Norway-Paris Kiwanis Club
Norway - South Paris, Maine
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Meeting of August 20, 2009 Attendance: 22/49 Members
GUESTS: Sherri Olmstead, Guest of Sarah
Thank you! Helga received a note from Deb Cerney thanking us for her recent invitation and attendance at our 85th celebration. It meant a lot to her and Wendy Penley to participate in that event with us. Our 85th Anniversary Banner is being displayed along the fence at the high school and will be there for the next few weeks! SPEAKER/PROGRAM Speaker: Elliott Munn – Seeds of Peace Camp Elliott said this is his second summer as a counselor at the camp. The children who attend camp are from conflict torn areas of the Middle East. They meet six days a week for 90 minutes with professional facilitators to talk about the issues from their homelands. The founder of the camp, journalist John Wallach, happened to be at a meeting in Washington with officials from the countries of Egypt, Israel and Pakistan and challenged those men to send him 15 students each and he would bring peace to these countries. He started with 48 children at the first session. There are two sessions of 3 weeks each. One for the above mentioned countries as well as Jordan and the other session for children from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. There is also a session for Maine students to talk about diversity and socio-economic issues. The students participate in the usual fun camp activities also.
Funding is mainly through donations from individuals and groups like Kiwanis. Payment by families is on a sliding scale. Students are chosen through partnerships with schools. Students have to write essays and are involved in an interview process. English speaking students are preferred though translators are available at camp as well as other campers who are more proficient in the English language. Elliott said these students are, “Making peace one friend at a time.” 09/03/09: Chris Longley |
HAPPY/SAD $$: Kathy Happy $ for Sherri being here and great district convention. We came back with many awards (Bulletin, Public Relations, Club Public Relations, YCPO, Distinguished Club, Distinguished President (Kathy Laplante) & Distinguished Secretary, (Phil Dubois). Great job everyone! Diana Happy $ for attending the district convention and the Mike Lowell autographed baseball she purchased at their silent auction, it is actually worth much more than she paid! Maryann, Happy $ for recent show that her daughter Debbie wrote and her grandson Phoenix composed. It was wonderful. She is also very happy for the sunshine! Sarah, Happy $’s for great time at convention, the upcoming year and concentration on growth in membership, and Diana for picking up the auction items at the convention. Chris, Happy $ for all those from the club working on the New England scene. Bob, Congratulations $ for Sarah and her induction as Lieutenant Governor. Glad she is keeping up the tradition of this club. Happy $ for family all being here and playing golf for the day and going to dinner this evening to celebrate his and Barbara’s 45th Wedding Anniversary! Helga, Happy $’s for Induction of Sarah (she presented Sarah with a wonderful picture from the ceremony) and for an inspiring speech at the convention that ended with the answer from a child who was asked What are the Seven Wonders of the World….their response: To See, To Hear, To Feel, To Touch, To Care and To Love! What wonderful words to live by….