Byesville Rotary introduced to the country of Turkey

Pictured: Rich Dair, Speaker Host; Dr. Mamidi, guest speaker. And Joe Waske, Byesville Rotary President.

Readings for Feb. 1:

• February Rotarian, "Picture this: Your photo, a winner," p. 16-17, and "Purchases for polio," and crossword, p. 72.

Next meeting is the business meeting: BRING YOUR MEAT DONATION!!! Thanks.

During a short business meeting, the Byesville Rotary reviewed plans for spring projects. These projects include a Health Fair, staffing a booth at the Community Resource Day, and a landscaping project at Rotary gazebo in Byesville.

Dr. Mamidi, a Byesville Rotarian, was the guest speaker. Dr. Mamidi provided a slide show and spoke about the trip he and his wife took to Turkey. The history of Turkey is varied and ancient. Because of its strategic location, the country has been ruled by many different cultures. It is also a country of many different religions including Christian and Muslim.

The county itself is a little larger than Texas. One of the reasons the area has played a large role in history is because its capitol, Istanbul—once known as Constantinople, guards the straits linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. The straits provide the narrowest crossing between Europe and Asia. Istanbul, located in two continents—Europe and Asia.

Many historical sites are located in Turkey such as Mt. Ararat and Troy. The county has many ancient Roman ruins including many amphitheaters and public baths. Dr. Mamidi and his wife were able to visit many of these sites.

One of the most interesting was the town of Ephesus. The Temple of Artemis was located here. This temple was considered one of the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World. The temple was an important site for pilgrims to visit. The many ancient tourists visiting the Temple helped Ephesus become the second largest city in the Roman Empire. Today all that is left of the Temple is one lonely pillar.

Another site visited by the Mamidi’s—Heirapolis, was famous for its hot water baths. Many people came to the baths in the belief that bathing in the carbonated water could cure illnesses. Sometimes the hoped for cure did not occur. As a result, there is an extensive necropolis or graveyard nearby.

The Mamidi’s also visited the Cappadocia regions. This region is characterized by over 100 cities carved into the volcanic rock of the region and that are completely underground. At present, 6 of these underground cities are open to the public. Dr. Mamidi and his wife stayed in a modern hotel that was built underground and got a taste of what it was like to live in the underground cities.

Dr. Mamidi and his wife concluded their tour of Turkey in Istanbul. While there, they saw the Topkapi Market and the Hagia Sofia which was first a church under Emperor Constantine and later became a mosque. They also took a cruise and toured the Dardanelle and Bosporus Straits.

The club’s next meeting will be 7:30 am, February 1, 2011, at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Larry Miller, 740-439-2767