The Program.  President Sally gave a brief introduction of our guest speaker, Emily Crawford, regional Peace Corps recruiter.  Emily grew up in Galax, Virginia, graduated from Christopher Newport University, and then spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay. Upon returning from Paraguay, she spent some time working for the Social Security Administration, before returning to the Peace Corps as a Recruiter.  She lives on her boat at the Tidewater Marina in Portsmouth.

 

Emily started her presentation explaining the similarities between the Peace Corps and Rotary – with SERVICE as the dominant thread.  She went on to describe her two years preparing for and serving in Paraguay where she spend 25% of her time as an agriculture extentionist and about 75% of her time in youth development and health. She lived in a small, very rural community where two languages were spoken (Spanish and Guarani). She lived in a one room “house” that she fixed up to make home.  It had a concrete floor, electricity, but no running water and no bathroom.

 

She told the story of organizing a “committee” of 17 people to learn to build improved brick cook stoves in the community. The committee raised funds through State Department and local grants. They then used the funds to purchase raw materials, make the bricks from locally available material, then construct the stoves. She was gratified when the committee continued its work (raising funds and construction) after she left.  This was the goal  of her Peace Corps work – to create a sustainable improvement to the standard of living.

 

Emily loved working with children in Paraguay. One of her projects was to design and make a world map with the children. It took about two months of research and work. The colorful map was then used in an eight-week travel and geography course she taught in which these children who had not left their remote village learned to name continents, seas, and some of the countries of the world from their map.

 

She then told the story of “Brian”, one of her young students. He visited her house and went inside on his own and proceeded to take out all of her pots and pans, as well as her spices and precious peanut butter (which had been sent to her from her family in the states). He then took the tablecloth off her table and tied it over his head much as a chef’s toque! He then asked her, “What does my girlfriend want to eat?”  He then worked with her to “prepare” lunch.  It is one of the indelible memories of her time in Paraguay.

 

Emily then proceeded to talk about the Peace Corps mission and goals.  She emphasized again that the Peace Corps was about relationships.  Their mission is World Peace and Friendship.  There are Peace Corps volunteers in some 60 countries in the world.  In EVERY case, they are in a country ONLY when they are invited by the host country.  The Peace Corps works in 6 areas of specialty:  Education (49%), Health (22%), Community Economic Development (11%), Environment (12%), Youth Development (6%) and Agriculture (5%).

 

After describing the benefits of being a Peace Corps Volunteer, as well as describing Peace Corps Response (a shorter volunteer opportunity that might appeal to some Rotarians), she took many questions from the club.

 

 

President Sally “gaveled” the meeting to order at 12:30 precisely. Bob Heely (with Frank Whitman at the piano) led the singing of “Let There be Peace on Earth” and (for the first time) “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”  Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Barry Kesser offered the Invocation in honor of Bill and Dick Gresham for the loss of their mother Adah Doris Trimyer Gresham.

 

Norview Elementary was the school of the week.  President Sally then announced that there were no Rotarians to name in the Visitation Report. Sally Hartman introduced Ron Hartman, her husband and former Peace Corps volunteer as her guest.  John Chittick introduced his guest, Peter Keto.  The Trusty Scribe Mal Branch then introduced his guest, Dan Schaffer, former Norfolk Rotarian and manager of Finks at MacArthur Center.  Jim Sell  introduced is wife Ellen as his guest.

 

Announcements and Club Business.  Began with the announcement of the May birthdays followed by Bob Heely leading “Happy Birthday”:

 

Fines and Happy Bucks.  President Sally started with Happy Bucks to encourage everyone to vote in the local elections and to consider a donation to “Give Local 757” Day which has a goal of raising $1 million for local charities.

Emily then chose the winning raffle ticket, held by George Compo.  George chose the 8 of Diamonds, so the big pot lives to see another day.