This meeting was called to order at 12 Noon. President Emily led the attending members in the Pledge of Allegiance & the 4-way test. A moment of silence and reflection followed.
September is– “New Generations Month”
Announcements/Sad-Happy-Brag Bucks:
Emily attended her 50th HS reunion… She also has a source of a person who roasts & totally preps chilies for her (for a price)… she then shipped a batch to FL!
Mollie supports the holocaust museum and bid on &won a painting at their on-line auction.
Pam roasted her own green chilies on a grille w/mesquite.
Cheryl told a story about her nephew in Chicago & his quest to find roasted chilies.
Our Trivia Quiz for the day from Sgt-at-Arms Cheryl:
The latest Rotary magazine shows a collaboration between Rotary & ? A: The Peace Corps!
From de “cards”: What’s the official salute to the flag of NM? Karen knew it (of course) and recited the whole thing! So, she got herself a new squash.
What group runs the Apache Ski Resort? Emily told us that it’s the Mescalero – A squash was awarded.
The old PolioPlus Jar made a trip around the room once again…
Club, District & R.I. News and Business:
Past President Allan will be providing program speakers for the month of September. We still need a member to supply program speakers for the month of October.
September – Allan October - ??? November – Barrie December – Mollie
January – Cheryl February – Penny March – Pamela April – Libby
May – Pat June - Judy
Pamela distributed a work signup sheet for Silver Horizons warehouse. We’ll be packing 100+ bags of food for distribution for meals on wheels. This’ll happen on 20 September (Monday) from 10AM to 1PM.
Bring in your old Rotary magazines for use at our Rotary information table. The info table will be set up in the lobby of N. Domingo Baca.
Today’s Program: Afghan evacuees in New Mexico.
Cheryl introduced our own State representative Karen, who informed us about the settlement of Afghan evacuees in New Mexico and how we can assist them.
Holloman Air Force Base and Fort Bliss will provide temporary housing and health care to evacuees from Afghanistan. The two military installations are among five sites accepting Afghan evacuees – a group that includes people who served as interpreters and risked their lives to help U.S. service members.
The destinations in five states are set to provide other support for tens of thousands of Afghans.
Mula Akbar, a former State Department diplomat who owns a restaurant in Albuquerque, said he’s proud to see the state help people from his homeland. New Mexico, he said, “is stepping up and helping fellow human beings in a desperate situation.”
The evacuees are set to receive temporary housing and health care before they resettle elsewhere, based on their employment skills and family ties.
The evacuees left Kabul and were screened at sites in Europe and Asia before reaching the United States.
They undergo vetting to determine whether they’re security threats before arrival in the U.S. and they are tested for COVID-19 when they get to American military installations.
Holloman Air Force Base is in Otero County in southeastern New Mexico. Fort Bliss stretches from the El Paso area into southern New Mexico.
The evacuees will include Afghans who have applied for special immigrant visas – a group that includes people who served as interpreters and helped the U.S. military – and other vulnerable Afghans.
Each arriving family will work with resettlement organizations to determine where they might end up in the United States. The work is part of Operation Allies Refuge.
Many of those who evacuated are leaving with nothing but the clothes on their back because carrying luggage could have made them a target.
New Mexico, by welcoming Afghan refugees, is helping our country pay a debt of honor to people who risked their lives to help our troops in Afghanistan.
New Mexicans are encouraged to be patient and feel free to ask members of the Afghan community in New Mexico questions about their religion or culture.
The deserts and mountains of New Mexico resemble parts of Afghanistan. But arriving in New Mexico will be a shock especially for those who don’t speak English. The evacuees have gone through so much, especially in the last couple of weeks. The Afghans who are coming here, as far as we’re aware, are people who have ties to the United States.
New Mexico will be taking in around 400 of the refugee/evacuees. They’ll be processed by Lutheran Family Services (www.LFSRM.org) which will provide housing, employment, monetary assistance, English language, and cultural orientation.
In preparation for their arrival to New Mexico, LFSRM is seeking monetary donations rather than collections donations of items due to limited storage. However, they can accept gently used laptops and smart phones. Monetary contributions give maximum flexibility to allow a response to their needs.
Interested volunteers can begin the volunteer process by registering for an orientation class. There are a variety of ways to volunteer to help refugees. Working closely with refugee families, office assistance, or participating in other programs, there’s an array of opportunities suited to a volunteer’s specific preferences. There’s also a cultural mentoring program.
President Emily also mentioned that, at a recent Rotary Presidents’ meeting, our DG said that he has information about Afghan refugee assistance.
There being no further Rotary business, we vacated the premises at 1:00 PM.
Programs, Happenings and Stuff & Such:
9 Sept NM State Fair begins!
14 Sept Board Meeting at 11:00 AM
14 Sept Regular Meeting – 12 Noon
15 Sept Yom Kippur begins at sundown
20 Sept A Work Day at Silver Horizons warehouse – 10A to 1P
21 Sept Regular Meeting – 12 Noon
22 Sept First Day of Autumn!!!!
28 Sept Regular Meeting – 12 Noon
1-2 Oct Bi-District Conference
24 Oct Polio Awareness Day
7-8 Apr-2022 District 5520 Conference at Isletta Resort.
4-8 June-2022 R.I. International Convention – HOUSTON, TX (fly ABQ to IAH)!!