Steve's Blog, February 27th
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| Dancing Yak? |
It's about 6:30 here in the morning and I am still waiting for my 6:15 walk-up call. Oh well, I am getting very used to it. There is no clock in the room - silly of me to assume that there would be. The cultural dinner was fine, kind of what you would expect, dancing and music highlighting the Nepal Culture. It was made entertaining by a dancing Yak during the performance. Dinner included the usual suspects: popcorn for an appetizer, wild boar for one of the main dishes and buffalo yogurt for dessert. Makes your mouth water, doesn't it?
Yesterday we went to the Nepal Association for the Welfare of the Blind (NAWB). This is a braille library that provides books for the blind. There are approximately 75 districts in Nepal, however, at the current time they are able to provide books to only 14 of the districts. The director of the facility indicated that there are approximately 30,000 blind people in the country (sounds low to me) and that they are able to reach only 5,000 people, which is very sad. They have two digital computer machines that were donated by China that allow them to publish 600 pages per hour when the electricity is on. Sadly, in this country, the electricity may be on for as few as four hours per day unless you have a generator which most cannot afford. This is the only library in the nation and its receives little or no support from the government. There are small libraries in the schools but no public libraries in the community. They have a tremendous amount of books, as you will see from a photograph I took, and they are in the process of developing a catalogue system. Good luck with that one!
We are leaving Kathmandu this morning and heading to the town of Pokhara which is approximately 150 miles northwest of Kathmandu. This is a tourist town and is the primary destination for the citizens of Nepal when the go on vacation. It is about a 7 hour bus ride, which should be very interesting and very bumpy! Hopefully, we will not see an accident - it is a tradition in this country that if you are the victim of an accident, the people behind you must make a monetary donation to the victim before they can pass!
I am hopeful that when we get to Pokhara I can get internet service at the hotel. By the way I am still waiting on my walk-up call.
See you all soon.
Steve Swank is member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and is on a Rotary sponsored trip to the country of Nepal to view the projects that the club is currently supporting.
There are dozens of reasons to come down to the 7th Annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival, from the 23 local wineries, various food vendors, local beer samplings, live music, Triumphs and MINI Coopers parked out front, great crowds as well as the fantastic causes this event supports for the community. Another huge reason to venture down is that it is being held in a grand, historic building that once served as the Masonic Retirement Center of Washington. Built in 1926, this majestic,six-story, castle-like building is so cool that you can get lost just walking around admiring it.
A quick history lesson for all of you history buffs out there: In 1892 the seeds were planted for the establishment of a haven for needy Masons, their wives, widows and orphans. In 1922, the Masonic Lodges were favorable to the erection of a Home in Des Moines. In May 19, 1924 the site was purchased for $78,624.95 -- a total of 82 acres. The building was dedicated on June 21, 1927. The first year the Home had 107 residents. Time and expenses caused many changes over the years including the sale of a total of 47 of the original 82 acres. In 2003, a redevelopment plan for a new retirement community was unveiled. In the late 2000's, the redevelopment plans were put on hold and the Masonic organization opened up the building for use as an event center.
The Landmark Event Center truly is the Castle on the Hill. With beautiful grounds, stunning views and ornate architecture, we recommend that our wine festival attendees venture in and explore the dining hall, the library, living room and wander up the ramp to the third floor auditorium, paying special attention to the long-dead Grand Master Masons whose pictures line the wall, as well as some of the detailed touches, such as a marble plaque dated Feb. 12, 1913 near the entrance. It's no wonder the Landmark Event Center's tag line is "History, elegance and spectacular views.... all in one place!"
The Rotary Club of Des Moines has held the Poverty Bay Wine Festival in this historic site for the last three years. We hope you will join us! For more information on the Poverty Bay Wine Festival or to order tickets, please visit www.dmrotary.org.
Steve's Blog - February 26th
I will give you a quick recap of yesterday. We actually had sometime in the morning to go to the Thamel District of Kathmandu and walk around. I was able to purchase treasure/trash for the grand kids.
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Later in the afternoon, we went to the Disability New life Center and did a volunteer project in which the kids painted these little treasure boxes that all have locks. It was really fun watching these kids select their colors and the volunteers were frequently requested by the kids to draw trees, flowers, mountains or whatever they wanted. I really pitied the kids who asked me to draw, as this is definitely not my area of expertise. However, having said, they seemed to be content with my sketchy drawing techniques. The kids painted these boxes for almost two hours and this one little girl must have changed the colors on top of her box eight times! I was always refilling her paints for her. I became quite adept at avoiding painted fingers so my clothes would not look like the colors of the rainbow.
Later, we handed our little gift boxes to the children that included stuffed animals, candy, wooden or basalt wood airplanes and other little gifts. Not really much in our world but to these 30 kids it was like Christmas morning and just as loud with laughter and happiness - more than you could imagine! Rob Rose also brought clothes to hand out, but it took so long for the painting project that he will have to come back and pass them out later. It is very sad to me that this is the last time we will see these kids. They have asked all of us to please come back again.
No visit would complete with (yes, once again!) mystery food, although this time I did recognize the mo mos which is a dumpling that has some type of sauce over them. They are very similar to pot stickers.
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| Mt. Everest |
It is Sunday morning here and today is the day that we are taking our flight to Mt. Everest which should be an incredible experience. After to flight we will be visiting the Braille Library in Kathmandu. Later in the evening, we will be visiting the Nepali Cultural Dance Center. Which, of course, will provide me with yet another adventurous dining experience! I am pretty sure that pizza will not be on the menu. I am really hoping that they have at least some type of curry.
That's all I know right now but I will be emailing and talking to you soon. Tell everyone in the club I said hello.
P.S. I am sorry for all of the spelling errors but the spell checker is working sporadically as is the writer.
Steve Swank is member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and is on a Rotary sponsored trip to the country of Nepal to view the projects that the club is currently supporting.
Steve's Blog - Friday,February 25th
My computer battery is fully charged now. I am not sure where I left off earlier, but I believe I was talking about the ICU project at the Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children. The ICU project is very important based on both the need and the shape of the highway and road system in Nepal.
 We all went to a dinner last evening that was hosted by RR who is a Rotarian in the Patan Rotary Club that we visited on Monday (love all the initials here in Kathmandu!). It was a little too high brow for my taste with another meal of mystery dishes and strange tastes (I feel very blessed to have Pepto Bismal tablets and cliff bars, in that particular order).
 We will be doing another voluntary project this afternoon, while you are all sleeping, at the Disability Awareness Center which we visited earlier this week. I should make special mention that during all of these volunteer projects, I have managed to display my vast collection of Rotary shirts (President Al would be so proud!).
I tell you - trying to get on the Internet and getting the proper extension chords, so that my battery does not run low, is a challenge. At times, the communication with the people here is very challenging, but I guess it's a part of the deal when traveling to a country such as Nepal.
I am so ready for a Jack Daniels, you don't even know. I think a trip to the Yardarm is in order when I get home!
Finally, I wanted to say thanks to every one for all the positive feedback regarding these emails. It has been good and very self-medicating.
Will talk to you all tomorrow.
Steve Swank is member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and is on a Rotary sponsored trip to the country of Nepal to view the projects that the club is currently supporting.
Steve's Blog: February 25th:
Me and my red hot water bottle survived the night at the hotel last night and I actually had electricity this morning for a few short hours! Hallelujah! We are back in Kathmandu today but will be leaving for Pokhara on Monday which is about a 7-hour bus ride. I can hardly wait. I hear that Pokhara is supposed to be nice, as lots of families vacation there. I have to say that Nepal is really beautiful.
 Today we went to the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children, which is located in Dhulikhel. This medical center provides spinal surgeries for the entire country of Nepal. We met today with the administrator of the hospital and one of the doctors that performs the surgeries. They do approximately 40 to 50 spinal surgeries per year with most of the surgeries related to scoliosis. They perform surgeries for cerebral palsy and club foot, as well . This facility is very similar to the Children's Orthopedic Hospital in Seattle. Payment is based on the economic well being of the parents, so they can basically pay as little or as much as they can afford. The facility also has the capability of manufacturing/constructing artificial limbs.We were provided with the opportunity to visit with some of the children who have had recent surgeries. These kids were amazing - they were very happy and upbeat despite their ailments and recent surgeries.
The purpose of this visit to this hospital was extremely important to our club, as we have the opportunity to provide $1,000 for assistance in the purchasing of new medical equipment for an intensive care unit which is planned for the hospital. Presently, there is no recovery room for the patients who have surgeries.
I will pick up on this later, as my computer battery is low.
Steve Swank is member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and is on a Rotary sponsored trip to the country of Nepal to view the projects that the club is currently supporting.
 Steve's Blog: February 24thDay four here in Kathmandu was another interesting day as we had an opportunity to visit a volunteer project at a school where the children we interacted with were blind. We did a arts and craft project with them that involved decorating a treasure chest with jewelery. It was fun! I got to worked with a six year old girl who was as cute as a bug!
Staying at a hotel this evening that has no central heat and only hot water available from 7:00 am to 9:00 am in the morning. At bedtime, my heat source arrived in the form of a hot water bottle!
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| Himalayan Mountains |
This country is very unique, to say the least. It feels like there is so much fresh air here, as we are about 7,500 feet above sea level. The hotel I am staying in provides beautiful views of the Himalayan Mountains. It is awfully pretty here, but very rustic. Trying to get Internet access here is nearly impossible.
We are heading to a hospital tomorrow to view their facilities. This is the project that Robert Rose recently wrote to us about that could be a project of interest for the International Committee.
Talk to you all soon. Hope the planning is going well for the wine festival.
Steve Swank is member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and is on a Rotary sponsored trip to the country of Nepal to view the projects that the club is currently supporting.
Steve's Blog, February 23rd, 9:03 am
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| Hindu children at school |
Today we visited the East Pole English School, a project that we are participating in with the Bagmarti Rotary Club of Kathmandu. Today was the opening day and was devoted to the training of the teachers who will be working with students with disabilities, so it was a very special day. They allowed me to begin the meeting by lighting the candles and then graciously asked me to speak at the event. The school has 1,050 students with 29 students who are disabled. The school serves children from kindergarten through high school. We had a chance to meet all of the students. There was a question and answer session that allowed me to ask questions and they in turn could ask me questions. It was a lot of fun! We were at the school for approximately three hours and toured the facility. During the tour, they showed us the different areas, plus the building plans for the improvements that will include handicapped ramps, modification to the toilets, handrails and adjustments to the table height in the classrooms. This is a pilot project which will possibly include an additional seven schools in the future. It was really nice being there and to hear their praise for our club's funding of the project. There is a lot more that I could talk about, but will save for a later date.
Went to SK's home for dinner this evening and met his family. Not sure what we ate, but it was a great time! The current president of the Bagmati Rotary Club joined us as
well and brought us back to the hotel.
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| Hindu Temple |
We visited a Hindu Cemetery and Temple after the school visit. It was really strange with all of the monkeys running around and walking by the Holy Men. It was a very usual experience - one that I will share with you all when I return home!
Tomorrow we head to Dhulikhel, where we will be involved in some hands on projects with both deaf and blind children. I will hopefully send information about these projects, which will be dependent on Internet access.
I think that about sums up the day. I will see you all soon.
Steve Swank is member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and is on a Rotary sponsored trip to the country of Nepal to view the projects that the club is supporting.
Steve's Blog - February 22nd, 7:50am
 This was a pretty good day - we went to the Bagmati Rotary Club and they were extremely friendly and finally got the chance to meet SK. This is also a club with approximately 40 members like us that was formed in 2003. They are very active in a variety of projects to include schools, medical programs related to cancer and many other projects. We then spent a few hours touring the city and went out for lunch, which I was very nervous about. I never seen pollution and debris to the extent that I am witnessing in Kathmandu. There is garbage everywhere including the river that runs through the city. I think that the sewage in the city is directly deposited into the river. There are tents lined all along the riverbanks where people live. The traffic is amazing and how they drive is even more incredible. Crossing the street is definitely a life threatening adventure!
 Later in the afternoon Disabled Newlife Center and met approximately 20 children with severe physical disabilities. These kids were wonderful and extremely happy. We would be introduced to these kids and then they would give you the biggest hugs that you could imagine! The facility where these children live is in very poor condition. The goods new is that a new facility is underway that is being funded by a Rotary Club in England and they are hoping to move into with a month. We also met two of the Rotarians from the club which is funding the project. We are going back on Saturday to have a hands on volunteer project which should be a lot of fun. Tomorrow, SK and I will be visiting the school which our club has been involved in. I am really looking forward to seeing this project. I have been told that new handicap ramps are being installed and that toilet modification is also underway. This project is being sponsored by the Bagmati Rotary Club is also in the process of developing a sports and recreational program for these kids with disabilities. I will be going to SK's for dinner so I will probably take some Pepto Bismal tablets before I go as the food should be very entertaining.They seem to eat chicken at every meal here in Kathmandu.
That's about it - tell everyone I said hello and will see them soon.
Steve's Blog - Monday, February 21st, 8:46 am.
 Finally made it here after 32 hours of flight and layover! Arrived at 3:00 pm this afternoon and went to the Pantan Rotary Club. They have 42 members- all of whom are Paul Harris recipients. They have 35 clubs in Kathmandu and73 total in Nepal. They also have a Weekend Back Pack which is similar to ours and they also have Happy Bucks I guess we are not that different after all!
I presented the Club President with our Club Flag. I also presented the club with a box of Girl Scout Cookies that were provided by Carly Johnson (Dan's daughter), because we wanted to give them something from our part of the world. They were very surprised and pleased to receive the cookies. The club auctioned off the Girl Scout cookies and raised $10.00! I have photographs of the presentation and will share it with the club during my presentation in March. I am off now to another Rotary Meeting with the club that we are assisting in the Disability Awareness Program, which I will be visiting Wednesday. I am hoping tomorrow that I will get a chance to explore the area. The city, based on the ride from the airport, is really in pretty rough shape. More to come tomorrow!
Steve Swank is member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and is on a Rotary sponsored trip to the country of Nepal to view the projects that the club is supporting.
Great-grandfather H.H. Benton started it all in 1909, building new homes as Seattle boomed. During the Great Depression, he built Benton Court Apartments, still in use today. He persuaded son-in-law Cecil Powell to join the business and together they created Barton Square Apartments, Normandy Duke Apartments and hundreds of single family homes, all serving owners and tenants today.
Third generation Monte Powell learned from his father and grandfather as he worked his way through college. His special interest was retirement homes. In 1967, he created the nationally acclaimed Huntington Park Retirement Village, still serving the community. His sons followed his example, building homes as they went to college. Two of them, Todd and Brooks Powell, now head the company. They have added a new emphasis on remodeling and renovation as the next generation moves into Seattle’s aging housing stock.
Times have changed, but the Powell family tradition of excellence and integrity remains the same.
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| Brooks Powell, Co-Owner |
When asked why Powell Custom Homes chose to become the event sponsor for the 7th Annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival, Brooks said, "Since my family's move to Des Moines in the 1960's, we have always felt it was important to participate in the community, so partnering with the Rotary Club of Des Moines just makes sense". The Powell family has had a long history of giving back to their community. This can be seen in their involvement in the Fireworks Over Des Moines, the Poverty Bay Blues and Brews Fest, the Des Moines Waterland Festival, and many other local events.
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| Ric Jacobson |
For all of you wine connoisseurs out there, you will recognize and appreciate the following quote by Robert Mondavi: "Wine to me is passion. It's family and friends. It's warmth of heart and generosity of spirit. Wine is art. It's culture."
For Rotarian, Ric Jacobson, owner of Corky Cellars in Des Moines, wine is also a lifetime passion. Ric brought to the Rotary Club of Des Moines the idea of a wine festival as a fund raiser, and we are pleased to say seven years later it has been a resounding success and is now a staple in the South King County area. We are also delighted to say that we have over 20 Washington wineries at this year's festival. Each winery is well-known for the premiere quality of their wines and each bring their own personal story and tradition. One winery in particular has an amazing story that we would like to share with you.
Otis Kenyon Winery is a family owned and managed winery with deep historical ties to the Walla Walla Valley. The story of Otis Kenyon Wine begins in the Walla Walla Valley in the early 1900s. A young man, James Otis Kenyon, was a struggling dentist practicing in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. When a new dentist moved to town, James, for reasons that remain a mystery, burned his competitor’s office to the ground. Ostracized by his wife and presumed dead by his two sons, the family moved to Walla Walla, Washington. Robert Otis Kenyon, the eldest son, never spoke of his father even to his son, Stephen Otis Kenyon. Yet, almost exactly 50 years after the incident that began the family legend, Steve discovered his grandfather living quietly on the Oregon coast.
James was reunited with his sons and became a joyful part of their families living long enough to witness the birth of his first great grandchild, Muriel. Although he passed on at age 101, James would have delighted in the birth and naming of his great grandson, Samuel Otis Kenyon.
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| Otis Kenyon Label |
Today, in tribute to four generations of Otis Kenyons each with strong ties to the Walla Walla Valley, owners Stephen Otis Kenyon and Deborah Dunbar have returned to the area to make wine. Guided by an unyielding commitment to excellence, they are passionate growers and producers of elegantly structured and affordable Bordeaux and Rhone varietal wines.
In honor of James Otis Kenyon, the label bears his silhouette.
Join us at the 7th Annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival at the Historic Landmark Event Center on March 4 -6th and hear more intriguing stories from our wineries. For more information about the Poverty Bay Wine Festival and to purchase tickets please visit http://www.dmrotary.org./
 By now, you have probably seen the wine colored posters displayed in the windows of literally every business in Des Moines and have read multiple articles on the Waterland Blog about the upcoming 7th Annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival on March 4-6 at the Landmark Event Center in Des Moines. And by now you and your friends have purchased tickets and are eagerly awaiting the chance to sample over 20 different wineries such as Page Cellars, eat Northwest cuisine from restaurants like Salty's at Redondo, and groove to the sultry music of Michael Powers and Mambo Cadillac. But what you may not be aware of is that not only will you be having a great time, you will also be helping the community! 100 % of the net proceeds from this all volunteer event sponsored by the Rotary Club of Des Moines supports local and international projects. Each year, the Poverty Bay Wine Festival raises between $40,000 to $50,000 and the club is proud to say that this event alone has raised over $200,000 in the last six years.- Highline Community College Scholarships $12,500
- Dictionaries for 3rd Graders in Des Moines $22,000
- Des Moines Field House Playground $10,000
- Des Moines Food Bank $15,500
- Des Moines Farmers Market $5,000
- Des Moines Parks and Rec. Scholarships $20,000
- Mini Grants to Local Schools $15,000
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| 3rd Grade Dictionary Project |
So now you can go and enjoy your time at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival knowing that as you are sipping your wine and swaying to the music, you are making a difference in your community. Talk about "guilt free" fun!
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| Steve with grandchildren |
Rotarian, Steve Swank, will soon be climbing aboard an airplane for an adventure of a lifetime. Steve, a member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines since 1989, will be flying half way across the world to Kathmandu on February 19th. He will be joining Rotarian Rob Rose (Bellevue Rotary Club) to see first hand the Disability Awareness project that our club has supported over the last two years. This project provides physical therapy for children with disability and facilities improvements for the Disabled Newlife Center in Kathmandu. He will also have the opportunity to be involved in many hands-on volunteer projects during his trip and scheduled to attend several Rotary Club meetings. Steve will return to the States on March 5th.
During his trip, Steve will have some time to travel and sight-see through the country of Nepal. Steve even has the opportunity to sign up for a sightseeing flight over Mt. Everest! When asked what he has done to prepare for the trip, Steve reports that (besides taking an arsenal of pills and shots) he has learned to say a few phrases in Nepali, such as Namaste (the Hindu greeting "I bow to you"), introducing himself and saying thank you. He has also researched the Nepali culture and has learned some very important "dos and don'ts":
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| Dubar Square in Kathmandu |
1) Don't cross your legs, because showing the soles of your shoes is an insult to your host; 2) Use your right hand to eat and deal with food. Nepalese use their left-hand to wash themselves after defecating; 3) Once your lips have touched a food item or its container, it is considered Jutho (polluted) for others; and 4) Above all, don't drink the tea offered to you by your host - only pretend to sip - as it is unfiltered water.
Steve is excited to see firsthand the children who are benefiting from the Nepal Wheelchair project. He states that it is a huge honor to represent the Des Moines Rotary Club.
What has him somewhat worried is the exotic nature of the Nepali cuisine. So in preparation for the big trip, he is packing plenty of granola and snack bars to avoid any possibility of starvation!
While Steve is traveling, the DMRotary Blog plans to track his journey. We will receive ongoing emails and photos from Steve and will share them with our readers. Stay tune for more on Steve's most excellent adventure!
 Valentine's Day is fast approaching! Do you know what you are going to give your Sweetie? If you are like most of us, you have no clue and are now in panic mode scurrying around looking for that perfect gift that says "You mean the world to me". Well, have no fear - the Rotary Club of Des Moines has saved the day! What could be better than giving that special someone tickets to the Poverty Bay Wine Festival? Nothing says "I love you" more than a day spent together sampling Northwest Wines, local cuisine and dancing to fabulous jazz music!
There is still time to save the day - go to www.dmrotary.org/winefestival.php or Corky Cellars today to purchase your tickets and be a true Valentine!
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| Jazz Musician, Michael Powers |
If you're at all familiar with the Seattle music scene, you'll recognize guitarist, Michael Powers, as a local musical phenomena. With a career that began at the age of 15, Michael has single-handedly designed his pathway for success; composing, producing, recording and playing on his own record label. He has built a loyal following and makes a living playing music, something every musician desires to do.
Fans may remember when he was a frequent visitor at Prosito's in Tacoma in the late '80s. In those days, Powers played a lot of straight-ahead blues. He has since moved on to a jazz emphasis. In late 2001, he was called on for a European tour featuring members of the legendary George Benson Quartet, organist "Dr." Lonnie Liston Smith and saxophonist Ronnie Cuber.
Reviews:
"Michael Powers, the Seattle jazz guitarist, who just gets better all the time." The Seattle Times
"There are TWO types of people. Those who love Michael Powers’ music, and those who have not yet heard it." The Review
Powers, will be performing at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival on Sunday, March 6th at 3:00 pm at the Landmark Event Center in Des Moines. For more information, please visit www.dmrotary.org.
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| Boating Party at Des Moines |
This year's Poverty Bay Wine Festival featured artist is Rita Norcoss, a local artist from Federal Way. Her artwork entitled Boating Party at Des Moines is illustrated on this year's promotional material. The artwork captures the feel of the Des Moines waterfront with views of Maury Island and the lighthouse at Pt. Robinson.
Norcross studied art history and studio painting and has worked in the graphic design field as an art director for various corporations and art design studios. Fine Art is her first love. Norcross primarily works in pastels, charcoals and one-of- a-kind monoprints. Her work has been seen in a variety of art shows, such as The W.O.W. Exhibition and The Fusion Annual Art Show which benefits battered woman. Examples of her work can be viewed at www.redstepgallery.com.
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| Festival Artist, Rita Norcross |
"It is a real pleasure to contribute to this year's wine festival with my artwork. I enjoy borrowing from art history - this favorite illustration approach can be seen in this year's featured artwork which displays a Des Moines wine party borrowed from the impressionist painter Renoir's Boating Party."
The artwork is currently on display at Corky Cellars in Des Moines. The piece will be auctioned off during the event and proceeds will be donated to the many charitable organization that the Rotary Club of Des Moines supports. For more information about the Poverty Bay Wine Festival or to purchase tickets, please visit www.dmrotary.org.
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| Dan Johnson |
Des Moines Rotary Club member, Dan Johnson, was recently recognized as the Community Volunteer of the Year for his contribution to Marvista Elementary School in Normandy Park. Dan will be honored at the Marvista School Auction on March 19th. The theme for this year's auction is "Heart & Soul". The school chose a teacher, a parent volunteer and a community volunteer who exemplify the “Heart & Soul” of Marvista. These unique individuals were chosen for their positive contributions as ambassadors of Marvista and the surrounding community. Dan assists with a number of things at the school including teaching the math club and heading up the safety committee. As fellow club members and friends, we know that Dan does so much more for the community at large with his work for the Boys and Girls Club of America, the Highline Water District, and, of course, Rotary! Way to go, Dan! You make us proud!
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