NEWEST RED BADGE MEMBER(S)
Putter Bert
Tom Bohman
Patty Skelton-McGougan

GREETERS
Larry Abner
Rich Reis

BACK TABLE DUTY
Steve Hopp
Putter Bert

• • •

The mailing address for the
Bellevue Rotary Club is:

Laurie Larson
Club Administrator
P.O. Box 523
Bellevue, WA 98009
bellevuerotary@seanet.com
Ph 425 451-3819
Fax 425 451-8025

• • •

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Phil Noble, 08/01
Don Davidson, 08/02
Andy Mirkovich, 08/02
Foster Radford, 08/04
Rusty Cox, 08/05
Gary Sergeant, 08/06
Jim McCutcheon, 08/07
Terry Pollard, 08/09
Stu Vander Hoek, 08/11
John Baldwin, 08/12
Alex Smith, 08/12
Charlie Gardner, 08/14
Bill Jeude, 08/14
Alan Fulp, 08/16
Kathy Korth, 08/16
Jason Courter, 08/19
Chris Britton, 08/21
Bill Ptacek, 08/24
Katherine Thompson, 08/26

This Week, August 29:
Ari Cowan
Founder of Edvita Institute
"Rethinking Violence"

The world is challenged by terrorism, war, school shootings, suicide, domestic violence, "honor" killings of women, child abuse, and neglect, bullying, assault, murder, ethnic cleansing, suicide bombings, intimidations, and fear. According to the World Health Organization (2002), this is a pandemic of stunning proportions.

The focus of Edvita's work is the pandemic of violence. Edvita Institute produces educational programs, media and materials to help people meet the unmet challenges in their lives so they can more effectively survive, thrive, and contribute. In a radical departure from the common and traditional “punitive model” for dealing with violence, Edvita brings hope to a world desperately in need by focusing on solutions to the challenges of violence. Edvita uses a new non-political and non-religious public health approach and incorporates the goal of building “resiliency” in overcoming the malignancy of violence and healing the underlying fear. These materials and programs are for educators, criminal-justice professionals, healthcare practitioners, parents, students, human resource managers, mental health professionals, risk managers, military personnel, and anyone else interested in ending violence.

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Matching Grant Project Brings Computers to Bolvian High Schools
Submitted by Rob Rose

The “Computers for Bulgaria” project is a joint initiative of Rotary and Rotaract clubs from the United States and Bulgaria. In the summer of 2005, Mr. Angel Kelchev (top photo, center), who was born and raised in Bulgaria, approached Bellevue Rotary Club, Palo Alto Rotary Club, Pazardjik Rotary Club (Bulgaria), BCC Rotaract Club and BCC Phi Theta Kappa with the idea of the project. As president of the Stanford Rotaract Club at the time, Mr. Kelchev envisioned an international partnership, which would benefit the Mathematical High School of Pazardjik. As a graduate of that high school himself, Mr. Kelchev was fully aware of the poor state of the computer equipment available to students there and proposed a major fund raising initiative in coordination with the Rotary International Foundation in order to equip two new computer labs at the high school with up-to-date technology.

At first, Mr. Robert Rose from Bellevue Rotary Club, recognized for his humanitarian work in Nepal and beyond at the 2005 Rotary International Convention, accepted the project proposal and ensured the participation of Bellevue Rotary Club in the project. Mr. Rose was instrumental in the preparation of the matching grant application and provided valuable advice at every stage of the project. Mr. Walter Hays was the point of contact from Palo Alto Rotary and managed the finances of the project. Mr. Donn Wadley from the Sunnyvale Rotary Club was instrumental throughout the entire span of the project and was able to ensure the timely completion of the project. Mr. Petar Hristov, president of Pazardjik Rotary, represented his club in the project. All of the Rotarians involved provided invaluable guidance throughout the span of the project.

Last but not least, Stanford Rotaract, BCC Rotaract and BCC Phi Theta Kappa contributed to the project. Between all of the above mentioned clubs and their respective Districts, Mr. Kelchev was able to raise around $15,000. At the end of the day, the matching grant from the Rotary International Foundation went through and the overall funds raised reached $25,000.

Mr. Kelchev and Ms. Maria Lazarova, Stanford Rotaract member, traveled to Bulgaria in mid-June 2006 and invited Ms. Silvia Battilata, past president of Stanford Rotaract and Mr. Jesse Czelusta to join them at the opening of the labs scheduled for July 3rd, 2006.

The principal of the high school was able to provide funding for the complete renovation of the two rooms used for the project and 38 personal computers, two projectors, 2 printers and two scanners were purchased for the new computer labs. The network for the computers was build by one of the teachers and a number of his best students. The software was donated by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education.

On July 3rd, 2006 the labs were officially opened. There were many Rotarians, local business people and politicians present including From left to right: Mr. Kalcho Hinov (founder of Rotary Bulgaria and District Governor for District 2480 including Bulgaria, Northern Greece, Macedonia, F.Y.R., Serbia & Montenegro. Mr. Hinov announced that the “Computers for Bulgaria” project led by Mr. Kelchev was the second largest Rotary Project in the District for the year.

The major donation given to the Mathematical High School will directly impact approximately 900 students and will drastically improve their academic experience. Furthermore, the Principal of the High School promised to organize free computer skills courses for the outside community in the town of Pazardjik, which will further benefit disadvantaged people from the area. Students and members of the outside community will now have access to up-to-date technology and the High School teachers have volunteered their time to not only teach during their normal working hours but to also teach people from the outside community when possible. Computer skills are an invaluable part of most jobs out there and this project will have a major impact on the community and its access to modern education.

Mr. Angel Kelchev who was recently elected as Rotaract District Governor 2006-2007 for District 5170 plans to initiate and complete a similar project in the coming year targeting disadvantaged youth and their education. He plans to work with the same clubs after the major success of the “Computers for Bulgaria” project.

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Fall Golf Fellowship
Brad Hunt

Save September 28th for the
Bellevue Rotary Fall Fellowship Golf Event!

We have booked 32 times at Willows Run, with the first tee-off at 1:00 pm. For this event we will be playing a "Scramble" format. Ken Reid will be putting the pairings together so that every team will have an equal chance to win. We will also have KP's and maybe a long drive.

The cost is $90 and will include: greens fees, carts, ball and food. There will also be a no-host bar available. This fee will be billed to your Rotary account.

For the newer members, this is an excellent way to to get to know your fellow Rotarians. You do not need to be a great golfer, as we will balance the teams so everyone will have an equal chance to win. The lower handicapped players are paired with the higher handicapped players, so everyone will have fun.

The first 32 members who (Ph 425-417-6794) their handicaps and/or average score for 18 holes are in.

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District 5030's 2006-07 Rotary Academy

The wide world of Rotary can sometimes seem overwhelming. If you’re interested in gaining a more in-depth understanding of Rotary’s programs, operations and procedures — from the club-level to the international stag — our District’s Rotary Academy is for you!

Join fellow District Rotarians for an enlightening, energizing nine-month correspondence course that includes two group meetings and fun graduation festivities next June. Registration is open through September 29th, so check out the District website and click on the “Rotary Academy” link for more information, testimonials and a downloadable registration form.