Eden Prairie AM Rotary Bulletin - Feb. 2, 2015 (Jan 29, 2015)

In 1939 California began to exchange students with Latin America. In 1967 the first North Star Exchange was a Swedish girl and a boy from Finland.Jane recognized the committee members and invited all members to join the Rotary Youth Exchange committee. She then introduced Ana Boekhorst, our exchange student from Brazil.

Jane recognized the committee members and invited all members to join the Rotary Youth Exchange committee. She then introduced Ana Boekhorst, our exchange student from Brazil.

Ana (pronounced Ŏnă) is from Paracatu, Brazil, which is in Rotary District 4760. Her father is originally from the Netherlands and her mother from South Brazil. Her mother’s great grandparents were from Germany. Her father came to Brazil to farm. They produce soybeans, corn, sugar cane and raise cows, pigs and fish (Tilapia).

She went through an overview of Brazil highlighting when it was founded and when it became independent. It is the 5^th largest country in the world. The capitol of Brazil is Brasilia. It has a population of 184 million people in 26 states. The language of Brazil is Portuguese and the motto on the national flag is “Order and Progress”. Ana showed beautiful pictures of Brazil. Geography, culture, food and of her family and friends. Ana’s home city is Paracatu. The city is known for mining gold. The mining company is a Canadian company and 100% of the gold that is mined is exported.

School structure is different than in the United States. Students are segregated by grade. They stay in their classrooms and teachers move from class to class to teach. They don’t have “fun” classes like Sewing and Creative Foods. All subjects are taught each year. Student wear uniforms or are not allowed to attend. Ana began studying English at the age of 11. She attended a private school there ince the public schools do not provide a high level of education. Upon completion of her exchange program she will go back to finish High School and then attend the University in South Brazil.

Ana’s father has been an inspiration to her. He speaks a number of languages and has traveled extensively.

Ana’s 2015 Wish List (Jane’s idea) for her time in MN is to: Water Ski ....Snow Ski and Snowboard ... Roller Skate and Ice Skate (without breaking any bones) .... Fish ... and Snow Tube

Ana thanked Rotary for their support and she also thanked her past and current host families. Her first host family was Kevin and Gwen Schultz and her current family is Barry and Jennifer Pawelek with their two children.

SPOTLIGHT ON BOB DAVIS

Bob started by speaking Spanish. He married his wife, Gigi, who is originally from the Dominican Republic. He met her while a volunteer for the Peace Corp there.

They have had experience hosting students for various organizations and supporting the involvement of exchange students.

Bob is an Eagle Scout and active in the Boy Scouts of America.

He is a Grand Mason and currently their PR Chair.

Bob is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) at Financial Compass, located in Eden Prairie. He teaches a variety of classes on IRA planning, Cyber Security, and teaching “20 somethings” about savings.

Bob’s father graduated with Jenifer Loon’s Uncle in a small high school with a class size of about 40.

Bob’s father was a Methodist minister.

Bob also serves as the Chairman of a small private school in Chaska.

New Member Induction

Randi Anderson was inducted into Rotary, sponsored by Jeanne Zetah. She is with the Eden Prairie School System serving as the Director of Personalized Learning.and Instruction. She wis the newest alternate member for the Eden Prairie Schools corporate membership, along with Supt. Curt Tryggestad as the primary member and Josh Swanson as the other alternate.

Happy Fines

Jane McGinty – Happy about exchange family

Irene Kelly – Attended District meeting last week and brought back a gift for Jared, a bouncing "Light Up" ball to help him “Shine on Rotary”

Angela Wandera – Happy to be here and to have celebrated her birthday yesterday!

Dennis Kim – Happy for Rotary Youth Exchange. Just completed 1 of 3 orientation meetings for 70 teens potentially going to 30 different countries. Thankful for their opportunity for a life changing experience.

Barry Pawelek – Very happy to have Ana in their home!

Robb Hiller- Happy for two things: Brad Aho’s excellent progress and daughter in Pasadena who sent a picture with a caption, “Bigger than a tent”! Anticipating the arrival of a new baby.

VISITORS:

Guests: Gigi Davis (Bob Davis’ wife); Barry, Jennifer, Eli and Abby Pawelek (Ana’s current host family): Kevin and Gwen Schultz (Ana’s first host family); Marie Tornquist (Former RYE student to Brazil); Renae Jacobus (School Board chair and potential host parent)

Madeline and Krista McGinty (Jane's daughters); and Katie Cornwell, past speaker who volunteered time in Brazil