Rotagram for Wednesday, Nov 27, 2019

Our President Mike Cochran could not make it today and Travis McShane our membership director took over conducting the meeting today.

Travis Started the meeting by questioning why certain more qualified members such as ::Cough:: Joe Lins :: end Cough:: didn't volunteer to conduct the meeting on Mike's Behalf!

Travis McShane Gave a brief history of Thanksgiving day and the famous Mayflower. (fun fact: turns out Dick Mathewson had relatives on the Mayflower)

Dan Kiernan led the pledge

Jim Williams gave a wonderful invocation by reciting a prayer from Jim Young

Our Guests today are: (sorry in advance if I spelled anyone's name wrong)

Susan Shammari guest of Thad Sandford
Bailey Kline. Guest of Teresa Harvey (Bailey is interested in officially joining our Rotary club)
Don Westmhaver Guest of Thad Sandford.

Announcements:

Dan Ouweleen, Announced that there are 3 board seats up for election and if anyone is interested in being on the board, please talk to Dan Ouweleen or Joe Arnold.

Dan Ouweleen also gave a quick reminder that Rotary international peace conference will be held in Jan 2020 If anyone's interested please contact Dan Ouweleen.

Brett Ackerman was the fine master today.

Dan Kieran was fined for his Dec 1st rotary anniversary of 33 years

Mike Oats was fined for not being really sure if it’s his birthday and paid $3

We Didn’t have enough turn out so the club was asked to instead give thanks and self-fine.

Thad Sandford gave a brief introduction to our Speaker, Global Grant Scholar recipient Suzan A Shammari.

Thad also gave a quick reminder for our January 2020 peace conference in Ontario.

Suzan A Shammari was a Rotary Global Grant Scholarship recipient

She was born in Iraq and moved to Egypt during the war. Her and her family then immigrated to United States in 2010.

Suzan went to Long Beach State College. She also Interned for mayor of Long Beach

As a Global Grant recipient she had the opportunity of attending the University College of London. During her time in Europe she volunteered in France giving aid to refugees from Iraq in the process of escaping from their home country to Europe.

She earned a master's degree in Security Studies. She was able to connect with the Sidcup Rotary in London. This is where she was connected to the Care 4 Calais group that assisted in helping the refugees camp in France

She currently Works for the Arab American family support center in New York. She works as a government relations liaison.

She thanked our club members and Rotary for giving her the opportunity that changed her life. She credits Rotary for her career and smooth transition to the American Society.
Thank you Suzan for your wonderful feedback!

Closing thoughts from Travis McShane. Meeting Adjourned.