| Posted by Peter Kantzilieris on Jul 13, 2017 |
Paramus Rotary Club Meeting of Thursday, July 13, 2017 We had two GREAT presentations that took place on Thursday July 13, 2017. During the first presentation, Erika Cruz, a past scholarship recipient, came to talk to us during her summer vacation about her progress. She is approaching her senior year at Penn State. She has come to visit and thank the Paramus Rotary a few times now and every time enjoys catching up and seeing everyone. She is double majoring in Advertising and Art History. She keeps herself busy with being a member of the Student Communications committee as well as student Director of Marketing. Erika is also interning this summer with the food network learning about ads and marketing in the real world. She is also involved with a a fundraiser that Penn State holds every year for pediatric cancer, THON.org. Last year they were able to raise $10.1 million!!! Look out for this organization sometime in the fall because she will be hosting a fundraiser to make it an even bigger event!!!  Our Vice President, Fred Rohdieck, introduced our Guest speaker, our very own President Sam Stone, who came back with his report from the Atlanta Convention. He started out by informing us that Polio is almost eradicated and it is only present in 2 places in the world. Even though it is almost gone, it is a still a threat because of the difficult location in that part of the world. There was a clip shown of Bill Gates thanking Rotary International for raising $50 million and he stated that he would be matching that amount to finalized the eradication of Polio once and for all!!! Once Polio is eradicated, What Then? What Project do we tackle next? Unfortunately, Slavery is a HUGE problem in today's world. One would not think that this is an issue but the issue of Human Trafficking is at an all time worst situation in our world today! It is estimated that about 46 million people are trapped in slavery today. This is more people than any other time in history. The scariest part is that it is right here in our own backyard as well as around the world.  Ashton Kutcher, co-founder of Thorn, actor, tech investor, and philanthropist joined the End of Modern Slavery panel discussion at this year’s Rotary International Convention on Monday, 12 June. Thorn, an organization that combats human trafficking, partners with nonprofits and academic institutions to gather new insights into the role technology plays in child sex trafficking, the creation and proliferation of child pornography, and the normalization of child sexual exploitation. Thorn then goes beyond insight to action to develop the tools, systems, and approaches to help address these issues. The other panelists involved in this discussion were moderator Bob Hope, Atlanta Convention Promotion Committee adviser; U.S. Senator Bob Corker; and Gary Haugen, CEO of International Justice Mission. 
We also got to hear from a survivor of Human Trafficking and how she was able to survive through it and save herself. It is a very difficult situation for most because it just springs on people. She stated that it is not like in the movies where one gets kidnapped. United States, Brad Myles, executive director and chief executive officer of Polaris stated that since the hotline was started in 2007 they have recorded more than 35,000 of human trafficking! This is a way bigger issue than previously thought and we all have to fight it together. Myles said that one way Rotary members can help is by promoting the organization’s hotline number: 1-888-373-7888. The last but not least topic to be covered was the important of membership. Without membership Rotary would not be able to accomplish the things that it has accomplished. It is very important to find new and innovative ways to increase the clubs membership and participation. President Sam Stone distributed a list of questions to the club. Please make sure you fill out this short list of 3 questions in order to help our President with the video production of our Club. 
In the end President Sam Stone summed up the Atlanta Convention as a "Massive Humbling and Inspiring Experience of Light!" Continue to be Beacons of Light and light open the World EVERYONE! ************* |
