Presiding: Nicole Hauser
Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan and Ron Van Ekeren
Inspiration:
Professor’s Quote: George Gill
Introduction of Guests: Tim Eisenhauer
Guests: Todd Pearson introduced prospective member Hanna Eslinger; Beth Jones introduced Matt Lockhart.
Exchange Students:
Visiting Rotarians:
Junior Rotarians/RYLA/Young RYLA: Owen & Yessica
Rotaract Students:
Humor: Todd Pearson
Foundation Drawing: George Gill won $10 with $923.50 in the jackpot.
O’Dwyers Drawing: George Gill
Announcements:
Sara Davis announced that Downey & Associates are hosting an 80th birthday party for Keith Downey. The party is Monday, Dec. 16 from 4:30-7pm at Cask 307. Call his office to RSVP.
Larry Struempf encouraged members to sign up for the Christmas party on Dec. 17 at O’Dwyers. The price is $23/person.
Christie Roberts invited Rotarians to purchase a cookbook from Laramie Soup Kitchen for $20.
Nicole Hauser invited members to sign up for a Serve the Servants dinner on Christmas. She will email out more details.
Upcoming Programs:
Dec. 19: An Educational Journey Through Ecuador, Kaitlyn Emerson
Dec. 26: No meeting!
Special Presentation: President Nicole Hauser presented Owen and Yessica with their Junior Rotarian Certificates.
Rotarian of the Week: Tony Hoch nominated Kermit Brown for his help with the Pilot Hill project at UW; Nicole Hauser nominated Tim Eisenhauer, Sara Davis, and Nicole Nelson for managing he greeting table.
Songs: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Program: Global Scholarship - Displacement Study in Turkey, Matthew Schneider
Introduction: Rollin Abernethy
Matthew Schneider was District 5440’s Global Scholarship recipient for the last fiscal year. Matthew was an applicant from UW, and our club sponsored his application.
Matthew studied refugees and displacement of people in Turkey. His background is architecture and engineering, and he would eventually like to work in disaster relief. Matthew studied at Koç University in Istanbul.
Matthew looked into the cultural aspect and sustainability of one-stop-shops for refugees at a forced migration research center.
The idea of one-stop-shops to combine all refugee services in one building started in Portugal. Through data gathering, the research team was looking for improvements related to environment, physical health, and mental health with a holistic approach. The research expanded to be more related to urban design to find the best places for centers.
Matthew researched destigmatization strategies for refugees, especially through language delivery methods. Often learning the native language is a big problem for refugees, even ones who have been in the country for 10 years.
Matthew worked on a research database that has since been highlighted at several conferences. His host Rotary Club in Istanbul is going to use the database to plan and implement a project related to refugee women.
In 2011, there were 60,000 refugees in Turkey. Today there are 4 million. There are 70 million refugees worldwide, and Turkey is the largest host country, mostly to Syrian refugees.
Most of these refugees live in urban areas, around Istanbul or towards the Mediterranean Sea. It is estimated that by 2025, 70 percent of people will live in a city or urban area. Only 9 percent of refugees coming to Turkey speak Turkish. A high majority at 90 percent speak Arabic. The majority of these refugees are women at 62 percent. Men normally do not travel with their families.
There are a large number of children not in school at 35 percent. These children need to work or cannot afford to attend. The average monthly income is 1500 Turkish lira, which is about $300. Expenses are normally higher so these refugees are struggling with poverty. Over 73 percent need help with food.
Most live in apartments or have a living space. A high portion at 93 percent rent, and most households have six people.
There are about seven refugee camps on the border to Syria, which are all fairly well maintained.
Response: Paul Heimer
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?
‘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!
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Website: laramierotaryclub.org
Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-1965, cwhite@acplwy.org
