Jerry Jensen Speaker

SOUTH AFRICA PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

JERRY JENSEN

Jerry was in the airport in Cape Town waiting for a business flight to Johannesburg when he heard Ronald Reagan’s speech accepting the Republican nomination for President. Jerry was so inspired with the American ideals expressed in the speech, and so disillusioned with South Africa’s policy of apartheid, that he decided to emigrate to the United States. Jerry sold his business, shipped his wife and children off to Europe, and left for the U.S. on December 26, 1984. After spending some time in the South, Jerry flew to San Francisco, and “the lights came on”. He and his family settled in Folsom. South Africa has huge problems. Of the country’s population of 50 million, 80% is black, 15% is white, and 5% is mixed race. 80% of the black youth are unemployed, and 40% of the population live on $40 per month. The government is corrupt, the homicide rate is high, and the currency is devalued. A South African dollar is now worth ten cents American. Jerry described the situation as a “powder keg”. He said that if you think the Arab Spring was something, you haven’t seen the African Spring. Still, South Africa is a beautiful country, and if you are going to visit, Jerry recommends that you go to Cape Town. Continued on the next page

Jerry Jensen and ApartheidAn Abridged History of South Africa As outlined by Jerry Jensen and augmented by Wikipedia Remarkably, the Portuguese and Spanish trading interests never colonized or even established outposts in what is now South Africa. European settlement began, sort of, in 1647 with the shipwreck of a Dutch ship, the Nieuwe Haarlem at the Cape of Good Hope. The shipwreck victims built a small fort and survived for about a year until they were rescued by a Dutch fleet which was no doubt participating in the mostly forgotten war between Holland and Portugal for worldwide control of their respective colonial empires. The Dutch liked what they saw at the Cape of Good Hope and established a colony in 1652. Dutch fleets sailing between Europe and South Asia were very much in need of fresh provisions and the goal was to create a way station for the trade route between the Netherlands and its colonies in the East Indies. For example, by the time two Dutch ships arrived in late 1652, they had lost about 130 sailors to scurvy and associated ailments. By 1771, the population of the colony was 2,500 Europeans and 2,500 slaves. In 1794, the Dutch East India Company went bankrupt. (Ed Note: how could a dictatorial monopoly with exclusive trading rights to some of the richest areas in South Asia possibly go bankrupt?) In 1795, Great Britain seized the Dutch colony in South Africa. In the 1820s, English settlers began arriving in significant numbers. Unhappy under British rule, Dutch settlers migrated northward and founded a new country (Transvaal) that was independent for most of the second half of the 19th century. When Great Britain tried to annex Transvaal, the First Boer War erupted. The British lost. With typical British colonial stubbornness, they resumed the war in 1899. About 28,000 Boers (22,000 children) died in British concentration camps, mostly of starvation. About 14,000 black Africans also died in the camps. The Boers eventually surrendered to save the rest of their wives and children. In 1925, South Africa became a British dominion, making its status within the Empire equal to that of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. As a dominion, South Africa was able to control most of its own affairs. A long series of laws were enacted to disenfranchise and marginalize South Africa’s non-white races, which included a very large number of Indians. In 1948, apartheid was formally adopted. Apartheid became a stranglehold on the country, and fell in 1991 primarily because of the economic sanctions imposed by the United Nations. Jerry gave credit to Nelson Mandela, who went into prison in bitterness, having been sentenced to life in prison for blowing up a train, and came out an inspirational leader and healer of his nation. But, Jerry said, Nelson Mandela would now be turning in his grave. By Nancy Regan (the good part) and Bruce Vincent (the less interesting part).

Notes From the Meeting

Another Award for the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks When the club’s awards from the District were being presented a few weeks ago, they forgot to include one: The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks was a (the??) top club of the Ignite Program. That means we got a lot of new members in 2013-14. Congratulations to Alice Rowe for doing an incredible job as Membership Director.

The Blankets and Towels Contest Pete Schroeder announces the results of the contest to see which of three teams of club members could bring the most charity items, with a focus on towels and bedding. The team led by none other than …. Pete Schroeder …. won with a total of 7,236 items. The prize, as publicly announced by Pete? One bottle of beer for the entire team. Sheesh. The second place team won a single Stockman Club drink token. The third place team won a “What Is Rotary” card. Moments after Pete announced the results, his wife said, “Knowing him, I recommend a recount.”

Anne Browning Pete Schroeder

Pete Schroeder Pete was recognized by Cliff Straehley for his “Bring out the Joy” video event.

Bonnie McClain Won the right to participate in the Ace of Spades contest but failed to win.

Joe Horyza Joe was Little Genius. Since there are no notes on the fines he levied, we assume he went straight to Happy Fines, which are listed on the following page.

Happy Fines

Mike Maddox – because he’s going to Australia (and probably because he won’t be club president for very long after he gets back.

Pete Schroeder – Paid a happy fine for a successful “Bring out the Joy” video event.

Karen Romines – Paid a happy fine for (1) a Tupperware party, (2) Pete’s video event, (3) the River Cats game, and (4) the safety and well being of all four of her kids.

Warren McWilliams – For Saturday’s video event and for Anne Browning directing traffic.

Anne Browning - For something about the weather in Chicago. (Ed note: Having grown up near Chicago, I’m completely mystified by this one. No one is ever happy about the springtime weather in Chicago. Unless, of course, you’re not actually in Chicago and are missing the tornados, thunder storms, cold, dreary, overcast, drizzly…….) Diana Cralle – For a wonderful Mother’s Day.

Jim Cralle – For surviving Mother’s Day

Cliff Straehley – For attending a concert by a delightful Indian flute player.

Caption Contest

If you’ve made it to the end of this Acorn - Here’s your chance to win a free drink (or even a free dinner) from your hard-working Acorn editor. Just create a caption for a photo and email it to me - Bruce Vincent. If our panel of judges (me) likes your caption best, then you can belly up to the bar for your beverage of choice, gratis. If your caption convulses me in laughter, I will offer to buy you dinner. This time, you can create a caption for either/both of two photos. Feel free to write whatever you like but here are two factoids that may help with the creative process

• I’m pretty sure that’s a single one-dollar bill in Mike’s hand. • Pete is waving a Stockman’s drink token at everyone.

Best of luck.