Notes from June 14, 2016

Posted by Jenifer Loon 
 
Sandhya Gupta:  Nari Gunjan, “Voices of Women”
                Sandhya is a member of the Bloomington Noon Rotary Club.  She was born in India, educated in the United States, and a few years ago, she and her husband sold everything in the U.S. to go back to India and help educate some of the children there.  The program they started, called “Nari Gunjan”, focuses on helping the Dalit communities in Bihar, India.  The Dalit are the lowest order in the cast society of India.  Less than 1% of the Dalit can read or write.  Nari Gunjan focuses upon empowering individuals through education and generational livelihood.  This program receives support from the Rotary International Foundation, which makes their work possible.
              Aavishkaar, which means “invention,” is an intensive program designed to nurture curious, creative and critical thinking through science and nature.  Available to all, Nari Gunjan and Aavishkaar collaborate to provide intensive, residential month-long education camps.  In 2014-15, they served about 120 middle school aged girls.
 
              The Nari Gunjan community has a very strong desire to learn.  They are certainly disadvantaged, in terms of not having access to wealth, but by gaining access to knowledge, they will have the ability to access wealth.  In 2015-16, Aavishkaar developed hands on science and math modules for 6th through 10th grader girls. These modules included residential math and science camps, science fairs and workshops at area schools.  The students are asked to tackle engineering design challenges to develop concept clarity. 
               Because finding quality teachers is very difficult, the students from Nari Gunjan serve as student teachers, conducting classes in the villages and bringing the knowledge they have obtained to others.  Without the education they are receiving, the children who attend Nari Gunjan and Aavishkaar would be laboring for 15 hours a day or more, picking metal from garbage heaps, for $10 a day.  These children would be lost without programs that help them learn and have better economic opportunities.  One of the many young women Sandhya discussed was Park.  She spoke at the U.N. (like Malayla, the young woman who was shot for wanting to get an education) on the importance of child rights, and against forced marriage. 
               A fundraiser will be held on July 12th from 6-9 p.m. at the Indian Zayaka Restaurant in Eagan for Nari Gunjan.  The cost to attend is $75 per person, and for more information on the event, please call 651-470-2779.
 
SPOTLIGHT ON GREG ALBRECHT
               Greg was born in St. Paul, the third of eight children.  As a young adult he moved to Chicago and worked for 3 different manufacturing firms while there.  He also ran the Chicago Marathon every year of the 18 years he lived in the Windy City.  Greg moved back to Minnesota, first to Edina and then to Eden Prairie.  He landed a job with an executive search firm specializing in positions for manufacturing companies.  The firm had 3 partners and when one who was a mentor to Greg passed away, Greg formed a new firm—M & A Executive Search—with the other two partners. 
               Greg has been married to his delightful wife, Julie, for 15 years.  They have 3 grandchildren, and an “adopted” daughter from the former ABC program in Eden Prairie.  Greg has done over 200 triathlons, and more than 90 marathons to date.  He hopes to make it to his goal of 100 marathons and 300 triathlons completed.  He also helps coach others, most recently fellow Rotarian John Crudele.  Greg and Julie are now wintering in Arizona and they love it!  Greg has been a Rotarian for 15 years, and put in a “plug” for the Rotary Foundation.  “Don’t forget you can put it in your will!”
              
ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • June 21st will be President Jan Eian’s Year End Summary meeting and a presentation on the Power of 100 Southwest, which Jan and other Rotary members are involved in.
  • On June 28th our meeting will be held in the evening.  A dinner commemorating our club’s 40th anniversary will be taking the place of our morning meeting. Please sign up to attend.
  • If you haven’t already, please donate to the Rotary Foundation.  Deadline for the current fiscal year is June 30th and our goal is to have every club member make a donation.  Please see Dan O’Brien for details.
 
HAPPY FINES
  • Jeff Olson was back at Rotary.  We have missed you, Jeff!  Jeff recalled fondly a meeting in which Roy Terwilliger arranged to have Sen. Metzen speak. He said Sen. Metzen was very taken by the “gated community” he discovered in Eden Prairie.
  • Dan O’Brien said you learn the most interesting things at our Swallowship gatherings.  At last week’s event, Dan learned that he and Dick Ward are “Parrotheads” (Jimmy Buffet fans).
  • Carol Bomben and husband Ken celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary. Congratulations!
  • Dennis Kim has found hosts for the young woman who is coming to visit Minnesota from Korea.
  • Former, longtime EP a.m. Rotary member, Jim Bissonette, was visiting from Arizona.  Jim joined our club 31 years ago! Great to see you, Jim!
  • John Crudele ran yet another 5k, this time to help bring attention to the problem of human trafficking.
  • Jane’s daughter, Krista, was in attendance at Rotary on Tuesday.  Krista has run 2 5k’s in two weeks.
VISITORS
Visiting Rotarians: Jim Bissonett (AZ),
Prospective Member: 4th visit -  Laurie Pryor (Jan Eian)
Students: Jake Leibold (intern) and Krista McGinty (Jane's daughter)