Rotary News

March 5, 2007

Zaf Khaja was called to the podium by President Drew to turn in his red Rotary badge for a blue one.  In his first year in Rotary Zaf has been involved with committee work and recently volunteered to help with the upcoming District Conference.  Congratulations Zaf!

Amy Remmert invited all Rotarians to join 13 Russian marketing executives for lunch at the Park Club on April 26 from 11am to 1pm.  The group is sponsored by the P.E.P. program, and the $15.00 price for lunch also pays half the price of a lunch for one of the visitors.  Contact Amy if you need more information, or contact the Park Club at 381-0876 to make reservations.

President Drew presented State Representative Bob Jones with his second Paul Harris Fellow recognition.  PP/PDG Karl Sandelin spoke briefly of the goals and accomplishments of Rotary International, then presented his granddaughter, Kristy Breisach, with a Paul Harris Fellow recognition.  Mike Williams then surprised his new wife Sue with a Paul Harris Fellow recognition.  All three received a standing ovation.

Mike Williams stayed up at the podium to speak briefly about the work of the World Community Service (WCS)Committee, which is currently chaired by Joan Burke.  Mike reminded us of the political turmoil in Mexico which interrupted distribution of wheelchairs from last year's highly successful WCS project, but assured us that we will have documentation for the certificates by the end of this month. 

He then introduced Steve Duisterhof. Steve was part of a team that included his daughter, Keth Mumma, Joan Burke, and Sue and Mike Williams that went to Haiti to deliver a defibrillator to a hospital, and to investigate the ability of International Child Care (ICC) to assist Rotary with the distribution of bio-sand filters to provide clean water.  ICC is a voluteer organization started by a couple doing missionary work in Haiti.  Their goal is to empower Haitians to be able to provide quality health care at the local level and, with US and Canadian funding, have been instrumental in building medical facilities in Haitian communities.

Steve then narrated a video documentation of their trip, which showed the extreme poverty and squalid living conditions of Haiti.  On their travels from Dajabon at the Dominican Republic border, to Cap Haitian in the north, the Rotary team was appalled by the river awash with garbage and the open sewers lining the roads.  But they were also exposed to the unique Haitian culture and saw the clean and smiling faces of the children.  ICC confirmed that they want to and are capable of assisting Rotary with the distribution of bio-sand water filters - we have a green light to go ahead!!