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Meeting Recap
October 28
Speaker: Luma Mufleh
 | | Our speaker Luma Mufleh's story was an inspiration to all |
Invocation - Given by Bob Wilson
Guests - Harl Pike from the Sierra Vista, AZ Club; Nicole Bellmann, guest of Brock Peyer
Classification Talk - Tony Dowd gave a very interesting talk on Transportation Engineering/Highway Design. He worked for Georgia Department of Transportation. He was hired in 1956 at the same time that President Eisenhower signed the bill that created the United States interstate system (46,000 miles). The total cost at the time was $130B, funded 90% by the Federal government and 10% by the states. Tony said 1,244 miles of that system is in Georgia. He described the US Highway system as the greatest public works project in the history of the world.
Perfect Attendance Pins - Pins were awarded to the following Rotarians: Pete Pfeiffer - 34 years; Bedros Sharian, Jr. - 32 years; Tom Adams - 31 years; Scotty Candler & Eric Lucas - 23 years; Jon Manns - 10 years; Bryan Downs & Jason Conn - 3 years; Kirby Thompson - 2 years; C.J. Becker, John Bennett, Scott Thompson, Robert Berg, & Jack Gerlach - 1 year
From the Speaker - Walt Bryde introduced our speaker Luma Mufleh. Luma founded the Fugees Family, Inc. The Fugees Family Project began in 2004 by Luma. Fugees is short for "refugees."
Luma started her first soccer team in 2004 to give the kids a sense of belonging. Soon after, she began helping them with their homework to ensure that they did not slip through the cracks.
Since 2004, the team has evolved into the Fugees Academy. They now have 5 soccer teams and is the first school for refugees in the country. They have 36 students and they teach the students about soccer and being good citizens.
Since the beginning of the Academy, 18 students have graduated and are now in college. All of these students were the first in their family to graduate high school and attend college. Recently the purchased some land on which they plan to build the Fugees Academy.
Luma began her talk with a video presentation of a piece that was on the CBS Sunday Morning show last Sunday. After the piece aired, they raised $200,000 in four days for the purpose of building the school.
Luma's story inspired our club and it inspired a movie that has been written about the Fugees that is set to film in the summer of 2012.
Visit www.fugeesfamily.org for more information on the Fugees project and how to make a donation.
 | | Thanks for sharing Tony! Walt Bryde introduces Luma |
 | | And the winner is...#34 - Pete Pfeifer with 34 years perfect attendance with Bedros Sharian right behind with 32 years and Tom Adams with 31. |
 | | Bob Wilson, Bryan Downs & Terri Candler plotting away |
 | | Steve Ortlip catches up with Bevel Jones |
 | | Remember Rotary Board meetings are open to all and count as a make-up if you need one. |
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