ROTARIANS SOWING SEEDS TO FIGHT WORLD HUNGER
John Batcha
By Jill Santuccio
 Don
Millen introduced North Mecklenburg Rotarian John Batcha who
spearheads a seed program that recently was selected as the
district-wide showcase project. "Rotarians Sowing Seeds to Fight
World Hunger" has grown from John's passion into an international
Rotary project encompassing clubs from several states. A Rotarian
for more than 50 years and a former executive for more than 20 years
with Asgrow Seeds, John retired with a vision.
Based on the adage "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day;
teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime," he reasoned
that providing impoverished people with vegetable seed was an
inexpensive way to combat hunger and disease. By linking his
corporate experience with the civic-mindedness of Rotary and other
groups such as the Peace Corps, John's vision is taking shape.
The program does more than send seed to those in need. The
comprehensive plan incorporates training, gardening techniques and
nutrition education as well. One Charlotte-based third-grade class
was linked to a school in Peru that netted pen pals and
international friendships in addition to a vegetable garden that
feeds 180 families.
Although the seed is donated from American companies and shipping
costs are relatively low, John and his team often encounter
governmental hurdles when trying to send in seed to foreign
countries. Often working with faith-based groups, which distribute
up to 90 percent of the seed sent out by the program, is the
solution.
The statistics are impressive for a small non-profit that has grown
out of John's vision. Over seven years, numerous sets of 10 seed
packages per location have netted more than 900,000 productive
gardens in sixty countries worldwide.
As with any worthwhile project, funding is always a challenge.
Still, the investment reaps enormous returns: 100 packets of tomato
seed weigh less than one pound to ship, yet can produce one ton of
the fruit. In turn, a $100 donation provides enough seed to produce
a ton of vegetables and fruits as well.
NOTE:
Interested in making a donation? Checks may be channeled through the
club's Donor Advised Fund (payable to The Rotary Foundation DAF,
note "Seed Program" in memo section). Mail to the Rotary office for
further handling.
Head Table:
Floyd Davis, Meg McElwain; Luther Moore, Don Millen, Dale LeCount,
Peggy Wesp; Invocation: Karen Calder
Visitors &
Guests:
Ed Lewis; Health &
Happiness: Jim Woodward; Song: Meg McElwain; Piano: Thomas Moore
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NEW MEMBER
APPROVAL |
The Classification and Membership
Committee recommend and the Directors approve for consideration
for all members, the following NEW MEMBER. Should you question
the eligibility of any nominee, please call the Rotary Office by
October 31st. You will be contacted by a member of the
Board. Otherwise, no reply is necessary and election will
proceed according to our bylaws.
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Debbie Daniel
Daniel, Ratliff & Company
Classification: Accounting, CPA
Sponsor: John Galles
Endorsed: Chip Scholz, Jerry Blanchard, Dave Adams |
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THE FOUR-WAY TEST |
Of the things we think, say or do...
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? |
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Rotary Club of Charlotte
841 Baxter Street, Suite 118, Charlotte 28202
chltrot@bellsouth.net 704-375-6816 |
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CLUB ACTIVITIES:
Shots for Flu ($25) and
Pneumonia ($29) will be available on November 14th. Spouses
welcomed, reservations not required;
Rotary Foundation Dinner will be held November
16 at the Renaissance Hotel. Tickets are on sale at the
Rotary office for $36. Those interested in learning more
about the Rotary Foundation will have the opportunity to
attend a smaller session with key note speaker and past
Rotary Foundation Trustee, Ray Klinginsmith, at 4:30 (note
change in time) on the 16th;
Clothing Drive to benefit Crisis Assistance
Ministry will begin November 1st. Collection points will be
set up in the hotel parking deck;
Nominations for the Excellence in Management
Award are due in the Rotary office by November 1st;
Regina Patton is serving
as co-counselor for Suji
- the club's exchange student. If you have tickets for a
ballgame or event, can meet Suji for dinner (as Regina did
on Friday), or would like to involve Suji in any other
social setting, contact any member of the Student Exchange
Committee.
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Katie Tyler and
Colleen Blanchard
reported on the club's exchange with firefighters in
Arequipa, Peru. The team of Charlotte firefighters had an
enriching experience on their visit to Peru and the
partnership will extend into 2007. Look for a follow-up
article in the Observer on October 30th.
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Sympathy is extended to Ken
and Peggy Wesp upon the
death of Ken's mother, Charlotte, on October 14th.
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President Luther
introduced Jessica Brasington
as the club's newest member. Jessica is director of staffing
operations for Hudson Legal. Contact Jessica at
Jessica.brasington@hudson.com.
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Ed Nowokunski reports
Integraphx has bought Walker Printing, one of Charlotte's
oldest family-owned printing businesses; Look for Alan
Adler's article "Understanding millennial generation could
prove crucial" in this week's Charlotte Business Journal.
Alan and Dr. Terri Manning, CPCC's Center for Applied
Research, will be the featured guests on Charlotte Talks (WFAE
90.7 FM) next Monday, October 30 at 9:00 AM;
Tim Newman and
Mike Crum report the
Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority has increased the
number of locally based events held at the Charlotte
Convention Center; While attending a fundraiser for Liberian
education, David Erdman
presented correspondence between his
great-great-grandfather, Presbyterian Missionary John Pinney,
and two of Liberia's first presidents, to Liberian President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. One of the letters David discovered
was dated February 3, 1863, just a few months after
President Abraham Lincoln formally recognized Africa's only
republic, which had declared its independence 16 years
earlier. President Sirleaf was astounded and said the
documents would be used to reestablish history for young
generations.
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Classroom Central
volunteers for October were Kitty
Stutts, Janice Stevens, David Barnhardt, Tom Robertson, Mark
Norman, Michael Elder, Mike Crum, Sandy Osborne, Lynn
Johnson, and Ruth
Castleberry.
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Bob Culbertson invites
everyone to the Children & Family Services Center, from 2:00
- 4:00 on November 12th. Several pieces of Bob's pottery
will be available through a preview sale and limited silent
auction. |
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Attendance
Record |
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10/24/06 |
10/25/05 |
| visitors &
guests |
14 |
15 |
| club
members |
161 |
171 |
| total
attendance |
175 |
186 |
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New Members | Resignations |
Cindy Wolfe
Bill Anderson
John Greer
Dean Jones
Jessica Brasington |
n/a |
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| Roaming
Rotarians |
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John Johnson, Carthage, NC |
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Wedding
Anniversaries |
31 Sara and George Page
02 Carolyn and Chase Saunders
02 Amy and Martin Welton
03 Beth and Tony Zeiss
05 Page and Ed Kizer |
| Birthdays and
Birthplaces |
01 Mike Elder, Kansas City, MO
01 John Hart, Brewton, AL
02 Carroll Thomas,
Belmont, NC
03 Bill Meanor, Pittsburgh, PA
03 Tom Senger, Danville, IL |
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