QMC on Way Out

 

Linda Gorham was our speaker Thursday, as often before, talking about Qholaqhoe Mountain Connections (QMC) in the southern African country of Lesotho. The photo above is of students at Qholoqhoe High School receiving supplies from its Emergency Food Fund, which QMC helps support.

QMC's main focus in recent years has been providing scholarships for students in this remote rural and mountainous place to attend three high schools, and for some to attend college out of the area. Two of the latter will graduate from Lesotho Agricultural College in September, while others attend the National University of Lesotho.

 But QMC will be winding down its operations over the next few years. Linda said she was "sad but grateful."

Malta Sunrise Rotary has an additional, unrelated African connection in members' ongoing support for AOET Uganda, which has strong support in the Saratoga region.

 

DEI Chair Makes Pitch

 

 

Pam Baxter, at end of table, chats before her presentation at Thursday's meeting. (Meanwhile Steve Ames, on right, looks skeptically at photographer.) Pam heads the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee for the new Central New York Rotary District, of which we are part.

DEI is "about relationships," she said, noting the high prevalence of Americans laboring under some form of disability. "As human beings," she said, "don't we all just want to be appreciated, and recognized?" We may need to watch out for "ableism," and "unlearn behaviors that hinder your own growth as a person."

Construction Company

Our speaker at this week's meeting was Jim Dawsey, president and CEO of MLB Construction Services, which is located at 1 Stonebreak Road in Malta. Jim is at left in above photo, accompanied by Rotarians Bob Bonney, Dave Kruczlnicki, Dwight Havens, Helen Endres, Paul Phillips, Miles Cornthwaite and Larry Levine.

Also on hand were MLB Director of Marketing and Business Development Chloe Yonos, and Director of Estimating Shauna Raymond.