May 14, 2015 Meeting of West Bay Rotary
Posted by Jennifer Bell
on May 17, 2015
West Bay Rotary Club Meeting
5/14/2015
Today’s Speaker was Makoto Hayashi our Japanese exchange student. Makoto gave a wonderful talk with slides about his experience in America. In very humorous fashion Makoto describes his reaction when he learned he was coming to America. He explained that America was his third choice, as his mother was concerned about the violence in America. Then, he was hoping he would go somewhere warm, like Florida. He was a little concerned when he had to keep looking further north to find district 7790. At first he was disappointed but soon he found everyone so friendly and the surroundings so pretty that he has loved being here. He knew a little English before he came but he still found the first few months exhausting having to speak English all the time. He has learned a lot of English by watching American comedy films. His favorite English word is “Puke”.
Makoto had some comments about our culture. He was surprised at the quality of school food. He thought the choices are too unhealthy and the portions are too big. In Japan, the school food is very healthy and are reasonable portions. There is also very little waste. In Japan he never did house chores. Here, he has learned about vacuuming, doing laundry, cooking and doing dishes.
He has done many new things while in America. He has been camping, white water rafting, mountain biking and sailing. He was on the relay swim team for Pen Bay YMCA and the team qualified for Nationals. It was the first team from PenBay YMCA to ever qualify. He and his team went to North Carolina for the swim meet and had a great time. He also finally got to go to Florida with Mike Pierce and his family. He really liked Florida. Makoto will be sorry to leave the US and thanks us for a great year.
Heidi Karod introduced next year’s outbound exchange students:
Ruby Ianelli will be going to La Plata Argentina
Mariah Does Hooke will be going to Japan
Masons on a Mission: West Bay Rotary presented Pat Maney a check for $3125.00 to support his efforts in Guatemala building wood fired stoves for people in remote mountainous regions of Guatemala. Our club raised $2125.00 and the foundation gave $1000.00. Masons on a Mission are going to Guatemala again next March. They are looking for about 12 more volunteers. Contact Pat Maney if you are interested.
Buckets on the table are for a fundraiser for a local family struggling with cancer.
Rotary District Conference in Quebec: Tim and Lisa Dresser went to the District Conference and Reported that West Bay Rotary won a Presidential Citation, Governor’s Citation and was given recognition as one of four clubs that gave over $1500 to Polio plus!!! Tim and Lisa were very proud of our club.
Mike Pierce and Terry Bregy were given Rotary pins for bringing in new members.
Duck Derby: Please give Peter Burke your money from selling tickets. Peter still needs people for the day of the event.
Scholarship committee: Jim Potter reported that they met yesterday and they are giving 12 awards this year.
Community Service - Mark Masterson reminded the club that if you have an organization that might benefit from the services of the Community Service group talk to Mark.
Lisa Dresser: Make - A - Wish Walk: 3 mile walk is next Thursday, 5/21/15 Meet at the Congregational Church at 5:45pm.
Kristin Lindquist: Auctioned off her husband’s newest book, “The Precipice”. Sold for……$60 to Lisa Sojka! The money will be donated to the Rotary Foundation.
Next Week’s Speaker: Was supposed to be Heinz Lehman but Terry hasn’t heard from him.