Jack Slattery
President, FOI
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About 20 of us celebrated the FOI 20th Reunion in Wilmington NC
from 14-16 October 2005. See some photos in the
Gallery.
It was a wonderful chance to catch up
on what has happened to us, besides getting older, since the
1960s and 1970s. Several RPCVs and Friends sent their best
wishes. Thank you. The weather was beautiful and the ocean warm.
Friday night about a dozen of us renewed friendships over fish
dinners at the Oceanic restaurant overlooking Wrightsville beach
with a bit of post-dinner wading in the waves.
On Saturday morning Dr. Raja Bhat (physician and professor at UNC Wilmington)
spoke to us about religion and spirituality in ancient and present day India.
Mr. Jay Tervo (Guinea RPCV and editor of SE North Carolina Travel books)
described Wilmington area sights-to-see and demonstrated an exciting, innovative,
affordable, replicable peanut sheller for poor villagers throughout the world to
reduce their labors and increase their income.
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This Full Belly Project is a
creation of the Coastal Carolina RPCV Association. Tom Brayak and Gerry Nelson gave an
inspiring Slide Presentation of the work of the Father Fleming Foundation leper project
in Orissa, India, one of three
charities FOI is supporting. These two
projects stimulated discussion about how the peanut sheller could further empower
the recipients of the Orissa project, and how India RPCVs and Friends might
promote the Full Belly Project, such as facilitating Rotary Club involvement here
and abroad.
A short business meeting was held. The following points were noted:
- George Nepert, Treasurer, gave a report. Please see details elsewhere in newsletter.
- Newsletter will continue to be sent to both paying and non-paying members to continue facilitating communication among members.
- The FOI Board would be pleased to see the number of paid memberships ($15/yr) increase.
- FOI will not undertake a special drive for hurricane assistance; we will continue to provide information on the website for making monetary and volunteer contributions.
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A Questionnaire for updating members' physical and email addresses and other information was included in the
latest newsletter and here on the website.
There is a
Printable Version
and a
Downloadable Version.
Thank you for doing this, and for the stamp as that will save FOI about
$300. We are also hoping to use this information for completing a directory in the future.
On Saturday evening, we retreated to the Slatterys where we ate, drank and continued our
reveries. A very special thanks to Gail Singh (India 18) for preparing delicious Indian
dishes and condiments fit for maharajas and maharanis!! Finally, I want to thank Alice for
the many arrangements she made for the reunion during my month's absence in Louisiana in
September.
In closing, our prayers and thoughts are with all the families suffering from the devastation
of the recent earthquake in Kashmir.
Namaste,
Jack Slattery
Email: FOIndiaSlattery@aol.com
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