Weekly Meeting of Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020: August 19, 2016

WELCOME TO THE WEEKLY MEETING

FRIDAY, August 19, 2016

In this meeting:

Welcome
President’s message
Rotary Calendar
Rotary Minute
ABCs of Rotary
Update on Polio
More from RI President, John Germ
Membership Month
What happened last Saturday
In keeping with Membership Month
What happened on Wednesday
Humour
Foundation Corner
Rotary Anthem
Four-way test to end

NOTE: Where links are provided in the meeting, click the link to view the video. To return to the meeting, click either your browser's BACK button or click the previous window or TAB.

OUR GREETER THIS WEEK IS ROTARIAN JOHN

President's Message

President Paul

Dear fellow Rotarians and Guests,

Welcome to the regular meeting of the Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020. My name is Paul Amoury, and I am the president of the club for the Rotary year 2016-17. I do hope you’ll enjoy the time you spend with us.

As a reminder, RI President John F. Germ chose Rotary Serving Humanity as his theme for 2016-17. Noting Rotary’s unique ability to bring together committed professionals to achieve remarkable goals, RI President Germ believes that “now is the time to capitalize on our success: as we complete the eradication of polio, and catapult Rotary forward to be an even greater force for good in the world.”

Each one of us is important in helping to make Rotary achieve these very worthwhile goals. We all have a role to play.

I hope that you will find your time here worthwhile and that our meeting will inspire you to get more involved in order to achieve our goals.

Thank you for stopping by. I wish you well in the next week and in all that you do for Rotary.

THE ROTARY CALENDAR

AUGUST

Membership and New Club Development

SEPTEMBER

Basic Education and Literacy

OCTOBER

Economic and Community Development

Remember our DG's visit on October 22.

NOVEMBER

The Rotary Foundation

DECEMBER

Disease Prevention and Treatment

JANUARY

Vocational Service

FEBRUARY

Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution

MARCH

Water and Sanitation

APRIL

Maternal and Child Health Month

MAY

Youth Services Month

JUNE

Rotary Fellowships Month

ROTARY MINUTE

QUOTATIONS REGARDING ROTARY

by Rotary International Presidents

1989-90 Hugh M. Archer (electrical engineering), Rotary Club of Dearborn, Michigan, USA. Rotary vision: That Rotarians Enjoy Rotary! in every aspect, from simple fellowship to wide-ranging service.

“…There is so much pleasure in Rotary activities. The breakfast, luncheon, or dinner every week brings you in contact with your fellow members. Their diverse interests and knowledge stimulate your interest in your community…The planning for service projects both close by or across some distant horizon carries us out of our own self-interest into the wonderful world of service to others…[and the] pleasing paradox…that we grow in stature when we give of our time and talent to improve the quality of life for someone else. How strange that when we give dignity to someone else, we grow in dignity ourselves…”

— Enjoy Rotary!, THE ROTARIAN, July 1989

1990-91 Paulo V.C. Costa (architecture), Rotary Club of Santos, São Paulo, Brazil. Rotary vision: To bring about a better world, he challenged all Rotarians to Honor Rotary with Faith and Enthusiasm.

“Rotary International’s masterpiece is The Rotary Foundation….It transforms our most daring dreams into the most splendid realities… The Rotary world and even the political world are already aware that The Rotary Foundation is the most generous expression of Rotarian generosity — a generosity that not only brings benefits, but also brings help and cooperation to solve the problems that affect mankind….Only God achieves the impossible, but The Rotary Foundation achieves the best that mankind can possibly achieve.”

— Address to 1996 Rotary Convention, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

ABCs OF ROTARY

RI President (1992-93) Cliff Dochterman

Extending Rotary

Every 14 hours of every day a new Rotary club is chartered in one of the more than 150 countries in which Rotary exists. This steady growth in new clubs is extremely important in extending the worldwide programs and influence of Rotary International. New Rotary clubs may be established anywhere in the world where the fundamental principles of Rotary may be freely observed and wherever it can reasonably be expected that a successful club can be maintained.

In the process of organizing a new club, the first step is to conduct a survey of the locality to determine the potential for new club extension. The district governor's special representative guides the organization of the new club.

Among the requirements for a new club is the adoption of the Standard Rotary Club Constitution, a minimum of 20 charter members with clearly established classifications, payment of a charter fee, weekly meetings of the provisional club and the adoption of a club name that will distinctly identify it with its locality. A provisional club becomes a Rotary club when its charter is approved by the board of Rotary International.

It is a great opportunity and special duty of all Rotarians to assist and cooperate in organizing new clubs. Knowing that two new Rotary clubs will be chartered someplace in the world today, tomorrow and every day provides a strong endorsement of the vitality and extension of Rotary service throughout the world.

Colorful Governors' Jackets

One of the newest Rotary traditions began in 1984-85 when the district governors decided to wear a distinctive yellow sport coat to official Rotary events. In succeeding years, the president of Rotary

International has selected a colourful jacket for the district governors and other international officers of Rotary. The distinctive yellow jacket of CarIos Canseco was followed by such blazing colours as Paulo Costas's "green coats" (1990-91), Clifford Dochterman's "red coats" (1992-93), Luis Giay's "brick coats" (1996-97), and Glen Kinross' "sea foam green" (1997-98). President Rajendra Saboo selected "wheatcoloured tan" (1991-92) and Hugh Archer picked maroon (1989-90).

Other traditional navy blue jackets were worn during the years of Charles Keller (1987-88), Bill Huntley (1994-95), Herbert Brown (1995-96) and James Lacy (1998-99).

An array of colours and shades has been picked by other presidents. Rotarian leaders annually speculate on the jacket colour to be worn by the incoming world Rotary president.

UPDATE ON POLIO

First wild poliovirus cases in Nigeria

since July 2014

Rapid multi-country response planned

Geneva 11 August 2016 - After more than two years without polio in Nigeria, the Government reported today, that two children have been paralyzed by the disease in the northern Borno state.

As an immediate priority, the Government of Nigeria is collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to respond urgently and prevent more children from being paralyzed. These steps include conducting large-scale immunization campaigns and strengthening surveillance systems that help catch the virus early. These activities are also being strengthened in neighboring countries.

Genetic sequencing of the viruses suggests that the new cases are most closely linked to a wild poliovirus strain last detected in Borno in 2011. Low-level transmission of the poliovirus is not unexpected, particularly in areas where it is difficult to reach children with the vaccine. Subnational surveillance gaps persist in some areas of Borno, as well as in areas of neighbouring countries.

“We are confident that with a swift response and strong collaboration with the Nigerian Government, we can soon rid the country of polio once and for all. This is an important reminder that the world cannot afford to be complacent as we are on the brink of polio eradication – we will only be done when the entire world has been certified polio-free,” said Dr. Michel Zaffran, Director of polio eradication at WHO Headquarters.

As recently as 2012, Nigeria accounted for more than half of all polio cases worldwide, but the country has made significant strides, recently marking 2 years without a case on 24 July 2016. This progress has been the result of a concerted effort by all levels of government, civil society, religious leaders and tens of thousands of dedicated health workers. Recent steps including increased community involvement and the establishment of Emergency Operations Centers at the national and state level have been pivotal to Nigeria’s capacity to respond to outbreaks.

<source - http://www.polioeradication.org/mediaroom>

More from our RI President, John Germ

ROTARY SERVING HUMANITY

Rotary has been many things, to many people, in the last 111 years. Through Rotary, our members have found friends, community, and a sense of purpose; we’ve forged connections, advanced our careers, and had incredible experiences we couldn’t have had anywhere else.

Every week, in more than 34,000 clubs around the world, Rotarians come together to talk, laugh, and share ideas. But above all, we come together for one, overriding goal: service.

Service to humanity has been the cornerstone of Rotary since its earliest days, and has been its main purpose ever since. I believe that there is no better path to meaningful service today than Rotary membership; and no organization better placed to make a real and positive difference in our world. No other organization so effectively brings together committed, capable professionals in a wide variety of fields, and enables them to achieve ambitious goals. Through Rotary, we have the capacity, the network, and the knowledge to change the world: the only limits are the ones we place on ourselves.

Today, our organization is at a critical point: a historic juncture that will determine, in so many ways, what comes next. Together, we have provided extraordinary service to our world; tomorrow, our world will depend on us to do even more. Now is the time to capitalize on our success: as we complete the eradication of polio, and catapult Rotary forward, with determination and enthusiasm, to be an even greater force for good in the world.

Of the many lessons polio eradication has taught us, one of the most important is also one of the simplest: that if we want to bring all of Rotary forward, we’ve all got to be moving in the same direction. Continuity of leadership, at the club, district, and RI level, is the only way we will flourish, and achieve our full potential. It is not enough simply to bring in new members and form new clubs: our goal is not more Rotarians, but more Rotarians who can achieve more good Rotary work, and will become the Rotary leaders of tomorrow.

Near the end of his life, reflecting on the path that brought him to Rotary, Paul Harris wrote:

“Individual effort may be turned to individual needs, but combined effort should be dedicated to the service of mankind. The power of combined effort knows no limitation.”

He could hardly have imagined then that one day, more than 1.2 million Rotarians would be combining their efforts, and, through our Rotary Foundation, their resources, to serve humanity together. And we can only imagine what great deeds Paul Harris would have expected of such a Rotary! It is our responsibility to achieve those deeds; as it is our privilege to carry forth the tradition of Rotary Serving Humanity.

Sincerely,

John Germ

President, Rotary International, 2016-17

MEMBERSHIP MONTH

*******

WHAT HAPPENED SATURDAY

August 13

In keeping with
August as Membership Month....

...submitted by Lindsey Cancino

New members are enthusiastic about joining Rotary and curious about the member experience. Keep that momentum going by giving them the information they need to know as new members, assigning them a mentor, and helping them get involved.

Find more tips in Introducing New Members to Rotary. Click the link below.

Lindsey Cancino, District Membership Chair

An Orientation Guide: https://www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/document/572

Join our very own District Governor Haresh Ramchandani in this Rotary International Webinar to learn ways your club can create an engaging and rewarding member experience you will want to share with others. Many clubs are already embracing new rules and flexibility for their members, now is the perfect time to revitalize and rethink your Rotary Club and breathe new life into your club's membership!

Language: English

WHAT HAPPENED ON WEDNESDAY!

August 17

Half of all US food produce is thrown away, new research suggests

The demand for ‘perfect’ fruit and veg means much is discarded, damaging the climate and leaving people hungry.

Americans throw away almost as much food as they eat because of a “cult of perfection”, deepening hunger and poverty, and inflicting a heavy toll on the environment.

Vast quantities of fresh produce grown in the US are left in the field to rot, fed to livestock or hauled directly from the field to landfill, because of unrealistic and unyielding cosmetic standards, according to official data and interviews with dozens of farmers, packers, truckers, researchers, campaigners and government officials.

From the fields and orchards of California to the population centres of the east coast, farmers and others on the food distribution chain say high-value and nutritious food is being sacrificed to retailers’ demand for unattainable perfection.

“It’s all about blemish-free produce,” says Jay Johnson, who ships fresh fruit and vegetables from North Carolina and central Florida. “What happens in our business today is that it is either perfect, or it gets rejected. It is perfect to them, or they turn it down. And then you are stuck.”

Food waste is often described as a “farm-to-fork” problem. Produce is lost in fields, warehouses, packaging, distribution, supermarkets, restaurants and fridges.

By one government tally, about 60m tonnes of produce worth about $160bn (£119bn), is wasted by retailers and consumers every year - one third of all foodstuffs.

But that is just a “downstream” measure. In more than two dozen interviews, farmers, packers, wholesalers, truckers, food academics and campaigners described the waste that occurs “upstream”: scarred vegetables regularly abandoned in the field to save the expense and labour involved in harvest. Or left to rot in a warehouse because of minor blemishes that do not necessarily affect freshness or quality.

When added to the retail waste, it takes the amount of food lost close to half of all produce grown, experts say.

“I would say at times there is 25% of the crop that is just thrown away or fed to cattle,” said Wayde Kirschenman, whose family has been growing potatoes and other vegetables near Bakersfield, California, since the 1930s. “Sometimes it can be worse.”

“Sunburnt” or darker-hued cauliflower was ploughed over in the field. Table grapes that did not conform to a wedge shape were dumped. Entire crates of pre-cut orange wedges were directed to landfill. In June, Kirschenman wound up feeding a significant share of his watermelon crop to cows.

Researchers acknowledge there is as yet no clear accounting of food loss in the US, although thinktanks such as the World Resources Institute are working towards a more accurate reckoning.

Imperfect Produce, a subscription delivery service for “ugly” food in the San Francisco Bay area, estimates that about one-fifth of all fruit and vegetables are consigned to the dump because they do not conform to the industry standard of perfection.

But farmers, including Kirschenman, put the rejection rate far higher, depending on cosmetic slights to the produce because of growing conditions and weather.

That lost food is seen increasingly as a drag on household incomes – about $1,600 a year for a family of four – and a direct challenge to global efforts to fight hunger, poverty and climate change.

Globally, about one-third of food is wasted: 1.6bn tonnes of produce a year, with a value of about $1tn. If this wasted food were stacked in 20-cubic metre skips, it would fill 80m of them, enough to reach all the way to the moon, and encircle it once. Taking action to tackle this is not impossible, as countries like Denmark have shown.

The Obama administration and the UN have pledged to halve avoidable food waste by 2030. Food producers, retail chains and campaign groups such as the Natural Resources Defense Council have also vowed to reduce food loss in the ReFED initiative.

Food experts say there is growing awareness that governments cannot effectively fight hunger, or climate change, without reducing food waste. Food waste accounts for about 8% of global climate pollution, more than India or Russia.

“There are a lot of people who are hungry and malnourished, including in the US. My guess is probably 5-10% of the population are still hungry – they still do not have enough to eat,” said Shenggen Fan, the director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington. “That is why food waste, food loss matters a great deal. People are still hungry.”

That is not counting the waste of water, land and other resources, or the toll on the climate of producing food that ends up in landfill.

Within the US, discarded food is the biggest single component of landfill and incinerators, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Food dumps are a rising source of methane, a far more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. But experts readily acknowledge that they are only beginning to come to grips with the scale of the problem.

The May harvest season in Florida found Johnson with 11,000kg (24,250lbs) of freshly harvested spaghetti squash in his cool box – perfect except for brown scoring on the rind from high winds during a spring storm.

“I’ve been offering it for six cents a pound for a week and nobody has pulled the trigger,” he said. And he was “expecting an additional 250,000lbs of squash,” similarly marked, in his warehouse a fortnight later.

“There is a lot of hunger and starvation in the United States, so how come I haven’t been able to find a home for this six-cents-a-pound food yet?” Johnson asked.

Such frustrations occur regularly along the entirety of the US food production chain – and producers and distributors maintain that the standards are always shifting. Bountiful harvests bring more exacting standards of perfection. Times of shortage may prove more forgiving.

Retail giants argue that they are operating in consumers’ best interests, according to food experts. “A lot of the waste is happening further up the food chain and often on behalf of consumers, based on the perception of what those consumers want,” said Roni Neff, the director of the food system environmental sustainability and public health programme at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future in Baltimore.

“Fruit and vegetables are often culled out because they think nobody would buy them,” she said.

But Roger Gordon, who founded the Food Cowboy startup to rescue and re-route rejected produce, believes that the waste is built into the economics of food production. Fresh produce accounts for 15% of supermarket profits, he argued.

“If you and I reduced fresh produce waste by 50% like [the US agriculture secretary] Vilsack wants us to do, then supermarkets would go from [a] 1.5% profit margin to 0.7%,” he said. “And if we were to lose 50% of consumer waste, then we would lose about $250bn in economic activity that would go away.”

Some supermarket chains and industry groups in the US are pioneering ugly produce sections and actively campaigning to reduce such losses. But a number of producers and distributors claimed that some retailing giants were still using their power to reject produce on the basis of some ideal of perfection, and sometimes because of market conditions.

The farmers and truckers interviewed said they had seen their produce rejected on flimsy grounds, but decided against challenging the ruling with the US department of agriculture’s dispute mechanism for fear of being boycotted by powerful supermarket giants. They also asked that their names not be used.

“I can tell you for a fact that I have delivered products to supermarkets that was [sic] absolutely gorgeous and because their sales were slow, the last two days they didn’t take my product and they sent it back to me,” said the owner of a mid-size east coast trucking company.

“They will dig through 50 cases to find one bad head of lettuce and say: ‘I am not taking your lettuce when that lettuce would pass a USDA inspection.’ But as the farmer told you, there is nothing you can do, because if you use the Paca [Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act of 1930] on them, they are never going to buy from you again. Are you going to jeopardise $5m in sales over an $8,000 load?”

He said he experienced such rejections, known in the industry as kickbacks, “a couple of times a month,” which he considered on the low side for the industry. But he said he was usually able to sell the produce to another buyer.

The power of the retail chains creates fear along the supply chain, from the family farmer to the major producer.

“These big growers do not want to piss off retailers. They don’t enforce Paca on Safeway, Walmart or Costco,” said Ron Clark, who spent more than 20 years working with farmers and food banks before co-founding Imperfect Produce.

“They are just not going to call because that will be the last order they will ever sell to them. That’s their fear. They are really in a pickle.”

<source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jul/13/us-food-waste-ugly-fruit-vegetables-perfect>

TWO VIDEOS -

And the second video -

Attendees -

Plan to join us on Wednesdays for some fellowship and learning!

THE GUILTY PARTY EXPOSED

Dad was brushing his teeth when his seven-year-old daughter barged into the bathroom. "Aha," she rebuked, "so you're the one who keeps putting the cap back on the toothpaste!"

FEELING AT HOME

Tact is making your friends feel at home, even when you wish they were.

FOUNDATION CORNER

WHAT IS THE ANNUAL FUND

ANNUAL FUND is the primary source of funding for all Foundation activities. Our annual contributions help Rotary Clubs take action to create positive change in communities at home and around the world. Our gift helps strengthen peace efforts, provide clean water and sanitation, support education, grow local economies, save mothers and children and fight disease.

The EVERY ROTARIAN every year (EREY) initiative asks every Rotarian to support The Rotary Foundation every year.

Through our annual Sustaining Member contributions of $100 or more, the Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020 has been a 100% EREY contributor since we were chartered in 2013. Let us continue to support The Rotary Foundation (TRF) through our annual donations.