Shout Out to the exceptional women who are rocking district-wide leadership positions this year and, in doing so, serving as role models for the women in their clubs and all the women who have yet to join Rotary!
A community event hosted by Executive Women International (EWI) and supported by Leadership Harrisburg Area (LHA) is featuring Rotary International Vice President Dean Rohrs on Thursday, March 15 beginning at 5:30 PM at the Radisson. This event is open to the public. An opportunity like this comes once in a blue moon and I encourage everyone to try and attend. In fact, bring your family members, friends, and associates and let them get a real sense of Rotary in action.
Dean’s story starts in Zambia where she enjoyed a world shielded from apartheid until she was 14 years old. That’s when the revolution made its way to the Congo. Her mother was head of the Red Cross and led the evacuation of many refugees. Dean was called to stand up against the prosecutors and was imprisoned at the age of 16. It was soon after that moment when Dean Rohrs set forth to create a more peaceful world. She harnessed the strength of her fear and scars to foster education, fight disease, and promote peace in some of the most abominable circumstances in some of the most remote areas of the world.
Dean leveraged the power of Rotary International to gain support for her efforts and has broken the cycles of poverty in numerous South African Villages literally saving thousands of young lives. Her story of bringing peace and human understanding to all landed Dean in Canada where she encourages international audiences to become messengers of change.
You don’t want to miss out on this presentation which is sure to be inspirational! For full details and to register online, please click here.
Uganda posed both a challenge and a great opportunity for the members of the Vocational Training Team (VTT) lead by District 7390’s PDG (and optometrist) Connie Spark of York East RC. The opportunity was to teach and expand the knowledge and skills of doctors and students at Entebbe Hospital in Nkuma, near Lake Victoria. The challenge was to meet the health needs of as many residents as possible during the 10-day mission.
PDG Spark put together an international medical team from the U.S., Brazil, and Den-mark. The mission consisted of three parts: Train, Sustain, and Teach: Train doctors, Sustain the practices and enable them to Teach others. This concept is integral to the VTT concept and will result in continued health care after the team has departed. The mission provided treatment in vision care, dental procedures, women’s health, and pediatrics, malaria prevention, as well as general health. Physicians on the team spent their morn-ings training local personnel to carry on the medical work after the team was gone. Meanwhile, local Rotarians and Rotaractors got the word out that free medical and vision services were available in the afternoons. And patients came by the thousands!
The vision team worked tirelessly to screen hundreds of patients and provide the correct vision care and glasses. Demand was strong; most locals have never seen an eye doctor nor had their vision tested. In conjunction with the Association for Albinism, Dr. Robert McClenathan and his team treated many young people with albinism for low vision, skin conditions and other related issues. It is thought that body parts of albino Africans are good luck, and as a result, these people are often attacked. Meanwhile, the nine-member dental team brought a full new operatory of equipment including a digital X-ray and autoclave, thanks to the amazing generosity of the Dentsply Corporation.
“After each lecture we gave a live demonstra-tion of the procedure that was taught and then supervised the students in the clinic practicing what they just learned,” Dr. Dave Zelley said. “The students were highly enthu-siastic and will fill the need for dental care professionals. It is much better to teach and in that way provide care to thousands of pa-tients for decades to come.”
One component of the Uganda mission wasto disburse 12,000 malaria nets in remote villages. After a ferry ridge across Lake Victo-ria and a trip across red clay roads, the medical team found a comatose elderly woman and transported her back to Nkuma where she received the treatment she needed to recover from malaria, the leading cause of illness in this African region.
PDG Connie notes, “This $140,000 mission will bear fruit for years in the future. The health care workers we trained will con-tinue to practice their new techniques in this growing nation.“
After a full day of rest, some of our Rotarian partners from RC Makati Southeast and I visited the Cardiac cath lab of the Philippine General Hospital. We were expected by Dr. Jonas del Rosario, our volunteer doctor who repaired 33 indigent "Braveheart" children with hole-in-the-heart defects.
My wife Luz and I, asked him to schedule three more children during our visit since we raised additional funds outside of the global grant AND we wanted to witness the procedure first hand. My wife had to be with her family so I had to go myself. Vivien, Past President of the RC Makati Southeast Club picked me up at our hotel together with Past District Governor Sue. We met another Rotarian, Noemi at the hospital.
On the transcatheter repair schedule was ATHENA, a 4 year old girl from Cagayan, way up north in Luzon. She was referred to Dr. Jonas by a physician in the province where they do not have the facility or capability to repair her PDA (Patent ductus arteriosus). The family is poor but they were helped by a support group, "Pray for a Warrior," (see her Mom's shirt). The group provided her with the means to bring Athena to Manila and funds to pay for temporary living quarters while they are in Manila.
Athena was already sedated when we arrived so I never had a chance to talk to her or take a good picture of her. This patient was sponsored by our newly-minted internist son, Dr. Eric Socrates. Instead of giving us Christmas presents, he gave us a check to cover the expenses needed for the repair of one child.
Athena's mother was most appreciative of all the help a lot of people and organizations have given her to facilitate the repair of her daughter's heart. She was shedding tears of joy after Athena's surgery. I suppose this is how all the parents of all the 33 children we have reached through Operation Braveheart feel.
Dr. Jonas welcomed us to the cadiac cath room so we could watch the entire procedure. He showed me the device that he was about to implant into Athena's patent ductus arteriosus in order to close it. It's on the collage - the extremely tiny device is mounted on a tip of the delivery catheter. It is like a tiny umbrella that is collapsed when it is introduced into the femoral vein and threaded towards the heart. When close to the target (the patent orifice), the device is opened and manipulated to make sure it is properly positioned for optimal closure. You can see the device in place on the angiogram. Dr. Jonas demonstrated to us on the monitor how the dye that flowed through the PDA before closure is no longer flowing through after the procedure. Athena is now cured of this defect and will live as normal as her peers are.
Multiply this experience 33 times over - this is how our Club's Operation Braveheart has touched the lives of so many children and their families.
Thank you everyone for your support of Operation Braveheart.
Marilia Parreiras Campos, a District 7390 Exchange Student in 2005-2006 from Brazil, visited Carlisle and spoke to the Rotary Club of Carlisle at its meeting on February 22, 2018. She came to Carlisle to visit Rotarians, host parents and friends at Boiling Springs High School. In attendance at the Rotary meeting were host parents Vicki and Brian Geigus and high school counselor Scott McQuaid and Kathy McQuaid.
She talked about her experiences here and how being an exchange student gave her confidence to do well after returning to Brazil. She is now a lawyer and working to improve conditions in her country.
At the time Marilia was in our community, the Club’s Student Exchange Chair was Tom Williams, who encouraged her to study law and go into government service. He is quite proud that she took his advice.
Her Rotary counselor was Juan Garcia-Tunon, who has remained in contact over the years and encouraged her to return to Carlisle for a visit. Juan had provided several pictures he had taken of her while she was a student here. Among those displayed on power point at the meeting, were pictures of her as prom queen and as a graduate in cap and gown.
The Rotary Club of Gettysburg Charity Dodgeball Challenge on March 4 raised $350 for Ruth's Harvest! Each team played for a local charity and 100 percent of the proceeds benefited the winning team's charity. Team Dodge Ma Ball captured the crown and $350 will be donated to Ruth's Harvest Gettysburg in their name! Other teams were County of Adams 1, playing for United Way of Adams County; County of Adams 2, playing for United Way of Adams County; YW Warriors, playing for YWCA Gettysburg & Adams County; Main Street Gettysburg, playing for Main Street Gettysburg; LK5K, playing for The Linda Kranias Memorial 5K, inspired by Stacy Hobbs; and Salted Nuts, playing for Adams County Foster Parent Association. Team YW Warriors consisted of Rotarians Alex Hayes, Ashley Andyshak Hayes and Adrienne Marvin.
The Rotary Club of Lancaster Penn Square will host the third RMB networking event of the 2018 season on Wednesday, March 14 at The Hotel Lancaster (2nd floor Walnut Room), 26 E Chestnut Street, Lancaster, PA. The event will cost $15 and includes hors d'oeuvres (catered by Isaac's), wine and water thanks to The Hotel Lancaster, which has arranged for free parking at the adjacent Duke Street Garage. The event will start at 5:30 and end at 7:00 pm. RSVP NOW!! Make great connections for your business or project and enjoy the fun and fellowship of RMB. Bring potential Rotarian guests!
Our District Training Assembly is scheduled for Saturday, March 17, 2018 at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg (1150 Camp Hill Bypass, Camp Hill). Registration and a hot breakfast buffet will be held from 7:30 a.m. until 8:15 a.m. The training sessions will begin promptly at 8:15 a.m. and conclude at 2:00 p.m. after the luncheon. The cost is $45 per person. All Rotarians are encouraged to attend. It will be helpful in building “esprit de corps” in your Club. The break-out sessions during the morning will be fast-paced and interactive. They are designed to educate us on Rotary topics. At the beginning of the District Training Assembly we will approve the 2018-2019 District budget. Click here to register! Registration deadline is March 9, 2018. Join us at District Training Assembly to learn more about how to “Be The Inspiration”!
If you were a super hero, what would your super powers be? As Rotarians, we have MANY super powers! We are The Eradicators, eradicating polio from the face of the planet. We are the Fearless Super Readers, bringing literacy to youth everywhere. We are H20 Masters, bringing water to the farthest reaches of the world. We are Professor Peace, advocating for local, national, and global solutions. The Rotary District 7390 Conference will celebrate many super heroes of our past, present, and future.
Meet Super Rotarian, Evan Burrell, who is making a difference by leaps and bounds! Meet local Rotarians whose efforts seem to go beyond the boundaries of mere mortal accomplishments.
It's a jet. It's a plane. No, it's ROTARY! Super powers will activate on Friday, April 27 at 10:00 a.m.!
Extensive planning is underway for the annual Rotary Youth Leaders Conference (RYLA). It is the responsibility of the Club President or designated RYLA Conference Chair to submit completed registration forms and fees for your Club’s candidates no later than May 5, 2018 to Melissa Bruck at the Rotary District Office, 515 South George Street, York, PA 17401-2723.
Again, the goal of the District RYLA Conference Committee is to have each Rotary Club in the District be represented by at least one young man and one young woman at the Conference. If the Rotary Club serves an area that has more than one high school, the Club should select at least one male and one female student from each high school. Last year more than 135 students attended! We hope to better that total in 2018. Please attempt to have an equal balance of young men and women.
RYLA will be held Sunday, June 10 to Thursday, June 14, 2018.
REMIND YOUR STUDENTS - THEY MUST ATTEND THE ENTIRE CONFERENCE FROM REGISTRATION THROUGH THE CLOSE OF THE FAMILY NIGHT BANQUET!
VITAL INFORMATION
Students can download the application in PDF format and complete it on-line. PLEASE HAVE YOUR STUDENTS TYPE THE APPLICATION, THEN PRINT, ADD PHOTO AND SIGNATURES AND SUBMIT TO YOUR CLUB FOR APPROVAL.
Students MUST attach a color, head shot, photograph that will be scanned and used in the Conference program. They can also email the photo to office@rotary7390.org.
The Family Night Celebration Event will be held Thursday, June 14, 2018. Cost for Rotarians, parents and guests will be $15 per person for heavy hors d'ouevres. Money will be collected at registration on Sunday. There is no cost for Conferees to attend the banquet.
If your student DOES NOT Attend RYLA, your Club WILL NOT receive a credit or refund!
There are several RYLA scholarships available that a Club demonstrating economic need can apply for. If your Club would like to apply for a scholarship, please send a letter/e-mail to Melissa Bruck, 515 South George Street, York, PA 17401 or office@rotary7390.org. All requests will be evaluated by the RYLA committee. The deadline to apply is March 2, 2018. Clubs that are selected to receive a scholarship will be notified by March 8, 2018. If you have questions on scholarships, please contact District RYLA chair Gary Crissman at ghcrissman@verizon.net or 717-545-6553.
PDG Spark put together an international medical team from the U.S., Brazil, and Den-mark. The mission consisted of three parts: Train, Sustain, and Teach: Train doctors, Sustain the practices and enable them to Teach others. This concept is integral to the VTT concept and will result in continued health care after the team has departed. The mission provided treatment in vision care, dental procedures, women’s health, and pediatrics, malaria prevention, as well as general health. Physicians on the team spent their morn-ings training local personnel to carry on the medical work after the team was gone. Meanwhile, local Rotarians and Rotaractors got the word out that free medical and vision services were available in the afternoons. And patients came by the thousands!
Marilia Parreiras Campos, a District 7390 Exchange Student in 2005-2006 from Brazil, visited Carlisle and spoke to the Rotary Club of Carlisle at its meeting on February 22, 2018. She came to Carlisle to visit Rotarians, host parents and friends at Boiling Springs High School. In attendance at the Rotary meeting were host parents Vicki and Brian Geigus and high school counselor Scott McQuaid and Kathy McQuaid.
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If you were a super hero, what would your super powers be? As Rotarians, we have MANY super powers! We are The Eradicators, eradicating polio from the face of the planet. We are the Fearless Super Readers, bringing literacy to youth everywhere. We are H20 Masters, bringing water to the farthest reaches of the world. We are Professor Peace, advocating for local, national, and global solutions. The Rotary District 7390 Conference will celebrate many super heroes of our past, present, and future. 
