R HOUSE
Community Service contributed funds towards their Thanksgiving dinner to make it possible for the youths to enjoy having this with their families. Our annual contributions towards this is $ 350.00
For the Christmas season we purchased 40 $25.00 gift certificates from Target Stores for every youth in the program at that time for a total expenditure of $1,000.00.
Additional funds were provided to update the computers provided for their various programs in the amount of $550.00.
Our total budget for R House for the present year is $3,000.00 and we anticipate that this will be spent on various projects before the end of our fiscal year.
FLOWERY SCHOOL
We have an ongoing volunteer program in place, which is the Magic Backpack program. Our volunteers go to the school on a weekly basis, packing up the reading materials, which the students take home, and are replaced every week.
In addition, we are starting a volunteer reading program, which is also on a weekly schedule. This entails reading aloud to students selected by their teachers in need of special help.
We are providing new books to the school library each of which is dedicated to one of our speakers. This is also an ongoing project and adds approximately 40 new books to the library every year.
We are funding English language instruction materials plus extra teachers to put this proven Language Immersion program into effect. As testing of students that have taken part in this program has shown a remarkable improvement in their language skills, we have expanded this program this year. We have requested matching grants and are again receiving a matching grant from the District this year.
We have budgeted $1,500.00 for the Flowery school for the present year.
ST. JOSEPH’S MOBILE HEALTH
We continue to fund the Immunization program provided for anyone in need with an annual contribution of $1,500.00.
VALLEY OF THE MOON CHILDREN’S HOME
We have budgeted $1,000.00 for the Children’s home for their annual picnic as well as other needs that come up.
OTHER PROGRAMS:
REDWOOD FOOD BANK $1,300.00
GLASS MOUNTAIN (R House younger age group) $500.00
COUNCIL ON AGING $500.00
SALVATION ARMY $500.00
KENWOOD CARES $500.00
CASA $500.00
We have additional contingency budget funds of $2,000.00 to be used to either augment one of our existing charities or for new or emergency needs.
The Director of Club Services has the responsibility to guide and assist members of the
club in carrying out their service duties. In addition, the Director coordinates
the work of all committees related to club service.
The objectives of Club Service are exemplified in many ways, including the
following:
Periodic reminders of Rotary’s attendance rules(now 50% of meetings) are
promulgated by the club Secretary at regular intervals. All members are urged to
make-up at other clubs to enlarge their Rotary experience as well as bring back
innovative activities to their own club.
Speakers on various local and community concerns are scheduled in advance for
each weekly meeting. The topics range from those that interest our demographic
group specifically to issues that involve city, county or business programs.
In addition to guest speakers, we also present programs of the many Rotary projects
locally and worldwide, particularly of the Rotary Foundation. (Click Here for more
information.) Club members are honored individually as they achieve certain
milestone contributions toward their Paul Harris Fellow status in the Rotary
Foundation. In the above photo, Club Service Director, Dr. Les Holve, is shown
awarding longtime Rotarian Dottie Blades, her double-sustainer pin for her generous
contributions to the Rotary Foundation.
Social activities are an important part of club service. They include a December
holiday dinner party, monthly or bimonthly Bunco parties which are a ‘blast’, .and a
Presidential “demotion dinner party” in June. Finally our reception for the visiting
District Governor enables our members to meet, socialize, and share information
with our distinguished guest. And, of course, there are all the other local Rotary
Clubs and District Rotary functions that are scheduled.
We have two major “Fund-raisers” each year. In the late Winter or early Spring,
we have our annual “Crab-feed” which raises some $12,000.00. Then in the Fall,
we have our annual “Jazz Festival” that has resonated well and raised
approximately $16,000.00, for our Valley of the Moon Rotary Club special projects
that are carried out through our Vocational, Community, and International Avenues
of Service.
As an additional means of raising funds for administrative and other club service
projects, we have vigorous weekly “recognition” fines for members who are
celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and other significant events in their lives. We
also have ‘happy and sad” dollar contributions Of course, they are voluntary but
there is a designated minimum annual requirement; all are done in the spirit of
frivolity, generosity, fellowship, and good humor.
This year we plan to introduce the concept of mixers at our breakfast meetings in an
effort to broaden our social relationships. Our introductions of visiting Rotarians and
guests has improved and there is better membership involvement and response.
The addition of a reliable public address system, a digital projection unit, and a
‘roving’ microphone has been a great benefit to running our programs. Indeed, in
2008, we have added another ‘roving’ microphone for better coverage and
convenience.
1 PROJECT AMIGO $800
The mission of Project Amigo is enable the poor children of Colima, Mexico to achieve their highest potential by providing educational opportunities, material support, enrichment activities, and medical and dental services. To provide opportunities for volunteers from developed countries, to help and become friends with disadvantaged children of Mexico. To foster friendship and understanding between Rotarians from developed countries and from Mexico.
Each year Project Amigo provides scholarships to enable between 60 and 70 good students from poor families to continue their education beyond the 6th grade. Project Amigo facilitates partnerships between North American and Mexican Rotary Clubs to sponsor projects which benefit the children and their families. These projects include construction of playgrounds, installation of libraries and computer labs in poor rural schools, and distribution of fun children's books. Last year we supported Aide Guadalupe Mejia Cisneros.
This year we have been asked to support Marissa Dominguez Candelario ( Mari)
2 ROOTS OF PEACE $500
Roots of Peace is a humanitarian organization dedicated to eradicating land mines worldwide and rehabilitating the land to make it productive once more. Land mines are in many ways the perfect terrorists. They can wait almost indefinitely for their victims and require nothing to maintain them. Since 1862, when the first land mines were used in battle during the U.S. Civil War, these unseen enemies have claimed the lives, limbs, and land of millions of innocent people all over the world.
Today there are an estimated 70 million land mines lying in wait beneath the earth's surface in over 70 nations. Each year they maim or kill approximately 26,000 people, mostly women and children. The impact on victims, families, communities, and the land itself is devastating Roots of Peace was conceived by Heidi kuhn, A San Rafael CA Rotarian. This organization is dedicated to de-mining, replanting and rebuilding war torn countries including Afghanistan,Croatia, and Cambodia. They are dedicated to turning MInes into Vines and creating a harvest of hope for families and communities throughout the world.
3 THE ROTAPLAST FOUNDATION $500
Rotaplast International was founded in 1992 by Dr. Angelo Capozzi and then Rotary Club President Peter Lagarias in collaboration with the Rotary Club of San Francisco to facilitate a surgical program in La Serena, Chile to treat children with the cleft lip and palate anomaly who would otherwise not receive surgical intervention.
Rotaplast would not exist without funding provided by partners. Although a San Francisco-based organization, Rotaplast works nationally and internationally by partnering with Rotary Clubs, other organizations, and individuals across the United States, Canada. It provides a vehicle for medical professionals and non-medical volunteers to actively engage in projects that build international friendships and promote goodwill and understanding among the peoples of the world. To date, medical teams from Rotaplast have performed over 9,000 surgeries for children in 16 countries.
4 THE WHEELCHAIR FOUNDATION $500
The Wheelchair Foundation is a nonprofit organization leading an international effort to create awareness of the needs and abilities of people with physical disabilities, to promote the joy of giving, create global friendship, and to deliver a wheelchair to every child, teen and adult in the world who needs one, but cannot afford one. For these people, the Wheelchair Foundation delivers Hope, Mobility and Freedom. In 2002 Philanthropist Kenneth Behring, Chairman of the nonprofit Wheelchair Foundation invited Rotarians to join his campaign to assist the underprivileged. Heavy duty wheelchairs can cost as much as $375. The Wheelchair Foundation now deals directly with manufacturers and can reduce the cost to $150. To date, the Wheelchair Foundation has delivered over 500,000 wheelchairs in over 140 countries worldwide.
5 GUATEMALA LITERACY PROJECT $500
The Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP) is an initiative to provide badly needed textbooks, library materials, and computer centers to underprivileged children in Guatemala The Project has been supported by over 260 Rotary Clubs. Since 1996, the textbook program has been brought to many impoverished rural communities. There are over 23,400 students using textbooks at 136 schools. The GLP has also founded 16 self-funding computer centers and 15 school libraries. The project already serves 10% of the country's neediest secondary schools and is working with the goal
of ensuring that no child in Guatemala grows up without the gift of both traditional and technological literacy. Why Guatemala? Torn by years of Civil War and a neglected system of education, Guatemala has one of the lowest literacy rates in the Western Hemisphere. In some regions, nearly three out of every four adults cannot read or write. These staggering statistics are largely the result of an absence of fundamental learning tools. Over 90% of schools lack textbooks and basic library books. Fewer than 5% of children have ever used a computer. Most Guatemalan schoolchildren graduate without the skills needed to get midlevel jobs and are therefore condemned to a life of ignorance, poverty, and discrimination.
6 VIETNAM CLEAN WATER PROJECT $500
Many people in rural Vietnam do not have a reliable source of clean water. No single type of intervention has greater overall impact on public health and the quality of life than the provision of safe drinking water. According to a recent report by the World Health Organization, "Every eight seconds worldwide, a child dies of a water-related disease. Every year more than five million human beings die from illnesses linked to unsafe drinking water, unclean domestic environments and improper human waste disposal. At any given time perhaps one-half of all people in the developing world are suffering from one or more of the six main diseases associated with water supply and sanitation. It is not uncommon for people in Vietnam to walk several kilometers to a river to carry home water in buckets. Since 1992, East Meets West has been committed to providing fresh water to thousands of people in Central Vietnam, by building small community wells and large water delivery systems for villages and hospitals. The East Meets West Foundation in partnership with local residents, has been providing clean water for several provinces in rural Vietnam since 1992. By building small community wells and large water delivery systems for villages and hospitals, the project has provided for thousands of Vietnamese with clean water, reducing childhood mortality and water borne illnesses.
7 VILLAGE HOPECORE INTERNATIONAL $500
Village HopeCore International is a small, innovative non profit currently working in Chogoria, Kenya to alleviate poverty through micro lending with education and training. Village HopeCore provides small loans at low interest rates to women and men to develop and improve self-sustaining businesses. Money alone does not disrupt the cycle of poverty. Village HopeCore provides:
1 Business training
2 Personal development
3 Professional mentoring
4 HIV/AIDS prevention education
In Chogoria, villagers wanting to start or improve a business have had nowhere to turn to find the capital for their projects. They can't afford the 20% interest a bank charges on a loan, nor do they have any collateral. Village Hopecore addresses this need by making small loans available at low interest and with no collateral. Repaid loans fund new loans. Groups of 12 form who are committed to supporting each other through the 18 month micro lending process. They attend business and personal development training together. If one person cannot meet her monthly payment, the others in the group must agree to make that payment. In this way, Village HopeCore builds communities through group responsibility. When a group is funded, each person in the group receives a $400 loan to start or develop a self-sustaining business. This amount reflects the current economy in Chogoria. For example, most villagers can raise a cow, and in Chogoria a cow plus feed costs approximately $400. Some examples of businesses include dairy farming, dressmaking, furniture making, raising goats and chickens, and operating a hair salon.
The loan is repaid over 18 months, at an interest rate of 6%. Each group attends training in business methodology, personal development, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Then, each person develops a workable business plan. Business are monitored and on site technical support is available. Successful groups mentor new groups.
Repaid loans are used to finance new groups, creating a village-owned and self-perpetuating fund, a Village Trust Bank. To date, there has been a 100% repayment rate.
8 RUSSIAN HOSPITAL PROJECT $500
Dr. Kim Bauriedel of the Eureka Rotary Club, along with the Rotary Clubs of Barnaul and Novosibirsk Russia have had several project to bring much needed surgical equipment to the local hospitals in these Siberian communities The hospitals lack the specialized instruments for performing essential surgeries. Dr. Bauriedel spends several months a year in Russia. In July he returned from an extensive trip to Russia and is currently planning to apply for a grant for one or more of the following projects in Siberia 1. An operating Microscope equipment for a Neurology Department at a Regional hospital servicing about 2.5 million
people, and 2. Urology equipment for a community hospital.
9 NOTHING BUT NETS $500
The UN Foundation and Millennium Promise have been working with the UN to fight malaria for years.
Malaria is a disease caused by the blood parasite Plasmodium, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. Infected humans experience flu-like symptoms that can result in coma and death. Malaria infects more than 500 million people a year and kills more than a million— one person dies about every 30 seconds. The disease is particularly devastating in Africa, where it is a leading killer of children. Nearly 3,000 children die every day in Africa from malaria. And according to the World Health Organization, transmission of the disease would be reduced by 60% with the use of mosquito nets and prompt treatment for the infected.
Three thousand children! That's a 9/11 every day!
In addition to being home to the deadliest strain of malaria and the mosquito best equipped to transmit the disease, many areas in Africa lack the proper infrastructure and resources to fight back.
Malaria is both a preventable and treatable disease. It can be prevented by giving families and individuals insecticide-treated bed nets to sleep under and taking steps to kill mosquitoes where they breed and when they enter houses to feed at night.
The nets are coated with an insecticide and cost between $4 and $6. I requires about $10, all told, to get them shipped and installed. Some nets can cover a family of four. And they last four years.
10 SEVA FOUNDATION $500
The Seva Sight Programs are a combined effort of the Seva Foundation, based in Berkeley, California and the Seva Service Society, based in Vancouver, Canada. For two decades, Seva has played a vital role in international efforts to reduce avoidable blindness around the globe. Seva's sight program team develops and disseminates effective methods to restore sight to cataract-blind people, and to build comprehensive, sustainable blindness prevention programs. Worldwide, an estimated 40 million people are blind. The number of people affected grows each year, particularly in developing countries which are least equipped to respond. In these countries, cataract accounts for at least half of the blindness, and preventable conditions cause much of the rest. Seva works to prevent blindness and restore sight by supporting locally run programs in under served communities. Seva's eye care work emphasizes research, service and evaluation of community-based methods to provide cataract surgery and other eye care of high quality, high volume and low cost.
The program is in its second decade of providing services that truly make a difference in people’s lives.
TOTAL $5,300
PROJECT GOALS
Many of these projects have been supported for several years. Project Amigo has received contributions since our club was chartered in 2000. The current projects were selected not only for their individual merit but in keeping with our goal to support the areas that are most important to all Rotarians. Health, Clean water, Literacy, Alleviation of Hunger and Eradication of Poverty.
Ron Nicholson
Director of International Services
