more success throughout his year as our President.
The next meeting will be in the same venue, the Salvation Army Family Center on Sepulveda south of Wilshire Blvd.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
PP Mark Rogo and a huge fan of PPx2 Diane Good and PPx2 Nancy McCready
And with gratitude to PP Ed Gauld for asking me to join Rotary in 2004.
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