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Regular meeting and lecture by Greg Garrett

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Wednesday, September 15, 2021 18:30-19:30, The Hamlet, Rue Etienne-Dumon 12, 1204 Genève, Switzerland
Website: https://thehamlet.com
Speaker(s):

Greg S. Garrett, Director of Business Development and Alliance Management, DNDi.


Organizer(s):
  • Marie-Thérèse Bou Younes

Meeting Minutes


Marie-Thérèse 

(Self introduction). I am presiding over this meeting in the absence of Ari, who cannot join us for professional reasons. We are honored to have Greg Garrett as our guest lecture (short bio). Our District Representative is also there, Eleonora (short bio). (Invites the Board, then all members and prospects to introduce themselves).

Some of our 20 attendees for Greg S. Garrett introduction of the ‘Safi’ Project.

Eleonora’s District 1990 Rotaract Committee Introduction

(See presentation attached below). Important upcoming dates are:

  • The Presidential Meeting on September 18th, 2021 (open to all members via remote attendance, link to follow in our Club’s WhatsApp group)
  • The Bee Project on October 16th, 2021
  • UniRotary in Fribourg on November 6th, 2021 (SpeakEat session at 9am)
  • The Presidential Meeting, in January

Useful link to get to know us:

The District 1990‘s website, the District 1990 RAC’s Facebook page and the SpeakEat Project’s Facebook Page.

Greg Garrett’s biography

Greg Garrett joined DNDi in August 2020 as Director of Business Development and Alliance Management. Over the last 18 years, Mr Garrett has developed strategies and programmes to improve health at scale in frontier markets. Prior to joining DNDi, Mr Garrett led strategy and business development at ThinkWell – a global health organization. Before that, he spent eight years at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) as Head of GAIN Switzerland and Director of Policy & Finance where he led a global nutraceutical facility, directed a fortification portfolio reaching one billion with nutritious foods, and established a multi-million dollar impact investment programme.  

Mr Garrett started his career in global health in the 90s with Mercy Ships in the South Pacific and has worked for seven years in various countries throughout Africa and Asia.

Mr Garrett serves on the Board of AINHE (Afghanistan Institute of Nutrition) and holds a BA and an MSc in International Development from the University of Bath, UK.

Greg S. Garrett introducing the ‘Safi’ Project.

Greg Garrett’s Presentation – ‘Safi’ Project Overview

(See presentation attached at the bottom of the page). We are recruiting any member who would like to take part in this project, and more specifically for social media savvy members who could help us (together with local students in Tanzania) to raise awareness not around the project itself, but arounds its concepts (waste hierarchy, sustainable agriculture, circular economy), using infographics, hashtags, content. If you would like to join, please contact me (ggarrett@dndi.org). 

The Safi project aims to provide 2,500 secondary school students with hands-on environmental knowledge. © Greg S. Garrett

 ‘Safi’ Project Q&A

Kalyssa

We have a lot of prospects tonight who are not yet familiar with Rotary International. Can you just explain what a global grant from Rotary International is?

 

Greg

There is a global grant program run by Rotary International from the US, that one can apply for. It was successfully obtained for the Lebanon project, a past project of Rotary Genève International. There’s quite strict criterias, and we would like to apply with this project. The biggest challenge is how to measure the success of a project when its goal is to transmit knowledge.

 

Theodora

How and where would the funding be used?

 

Greg

It would be used to pay trainers on site and consultants (60% of the budget). The other time of spending would be activities and workshops (material, location renting), tree planting, beach cleanups... Almost 95% of the budget will be spent in Tanzania. 

 

Sheilla

Is this project a pilot to be applied to other places later on?

 

Greg

No, this project is not a pilot, as it is quite hard to obtain the global grant from RI and we really had to tailor it to local policies in place in Tanzania, work with the NGO, etc. But if this project works, I am confident there are many lessons that can be used to create similar projects in other parts of the world.

 

Takhmina

How do you plan on creating the link with local politicians?

 

Greg

Thankfully, the local NGO already did it, and benefited from a great visibility by advocating politically for the Plastic bag ban. 

 

Kalyssa

Are there any Rotaract or Interact clubs on site that could be active in the project?

 

Greg

I have not checked yet, it would be of interest and its probable as South Africa has a very dense Rotary network. (End of QA)

Rotary’s Hybrid Meeting Program for Rotaractors


Kalyssa

The Rotary Genève International recently experimented with hybrid meeting (remote and physical) for their members. To run smoothly, they require people to master the technical aspects and attend meetings. 

For this reason, they are still looking for 3 to 5 Rotaract members or prospects who would like to join the program in alternance. 


It is a great way to get highly valued technical knowledge as hybrid meetings seem to become a standard for the future. By joining the program, you are invited free of charge at the Rotary meeting dinner (value of 60 CHF).


Meetings take place every Thursday evening every week. You would need to arrive at 5.30pm for setup, attend the hybrid meeting from 7pm to 8pm, then you are free to sit, talk, eat and network with Rotary members. At the end of the event, you have to take everything down.

 

Greg

It is also a great way to attend lectures at the Rotary, because the program is quite rich: we will have lectures from a US ambassador talking about the Biden foreign policy, Patrick from Lombard Odier talking about natural capital, etc. It’s definitely worth attending.

 

Theodora

A colleague of mine will also give a lecture about the Cyberpeace Institute.

 

Kalyssa

I would need to know who’s interested to join already. (Raise their hands: Boris, Takhmina, Cameron and Théophile). You can still make up your mind later on and let me know at any time if you would like to join this program.

Public Relation Manager Boris Fernandez’s Pinning Ceremony

 

Marie-Thérèse

After completing his 3 months trial period, Boris Fernandez successfully obtained a majority vote granting him full membership at Rotaract Genève International. Congratulations! (Pinning ceremony, handing the Rotaract flag and pictures).


On our next meeting, October 6th, we will present more in depth how to get involved or start a project. 


Sheilla created a video to submit to the International Day of Peace project by Rotaract Madagascar, we will be sending it in the WhatsApp group and forwarding it to the Rotaract Madagascar club. Thank you Sheilla for creating the video!


We are also in the process of creating a social gathering before October 6th in order to meet in a more casual format. We are open to any idea of suggestions, please feel free to write to me about it (End of the meeting).



 

PR Manager Boris Fernandez receiving his pin and flag by Secretary Marie-Thérèse Bou Younes.

The Square, a communal space for the hotel's guests. © The Hamlet

What is The Hamlet?

The Hamlet is a family-run and fully restored townhouse comprised of 16 one-of-a-kind apartments. Winner of multiple awards, this 18th-century gem offers accommodation from 1 night to 1 year for travelers seeking refinement, calm and understated luxury right in the heart of Geneva.

How to access the Hamlet?

The Hamlet is located at the heart of Geneva's old town, at Rue Etienne-Dumont 12, Geneva 1204. The closest bus stop (by distance) are Liszt (36) and Athénée (3, 5, 7). Bikers can secure their bike on Place du Bourg-de-Four. The closest parking is Saint-Antoine (50m away).

Upon entering the building, access the 1st floor via lift or stairs and turn right: you will be entering The Square, a communal space shared with the hotel's guests. Meetings will take place in The Library, a dark green teal room on the right when entering The Square (see pictures attached).

Registration

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