Visiting With a Friend and Eating Jambalaya

It was a good day for Jambalaya and catching up with a friend. Today's weather was misty and windy with the temperature falling. Yats on College was perfect.

I met with Greg who selected for last year's Rotary District 6560 Outbound Group Study Exchange (GSE) to the countries of Kenya and Ethiopia (in Africa). Greg was interested in Africa before on the trip. Now he is really interested in making a difference somewhere in Africa.

Greg gave me a book, Facing the Congo -- A Modern-Day Journey into the Heart of Darkness, by Jeffrey Tayler. It is story of a seasoned traveler and journalist's trip to re-trace Stanely trip down the Congo River.

Greg decided to join the Carmel Rotary Club. It was exciting news to find another passionate person for Rotary's work in Africa.

Visiting with the Rotary Club of Topeka - Online

Sierra Leone ranks 177th of 177 countries listed by the lastest UN Human Development Index. The speaker at today's meeting spoke about experiences in Sierra Leone. It takes courage to step out of your comfort zone.

Congo (DR Congo) ranks 168th. It is bad there, so I can imagine Sierra Leone.

Woody Collins
blog: http://www.EndingExtremePoverty.org
facebook: http://profile.to/woodycollins/

Researching the Anti-Malarial Drug, Artemisinin

Malaria is still the single largest child killer in Africa. The disease takes the lives of some 3,000 children per day.

The Rotary Club of Honesdale is supporting the Himalayan Institute's project to grow Artemisinin (Artemesia Annua L). The plant leaves are used to make tea to treat malaria.

Also visit www.EndingExtremePoverty.org

Crunching Numbers over the Phone

I was caught off guard. The District's expert for Rotary Foundation Matching Grants called me to go over the budget. I was still sitting at the computer but I was not prepared for crunching numbers over the phone.

It was totally unsettling: phone in one hand, and the other hand was in charge of the mouse, calculator, and pen. But I survived!

Working in the Backroom of Rotary Club Indianapolis NE

What is the Backroom of a Rotary Club? I think it is serving on the board of directors. When you serve as an officer, I consider that being outfront on the floor. But when you served as a director, it is in the backroom behind the door.

Early this morning, I attended my monthly board of directors meeting. It is was time of reviewing, evaluating, and planning what the club will be doing the rest of year.

Tom, I am glad the UN Secretary General stood you up!

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was justified in skipping his appointment last week with the Rotary International's Board of Directors. The Secretary General was traveling to Africa (Kenya and Congo) to mediate peace between fighting rebels backed Rwanda and government troops of DR Congo.

Tom Branum, a RI Director and member of my Rotary Club (Indianapolis Northeast), relied this story to me today. Therefore, I apologized to Tom on behalf of the 250,000 displaced people in eastern Congo because of this latest conflict. Also, I gave a "Happy Buck" in honor of the UN Secretary General.

visit http://www.EndingExtremePoverty.org for furthur details.