July 29,2009 Bulletin

The Bulletin -- July 29, 2009 (#1001)

Program: Vladimir Monk, Holocaust Survivor

Holocaust Survivor, Vladimir Monk (left) speaks with club member Ewa Jankowska about his experience in the Nazi concentration camps.

70 years ago in March of 1939 Germans entered Czechoslovakia. Bohemia, where Vladimir Monk’s family lived, immediately became ruled by anti-Jewish laws. At the young age of 14, Vladimir was not allowed to attend public school, his father lost his job and the family was forced into smaller accommodations. All forms of public entertainment such as movies and sporting events were forbidden, and they were not permitted to walk in parts of the city. No radios. No bikes. No pets…It would get much worse.

In 1941, Jews from Bohemia and many others were removed to an isolated location. The city of Terezin became a concentration camp, and Vladimir’s family was forced to live in what had become the Hannover Barracks.

Deplorable living conditions in Terezin made life unbearable. A city designed for 5,000 people was holding over 70,000 meaning a room for 2 held 16. Lack of privacy for 17 year old Vladimir was the worst part of the Barracks life. He said, “By ‘lack of privacy’ I don’t just mean that people slept in the bunk over you and under you. Lack of privacy meant no private bathroom or privacy to pursue quiet moments with loved ones.” By 1942 the number of Jews in Terezin exceeded 70,000. The Nazi’s were forced to begin transporting the Jews to extermination camps.

“We didn’t know where the transports went or what happened to the people. We knew that whoever was sent east never returned again,” Vladimir said.

Transport to Auschwitz in 1944 was disguised by telling the people they were being sent to a nearby location to build another camp. Most of the people who arrived from the transport were sent immediately to the gas chambers. On the ramp, they were separated into lines directed by SS officers. “The strong and young were split from the others for labor. The others went to the gas chambers,” Vladimir stated. “It was at this point I was separated from my father. I didn’t know that he and the others were sent to the chambers. We were marched into the camp, and in the morning we were processed.”

From Auschwitz, Vladimir was sent to a sub camp where he worked in a rolling stock yard repairing freight cars damaged by the war. Vladimir’s journey would take him on several marches to other Barracks.

Over 140,000 Jews were brought to Terezin. Death would claim 121,000 of them. Some 34,000 died there, while 87,000 were transported to Auschwitz and other death camps. Only about 11,000 remained when the Soviets liberated its inmates. Of the 15,000 children interned there, just 100 survived. Cold, illness, hunger and vermin from fleas to bedbugs made life wretched for those waiting to learn their fate.

For Vladimir, the day came when there were no longer SS guards in the towers. He walked to a nearby village, and his journey to freedom began. Vladimir married his wife, Kitty, who he met in the camp and was able to start to live again.

First Vice President Colin Read (left) presented a $4,000 check to Past Pres. Kit Booth for the Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration Weekend.

This Week:

First V. Pres. Colin Read ran today’s meeting in place of President Bonnie Black who is out of the country with the Mission of Hope.
Colin had a bit of bad news. Izzy DeFayette, Rotary Club member for 35 years, recently passed away. There will be calling hours today (7/29) at the Brown Funeral Home and a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Peter’s church at 10am. If you would like to be part of the Honor Guard, please be at the church at 9:45 a.m. (7/30).
The Web membership list is going to be available soon. It is a work in progress, and members will be able to view/retake their photos as they wish.
Vicki Marking made an announcement on behalf of Jody Carpenter who has been working on a marketing initiative. A Rotary golf shirt is available for $27, and payments need to be made by Aug. 19.
The club will be sending the “dues check” to the District Office this week. Please pay immediately.
Sara Rowden announced Rotary Bike Day (9/23) will be from Point Au Roche to Rouses Point with a lunch stop at the Lakeside Café.
Service subcommittees will be meeting at 11:15 a.m. before next week’s scheduled meeting (8/4). Anyone interested may attend.\
Monday, Aug17 is the next Board Meeting at the CCC Dining Hall at PARC beginning at 12 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug 26 is the official District Governor’s visit.
The club has been given an award from the Clinton County’s School Boards Association, which has recognized our commitment to academic excellence.
Corn Forrence is still looking for Woodstock photos of our club members. Please turn them in by Aug 12.
Clarkson University is holding an Entrepreneurial Conference for start up companies in the ADK region on Sept. 8. You can get more infor on the website.

Seasoned Member MaryAnne Bukolt-Ryder, was the middle child of 8 children and grew up in Malone. Her family is a musical one, and MaryAnne joked that her mother demanded perfect pitch from the children (least they be drowned at birth). By the 2nd grade, she played the violin. She attended Albany State for her BA, Union University at Albany for her JD. She’s been married three times to a doctor, logger and an optician. “The doctor made me sick, the logger kept me warm and the optician made me see the light.” MaryAnne’s husband is Kerby Ryder, she has 4 children who have graduated from college. One of the reasons she continues to re-join Rotary is because it’s a wonderful way to give back to the community—especially for someone who may not have time to organize big events from the ground up. She’s served on the Board of Directors, been involved in the earliest fishing tournaments and has loved the time she’s spent with the club.

Visiting Rotarians: David Malone (Watertown).

Guests: Gary Allan (Kit Booth); Nick Moore (Don Moore); Vladimir Monk (Bob Parks).

Bonnie’s Bucks:

Don Moore had $2 for he and his son’s Saranac tandem five mile canoe race win.
Bruce Delventhal announced the Cardinal Classic Golf Tournament. They are still looking for two Rotarians to team up with Bob and Peter.
John Seiden referred to the mishap that occurred in his driveway. The gentleman is doing well, but the stress caused John to suffer with Bells Palsy. Thanks everyone for being supportive. His son, Nick, just passed another certification as an EMT.

50/50 : The pot is worth $1,281, and Kevin Killeen drew the Queen of Clubs.

Another Candle Burning For: Marsha Cook (7/26) and Corn Forrence (7/28)

Upcoming Programs: Go to Membership Duties List