Pittsfield Rotary Club…11-14-07

Visitors;  Camille Donaldson, counselor for Western School District,.

Visiting Rotarian:  jack Garner from Pennsylvania.

Student guests; Jon Williams, son of Curt and Tory.  He’s into Physics, Biology, Journalism, Marching band, Pep band, and Student Council.  Works at Mile’s Place, and wants to be  a Pharmacist or Dentist, and will attend University of Illinois.

Kelsi Fesler, daughter of Gary and Cathy.  Kelsi is in NATIONAL Honor Society, Student Council, Cheerleader, Volleyball, Pep Band and is active I  the hull Methodist Church. She has worked with Karen’s Dance Studio for 11 years. Likes  swimming and boating, and will attend the University of Missouri in Business Administration.

December 11 at 6:30,   at the Cross Roads Center, we will have the Christmas party.

Shirley Johnson gave a report on the Interact Committee and they are working on organization.  More later.

El Presidente announced that November 28 is Hawaiian Shirt Day at Rotary… wear you fanciest……

Program:  Mel Martin introduced our program for today, John Wolford from Guyana, S. America.  He is staying with Becky and John Freesmeyer.  (Becky was born in  Guyana, when her parents were missionaries there.

John is involved in all phases of Agriculture in this country and coordinated World Food Day there.  He is married to a Medical Doctor, has one biological son, but also helps fatherless boys he takes off the streets, and helps them become useful citizens, where all have achieved excellence.

Guyana is 2/3rds surrounded by Brazil, has less than 1 million people, most of whom live on the costal plain.   They have recently discovered that their coast contains the largest known oil supply in the world.

John hopes that the  oil will help eliminate the 56 percent poverty level, allowing a more comfortable life .

Currently expect problems with Venezuela, due to Chavez and oil.

3 People are important in life…the midwife, the farmer and the Mortician…….

Main crops are rice, sugar and cassava…(tapioca).  Most of the people are descendents of slaves, however the have 9 indigenous tribes.   They used several countries constitutions to finalize theirs……

They have 6 religious holidays…2 Muslim, 2 Hindu and 2  Christian.