Rotary member recounts travels to Mongolia
The Rotary Club of North Garland County/Scenic 7 recently heard from member Joi Burton about her trip to Mongolia.
Burton, a past district governor of Rotary, is a frequent traveler who "loves to discover new places," a news release said.
"Having grown up on a farm in Arkansas with a love of horses, Burton had especially looked forward to visiting Mongolia. It is known as 'the country born on horseback,'" the release said.
While there Burton, and her small group of travelers were welcomed into the home of a nomadic family whose main source of income came from the sale of mares' milk. The family herded sheep, goats, ponies and camels.
"There is a not a lot to see" in the Gobi Desert, said Burton, "but a lot is happening there." There were no paved roads where she stayed, no modern plumbing, yet the family had some electricity from a small solar panel. The diet for meals consisted of basically meat and milk, occasionally followed by a special drink of vodka with pickle juice. Like the host family, visitors stayed in a tent structure called a ger in Mongolia -- not a yurt. All gers are set up to face the south.
Burton and her fellow travelers were surprised to learn that Mongolia has the highest rate of literacy in the world. Every child goes to school even though the schools may be many miles away. The children ride by motorcycle to the boarding school on Monday and return home on Friday.
The theme for Rotary International this year is "Rotary Connects the World." "Joi Burton certainly takes that theme to heart," the release said.
Rotary Club of North Garland County/Scenic 7 meets Thursdays at Charlie's Pizza Pub. Call Amanda Kennedy at 501-922-0227 for more information.
TEA Party to host two judicial candidates
Mark Steven Fraiser, one of two candidates for Garland County District Court judge, Division 2, and Judge Ralph Ohm, who is vacating the position to run for Garland County Circuit Court judge, Division 1, will each address the Garland County TEA Party at noon Wednesday at Hibachi Sushi Buffet, 4334 Central Ave.
The TEA Party is hosting a series of appearances by judicial candidates at its weekly gatherings leading up to the March 3 nonpartisan judicial election.
Society on 01/25/2020