Our own Charter Member, Past President and two year Assistant District Governor Helen Abe spoke to us
Our own Charter Member, Past President and two year Assistant District Governor Helen Abe spoke to us on September 18th about a joint project our Harbor Foundation is participating in to improve literacy in areas not helped by the current government in China.  The project is called Shen Shen and translates to spreading the seeds (of literacy and education). Her speech was especially moving because she told us about her parents' experience coming to the US as immigrants, being too embarrassed to try to speak English, with Helen trying to help her mother with the new language when she only nine years old.
While large cities and industries are booming in China now, the rural areas remain impoverished and ignored.  Rotary participation in China is unwanted, as past District Governor John Bottari added at the end of Helen's speech, but three Rotary clubs have quietly opened in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Beijing.
Helen's husband, Ted Abe, Past President of the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown, attended our meeting.  His club is also participating in this project.
Helen is planning a trip to China to visit the areas receiving our help, acting as tour guide to the northern central area of China near the Silk Road.  Helen hopes to take Rotarians around the world!