Welcome to our club's web site!  Please come visit us when you're in Alaska. We usually meet on Thursday evenings at 7 P.M. at the Alyeska Hotel.  Check the "banner" above for the latest information on the location and schedule for the evening.
October 4th - Rotary's annual Girdwood Health Fair at the new Community Center next to the Fire Station on Hightower Road - A Breezer i3 folding bike with carrying case will be the raffle prize. 

August 29, 2008 - For the latest update on our joint School Project in Liberia with Solace International, please click here.

 

August 28, 2008 - Fun Committee Chair CeCe Mendonsa was absent from tonight’s meeting and things were just not as fun! 

However, we were joined by Chris VonImhof and his beautiful wife Brigette, the always vivacious Marianne Daniels and the equally verbose Gabriel Wingard.  Combined with our three lovely speakers, Thalian Wilkinson, Sarah and Katy Cronk, it was a memorable guest list who re-instilled our meeting with the missing fun.

David Alexander introduced our speakers for the night, Thalia Wilkinson, Sarah and Katy Cronk.  Tommy O’Malley, who is one of the founders of the Girdwood Fine Arts Camp, was unable to make it tonight.  Tommy and numerous others within our community who are blessed with artistic talents of various disciplines, have dedicated many long hours to bringing an appreciation of art into the lives of our young friends and neighbors from Anchorage and along the Turnagain Arm.  Tonight, Thalia, Sarah and Katy will told us all about the Fine Arts Camp this year.

Some of the points made were:

o      NO WRONG WAY TO MAKE ART

o      MAGIC OF ART

o      LEARNING EXPERIENCE

o      The success of the camp is owed to the variety of projects

o      Digital photography was big item – had 12 laptops in the new community center

 

 

August 25, 2008 - Wow!  What a FUN weekend!

     I can report that Claude Mabudu, Kayissan and their children, Elolo (18), Ghislaine (15), Josue (8), Gina (4) and Johana (1 ½) thoroughly enjoyed the weekend in Girdwood that you, our club members and friends of Rotary made happen for them.  I can also report that the Mabudu’s are most likely going to require several days of rest before life returns to normal for them.  As you can see below, the weekend was busy and somewhat hectic with sight-seeing, activities and a lot of fine food (and some wine). 

    I was very happy with the participation of our club members and friends in hosting the Mabudu family for their weekend in Girdwood, particularly since, as you may recall, the suggestion to host the family came from the floor at one of our regular meetings – and everyone voted that we should do so.  The list below depicts what each of you did this weekend to help in this club-sponsored activity.

22 – Aug, 1730 / Travel to Girdwood - Mike Wilson drove his large passenger van to Anchorage on Friday afternoon and brought the Mabudu family and the kids new bikes back to Girdwood for a fun-filled weekend of activities and good old Alaskan Rotarian hospitality.  The van trip was replete with snacks, drinks and a narration – all provide by Mike.

22-Aug, 1900 / Potluck BBQ – A scrumptious BBQ starred Master Chefs Ken Hatch, Larry Daniels and Hank Hosford with expert how-to advice very freely given by George Stewart and several others lounging nearby. The goodies were provided by the following of our friends and fellow Rotarians:

§       David, Maribel & Kendra Alexander – Lettuce, tomato, onions, avocados, jalapenos & pickles

§       Ron & Gwen Burson - Hamburger meat, cheese, hot dogs & buns for both + ketchup, mustard, relish, mayonnaise 

§       Larry & Marianne Daniels - Shrimp, fruit salad & chips

§       Hank Hosford & Dale Goodwin - Beer & wine

§       George & Kathy Stewart - Potato salad

§       Ellen Twiname - Baked beans

§       Mike Wilson – Peach Pie

§       Ken Hatch and Jen & Gabriel Wingard - Cole Slaw & vegetable side dish

§       Doc & Galy Carter - Apple pie, Blueberry Muffins

§       Beth Sirles - Good Company

§       The Mabudu’s brought good humor and great personalities – and a gaggle of beautiful & happy children.

23-Aug, 930 / Winner Creek Hike – The morning began for the Mabudu family with a great breakfast of bacon, pancakes & eggs provided by reluctant draftee super-chef Gwen Burson.  The adventuresome hikers were then transported to the Crow Creek Mine by Mike Wilson for a complimentary tour of the Crow Creek Mine arranged by Larry Daniels with owner Cynthia Toohey.  Shortly afterwards, accompanied by the very eloquent narrative talents of Master Hike Leader Frans Weits (who also provided trail snacks for all), the group of adults and adults-in-miniature found their way down the Winner Creek Trail Crow Creek Mine bypass to the Hand Tram and to the Winner Creek Gorge.  After a respectably sufficient number of oohs and aahs and lots of picture taking, the group made their way back across the Hand Tram and up to the Crow Creek Mine parking lot for the next activity of the morning – a good old-fashioned picnic, enjoyed by the hikers and the mosquitoes.  The hikers were David, Maribel & Kendra Alexander, Frans, Jen, Ryker & Sawyer Weits and of course, Mike Wilson – Oh, did I forget to mention that the Mabudu family was there too?

23-Aug, 1300 / Picnic – While the adventuresome exercisers were doing their thing along the splendor of the Winner Creek Trail and working up an appetite pulling their way across the Hand Tram, Gwen Burson was putting together some of the delicacies that make a good picnic – food for the hungry!  The picnickers were David, Maribel & Kendra Alexander, Ron & Gwen Burson, John Hickox who had the clock wrong so unfortunately missed the food, Frans, Jen, Ryker & Sawyer Weits (who brought some exotic & delicious picnic goodies), Mike Wilson and last but not least, our honored guests, the Mabudu family.

23-Aug, 1500 / Tram & Roundhouse – Since there was still light left in the day and the group had seen some of the canyons of Girdwood, it was time to travel to a higher plane.  Sooo, with a lot of enthusiasm and a little yawning, the group was off for a tram ride up the mountain to the Roundhouse, a venture which had been pre-arranged by Larry Daniels. After an informative narrative provided by Larry Daniels and Roundhouse Executive Director Marianne Daniels, the group was ready for some action – so outside they went for some snowball making with expertise provided by Larry Daniels.  The Mabudu family, none of whom had seen snow before, seemed to have no problem quickly learning the better techniques of making and throwing snowballs. Other revelers were David, Maribel & Kendra Alexander, Ron Burson, Larry & Marianne Daniels and Mike Wilson.

23-Aug, 1930 / Dinner at Maxines – After a short downtime (about an hour and a half) to allow for a bit of speed-rest and a change of clothes, it was time for an evening of great food and entertainment at Maxines,  The food, wine, soft drinks, juice, good spirits and music were enjoyed by David, Maribel & Kendra Alexander, Ron & Gwen Burson, Larry & Marianne Daniels, John Hickox, Frans & Jen Weits, Mike Wilson and the Mabudu family.  The cost of this gala evening was divided among the Rotarians and Friends of Rotary attending.

24-Aug,  0900 / Brunch at Jack Sprat – The night was short and the morning brought a report of early excitement – a missing 4 year girl - who was hiding and when found, told her parents she wanted to stay in Girdwood! Enjoying the wonderful brunch at Jack Sprat were David, Maribel & Kendra Alexander, Ron & Gwen Burson, George & Kathy Stewart and  Frans, Jen, Ryker & Sawyer Weits.  Jack Sprat, courtesy of Frans and Jen Weits, comp’d the meals for the Mabudu’s.

24-Aug, 1030 / Virgin Creek Falls Hike – A hearty breakfast like those served at Jack Sprat requires some exercise to walk off those extra calories consumed – something that can’t be avoided since the food is so tasty. Sooo…, after breakfast we were off for a short hike up the Virgin Creek Falls Trail with David, Maribel & Kendra Alexander leading the pack with Jen, Ryker & Sawyer Weits and the Mabudu’s closely followed by Ron Burson doing rear guard duty.  After allowing time for photographs and practicing not falling in the water at the falls, we hiked back down to the trail head and were off to our next event of the day and the final event for the weekend.

24-Aug, 1200 / AWCC – Mike and Kelly Miller very quickly and graciously responded to Larry Daniels’ request to host our guests and fellow Rotarians at Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.  David, Maribel & Kendra Alexander, Ron Burson and Mike Wilson escorted the Mabudu’s around AWCC.  A special treat for them was the “feeding of the bears” which is only done on Sundays – and only when moose or other meat is available.  Claude and his family were able to secure  front row positions immediately adjacent to the feeding.  As if that was not show enough for our guests recently arrived from Togo, immediately before exiting AWCC, the children spotted a large black bear perched in the uppermost reaches of a tree apparently enjoying the view from his/her perch near the exit. What a sight it was!

24-Aug, 1500 / Return to Anchorage – Of course, a tour of Girdwood and its surrounding area is not complete without an on-the-way-out-of-town stop at the Ice Cream Shop.  Mike Wilson, being the great Rotarian he is, diverted from his direct route for a bit of sweets for the kids (both old and young).  Mike reported that soon after the ice cream had been consumed, everyone was fast asleep for the remaining journey back to town.  All in all – A GREAT WEEKEND!

On Aug 19, 2008 - We had a great visit with our Rotary Friendship Visitors from Thailand this past weekend.  They boarded a China Airlines flight very early Monday morning from Anchorage to Taipei and on to Bangkok.  Hopefully, they have all arrived safely at their final destination by now.

    August is turning out to be a very busy hosting month for our club.  This coming weekend brings us Claude Mabudu and his family.  Congratulations are due to Claude, who is now employed by Evret Cargo at the Anchorage International Airport.  After Claude gets off work at 5:30 on Friday, Mike Wilson will bring Claude, his family and their new bicycles to Girdwood for their weekend of good old fashion Girdwood Rotary Club hospitality. 

    About here is where we all get to get involved in this club project. J

Tentative plans for the weekend are:

Friday - August 22

      6:30 pm - Mabudu’s arrive at Burson home in Girdwood courtesy of Mike Wilson and his big van.

      7:00 pm – Welcoming Potluck Barbeque at Burson home (I’ll provide the main course and drinks).

 Saturday - August 23

      8:30 am – breakfast for Mabudu’s at Burson home

      9:30 am – leave for Crow Creek Mine / Winner Creek Gorge & Hand Tram (2 ½ - 3 hours) with Frans Weits leading the pack.

      1:00 pm - Lunch – Picnic at Crow Creek Mine

      3:00 pm - Tram & Roundhouse tour with Larry & Marianne Daniels doing tour duty.

      7:30 pm - Dinner – Maxines (Mabudu’s bill will be split by members in attendance – everyone else pays their own bill).

 Sunday - August 24 -

      9:00 - Brunch at Jack Sprat (Mabudu’s comp’d by Jack Sprat – everyone else pays their own bill).

     10:30 - Hike to Virgin Creek Falls (1 hour) with Ron Burson.

     12:00 - Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center with Ron Burson.

      2:30 pm – Return to Anchorage with Mike Wilson and his big van.

 

 

August 17, 2008 - This weekend with the Rotary Friendship Exchange Visitors from Thailand was a busy but fun event.  I highly recommend participation if the opportunity becomes available in the future – it’s a lot of fun and you get to meet and mix with some very nice and interesting people from far away places.  J

    Please review the email below from Kathleen Madden about their visit to Girdwood.  A very special thanks to Anchorage East Hosts Kathleen Madden and Diana Strzok for escorting and coordinating the visitors activities - and the following Girdwoodians for:

§       Activity – Tram and Roundhouse tour

o      Friday August 15, 2008

§       Ron Burson

§       Larry & Marianne Daniels (Larry also arranged tram access and demonstrated proper snowball construction and throwing for the group)

§       Activity - Thai Friendship Exchange Dinner at Jack Sprat

o      Friday August 15, 2008

§       Ron & Gwen Burson

§       Larry & Marianne Daniels

§       Mike Wilson

§       Activity - Thai Friendship Exchange Potluck BBQ

o      Saturday August 16, 2008

§       Ron & Gwen Burson

§         Ken Hatch & Jen Wingard & Gabriel

§         John Hickox

§       Hank & Dale Hosford

§         CeCe & Steve Mendonsa

§         Beth Sirles

§       Frans & Jen Weits with Ryker & Sawyer

§         Mike Wilson

§       Activity - Hosting Thai Guests

o      August 15 - 17, 2008

§       David & Maribel Alexander

§       Ron & Gwen Burson

§       Ken Hatch & Jen Wingard

§         Jody Liddicoat & Tom Manos

§         Phil & Diana Livingston* (made home available but guest canceled at last minute)

§       Activity - Thai Friendship Exchange Winner Creek Hike & Jack Sprat Brunch

o      Sunday August 17, 2008

§       Ron & Gwen Burson (Ron - hike & brunch/Gwen - brunch)

§         Ken Hatch & Jen Wingard & Gabriel (brunch)

§         John Hickox (brunch)

§         Joyce & Diana Kiana (hike & brunch)

§       CeCe & Steve Mendonsa (brunch)

§       Ellen Twiname (brunch)

§       Jen Weits (brunch)

§       Mike Wilson (hike & brunch)

§         Tom & Lenore Yeager (Hike & brunch)

 

 

August 17, 2008 6:13 PM
Subject: THANK YOU

 

Ron & Gwen & Larry & Girdwood Rotarians

 

I have a few minutes home before dinner...wanted to thank you once again for your PERFECT organizing skills and generous hospitality.  It was MUCH appreciated by everyone.

I hope your members had as good a time as the rest of us.  Was fun to do that hike.

Thank you Larry for the Tram tickets...that was a treat for them to see the snow and Roundhouse museum.

Please tell your members thank you and we hope to have a Rotary scrabble tournament in November for FUN....

Cheers...Kathleen

 Pictures of our activities with our Rotary Friendship Exchange visitors from Thailand may be viewed by clicking on the Photo Album link to the left.

 

 August 7th, 2008 - Additional pictures from our potluck tonight at George and Katy Stewart's home can be viewed by clicking on the Photo Album link to the left. 

    Tonight was a treat by all accounts.  Firstly, The Stewarts new home on Sproat is a delight.  Secondly, to have Kendra and Isabelle sing, “I am an Eskimo” front and center on the hearth, is entertainment at the roots.  Thank you, Four, for being splendid hosts!

    Although Nate York was drugged on Quinine, he was articulate and moving when he spoke.  Nate has seen first- hand the great need by people of such countries as Indonesia, Nepal, India, Malawi, Kenya and most recently Liberia.  He‘s taken it upon himself to commit to fundraising; hauling materials, building, training and equipping structures for the sole benefit of improving a groups living and working environment. Currently his efforts are focused toward a trade and primary school in the town of Belle Ella, outside Monrovia, Liberia.

    Other aid organizations in the country are predominantly crooked and logistically impotent enough to leave the present situation dire for the citizens.  What gives Nate and his supporters their uniqueness is their 100% money to materials, initiative, and the training.  They hand-over the operation to the indigenous people when they are fully functioning entities.

    In a world where Many have too much and even more have too little, Liberia sits somewhere near the bottom of the latter.  For around $25,000 two schools can be built (preserving a culture for the future), an opportunity to share technological knowledge we’ve been given, helping to eradicate hunger and a deep sense of accomplishment can occur.  In our country, this is the price of a “medium-range”, vehicle.  Hmmm….

Funds would be allocated as follows:

o      Rechargeable power tools

o      Saws and Drills

o      A solar powered generator to charge the tools

o      Press machines for making bricks

o      press machines for making palm oil

o      agricultural tools

o      treadle sewing machines

o      transportation costs for materials and tools

    Nate and George will draft a proposal to Girdwood Rotary and Russian Jack for support and financial assistance.

July 31st - Bears in Girdwood and There's life in that Old Dog Yet! Panda, Chief Canine Protector of the Hosford driveway was taking a well-deserved nap when the bear pictured above decided she would be an easy meal.  Panda, an elderly pooch with failing eyesight and arthritic joints, was sound asleep and awoke with the bear's jaws in the process if chewing at her.  The canine teeth accompanied by vicious snarling was sufficient to convince Mrs. Bear to go elsewhere for lunch - after retrieving her cubs from the tree where they scurried. July 31st - Kate Mohatt from the USFS briefed our club on the upcoming Girdwood Fungus Fair. For more information see their web site and blog at http://www.fungusfair.com
July 24th - July 26th  (To view pictures of the activities below please choose Photo Album on the menu to the left.

    Mark and Shirley Kirchen are longstanding volunteers at Nine Star. Mark is a retired business executive and Shirley is a psychiatric nurse. They have been retired for 7 years. Like George Stewart, they have donated time and energy to international concerns. They are very effective in their work with people from other countries and on July 24th they shared some of their stories with us. They discussed their experiences at orphanages in Thailand and Costa Rica and the key volunteer lessons learned - all accompanied by a diverse selection of photos:

    Mark and Shirley volunteered two times for 3 months at an orphanage in Bangkok started by Father Joe Maier. Father Maier heads the Mercy Center and a complex set of projects including an orphanage that houses 200 orphans, an AIDS hospice with about 100 people and 45 kindergartens with thousands of students. For more info see http://www.mercycentre.org/.

    Most of the children at the orphanage had been in the sex trade themselves or their mothers had been. Neither the orphanage nor the Thai culture encourages adoption and the government discourages international adoptions based on fears of exploitation, so the kids stay until they are 18, and some end up back in the sex trade. Mark and Shirley taught English in classrooms of around forty kids and taught building bird houses, among other projects.  Click here for the complete story.

    On July 26th, our Rotary Club continued its longstanding practice of Community Service by cleaning trash along the Seward Highway from about Mile 87 to Mile 90.  We gathered in the parking lot behind the Tesoro Station at 9 am.  After Larry Daniels, our Service Projects Chair, supplied us with vests and trash bags, we were on our way to a fun-trash-bag-filled couple of hours followed by a great lunch at the Silver Tip Bar & Grill in Girdwood.

    On August 7th, Nate York from Solace International joins George Stewart on a program featuring international service with photos and details not covered in previous programs. This program will be in conjunction with a potluck at the home of Kathy and George Stewart. Ellen Twiname and Kathy Stewart will coordinate the potluck.  
July 17th Meeting Chair John Hickox introduced Barb Jacobs, program manager of the Language Interpretation Service called The Alaska Immigration Justice Project, who spoke of her program and it’s great need in Alaska. It is a work force development service training interpreters in the seven languages spoken in Alaska (five are foreign and two are local languages). Before the program was started there were no “certified” interpreters servicing the legal system in Alaska. In order to asses need they surveyed 1000 people and various businesses as well as discussing the topic in great depth at summits. What they found was that people were spending on upwards of $1,000,000.00 on interpreters, yearly, in the state of Alaska. Mainly the translators were relatives, acting as third party, often having poor English skills as well. Their goal is to provide quality translators and interpreters to government business and service organizations. A high standard of skills to the interpreters are necessary to ensure that the limited English proficient Alaskans are treated fairly and equally in our judicial system. They are also looking to provide a statewide registry for ease in finding a translator. Currently they are have trained 26 people with 185 applicants in waiting. A Federal court interpreter, Holly Mikkelson, is in charge of training the applicants. On average it takes an adult 5-7 years to learn a language to proficiency. A complete report of this meeting may be found in the minutes section to the left.

 

On July 10th, Claude Mabudu who is married to Kayissan Avajon told us of his and his family's exodus from Togo to Mali and finally to Anchorage. They have 5 children, 2 boys, 3 girls ranging in age from 2 to 18 years old. They were forced to leave their families and their jobs behind and flee from their native land when they were threatened with death by government supporters. Claude worked for 20 years as a high school librarian and 10 years as a French teacher in Togo.  He organized and led a small political opposition party which eventually led to the death threats. He and his family left Togo in 2001 for Mali. In Mali he published a school newspaper (covering world news drawn from TV, radio & the internet) and broadcast a radio program on literature. He started an NGO in Mali for education. Earlier this year they were granted political refugee status, enabling them to come to the United States where they were asked to locate in Anchorage.  Claude has completed high school and has two additional years training in library science. He and his family are currently furthering their education at Nine Star Enterprises.  They live in Mountain View and are looking for employment, hoping to some day buy their own home in a safer area.

************************
 "Liberty is an Amazing Feeling”

    Claude & Kayissan will never forget the family meeting they attended in November 2001. The memorable meeting where their loved ones urged them to take their kids and leave the country - to leave the only home they have ever known.

    Claude had been a librarian for over 20 years in Lome, Togo in Africa - he and Kayissan's home. Along with being a librarian he was one of 5 district leaders in the Union Forces for Change (UFC) political party. UFC is in opposition to the ruling government known for horrific human rights abuses. Claude and Kayissan acknowledge that Lome has been a violent place from their very first memories where kidnappings and assaults are common occurrences. That is precisely why Claude thought it was important to join the UFC and try to change his community so that people need not live in fear.

    Unfortunately, the President of the ruling government lived in Claude's district so it was incredibly dangerous f9r Claude and his family. The President wanted all UFC sympathizers out of his neighborhood and Claude & Kayissan's extended family was understandably concerned. Claude & Kayissan fled to Bamako, Mali in Africa. There they lived in very harsh conditions for seven years waiting for resettlement - so harsh that they had very little access to healthcare for their five children. Healthcare for refugees in Bamako consisted of 40 appointment slots a week - 26 weeks out of the year (20 appointments, 2 days a week, December - June). Once Kayissan walked six kilometers when their 4-year-old son was very sick only to be told that she was too late and all 20 slots were taken - she had to walk back without receiving care.

    The couple chose to live in the city of Bamako rather than the designated refugee camp because the educational opportunities in the camp were very poor and education is very important to the family. Claude worked as a teacher in the city teaching French to middle & high school students. Their oldest son (who is now 18) graduated from high school in Bamako.

    The family moved to Anchorage in May. Claude & Kayissan found out they were coming to Anchorage when they arrived in New York. Claude relates an amusing tale of not understanding the abbreviation "AK." They all wondered where the "awk" was that was listed on their nametags. He had to ask an immigration employee. She explained that it was Alaska ¬"Oh, Alaska- I knew the US Government purchased it from Russia and that is was a cold place but that was all I knew."

    Since their arrival they have been surprised by many things including extended daylight (they had no idea when to go to bed), moose roaming the city and the mountains - comments made by many of our tourists!

    Claude says he feels tremendous gratitude for finally having a home again (the family has not slept in beds since 2001 when they left Lome) and for access to health care for his kids. He was astounded when his family was greeted by three smiling Catholic Social Services employees at the airport and taken to a fully furnished home.

    The support he and his family has received since arriving (a home, a bike, bus tokens & schedule, taxi vouchers, English classes, job training, volunteering opportunities, etc) has meant a great deal to him. Claude is very happy for his immediate family but very concerned with those still living in misery in refugee camps, in cities unprepared to assist refugees (like Bamako) and for those living in daily violence due to their government.

    When asked how he feels about living in America he says - "I feel like a bird, free, very free, liberty is an amazing feeling."

 

    Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services (RAIS) provides a bridge for clients from their former life experiences to the new skills required for" success in the United States. The program “assists clients in obtaining a lifestyle that has sustainable financial support, and in which the family's basic needs are fully met on a long-term basis.

    During FY 2008, the program served 599 refugee and asylum clients throughout Alaska. Of the 225 new enrollees this year, 50 arrived in Alaska directly from their country of origin and another 175 came to Alaska via another state within their 5 year required arrival date.

On July 3rd, Girdwood Rotary Club welcomed District Governor Clyde Boyer and wife Vivian Finlay to Girdwood. Their day started with a noon visit to the Palmer Rotary Club followed by a drive to Girdwood arriving about 4:30 pm - just in time for a 5:15 pm "Welcome to Girdwood" introduction party at Jody Liddicoat's home - this was followed by our regular meeting beginning at 7 pm - a very busy regular meeting!
    Jody Liddicoat followed the pledge of allegiance with "Thank You Awards" presented to her 2007-2008 Rotary-year officers. Jody narrated and DG Clyde made the presentations.  After a swift hand off of the gavel to incoming President Ron Burson, consisting of a soft tap on the forehead with the gavel, Ron introduced the 2008-2009 officers, board and committee chairs. This was followed by an induction and welcoming ceremony for our four newest members: Jen and Frans Weits, Mike Wilson and George Stewart.
    Following the awards, introductions and other chatter, DG Clyde told us about Rotary International's new President, D. K. Lee, his theme for the year, Make Dreams Real, and his goals of adequate food, safe drinking water and the cure of diseases killing children around the world. He hopes to accomplish these goals by increasing member contributions to the Rotary Foundation to match the 100 million dollars recently contributed by the the Gates Foundation to completely eliminate polio.  Further information can be found on the district 5010 and Rotary International web sites (Links to those web sites are near the top of this page).  For more pictures of Clyde and Vivian's visit to Girdwood, please check out our Photo Album link to the left.

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