Our November 15th meeting was our annual Thanksgiving Celebration. We had 15 guests from other Rotary Clubs and our BAVTs Artisan of the month in attendance.
Our speaker was Eric Ruth of the Kellyn Foundation. Eric co-founded the Kellyn Foundation along with Dr. Meagan Grega, and began a program to address childhood obesity in 2008. He provided alarming statistics on the rapid increase of obesity in the general population, and discussed the urgent need to address the issue at the local level.
The Foundation provides programs at local schools which are designed to teach children to focus on “real foods” as opposed to processed foods. They have a “Garden as a Classroom” program which teaches children to grow and eat healthy, natural food from the school garden, rather than relying on processed foods for their nutritional requirements. The “Kellyn Kitchen” also teaches children and adults how to prepare tasty and nutritious fresh food in a group atmosphere at other community locations.
A more recent development is the “Mobile Market” set up by the Foundation, which purchases locally grown produce from farmers and then delivers that produce at reasonable prices to local neighborhood stores. This enables families in poor neighborhoods to purchase fresh foods which are not normally available to them. In addition to better nutrition, the Foundation encourages families to take action toward adopting healthier lifestyles which includes exercise, better sleep habits, and medical attention when necessary. The Foundation’s view is that healthier lifestyles will result in a better quality of life and lower healthcare expenses by reducing the burden of chronic disease.
Operation Warm concluded last week with a contribution of $830 to the Boys and Girls Club for the purchase of winter coats for children who would otherwise not have access to one. Thank you to all who contributed.
50/50 drawing was the ninth week of our return to the “Queen of Hearts” style. Al Philpotts had the winning ticket, but didn’t pull the Queen of Hearts. There are 43 cards left in the deck, and next week’s pot will start at $230. Come and try your luck!
Announcements:
There will be no meeting on December 22nd due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Bethlehem Rotary will be ringing the bell for the Salvation Army on December 2, 2017. There are still a few spots open. Please contact Ron Bauer if you would like to help.
Our Annual Meeting is scheduled for December 13th, where we approve the election of club officers and board for the upcoming year. Everyone please attend to cast your vote.
Should peace be left up to our politicians? Our RI President Ian Riseley thinks Rotary should lead the way. Our Zone 32, along with Zones 24, 25, and 26 has been selected by President Riseley to hold the first Presidential Peacebuilding Conference on February 10, 2018 in Vancouver, BC. If you would like more information, please contact me, or you can also go to https://portal.clubrunner.ca/50004/Stories/presidential-conference. There is also a link on the District Website.
Severe storms, an earthquake, and hurricanes are wreaking havoc across the globe from the United States and Mexico to South Asia and Africa. The Rotary Foundation and Rotary clubs in affected areas are helping bring emergency aid to battered communities.
Members of the Rotary Club of Little Rock have teamed up with Heifer USA to fight poverty and provide healthier food choices for local communities through a program that supports sustainable agriculture. The 24 farmers in the program are part of a coop that connects them with customers and markets, allowing them to grow a variety of organic produce on small acres of land using environmentally-friendly methods. The coop also shortens the distance between farm and table, increasing the nutritional value of the food.
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