PROGRAM:
PDG JAMES GRAHAM:  Qudrat School Update
            & The Shortest Pilot in the Navy.

Jim gave us a brief update on the Qudrat School in Afghanistan.   Hakim  (Qudrat’s father) was instrumental in getting a wall built around a school yard, which houses a deep well pump, that the Taliban want to poison.  It is patrolled by armed guards.  The school is making great progress in women’s literacy and health issues.  300 – 500 women can read and write, which is remarkable considering there is a 99.8% illiteracy rate. Jim saw 100 children immunized.

Jim went on to share with us his adventures and misadventures as the shortest pilot in the Navy. Jim’s father was an aviator and Jim inherited the desire to be a pilot for the Navy and was not going to let his physical size stop him from achieving his goal. He used an unconventional method to grow a half-inch. Jim developed a plan to grow using a stretch rack (similar to those used in medieval times) and met the 5 foot 6 inch requirement to enter the flight program.  He received a scholarship and enrolled at Purdue University to obtain a degree in chemical engineering. Jim showed us slides of the many different planes he flew, including the Navy Blimp at Key West.  He also spoke of evading death 3 times.   Jim’s program was informative and well received.


THANKS TO THOSE WHO HELP WITH
MEETING FUNCTIONS:

Money Collectors:  GIL SATTERLY and RENE FIGUEROA; Greeters: LETA KELLEY and PAUL POST; Piano: HARLEY FREY; Invocation by TIM LUZADER.  Help with attendance and facilitating a smooth meeting: JOHN TROTT, VICKI BURCH, TOM MORAN and WES McDIVITT.  Webmaster: LARRY HUGGINS.


THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

Some People...