John Moffat was inducted as our most recent new member. He was introduced by Dominique Zervas to fill the classification “Legal/General Growth”. Past President Margaret Curtis delivered the charge of membership to her friend and neighbor.
Rotary Moment:
Margaret Curtis recalled a great leadership moment during President Jan Marchbanks tenure, during a divisive decision on determining our Major Project when Fahri Urgulu stood and volunteered the notion of doing all of the projects. Jan agreed and was able to marshal the club through this difficult time with great leadership and diplomacy. Well done, Fahri and Jan!
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Brad Howard presented his program entitled “Fear and Hope: Humanitarian Work in North Korea.” Brad was introduced by Debbie Ahl and presented a most interesting program about a country we know so little about.
The country’s official name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and is a small country about the size of Pennsylvania or Mississippi with a population of about 24.5 million. Per capita GDP purported to be $14,400 per year. The DPRK has had a difficult past; annexed by Japan in 1910, and savagely governed, used mainly as a source of raw materials, and young girls for prostitution. In 1925, Kim Il Sung began organized resistance which lasted until 1945. With the Japanese surrender the Korean peninsula was divided between the United States and the Soviet Union. The DPRK was formed in 1948 by Kim Il Sung.
Brad’s experience in North Korea has taught him a lot about the Korean people and the fear and mistrust that has developed between our two countries. The main thrust of his work has been to implement solar water systems and tuberculosis clinical programs. DPRK has experienced extreme famine and has constant difficulty feeding its people. Only 15% of the land in North Korea is appropriate for agriculture; couple that with extreme drought alternating with monsoon-like rain, and the health and nutrition of its populace is continually compromised leading them to be very susceptible to tuberculosis. Economic contraction in the 90’s further exacerbated the problem.
The groups that are working on this problem, the Christian Friends of Korea, Stanford University, and the Episcopal Church are making headway. This is a big problem to take on, battling the fear and distrust between the two countries. There is hope however, as more people-to-people contact occurs, that fear and mistrust will abate. Brad is hopeful that progress will be made.
Thanks Brad, for opening our eyes to a much misunderstood country and the vast humanitarian need.
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