Newsletter - Archive  Nov 12, 2008

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P.O. Box 620700                                                   Russ Ketron                                                             Sandra Pugh 

Woodside CA 94062-0700                                District Governor                                                       Club President

                                                      http://wpvrotary.org                                          

Regular Meeting                                                                                November 12th, 2008

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM Wednesday with breakfast by Encore Performance Catering, fellowship, project updates and an interesting speaker from the community.

Guild Hall, Woodside Village Church, 3154 Woodside Road, Woodside, California

Guests are welcome!

This Week's Program:   World Neighbors  International Service Chair, Ken Broome, will introduce Greg Biggs who is the Bay area representative for World Neighbors, a worldwide development organization. 

Last  Week's Program:  (courtesy of Acting Last Week Editor, Barbara Schmidt)  Jean Cary, Past President of the Belmont Rotary Club, introduced Ed Gallagher and his guide dog, Genoa (after whom the Genoa Connection is named).  Ed began with an old lap top, a helmet, a camera and a computer over 11/2 years ago to develop a remote guidance system for the blind.  He spoke of "co-ability" as the meshing of an active blind person and a homebound disabled person as guide.  Using a webcam mounted on his head, microphone and SKYPE wireless communication to connect to a
sighted person sitting at a computer, Ed was shown (in his video) sailing his 36 foot sailboat, riding a bicycle and skiing.  He is able to walk around with his cane and his guide dog and go grocery
shopping, using this technology.  Ed has been featured on the TODAY SHOW where, up until 3 minutes before air time, his equipment failed to operate.  The piece was about to be cancelled when some techie on the TS staff made some connection that had things up and running. There have been responses from around the world.  Ed says that there is between 70/75% unemployment among blind persons.  Maybe this will make some positive inroads.

Next Week's Program:   Life as a WWII POW in Japan 

Program Chair, Dave Hyman, will introduce Hap Halloran who will talk about his experience as a POW in Japan during World War II. 

Coming Events:

Next Board Meeting:  Tuesday, December 2nd, 7:30am, Church Library 

Rotary Means Business:  Wednesday, December 3rd, 5:30 pm Encore Performance Catering

District Assembly:   Saturday, March 28th, 8:00 - 1:30, San Mateo Community College

District Conference:  April 17th - 19th, Portola Plaza, Monterrey, www.rotary5150.org

Announcements:   Have you had a look at the Rotary International website lately for what is going on in Rotary's world?  www.rotary.org   How about finding out about what is going on in the district?  www.rotary5150.org