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PE Bob Simon presided over today’s meeting and had his standup comedic talents on display. Who knew!! He started by telling us he used to be a runner but never ran a marathon. Apparently, this is a running joke among him and his friends. Then he told us how plethora means a lot to him. He finished by talking about how he thought his dryer was shrinking his clothes. It turned out however; it was the refrigerator all along. Get ready for his year as President, it is coming......
PE Bob started the meeting by recognizing and welcoming PDG Guity Javid and her husband Mark Ameli. Also visiting were two of Sam and Val’s friends, Rachel and Alina. Zoom was packed with members PP Ron Lyster, PP Ed Jackson, PP Nancy McCready, PP Steve Scherer Chuck McCready and Carol Rosenstein along with Clare King Lassman from Younited School in Israel.
PE Bob thanked Janet Schwartz who for the 100’s time this year was the greeter. Ethan Kim led the pledge, and PP Michael Newman gave a wonderful Thought of Day on the common good of bringing diverse populations together towards peace. He then reminded everyone that the theme for this year is Unite for Good with Rotary having thirty-four thousand clubs doing good around the world. PP Ed Gauld in his Navy hat led the group in singing Anchors Aweigh reveling us with a story about how in 1958 his naval vessel was headed for Cuba where he planned to have a fun time only to be disappointed when the new leader, Castro thought otherwise of that idea Castro probably save PP Ed from getting arrested!
PP Marsha Hunt was then asked to come to the podium to talk about her Emmy winning job. She explained how she came to work as an independent contractor for Fox Sports News for over 30 years all thanks to her work ethics and preparation and, a good word from Terry Bradshaw. PP Marsha as the producer or her team have won several Emmy's over the years for their commercials and interviews of well-known sports figures.
After hearing the week in History about the Marines being founded, Armistice Day, Holland Tunnel opening, Oklahoma becoming a state, Moby Dick being published and Elvis Presley’s first moving being released, Clare King Lassman of Younited School was introduced.
Clare began by thanking the Rotary Club of Westwood Village along with PP Mark and Lynn Rogo for the continuing support of the school in Israel. She then told us the school is now in its eighth year, it is a high school and boarding school made up of one-third Jewish students, one-third Arab students and one-third students from around the world such as from Venezuela, African nations, Eastern Europe and Viet Nam. It is an English speaking school although the students all speak different languages, have different educations and different religions and customs. It is a diverse group who are brought together because of their desire to be future leaders, have a passion for peace and want to change the world for the better. Academics play into this as well but, it is not the main reason these students were selected to study at the school.
This is a diverse group of students who would never usually come together if not for this school. They learn to listen to each other, get to know each other, try to find ways to get along in peace all while learning skills to become the leaders of tomorrow while accepting all religions, cultures and narratives into the mix.
We were then joined by two students on ZOOM (it is 11pm in Israel at the time of this meeting) Bar and Selihom. Bar is originally from Israel but moved to Nigeria for six years before returning to study at Younited School. He is a senior who rooms with an Arab and has many Arab friends. Selihom is in her second year at school studying to become a cardiologist after, as a seven-year-old, losing her younger sister to medical malpractice. Selihom is from Ethiopia.
Selihom is a Christian who always wanted to travel abroad and came to the school one month after the war broke out October 7, 2023. Her family was very worried about her safety, but her father supported her desire to study at this school. Bar came to the school one month before the war broke out and immediately returned home where he participated via ZOOM for two months before returning.
At the start of the war many of the students were at home in Israel because it was the Jewish Holiday. The International students were still on campus, so the school remained open although it was one of very few in Israel that did. There was concern that the students who left on holiday would not return to school but most of them did. It was difficult for the students when the first all came back together, but eventually, they did find ways to once again become friends and share perspectives on what was happening.
These two students were very well spoken, great ambassadors for the school and no doubt future leaders in conflict resolution wherever they chose to live and work.
PE Bob ended the meeting on time thanking Clare, Selihom and Bar for their participation. This is a wonderful school and I for one am very happy and proud the Rotary Club of Westwood Village supports it.
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