Newsletter - Archive  May 26, 2010

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Editarian: Jerry Allen  

Guest Editor for 5/26:  Gene Spanarella                                                                      

Club Photographer : Brad Mikel 

Guest Photographer for 5/26:  Ron Maclachlan

NEXT WEEK

June 2, 2010

Life is Magic

"Life is Magical" program, Keir Royale has put together an entirely new presentation with fresh stories, messages and of course amazing magic! (Program Change)

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THIS WEEK

Patricia Fiske

 Rotary Initiative

China Expedition to Establish Health Clinics

Today's speaker, Patricia Fiske, became a Rotarian 21 years ago and continues to marvel at the array of projects that Rotarians accomplish and delights in the fact that all projects start with a Rotarian who has an idea.

During her Group Study Exchange visit to China in 2007, Patricia saw the poverty in China for the first time.   Patricia was inspired by the success of Grant Wilkins, a Past R. I. Director, and the Denver 31 Club's introduction of health fairs to Russia.  She wondered if it would be possible to do the same thing in China where poverty is so severe and so prevalent.

 Patricia and the Denver Mile High Rotary Club worked in close collaboration with the 9Health Fair, the Rotary Club of Shanghai, the World Health Fair's Rotary Action Group and the HaoQuai Foundation, which determined that the place to start would be with the minority nationals living in the YunNan Province of China.  Following a health fair seminar in October of 2009 that taught local health ministers and clinicians about health fairs, the first-ever health fairs were conducted in Lin Cang.

Patricia made a number of salient points during her  presentation. 

 She pointed out that they had to be called "China Health Villages" because

the Chinese government is the "official" health-care provider.

Pat also said that without the "open-door, any way we can help" attitude of the 9 Health Fair leaders, the project would have never come to fruition.

In addition to teaching CPR, they taught women breast self-exam techniques.  They also took a plastic model which allowed the Chinese to see what their own bodies look like on the inside.

Pat said that one of the most astounding exchanges occurred when the U.S.  health team took out a package of supplies that they brought with them to China.  She said that the "Health Minister" (assigned by the govt.) looked shocked and specifically told them to "never bring" such supplies into China on return visits.  Pat reported that the health minister told the group that he was "not even allowed to apply a bandage without government o.k."

Patricia gave an enlightening program and one that demonstrates what one idea can do when Rotarians take hold and make it happen.

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Dave Williams, Sergeant-at-Arms, is happy because so many of the Club's members were generous with their "happy bucks"!

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 Bob Barrows, Club International Director, reminds the membership that our exchange student, Ida Asp, will graduate on May 28th.   Ida will carry the Swedish national  flag in the school's graduation ceremony to be held at D.U. this Friday.

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Club Vice President Howard Hall and Club Past President George Peck visit with new Assistant District Governor Steve Mast (center) after today's lunch.

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 Past President, Debbie Lynch, pays tribute to her entire State of the City committee.  She indicated that because of the efforts of so many, the Club achieved its fund-raising goal for the event.  Debbie singled out several members for outstanding "service above self" and special recognition:

Dave Williams, Brad Pierce, and Bob Broom for their outstanding accomplishments in table sales and sponsorships, and

Susan Perkins, Club President, for "taking the bull by the horns" by

 starting the program on time so that the event ended on time.

Appreciation was also expressed to Harrison Cochran for The Aurora Sentinal's weekend edition, which featured Aurora Rotary's "State of the City" event and Mayor Ed Tauer's special recognition of the work of the Rotary Club and its members.  Mayor Tauer's address at the State of the City luncheon was an inspiring presentation.