Pledge, Prayer, 4-Way Test: Mary Polchaninoff
Sergeants Report: Jessica Pilcher
Raffle Winners: Alan, Marty, Dave C
Card Game Winner: Nancy
Happy Bucks: Graduating grandkids, for everyone here today, Red Sox streak, golf at Fenwick with son and grandsons, wife's birthday, nice weather for the rest of the week, 47th anniversary, our speaker today, being here, eating lettuce, having Kris back for the program presentation from a year ago, and Kris was happy to be here!
Kris Nystrom is the Executive Director of the nonprofit, readingtheworldinc.com who had previously spoken to the club on June 25, 2025. Kris started by asking, "what would you be doing if we didn't know how to read?" 98 million children, mostly girls, have no access to education in Sub-Sahara Africa. 9 of the top 10 countries in illiteracy are in Africa. In developed nations like ours, we take literacy for granted as part of our privilege. Kris has been involved with Rotary, taught English at the college level and is active building literacy programs in "school deserts". Reasons for this situation include violent conflict, environmental catastrophe, poverty and geographic obstacles such as rivers that need to be crossed in order to reach a school. In Sub-Sahara Africa only 38% of children complete secondary education.
There has been progress. In Emunkushi, primary schools are being built under trees as corrugated shanties using whatever building material is available. Wild animals including elephants, lions and leopards pose challenges. Elephants can be very destructive to structures. Used shipping containers are being re-purposed to provide durable starter structures and provide safety, security and warmth. They can be expanded to accommodate more students including adults who are welcomed twice a week. A certified teacher leads classes. The local community has gone on to build a banking system.There are reading clinics in Nwawasua teaching homeless orphans who live on the streets. The community gave them a small building as a start and has since tripled in size, complete with a kitchen, WiFi and a computer the public can use. An apartment has been added and they have partnered with a nearby medical services clinic. The local population is vested and they do all the work to sustain these services.
There are new and ongoing projects. Reading clinics are being established in Ghana, Uganda and Kenya. Medical services for girls are becoming more available. Sanitary pads, health education and boys responsibilities are taught. Typically girls become brides when menstruation begins so education can change the trajectory of their lives. They take great pride in reading and writing and just being able to spell and write their names is a source of joy. Kris told of 2 girls named Barbar and Faith who are now literate and on track to teach. There are traveling libraries bring books to remote areas in Kenya. Many are experiencing books for the first time.
Donations through zeffy.com, no matter how small can go a long way. For example,$10/month will provide a book a month to a library for a year.
We are glad to welcome our newest member Patrick (Pat) Wiley. Pat is a Navy veteran and retired engineer who worked for NASA on the development of the lunar module for the Apollo program. He is an avid sailor who enjoys woodworking and writing - he has published 4 books! He has also had a life of service and giving. After the program given by Kris Nystrom, Pat said that $1500 put a student through college in Tanzania. Pat sponsored 2 students. He and his wife Louise have 8 children and 17 grandchildren.
Nancy Morin presented Kathy Callinan her award that was presented at the recent district meeting in Norwalk. Well deserved!
Gary McCauley has reported that raffle sales are very good - $4,000 worth so far. The break even is $3,000. There will be more opportunities to sell tickets and any suggestions for events to sell tickets are welcome. If you need more tickets, just ask Gary or John. The next concert is July 29 and the food drive is also coming up this Saturday.
GOLF TOURNAMENT, SEPT. 14
Charlie Renshaw reports so far we have 24 golfers for the tournament. The goal minimum is 72 but more is better. We also need sponsors so lets get going!
UPCOMING CLUB MEETING DATES/TOPICS/OTHER NEWS
July 25, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Stop and Shop, Old Saybrook, Food Drive for Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries (Joan W)
July 29 - Concert on the Green – Club Social
August 5 - Speaker is Old Saybrook Police Chief William Onofrio
September 14 - Golf Tournament - Fox Hopyard (tickets on sale on line now)
September 26 – Alzheimer’s Walk (Martha)
September 26 - Shredding Event - OSSH
October 3 – 9am-3pm, District Learning Assembly, New London (Nancy)
October 3 and 4 - Chamber of Commerce Arts & Crafts Festival (Oct 4th we will have the drawing for the Grocery Raffle)
October 24, 25 - Macaroni Dinner
