Meeting in Review - June 14, 2023

By W Todd MillerSaturday, June 17, 2023

On June 14, 2023, the Rotary Club of Washington, DC, held its regular weekly meeting in person at the University Club of Washington, D.C. and via Zoom, and welcomed guest speaker Dr. Hardy Boeckle, head of the economic and finance department of the German Embassy in Washington, DC.
President Marilyn Nevy Cruz called the meeting to order at 12:30 PM and led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Secretary Todd Miller introduced the guests and visiting Rotarians.

Sterling Hoffman recognized birthdays and anniversaries for the week.

President Nominee Bob Schott encouraged everyone to give to the Club’s Foundation.

President Elect Lisa Cohen reminded everyone of the upcoming Changing of the Guard event at her home on June 17 from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. The deadline to register is Thursday, June 15. More details are in the Rotary Progress Newsletter and in emails.

Past President Lynn Holec recapped the Interact Induction that took place on Tuesday, June 14, at CHEC.

Sheldon Ray announced a Juneteenth event at the Mt. Zion Cemetery in Georgetown (2501 Mill Rd., NW) on June 19 at 11 AM. Meet for a walking tour of Georgetown and join Rotarians for Equality for Black People for the event.

President Marilyn announced that the Rotarian of the Month for the month of February is Dr. Arrel Olano. The Club appreciates all his contributions to the Rotary Youth Exchange.

President Marilyn also announced that the June 28 luncheon meeting for the Club will be held at Whittemore House, 1526 New Hampshire Ave., NW.

Ombudsman David Klaus discussed his German heritage and introduced our guest speaker Dr. Hardy Boeckle, head of the economic and finance department of the German Embassy in Washington, DC, a position he has held since July 2021.

Dr. Boeckle’s career at the German Foreign Office has focused on European policy, economic issues, and relations with China.

Before arriving in Washington in 2021, Dr. Boeckle was responsible for relations with the southern EU member states at the German Foreign Office in Berlin. From 2014 to 2017, he served as press spokesperson of Germany‘s Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels.

Prior to Brussels, Dr. Boeckle was head of the cultural and education department at the German Embassy in Beijing.

From 2007 to 2010, Dr. Boeckle led the division for coordination of German Government European policy at the Federal Chancellery. Prior to that, he held postings in Berlin, Paris, and Brussels with responsibility for European policy issues, as well as questions regarding European economic and fiscal policy and the European single market.

Dr. Boeckle holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Cologne. Directly following his studies, he worked at the Institute of Economic Research in Cologne. He is married and has three children.

Dr. Boeckle discussed geopolitics, noting broad trends that have resulted in the current challenging environment, such as the pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, reindustrialization/nationalism, and climate change. He discussed how these things have led to major changes in supply chains, a breakdown of trade, and a rise in new forms of trade blocs. He described Germany’s role in and responses to these trends, including decoupling its economy from Russia and enhancing transatlantic cooperation. Despite increased coordination with other countries, including the US, to discuss the response to Russia, China, and India, he suggested that a polarization of the world should not be encouraged. Germany, for example, desires not to seek the destruction of Russia but to provide Ukraine with as many bargaining chips as possible.

After a question-and-answer session, President Marilyn presented Dr. Boeckle with a certificate for the planting of a tree under the Club’s Trees for the Capital program.

May O’Brien introduced David Owens, formerly with World Vision and now with the National Museum and Center for Service. Mr. Owens explained that the Museum has been invited to put on an exhibition about service at the MLK Library. He welcomed a contribution of stories of service from the Club, noting that the Club has a strong history of service and partnering with local organizations.

Sterling Hoffman conducted the Raffle which was won for the second time in a row by Brian Blum. Alas, he did not draw the Ace of Spades.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 PM.   Salvador Farfán was the producer on Zoom, and Chelsea Uzarowski graciously stepped in at the absolute last minute and was the producer in the room. Brian Blum provided hospitality (also stepping in at the last minute) and Dr. Sam Hancock was the greeter.

Back to Stories List

Rotary Club Washington DC

199 subscribers

Learn more about the Rotary Club of Washington, DC's service projects and activities.

Julia Roig has more than 30 years of experience working for democratic change and conflict transformation around the world, is best known for her ability to convene diverse coalitions and her facilitative leadership of global networks. An organizer at heart, in her role as Chief Network Weaver at The Horizons Project, Julia is committed to bridge-building across sectors, disciplines, and cultures.

Throughout her career, she has been called upon to translate between theory and practice, while seeding new approaches, organizing principles, and mindset shifts for social change. After serving for almost 14 years as the President and CEO of PartnersGlobal, one of the preeminent international democracy and peacebuilding organizations, in 2022 Julia launched The Horizons Project to focus on the intersection of peacebuilding,
social justice, and democracy in the United States.

She is a renowned public speaker, facilitator, and trainer able to connect deeply with different constituencies within civil society, social movements, governments, and corporations. Julia is the main architect of ground-breaking new research and approaches for more effective Narratives for Peace, working with front-line peacebuilders, social scientists, filmmakers, advertising industry leaders, and other creatives to bring peacebuilding into the mainstream. She works with philanthropists, non-profits, and movement leaders to incorporate narrative competency as
an essential tool for restoring societal relationships and democratic values.

Julia was licensed as an attorney in the state of Maryland and brings to Horizons her many years of diverse international experience and practical field work in more than 30 countries. Prior to joining PartnersGlobal, Julia spent two years as the Country Director for the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative in Belgrade, Serbia. She is also a recognized expert in community justice and dispute resolution in Colombia having spent five years living and working from Bogota, promoting a national expansion of the Equity Conciliation and Justice Houses programs.

She is currently the Chair of the Board of the Alliance for Peacebuilding. She also serves on several Advisory Boards including: Nsquare, the Corruption, Justice and Legitimacy Program at Tufts University, and Scripps College Laspa Center for Women’s Leadership.
Julia’s roots growing up in the Pacific Northwest are an important part of her identity, and you can always count on her to lead a group in song around the piano or a campfire. Her biggest passions include baking and decorating cookies for her loved ones, and amateur filmmaking to capture special gatherings of friends and family.

A frequent author and public speaker, Julia’s TedXTalk is called “We Are All Peacebuilders”.

This video is private.

0 0

YouTube Video VVUzZ3NNSUxRdzR0S1hwZTI4bGZTd1ZBLlJuS1Y2UWcxYUlV

Julia Roig, Founder | HorizonsProject | Block, Bridge, Build Our Pluralistic Future | Dec. 11, 2024

Rotary Club Washington DC 4 views January 16, 2025 8:03 am

Shannon Hader, MD, MPH, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of Programmes at the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and a prominent leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the United States and globally, is the dean of the School of International Service at American University.

Before accepting the position at the UN, Dr. Hader served as Director of the Division of Global HIV and TB at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She also has served as Vice President and Director at Futures Group International (now Palladium); as Senior Deputy Director of the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration at the District of Columbia Department of Health; Senior Scientific Advisor to the
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief at the US Department of State.

This video is private.

0 0

YouTube Video VVUzZ3NNSUxRdzR0S1hwZTI4bGZTd1ZBLmJkaTdwdVN5NEZJ

Shannon Hader, MD, MPH | Trends in Global Disease Eradication | December 4, 2024

Rotary Club Washington DC 52 views December 30, 2024 8:03 am

Diana Parsell is a writer, editor and former journalist, and a 45-year resident of the Washington area. During her career she wrote and edited for many publications, including National Geographic and The Washington Post, and for science organizations in Washington and Southeast Asia. Her book, "Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Journalist Behind Washington’s Cherry Trees (Oxford, 2023) was featured by NBC’s “Today” and other media.

Diana has spoken on the book and related topics to a range of organizations, such as the National Arboretum, Women's National Democratic Club, White House Historical Association, Asian American Forum, Library of Congress and others. She likes to illustrate her talks with historic slides.

See her website at www.dianaparsell.com for more information.

This video is private.

0 0

YouTube Video VVUzZ3NNSUxRdzR0S1hwZTI4bGZTd1ZBLllLZWVRVzczQUxJ

Diana Parsell | DC's Cherry Tree Legacy of Eliza Scidmore | November 27, 2024

Rotary Club Washington DC 16 views December 13, 2024 8:03 am

A passionate linguist and humanitarian, Astrid de Vries embarked on her journey to Haiti in 1998, just as she was beginning her career in the Netherlands after studying economics, linguistics, and hotel management. It was during her time volunteering at an orphanage that she encountered the resilience and spirit of the children, sparking a profound connection that would change her life and theirs forever. Astrid quickly realized that even small acts of love, family support,
and access to education could transform despair into hope.

By 2009, having relocated to the US, Astrid continued her commitment to helping older youth from the orphanage—young adults striving for stability but lacking the resources to achieve their dreams. With her guidance, they completed their education and launched microbusinesses, laying the groundwork for what would become
Kids Connection Haiti (KCH).

Then came January 12, 2010—a day that would forever alter Haiti’s landscape. The devastating earthquake left millions homeless and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, creating an urgent need for support as the number of orphans surged. In the face of such overwhelming challenges, the vision for KCH became a beacon of hope.

Today, KCH supports approximately 100 young men and women, with over 300 having graduated from our program. With a remarkable 99% graduation rate and 92% of graduates finding paid employment, KCH is making a significant impact in a country where unemployment is a staggering 60%. Through education and empowerment, we are turning the tide and inspiring a brighter future for the next generation in Haiti.

This video is private.

0 0

YouTube Video VVUzZ3NNSUxRdzR0S1hwZTI4bGZTd1ZBLmtDVW0tV0Z3clow

Astrid de Vries | Transforming lives in Haiti throughout the current humanitarian crisis | 11/20/24

Rotary Club Washington DC 5 views December 10, 2024 8:03 am

Briana "Bri" Franklin is a businesswoman, philanthropist, and student debt expert leading the crusade to conquer predatory lending.
Having taken on a loan burden that eventually ballooned to nearly $120K through her undergraduate studies at Dartmouth College, Bri developed an acute appreciation for the challenges many student debt holders experience, including diminished ability
to establish financial independence, exercise personal freedoms (i.e. starting a family and home buying) or launch business ventures.
In recognizing the extent to which debt constraint has become the leading source of wealth depletion, especially for Black women, she established an end-to-end solution spectrum dedicated to addressing the issue, consisting of nationally acclaimed 501(c)(3), The Prosp(a)rity Project, its fintech offshoot, Cadet Prosparette, hit YouTube series, UnDEBTfeated and her high school and college education programs,
Pathways to Prosparity.

Her accolades include coverage in Forbes, Katie Couric Media, Buzzfeed, and Authority Magazine, winning SXSW's 2023 Innovation Award for Social Impact, being accepted into the 2024 Chime for Changemakers cohort, and being named
Visionary Women's 2023 Rising Visionary and a 2023 Aspen Ideas Fellow.

This video is private.

0 0

YouTube Video VVUzZ3NNSUxRdzR0S1hwZTI4bGZTd1ZBLk1WN0ZRTXFxVU1v

Bri Franklin | Started With Them But Ends With Us: Defeating Debt to Take Back Your Power | 11/13/24

Rotary Club Washington DC 20 views December 9, 2024 8:03 am

Jennifer (Jenn) Wisdahl is the driving force behind strategy and operations at FASD United, the national organization dedicated to supporting individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and promoting healthy pregnancies. With FASD affecting 1 in 20 Americans, Jenn plays a pivotal role in shaping the national legislative and policy agenda to address this under-recognized yet widespread disability. Her leadership approach is data-driven but always centered on people’s needs, contributing to significant organizational growth at FASD United. Under Jenn’s guidance, FASD United has successfully expanded key initiatives, including the Family Navigator Program, National FASD Impact Week, and the International FASD Research Conferences, which have now found a permanent home in the United States. Jenn’s efforts have been instrumental in elevating
FASD awareness and ensuring that those diagnosed receive the support they deserve.

Before joining FASD United, Jenn accumulated over 20 years of experience in human resources, recruitment, and operations, serving on international boards and advisory panels. She is also the executive producer of the award-winning short film *The FASD Project*, which highlights the realities of living with FASD. Beyond her professional achievements, Jenn is a passionate advocate as the mother of three young adults with
FASD, which fuels her dedication to the cause.

1 0

YouTube Video VVUzZ3NNSUxRdzR0S1hwZTI4bGZTd1ZBLkxIRFFlR0NMNFpv

Jennifer Wisdahl | FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders): Prevalence, Awareness & Stigma | 11/6/24

Rotary Club Washington DC 23 views December 6, 2024 4:46 pm

Community Service Grants Co-Chairs Todd Miller and Elise Egan present to the club, at a Club Assembly, the recipients of the Community Service Grants awarded by the Rotary Foundation of Washington DC.

0 0

YouTube Video VVUzZ3NNSUxRdzR0S1hwZTI4bGZTd1ZBLmpIOTg0V2thdXRN

Club Assembly | Grant Recipients | October 30, 2024

Rotary Club Washington DC 18 views December 5, 2024 8:03 am