February 22nd, 2018 Meeting

February 22, 2018 Spoke
Today’s Program:
The Great Power Competition, Nuclear Weapons & Wyoming, United States Air Force General Donald Alston
 
February 15, 2018
Meeting Summary
Presiding: Tim Eisenhauer
Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan, Ron Van Ekeren & Lindy Johnson
Inspiration:
Professor’s Quote: Klaus Hanson
Guests: Todd Pearson introduced prospective members Tim Snowbarger and Jamie Terry
Exchange Students:
Visiting Rotarians:
Junior Rotarians:
Rotaract Students:
Humor: Todd Pearson
Foundation Drawing: Ray McElwee won $10, with 40 cards in the deck.
O’Dwyers Drawing: Joe Steiner won a $20 gift card from ODwyer’s.
 
Announcements:
  • Tim Eisenhauer noted that board elections are coming up. There will be a couple weeks where you can cross your name off if you do not want to be on the board. There are two open positions. One is currently being filled by Steve Morgan, who could continue his service if voted in by the club.
  • Tim Eisenhauer asked the club to consider reading at Open School every other week. There will be a sign up soon.
  • Tim Eisenhauer told the club that state FBLA is still in need of judges. Talk to him for more information.  
 
Introduction of Program: Esther McGann
 
David Adder, a representative for ShelterBox, spoke to the club. ShelterBox originally started as a Rotary project out of England in 2000. The ShelterBox headquarters is still in England.
 
ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that provides immediate emergency shelter and other lifesaving aid to survivors of a disaster or humanitarian crisis.
 
The goal of ShelterBox is to have no family without shelter. The organization works to keep people in their communities so the people can keep their relationships. This community contact is important so the community doesn’t fall apart.
 
When a disaster happens and ShelterBox is called in, a response team is activated and moved as close as possible to the disaster site. Then, aid is transported by whatever means necessary. Response teams work with the local community to identify the must vulnerable to receive aid first.
ShelterBox tailors its approach to each disaster so the people in need are getting what they need most. ShelterBox can provide tented shelter, thermal blankets, groundsheets, water purification systems, solar lights, cooking utensils, tool kits, mosquito nets, and children’s activity packs.
 
Currently, ShelterBox has deployed about 60 full text boxes to the Philippines and then deployed several Shelter Kits. These are used to temporarily close a structure. It is one of the organization’s key pieces of aid now because it allows them to help more people.
 
There are challenges in the field. Because of this ShelterBox looks at each disaster and pulls items from its aid package that will work best. In some places, this means that the main form of aid is the children’s activity packs.
 
ShelterBox responds to a new disaster every two weeks. The most common is flooding, and conflict is the second most common disaster. ShelterBox assisted with the 2016 Fiji typhoon, the current Syrian Refugee Crisis, the 2015 Nepal earthquake, and many others.
 
ShelterBox was deployed in the U.S. for Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy, and the tornadoes in Oklahoma and Arkansas.
 
ShelterBox will only distribute aid based on need. It relies on private donations and support from Rotary Clubs to provide this relief service worldwide.
 
Adder told the club that there are 85 million displaced people worldwide, and that number is growing. ShelterBox has provided aid to 1.3 million people in 93 countries since 2000.
 
Because of the extreme need worldwide, ShelterBox is ramping up efforts with the goal of providing help to 1 million people each year by 2025.
 
Our Rotary Club provides a donation to ShelterBox each year. ShelterBox doesn’t receive any governmental funding.
 
Responding for the Club: John Bard
 
Response: The Rotary Club of Laramie will make a donation to the public library children’s book fund in the speaker’s name.
NOTE: We Do Not Donate a Book!
 
Rotary 4-way Test:
Of the things we think, say, or do
  • Is it the Truth?
  • Is it Fair?
  • Will it build Good Will and Better Friendships?
  • Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
 
Special Announcement from John & Joyce Vandel: John & Joyce Vandel encouraged all members of the club to become part of the Paul Harris Society. They will match everyone’s monetary donation up to 500 points. Members should turn their donations in to Nicole Nelson.
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Spoke Editor: Caitlin White