March 10 Meeting Notes

Announcements

Gil Sparks was here to advertise a special joint meeting of Rotary clubs in the Wenatchee Valley to hear VP and regional executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (Seattle branch).  This is an opportunity to hear what the Federal Reserve does and why it matters.
Wednesday, April 8, from 12:00 - 1:30 at the Pybus LocalTel Event Center.  $20 includes lunch.  Limited seating, so register now (see Kathleen or Taro).

March 23 is the opening season for Alethia Riding Center.  Volunteers are needed.  Contact Leslie Coleman if interested.

The annual All-Service Club Luncheon will be held on Friday, May 1, at the Convention Center from 11:30 - 1:00.  Our club usually has a table or two, so watch for a sign-up sheet to be circulated.  $25.  This year's speaker will be Bob Mortimer, who has been speaking about alcohol and drug abuse, overcoming challenges, and "being our best" since 1980.  Bob knows about this first hand.  He had both legs and an arm amputated following a car accident after a party where he had been drinking and taking drugs.  He was 21 at the time.  Red 5060.

Kelly Walker was approved for membership at the last Board meeting.  Her name has been posted, so you have one week to voice any concerns to Taro or the membership committee.

Update on Tom Utigard's wife, Shari - after suffering a slight stroke, she has no major physical affects, and is working on getting her strength back.

Update on Leonard Noss - after his recent fall, he in now in rehab at Regency (room #34), and will be there for at least a month.  He has his sense of humor, but is not able to get around much.

Program

Bethany Alhaidari is an amazing young woman with an equally amazing story.  I can't do justice to her story in this blog, so if you missed the meeting I hope you get the chance to meet her at some point and learn more.

Basically, Bethany, who grew up up Cashmere and now resides in Wenatchee, started traveling the world after graduating from CWU.  She visited over 50 countries before settling in Saudi Arabia.  Bethany was able to witness the "Arab Spring" in Tunisia, where people were demanding basic rights, and overthrew the ruler there.  She was arrested on several occasions while protesting for equal rights for women in Saudi Arabia.
Bethany started teaching professor in Saudi Arabia when she was 23, got her masters in the Politics of Islamic Law in Paris, and
started her PhD in Ireland.  Her area of study and research was on the perception of freedom and civil rights in Saudi Arabia.
Bethany fought through the personal struggle of going through a divorce from her Saudi husband and losing custody of her daughter. Through persistence, many influential contacts, and a bit of deception, she was able to get out of Saudi Arabia and into the US with her daughter.  Her journey has opened the floodgates of others wanting to follow, and getting the justice they deserve.
As a result, Bethany has started the Saudi American Justice Project, a non-profit in our state.  This project involves research, expert witnesses, human rights advocacy, support to victims of  human rights abuse, cultural sensitivity training, and media promotion.
Learn more at https://saudijustice.org/
President Taro Masuda presented Bethany with a library book that will be donated in her name to the NCW Regional Library, Children's Library.

Raffle

Club member Carol Adamson (left) watches guest Anwen Cook spin the wheel to win the raffle. She took home $15.