Submitted

An Israeli refugee presented the program at the Thursday, Oct. 23 meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club, held at the BTC Bank community room. Daniel Gott presided at the meeting, Dan Wilford gave the prayer and Brian Upton was the sergeant at arms.

Program chairman Jackie Soptic introduced Fahid Aby Sinne, who has been living in Trenton the past five months since moving here with his wife, who is a former Trenton resident and the daughter of Trenton residents. Fahid grew up in Nazareth, the oldest of five children. After graduating from high school, he worked in Tel Aviv and studied engineering before earning a degree in theology. In order to help out his family, he worked in a food factory, learning about robotics during his three years there. He eventually became a youth pastor and in 2021 met his future wife, Alyssa, who was in Israel at the time. She eventually went back to the U.S. and in 2022, he came to the states to propose. The couple was married and while on their honeymoon, the Israeli war began. He was allowed to return home, but could not bring his wife with him at the time. He did go back and after a few months, she was able to join her husband. They spent about one year there while she applied for papers to stay, however, she was not accepted and had to return to the U.S. That was when he made the decision to come to the U.S. as well, spending several months getting a sponsorship letter which then led to him getting the required visas to travel and live here. He came to the U.S. in May of this year and is currently considering two job offers – one in Minnesota and one in Texas, where he would be working for the company he worked for in Israel. He also shared information about being in Israel while the war was going on and the affects it has had on his homeland.

During the business meeting, Missouri Day Parade Chairman Steve Taylor recognized Scottlyn Shull who, as Miss Calamity Jane, received honorable mention in the Youth Category of this year’s parade. She received a framed color photo of her parade entry.

Chris Hoffman also gave a final update of the club’s district grant project, which was installation of a bathroom in the Bright Futures storage/distribution building. Diane Lowrey thanked the Rotary Club for selecting her as a grand marshal of this year’s Missouri Day Parade.

The Oct. 30 meeting will be the club’s “Fifth Thursday” meeting, with the Trenton High School band presenting the program. Diane Lowrey is the program chairman.