The September 6, 2023 meeting opened on Zoom (29 members on zoom) and in person at the University of Michigan’s Anderson Room.

At 12:32, President Foster called the meeting to order.  Tom Strode led us in “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”.  Inspiration was provided by Ryan Peterson who talked the transition into fall about embracing each season as each season is beautiful is its time.  Dave Keosaian led us in song with “As Time Goes By”.

President Foster welcomed two visiting Rotarians – from Ann Arbor Rotary North, Phil Zapeda and Zach Barton from State College PA who works for a nonprofit – Lori’s Hands.  John Sepp introduced two guests – Maddie Gail Lemon who works for the Michigan chapter of Lori’s Hands and Ben Matthews who is possibly interested in joining Rotary and is new to Ann Arbor.  Meeting volunteers and birthdays for the week were recognized.

Roy More announced that the last day for sign up for the GPO is today and Peg Talburtt shared information about the fabulous silent auction items and raffle tickets. There is no meeting next week because of the GPO.

Ed Johnson presented information about the Adopt-A-Highway scheduled for Saturday September 30 from 9 – 11:30 am. Co-committee leader is Leo Shedden.  Meeting point is the Kensington Hotel.  What to Wear:  long pants, boots & gloves. Clean-up will last just over an hour. Lunch is provided. If interested send an email to adoptahighway@a2rotary.org.

President Foster read the following statement from Shannon Polk of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation: “Please accept this sincere note of thanks to the Ann Arbor Rotary Foundation for its gift of $20,000 for the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor Scholarship Fund. Although I missed the opportunity to thank you in person for this key contribution, I applaud the gift and the club’s continued commitment to serving Washtenaw County students by providing sustainable funding and resources to them in their pursuit of degree attainment. As you are aware, your contribution is leveraged by other funds within the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation’s Community Scholarship Program to support both the in-the-classroom and outside-the classroom needs of our scholars, which has resulted in student completion and graduation rates that are double the national benchmark. In this way, your support is a perfect example of how working collaboratively on shared goals makes a difference in the lives of people in Washtenaw County. We hope that you will continue to partner with us to build the economic and educational success of area youth and, while I regret not having thanked the group in person during my remarks, we want you to know how much your support means to us.”

Rob Shiff reported that he and Linda Kentes have continued to research options for continuing Zoom meetings in a cost-effective manner. Shiff reported that about a third of members participate via Zoom each week.  Pat Murphy was recognized as he has been a valuable resource in assisting with the Zoom meetings. Linda Kentes has also done an excellent job managing the overall meeting support including Zoom. Rob said that we are using a lower cost camera now – which saves $50/week and another cost reduction measure is to reduce or eliminate assistance from the Michigan Union. The Board will review the options presented by Linda & Rob at the September meeting and vote on the options. A reminder that the Board has provided financial support through September.

Linda Kentes introduced John Barrie.  Barrie is Founder and Chief Innovator at the Appropriate Technology Collaborative, an award-winning nonprofit company that designs green technologies for low income people throughout the world.  He is an Architect, Industrial Designer, past Adjunct Professor of Architecture at U-M and faculty member at Washtenaw Community College. He is the Co-Founder of Mayan Power and Light (MPL), an award-winning social venture business incubator program in Guatemala. In 2016 Mayan Power and Light was recognized as one of the top 100 sustainable enterprises by the United Nations Compact for Sustainable Development. In 2019 Mayan Power and Light won the Energy Globe Prize for Guatemala. The Energy Globe Prize is the world’s most prestigious energy and environmental prize.  Barrie also works with “World Challenge Design Teams” – groups of engineering, design and business students from colleges and universities across the United States to develop new appropriate technologies for low-income people in the developing world. His specialties include: Appropriate Technology, International Development, Design for the Base of the Economic Pyramid, Green Buildings, Clean Technology, Speaking, Conducting Workshops, Teaching. He organized and led the RCAA trip to Guatemala which took place from July 22-30.

Barrie said the Rotary International Committee had funded various trips in Guatemala and the purpose of this trip was to visit past, present and future projects.  Another goal was to meet the Rotary E-Club of Lake Atitlan & other Rotarians; visit Santa Cruz where RCAA helped install solar; see Rotary water, WASH, Solar & clean stove projects; help install solar (optional); and have fun!

An Interact team from Idaho also joined as volunteers. RCAA sponsored installation of solar power at a Guatemalan school which provides power for the school including a computer lab. Students work in the field during the day and take classes online at the computer lab in the evening which is moving the population out of poverty due to obtaining education. A potential project (not yet funded by RCAA global grants) is to install water capture at Vista Hermosa.

Another attendee, Linda Kentes next presented information about the trip. Most of the population is indigenous with many different regions and 22 different dialects. The travel agent who arranged the trip treated them to a traditional Mayan feast. The group first flew into Guatemala City and then went to Antigua which is a beautiful city with colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. There are also volcanoes in the area and is prone to earthquakes. Next stop was Lake Atitlan, in a small town off the shores of the lake, Panajachel which also has (nonactive) volcanoes. Some of the sightseeing adventures included traveling around the lake in water taxis and traveling around the town in tuktuks. A side trip was to a Mayan ruin – Iximche. Another fantastic location they visited was a school built by Rotary.

Wendy Zielen was the next Guatemalan trip presenter and shared that one of the first places they visited was CECAP – Centro de Capacitacion in Santa Cruz La Laguna. The trip exceeded all of her expectations as far as the beauty. Most of the villages are built into the hillside away from the shores of the lake. One of the first tasks they performed was weaving. All of the different motifs in the shirts that are woven represent various villages. Another town they visited was Bambu, Tzununa. The Bambu hotel was constructed of bamboo with the assistance of John Barrie’s nonprofit expertise. The natural resources of Guatemala are extraordinary and conservation is key. The group was introduced to WellKind Guatemala which is another organization that works on the following initiatives:  reforestation, family gardens, leadership development, education, environmental awareness and women’s artisan cooperative.

Mary Avrakotos, another trip attendee, shared information about the clean stove project which uses 50% less wood and provides clean burning (limits indoor pollution) by using Onil stoves. The group worked on a stove installation in Bamboo kitchen. 2,390 stoves have been installed to date with the goal of installing 11,000 more. Benefits of the clean stoves is the combustion chamber which burns very hot & efficient which then burns less wood thus preserving natural resources. The group also worked on repairing older clean stoves.

Finally, John Barrie concluded the presentation by mentioning that they group installed solar power on 4 houses and solar brings the ability to work at night.

There is no meeting next week.

Quote for the Day: “The Four Way Test”

Of the things we think, say or do: 1) is it the TRUTH? 2) Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3) Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS, 4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

President Foster adjourned the meeting at 1:32.

Respectfully submitted by,

Jennifer Fike