President Bob rang the big bell at 12:15, led us in the pledge (a challenge in the Zoom world), then proceeded with the invocation.

Bob’s message was about us as Rotarians and as humans with an emphasis on our responsibility to serve in the world and right here in our community.

Bob reminded us that our annual meeting will be during our regular meeting Wednesday, December 30^th.  Quite a way to wind up this extraordinary year.  The meeting should include a report on our financial health and the election of officers and directors to serve during Rotary year beginning July 1, 2021.  Formal notice of the meeting was published in the November 25^th High Gear.

 

Wes Willett gave a brief update from the raffle committee, composed of Wes, Bill Saunders, and Neal Cunningham.  Alex Wisz, who will be the fundraising coordinator for the 21-22 Rotary year, will be joining this committee now.

 

Caring Moments:  Ceil told us that Frank has moved to Manchester Manor.  Due to Covid-19 restrictions she can visit him only by speaking at a window.  Length of his stay is uncertain.  Notes and cards are always welcome. Manchester Manor, 385 West Center Street, Manchester, CT 06040.

 

Today’s Program – Debra Forand, Executive Director of CCIU, the Connecticut Council for Interreligious Understanding was our speaker.   Anwar Hossain, a member of the CCIU board, introduced Debra.  If she is familiar to you it may be because Debra was Executive Director of Riverfront Recapture 2004-2012.  This was one of those programs which should have had a larger audience.  Debra explained that the organization is not religious, rather it is an educational organization focusing on religion.  This is important not only because of the significance of religion in all aspects of life and in our global history but also because interreligious understanding enables us to understand the world and the people around us. 

 

Debra cited studies which highlight the appalling level of religious illiteracy in our country, ignorance which has led to increased incidences of anti-religious violence around the USA.

 

So, rather than just bearing witness to this, CCIU is proactively involved in a variety of programs to address this illiteracy problem.  These range from panel discussions highlighting information about various religions to a significant effort to educate educators to enable them to have confidence teaching students who belong to different faith groups.

 

Near the end of the program, Debra recommended we view a video about one of these programs.  This video is available on YouTube,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbibXccc0Hg&t=81s      

As for the lively Q&A following Debra’s presentation, you had to be there!!  Once again, hats off to Anwar for bringing us an interesting, thought provoking program.

 

President Bob rang the bell to dismiss us at 1 PM.

 

Sue Klock, your reporter for now