Rotary Log for March 23, 2017
By Neal Ouellett
Photos by Jim Rini
The first meeting of the Spring Season greeted us with unseasonably cold and windy weather. Fortunately, our human Greeter was the always-warm and sunny Peg Millar. The job was made for her.
Our song, God Bless America, was led by Nancy Clayburgh. President James quipped about the key change mid-song. Ben summoned the spirit of our dear Reverend Allen, shouting that the singing was just awful.
Announcements were few, notably Joannie Dickenson with thanks for can tab donations. Marcie reminded us that there is a Member Social on Tuesday, March 28 at the Atlantic Grill.
Once again Rotarians were gracious about coughing up their Happy Dollars and Fines. It’s all going to a good cause: the operational budget. (Or, as he calls it, the Justin Finn Food Allowance.)
Next up was Donna Lewallen, our chair of the Warm Coat (and hat and mittens) Donations campaign. She in turn introduced Julia Minchew, Associate Development Director at Families First.
Julia is our liaison for this important program. Ms. Minchew thanked the Club for our support of this and other Families First Programs. She gave a succinct and well-presented overview of what really is a jewel of an agency. You can find it at the Community Campus. (wwwfamiliesfirstseacoast.org)
Everett Eaton won the $59 Raffle. There was no match.
There was one last bit of regular business. President James recognized Rich Lyons, Jim Rini and Tom Decker for their significant contributions over the years to the Rotary Foundation. President-elect Ben Wheeler, in turn, thanked James for his contribution. Kudos to all of you for your continuing generosity.
The Program
We were honored by two of our very own with a genuine and impassioned presentation on Rotoplast. Ted Alex has served on seven Rotoplast trips, most of them to far-flung, incredibly poor places. His most recent was to Chittagong, Bangladesh. For his part, Larry Gray has served as surgeon on five trips.
Both mentioned that there are so many incredible Rotary projects. In their minds, however, not too many are as inspirational and important as these Rotoplast ventures. Before and After photos adorning the front of the room were certainly testimonies to that.
Ted gave an overview and slide show of a typical trip. Twenty-five members, including surgeons, surgical nurses and eight non-medical volunteers constitute a team. Ted served as an autoclave specialist responsible for sterilizing all of the surgical equipment. They travel with one suitcase and a box of trip-related material per person. The team staffs three surgical tables for seven straight days of surgeries, morning, noon, and night. They return home with their personal effects and only 12 boxes of equipment. The remainder stays in the home country.
Rotoplast was founded in 1994 by Doctor Angelo Capuzi, now aged 84. He was a member of Ted’s team last year. Larry reminded us that Rotoplast has conducted more than 17,000 surgeries in that time! Incredible! Early on, most of the surgeries were for cleft lips and palates. In recent years there has been an expansion into other areas, notably surgeries for victims of burns.
These unbelievable Rotary efforts, Ted and Larry point out, remind us that our country is blessed. No child with a cleft lip or palate, or any manner of childhood malady or deformity, goes without treatment. Thank you both for your unselfish service and an inspirational presentation. Once again we left the warmth and safety of the country club full of pride for being a Rotarian.
Respectfully submitted, Neal Ouellett
