The Reno Rotarian The Rotary Club of Reno • www.renorotaryclub.org • District 5190 Chartered August 1, 1916 || Volume 29, No. 24 || January 4, 2016 The Rotary Club of Reno meets at Harrah’s Reno at Noon on Monday
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Monday’s Program Asma Aimal Life as an Afghan Woman
Rotary International K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran, President Bradford R. Howard, RI Director Gail “Virus” Ellingwood, District Governor
Rotary Club of Reno Curt Chapman, President Craig Wesner, President Elect Bill Boon, President Nominee Harvey Fennell, Past President Carl Fuetsch, Secretary Harvey Fennell, Treasurer
Directors: Kris Wells (2013-2016) Sheila Hlubucek (2014-2017) Phil Mahoney (2014-2017) Kurt Mische (2014-2017) Maria Sheehan (2015-2018) Diana Hoffman (2015-2018) Gary Warren (2015-2018)
Reno Rotary Foundation Jim Pfrommer, President, Reno Rotary Foundation Carl Fuetsch, Secretary Harvey Fennell, Treasurer John Spears, Investments Curt Chapman, Ex-officio Craig Wesner, Ex-officio
Trustees: Brian Armon Ted Fuetsch Steve Kent Laurie Leonard Kevin LeVezu Tom Taelour
Asma was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan. As an Afghan woman, earning a high school diploma was a big step for her. Despite her success in high school Asma was not encouraged to pursue a higher education. It is a cultural norm in Afghanistan for Afghan girls to be married by the age of 16 and they are expected to stay at home. Asma never stopped dreaming about pursuing a university education. Asma was introduced to Kay Dunham through Aimal in 2013 by using Skype and email. They soon became friends and Kay offered Asma an opportunity to come to the U.S to pursue her dream of a university education. After five tries, Asma was finally granted a student visa (1 of 2 women and 7 total students who were issued U.S. visas in 2014 for the entire country of Afghanistan). Asma arrived to the U.S. December, 2014. Asma is currently studying at the University of Nevada where she is pursuing her degree in Political Science. Asma also has a strong interest in a nursing career with the goal of returning to her country one day. She is passionate about helping improve the lives of Afghan women who have been affected by war and oppression. Asma believes education is the pathway to equality for all women so they may understand their rights and help in the rebuilding of their country. Asma was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan. As an Afghan woman, earning a high school diploma was a big step for her. Despite her success in high school Asma was not encouraged to pursue a higher education. It is a cultural norm in Afghanistan for Afghan girls to be married by the age of 16 and they are expected to stay at home. Asma never stopped dreaming about pursuing a university education.
Asma was introduced to Kay Dunham through Aimal in 2013 by using Skype and email. They soon became friends and Kay offered Asma an opportunity to come to the U.S to pursue her dream of a university education. After five tries, Asma was finally granted a student visa (1 of 2 women and 7 total students who were issued U.S. visas in 2014 for the entire country of Afghanistan). Asma arrived to the U.S. December, 2014. Asma is currently studying at the University of Nevada where she is pursuing her degree in Political Science. Asma also has a strong interest in a nursing career with the goal of returning to her country one day. She is passionate about helping improve the lives of Afghan women who have been affected by war and oppression. Asma believes education is the pathway to equality for all women so they may understand their rights and help in the rebuilding of their country.
Save the Dates For more information or to register online, go to: www.renorotaryclub.org Reno Mardi Gras February 9, 2016 Tahoe City Rotary Clubs Annual Ski Race March 11, 2016
Upcoming Meetings Jan. 4: Asma Aimal Life as an Afghan Woman Jan. 11: Caleb Cage Emergency Preparedness Jan. 18: No Meeting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday