rev newsletter head 7-17
August 21, 2009  
Reporter: Ron Brown         Editor:  Ron Brown          Photographers:Tom Black, Paul Fillinger
President: John Fazel, 2009 - 2010          

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
 
 dom 8-21"The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it. Oscar Wilde
"Do, or do not. There is no try." Yoda. Thus spoke Dominic Porrino.
 
VISITING ROTARIANS
 
John Moulthrop - Clayton Club
Larry Sly - Concord Club
Sandi Mitchell - Lafayette Noon Club
Mary Alice Rathbun - Alliance for Smiles
Jim Cambier - District 5160
Mehrnaz Azahrar - Interact Leader, Acalanes High School
 
GUESTS
 
Sara Brown - Much better half of Ron Brown
Glenda Fillinger - Guest speaker today
Carol Chaffey - Another Guest speaker today
Rob Riebs - The multi-media guy
Jackie Welles - Ray's helpmate
Dan Rogers - Welcome to first time attendee
Katie Rose Ware - Bidding yet another farewell to sister Becky
Simone Raeth - Recipient of today's very special award
 
NEVER TO YOUNG TO EARN A PAUL HARRIS AWARD
 
George Chaffey told the story of Simone Raeth's entrance intogeorge 8-21 this world just a tad bit early in 1996. New papa Thomas was team leader for a Rotary GSE team in Germany at the time. He was due back home on June 12. But Simone didn't wait. She made her debut on June 1. Seems as though neither she nor mother Tamara held it against Rotary for the absence of dad at this momentous occasion. In fact, without a doubt, she was born a true Rotarian. Here is what she had done so far in the first 13 years of her life:
            Volunteered at the Root Beer Float Stand and the hot dog sale fund raisers at Lafayette Elementary and Stanley Schools.
            Donated the $100 she earned for organizing files at member Chuck Kenney's office for the flood relief fund for Cedar Rapids Iowa.
            Donated to the Katrina Relief Fund
            Put together the video for the Guatemala construction team this year.
 
simone 8-21This amazing 13 year old was then presented with her first Paul Harris Award as recognition of $1,000 donated to the Rotary Foundation.  Simone is truly a role model for every one of us to emulate. She is a shining example of the future of Rotary.
 
SPEAKING OF RECOGNITON
 
King Fazel was brimming to hand out more recognition pins today. This time to all of the stalwarts who participated in thegroup 8-21 Rush Ranch construction project last Saturday. This project was well documented in last week's Newsletter. The four who were on hand today (in addition to John) received their pins for exemplary service. John fittingly proclaimed the future of Rotary is in your hands.
 
HACKERS! ATTENTION TO NOON CLUB SHINDIG
 
President Sandi Mitchell of the Lafayette noon club had a flyer sandi mitchell 8-21and raffle tickets for their annual Golf Tournament to be held at the Rossmoor Dollar Course on October 5th. In addition to sponsorship opportunities the registration for foursomes is $500, $125 dollars for individuals. There will be prizes and awards. Applications can be made online at www.rotarylafayette.org. Raffle tickets are $10 each and the prize is a posh dinner for eight. Larry Duson was prominently mentioned in this regard.
 
DISTRICT FOUNDATION CONFERENCE
 
Former Prez Pat Flaharty and Walt Nelson represented the clubpat & john 8-21 at the District Foundation and Membership Conference at Suisun on Saturday.
Pat reported that District dues are going to support a local El Sobrante effort in computer learning for children in addition to Africa water projects and Rotary Scholars at Berkeley. The South Lake Tahoe Conference is coming up in October.  Pat highly recommended that as many members as possible partake in this great learning and sharing experience.
 
IT IS THIRD GRADE DICTIONARY TIME AGAIN
 
raeth & dictionaries 8-21Thomas Raeth held aloft a dictionary while announcing the 3rd annual labeling process for 400 dictionaries will take place at his home at the TGTLFOTM event at 5:30 pm, Friday, August 28th. A separate email has been sent by Tamara to all members with instructions and information about food items, etc. Sign ups are also available for those members who can participate in bring the dictionaries to the students. This is truly a special event not to be missed.
 
NEW MEMBER TALKS ARE BACK IN VOGUE
 
Just ask Dan Garfin. He gave his 5 minute speech in record time. He began by announcing that he is not Dominic Porrino, who dan garfin 8-21joined Rotary at about the same time. This came as a surprise to several members, but not Dominic. Dan has close ties with this club. He was born on October 2nd, the same day as his uncle, the estimable Dr. Paul Bettelheim. Sharon Ongerth-Rossi is his cousin. Dan grew up in Kensington, and played baseball at Cal. His brother is in pediatrics at Stanford and his parents are retired. He is an employee benefits broker with DA Financial here in Lafayette. He worked with Pat for 6 months. Dan joined Rotary because he wants to gain control of his personal time. By illustration, he cited his recent participation in the Rush Ranch construction project. Giving back is what it is all about!
 
CHARLIE BIDS A TEMPORARY FAREWELL
 
Charlie Franklin had several thing to say this morning. First he charlie 8-21had an undisclosed amount on a check for Ernie in honor of his birthday. Second he is on his way to Texas for the next 3 months where he hopes to bring rain to the parched longhorn state. Third, young Russian exchange student who stayed with Franklins a few years ago is returning for a visit in the next few weeks. She is graduated from college and will be returning to Russia to obtain her PHD in Molecular Physics. Chaffeys will be hosting her visit.
 
PROGRAM
 
smile group 8-21 
The club was treated to an outstanding triple header this morning. By way of introduction Paul Fillinger began with his soon to be famous quote "To become a Rotary butterfly you have to leave the cocoon of your local Rotary club." He was of course referring to the international medical mission programs that he, Glenda and Carol Chaffey had worked on as volunteers in China and India respectively. Carol began the program with a slide presentation of her experiences in Bangalore, India. Paul and Glenda followed with their recent trip to Bengbu, China, and Mary Alice Rathbun, a staff member of Alliance for Smiles, closed with cogent comments and answers to questions about these humanitarian missions.
 
carol 8-21Carol went on her mission trip in the role of a volunteer photo journalist. She explained that the Rotaplast "Full of Miracles" surgery program to provide reconstructive surgery for children born with cleft palates or cleft lips was introduced to the world by the San Francisco Rotary Club in 1992. The program progressed so successfully that it morphed into its own non-profit entity in 1996.   Rotaplast sends out a mission every three weeks to give these unfortunate children and their parents a life changing experience because of this two hour surgery. Rotary pays 70% of the costs.  Carol went to Bangalore which is the technology center of India. This trip was made with the financial assistance of the Rotary Club of Bangalore North, and local clubs from Tracy, Stockton and Livingston. As the photojournalist, it was Carol's job to document the mission through pictures and a written journal.
 
The volunteer medical professionals included four surgeons, four anesthesiologists, five nurses, as well as pediatricians, dentists and several other volunteers. One of the surgeons had been on 23 missions. Quilts for the children are sent on every mission. Over 2,000 surgeries are performed every year.
 
Carol had a beautiful slide show with many before and after miracle pictures. The gratitude expressed by the thankful parents made it all worthwhile. This is Rotary International at its finest!
 cleft kids 8-21
Paul and Glenda had a similar experience this summer as volunteers for an Alliance for Smiles mission to Bengbu China. Mary Alice introduced Paul to this program, which was also originated by the San Francisco Rotary Club and is an independent non-profit organization. In its five years of existence Alliance for Smiles has created smiles for over 2,000 children.
 
The Fillingers departed from San Francisco, destination Beijing,paul 8-21 with  23 medical volunteers, eight other support volunteers and 37 boxes of supplies. After the long Pacific flight and a two hour bus trip from Beijing to Bengbu, they were feted at several welcoming events and banquets. Paul said one of the banquets had a fancy 30 course meal, several city officials, and a Welcome Foreign "Custs" sign. His slide show was superb as usual, with a multitude of excellent pictures that he rightfully said told the story without the customary 1,000 words.
 
Paul's pictures gave the macro view of the mission. The "most loved" Glenda covered the micro activities from her perspective as the family activities glenda 8-21coordinator. She described the mission as both heartwarming and scary. The first day consisted of screening 150 kids for surgery. Day two began with full scale activity in four operating rooms, four operations per day, and one day off. A cleft lip required 1 � hours of surgery, a cleft palate, 2 to 3 hours. Every child receives a blanket donated by a Rotary Club. Over one hundred surgeries were performed.
 
There were tearful thanks and goodbyes. The payoff for the volunteers who donated their services was the parent's gratitude. Thirty three volunteers gave a few days of their time and talent, and changed the lives of over one hundred families forever!
 
Mary Alice, a staff member of Alliance for Smiles, responsible for outreach and development, wrapped up the program. She is a mary alice 8-21former President of the Berkeley Rotary Club and had her first experience with cleft palate surgeries on a Rotaplast mission to China. She explained that there are several groups doing the same sort of work because the cleft palate problems are so huge in India, China, Honduras and many other parts of the world. She explained that each mercy organization has its own niche. Alliance for Smiles returns to the same areas and hospitals many times. It trains local physicians for follow-up surgeries which many cleft kids need. They are working on a training facility in Guangzhou, China to be opened soon. Rotaplast and Alliance for Smiles have put a face to Rotary around the world.
 
Alliance for Smiles offers several levels of sponsorship with any size clubs. They are always happy to have Rotary volunteers for missions. Information is available to any interested members at
www.allianceforsmiles.org.

CALENDAR 
  
 
Friday, August 28 - Weekly meeting at Postino 7:00 a.m.
Program: Pat Flaharty reveals first-ever secrets of upbringing.
 
Friday, August 28 - TGITLFOTM Thomas & Tamara Raeth's home.
Program: Dictionary prep work. Dinner with meat by Raeths. Bring appetizer or salad or dessert. RSVP to Thomas and Tamara at [email protected].
 
Friday, September 4 - Weekly meeting at Postino 7:00 a.m.
Program: Misadventures with Ronald Reagan in 1966, with humor and irony.
 
Friday, September 11 - Weekly meeting at Postino 7:00 a.m.
Program: BLAST OFF! IGNITION OF OUR ECONOMY, with Randy Williams of the Kieretsu Forum
 
Friday, September 18 - Weekly meeting at Postino 7:00 a.m.
Program: Foster Mentoring with county supervisor Susan Bonilla
 
Saturday/Sunday September 19 & 20 - Lafayette Arts and Wine Festival. Be prepared to outwork the Lafayette noon club!
 
Thursday, October 1 to Sunday, October 4 - Annual District Conference for District 5160, Lake Tahoe. 
Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Links
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Calendar Link
Picture Archive
Older Picture Archive
Lamorindan Archives


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