Centennial Rotary Meeting Notes for 01/03/2006

Announcements:

• Club has two reserved tables, with six seats left, for the Quad District Foundation Dinner with Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar, Rotary International President. Tickets are $45.00 per person for the event which will be held, Friday, January 20th at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel (formerly the Marriott) at I-25 and Hampden. Contact Dan Hoopes for more details. There will be a RI Foundation Seminar on Saturday, January 21st. Please visit http://www.rotary5450.org for details.
• Families need to host Rotary international exchange students for Friday, Feb. 3rd-Feb. 5th weekend. Please contact Roxy Hahn or Dan Ruparel for more details.
• Volunteers are needed for the State of the City planning committee. The group will begin meeting next week. Contact Greg Cottrell if you are interested in helping plan for the April 6th event.
• Marcos Strafacce and Dan Hoopes attended an inspiring Christmas Dinner at the Denver Children’s Home and distributed the gifts club members donated for the kids. This was the first time outsiders were invited to the event. The Foundation contributed funds to the Cliff Dougal Literacy Project to help students at the home.
• Project Cure has a new home – 8020 Southpark Circle, Suite 200, Littleton, CO. The Club’s monthly sorting will be Wednesday, January 4, 2006, 7:00 – 9:00 PM. Contact: Kay McCormack 303-249-4969

Don't forget to bring back traveling gifts as you go to different places throughout the country and world

Happy Bucks:

• Paul Horiuchi welcomed his neighbors, including our speaker’s parents, and his wife Bev
• Randy Pote wished the club a happy and prosperous New Year
• Kent Ostedgaard recognized all our guests and commented on the great turnout
• Dan Hoopes welcomed special guest, Assistant District Governor, Mary Kay Hasz
• Mary Kay Hasz encouraged attendance at the upcoming Quad District Dinner
• Barb Medina was thankful for a good holiday and anticipating the upcoming tax season
• Tom Buck was happy to have his neighbors, his wife Barb and Paul’s wife Bev as guests
• Tex Elam wished everyone a Happy New Year and is looking forward to a trip visiting grandchildren
• Hugh Vallely was grateful his sister’s heart problem was solved, saddened at a good friend’s death and happy his son is a recent college graduate

Presentation:

Tsunami Recovery & Reconstruction
US Response Saves Lives

Robert Hellman, who is the Project Manager in Asia for CH2M Hill, reported on the, employee-owned, multinational firm’s efforts to provide safe water to victims of the December 26, 2004 Southeast Asian Tsunami. Mr. Hellman led CH2M Hill’s initial relief efforts in Indonesia’s Aceh Province, which was devastated by a 9.0 earthquake and ten minutes later by the tsunami. The tsunami struck without warning and 60 foot waves scoured the earth, totally changing the region’s landscape. Banda Aceh, the region’s most populous city, with more than 400,000 people, was totally destroyed except for a 200 year old mosque which miraculously was left in tact. The mosque soon became a galvanizing symbol for a region in shock and mourning. The human impact was staggering - 273,000 dead or missing and 700,000 displaced persons.

Ch2M Hill’s humanitarian response was challenged by a region struggling with civil warfare and open conflict; a hostile jungle environment where lack of sanitary living conditions can quickly lead to disease; very little original infrastructure to speed relief efforts; no communication services, even radio contact is hindered by the mountainous terrain; potential for large scale corruption; no clear chain of command within the government; and resistance to outsiders from the predominately Muslim population.

Ch2M Hill, working with GE, used their employee knowledge, skills and commitment to circumvent bureaucratic red tape and build mobile, self-contained water treatment facilities that are supplying 70,000 people per day with safe water. The system began operating on Feb 3, 2005. It produces water 18 hours a day and distributes the water 10 hours every day. Indonesians travel on foot, bicycle and motor scooter to pick up the free water. Dirty river water is so well purified that none of the Ch2M Hill staff became sick after drinking what was the area’s only available potable water.

Very quickly this humanitarian effort became a vital component of the War on Terrorism as the perception of Americans changed. Once an area where anti US sentiment was strong and Al Quaeda prospered, Americans are now being viewed as compassionate and caring members of the international community. This includes the military that sped ships to the area immediately following the disaster and then dispatched helicopter aid to stricken villagers.

As the region moves from relief to reconstruction, CH2M Hill remains committed to working with international relief organizations to develop a long term sustainable infrastructure for the Banda Aceh community.

Marbles

Roxy's mom's ticket was drawn.  Thankfully she drew a clear marble.  The winner's part of the pot approaches $700.

A big thankyou to Laurie for a great job with the notes. 

King Soopers Coupons!

Don’t forget to see Kent Ostedgaard for your King Soopers coupons! The club makes 4% on every dollar we spend. Coupons are available in $25 units & are sold at face value.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO BUY SOME TODAY!

Nearby Club Locations for Makeup's:

Tuesday’s:
11:45 AM – Tech Center @ Glenmoor CC
Noon – Littleton @ Columbine CC

Wednesday’s:
Noon – Englewood – Marriott Southeast

Wednesday 's:
Littleton-Sunrise
7:15AM -- Chammps Restaurant in the Aspen Grove Shooping Center on South Santa Fe

Thursday’s:
7:15AM – Denver SE/ Wyndham Hotel
Noon – Highlands Ranch @ Lone Tree CC

24 Hours: www.rotary5450.org/eclub