Matt Friedman and Sylvia Yu Friedman spoke at the recently held Metro Area Rotary Club presenting an "Update on Human Trafficking." Matt in a letter received noted he isa modern-day abolitionist. Every 5 seconds, another human being is forced into slavery. One minute it might be a 13-year old girl who is forced to provide sex to up to ten men a day, seven days a week – a form of commercial rape. Or a teenage boy who is placed on a slave boat in Thailand – working 18 hours a day for four years without proper food or rest, and without any pay at all. Or a child who is separated from her family and forced to work in a sweatshop to make the clothes we wear or the electronics we use. There are over 35 million people in the world languishing in these terrible conditions – in fact there are more slaves today than ever in history.
Since his first encounter with a child trafficking victim 25 years ago, he has devoted my life to fighting this crime against humanity. He has looked into the eyes and into the hearts of hundreds of slavery victims and felt their terrible pain.
To help combat this problem, he is teaming up with a consortium of counter-trafficking organizations within the USA to initiate a 70-day road trip across America to reach out, educate and inform Americans. The objective of this trip is not only to educate and inform the general public but to encourage them to actively join the fight. As part of this campaign, he will be going from city to city with his wife, an award-winning human rights film maker, to speak at churches, libraries, corporations and schools to get this message out.
The presentation will explore the changing human trafficking paradigm; the relationship between human trafficking and slavery; global trends and patterns; new, emerging responses; evolving funding trends; what is working/not working; the role of the private sector; the role of the Mekong Club Association; and what is really needed to win the fight. The presentation will offer a glimpse behind the curtain of this terrible human rights abuse – one that is much closer to home than we might expect.
The Mekong Club is a membership-based Association focused on working with companies with an active passion for eradicating modern-day slavery. One of the first not-for-profit organizations of its kind to fight slavery through a 'business-to-business' approach, The Mekong Club spearheads innovative and strategic projects to achieve a slave-free world. We bridge the gap between the public and private sectors, and help companies of all sizes to understand the complexities of human trafficking and reduce the vulnerability of their supply chains.
MATT FRIEDMAN - Founder & Ambassador of Mekong Club
Matt is an international human trafficking expert with more than 25 years of experience. He spent six years with the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking in Thailand, and now leads The Mekong Club, a group of Hong Kong-based private sector business leaders who have joined forces to help fight human trafficking in Asia.
SYLVIA YU FRIEDMAN - Ambassador and Co-Presenter of Mekong Club
Sylvia Yu is an award-winning journalist, TV anchor, documentary producer, book author and advisor to philanthropists. Her philanthropy advising work focuses on bringing an end to global sex trafficking and human slavery in our lifetime through the 852 Hero Campaign in Hong Kong.
7/1 DELTOEBBEN, 7/6 BRETT WAWERS, 7/7 STACY AUMAN, LAURA ILIFF, 7/13 DEAN RASMUSSEN, 7/23 DON OTIS, 7/24 BRAD HESS, 7/29 JIM GERNER
POLIO ERADICATION – We are asking you to donate $32 during the month your birthday is recognized. The District has set $32 per person as a giving goal for PolioPlus. Your donation will be given to The Rotary Foundation in your name for PolioPlus. Rotary has led the private sector in the global effort to rid the world of polio for over 30 years. The PolioPlus program helps Rotary fund operational costs, such as transportation, vaccine delivery, social mobilization, and training of health workers, and support surveillance activities. Your donation can help "End Polio Now."
Jamie Summerfelt, with the Visiting Nurse Assocaition (VNA) has asked you to join the VNA for a fund, unique event to raise funds and awareness for the programs of the VNA. RIVER BASH-BREW, an evening of craft beer tastings, cash bar, food to be purchased, two bands (Lemon FreshDay and DFunk), entertainment to include a Snake/Belly Dancer Performance Artist, Tarot Card Reader, Psychic Medium, Juggling Mime, Caricature Artists and Fire Dancers to name a few.
The event if for 21 and over.
LOCATION: Stir Concert Cove at Harrah's Casino, One Harrah's Blvd., Council Bluffs, 51501
DATE: Friday, August 26, 2016, 6-11 p.m.
Prices: VIP Admission $60' General Admission $25; Just for Entertainment, Please! $10
Ticket available through Ticketmaster at www.thevnacares.org
Gretchen Radler, Vocational Service Committee Chair, will be contacting members to schedule a vocational talk. We would like to schedule two vocational talks each month. Your talk should be 2-3 minutes in length and will give you an opportunity to share information about your profession, yourself and your family. Please say yes when asked to schedule your vocational talk. We look forward to learning more about our fellow Rotarians.
Carol Gendler is at home now continuing her recovery from recent heart surgery. Vickie Backman would like to thank the club members for all the well wishes following her recent knee replacement surgery.
Pease notify the office if you have news to share with club members.
The West Rotary Board approved a Corporate & Family Membership program. An Active Primary club member can propose a qualified family member or a qualified business co-worker for membership. The membership proposal has information in regard to membership qualifications on the form. The new corporate or family member joining will pay dues of $125 with no admission fee. If the primary member resigns one of the corporate or family members will become the primary member and pay the appropriate primary membership fee. The reduced dues rate of $125.00 will be effective the first three years of membership. Click here to see the membership proposal form and flyer for the new program. The information can also be found on the left side of the club website homepage under Site Pages/Joining Rotary. Members, if you have a qualified family member or co-worker please invite them to Rotary for lunch so they can consider joining West Rotary.
Metro Area Rotary Club weekly programs available are listed here.
MONDAY BELLEVUE (DJ's Dugout, 10308 S. 23rd St.) NORTH (Omaha Eppley Airport Conference Room) MILLARD (German American Society, 3717 South 120th Street) 7/25 JD King - Deaf Child Hope International
TUESDAY MORNING (Happy Hollow Country Club, 1701 S. 105th St.) 7/26 Kimberly Thomas- Excutive director CASA
NORTHWEST (Champions Run, 13800 Eagle Run Drive) 7/26 Scott Marble, Owner of Canfields
SOUTHWEST NIGHT (DJ's Dugout at 17666 Welch Plaza, northeast corner of 180th & Q streets)
WEDNESDAY COUNCIL BLUFFS CENTENNIAL (Hy-Vee in Mall of the Bluffs, I-80 Exit 5) DOWNTOWN (Field Club, 3615 Woolworth Ave.)7/27 Servando Perales, "Victory Boxing Club - Helping Lift South Omaha Youth One Punch at a Time"
THURSDAY COUNCIL BLUFFS NOON (The Center, 714 S. Main St.)
SUBURBAN (Anthony's, 7220 F St.) 7/28 Ron Samuelson, "The Evolution of M's Pub"
WESTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY (Elkhorn Common Ground Community Center, 1701 Veteran's Drive)
FRIDAY WEST (Champions Run, 13800 Eagle Run Drive) 7/22 No Meeting Due to Metro Area Rotary Luncheon; 7/29 Police/Fire Awards Program
Rotary Club of Omaha West
MATT FRIEDMAN - Founder & Ambassador of Mekong Club.jpg)
SYLVIA YU FRIEDMAN - Ambassador and Co-Presenter of Mekong Club