Rotary member and author Marilyn Fitzgerald stresses the importance of community involvement for sustainable service

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Source:: Rotary.org

By Rotary International

Students at African Dream Academy in Liberia.

By Samuel R. Enders, Rotary Club of Yonkers-East Yonkers, New York, USA

On the 1st of July, the African Dream Academy successfully concluded our 2016-17 academic year, our sixth year educating the children of Liberia. Despite lingering effects of the Ebola outbreak (2014-15) in our country and many other poverty-related obstacles, we were able to educate 945 children this year, and provide free health care to 17,000 children under the age of six.

This year’s graduates.

In 2011, the African Dream Academy began an enrichment class for about 140 students at the fourth grade level. This year, among our 945 students, we graduate 78 kindergartners to first grade, 57 sixth graders to seventh grade, and we are getting ready to add ninth grade for the 2017-18 academic year. It is unbelievable that we have been able to do this with a very small number of people willing to sacrifice to help educate these children, many of whom they do not know or have not met.

Our board member Mr. Moses and his family have provided free health care for children through six years of age at the Childrens Health Center. Through his support, the African …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

Malcolm Charles

By Malcolm Charles, past president of the Rotary Club of St. Lucia, Saint Lucia

One day while visiting with my mom over lunch, I heard over her portable transistor radio a call for people with Type O positive blood to come to the local hospital to give blood in preparation for a patient surgery later that day.

I asked my mom if she knew my blood type, because I didn’t. But she didn’t know, either. So I drove to the nearest health clinic in her area to determine whether I might be of help and ask what happens if (emergency) blood donors do not come forward or what provisions are in place to collect and store blood in advance.

I learned that the hospitals did not have adequate blood storage facilities, and that they would lose patients if no one came forward with the right blood type. I also learned that there were no budgetary provisions for a blood collection and storage system.

It entered my mind, as president-elect of my Rotary club, to explore some sort of blood collection system. I conferred with the medical establishment in my area, of which the then chief medical officer was a member of my club. …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

From Interact to Youth Exchange to Arch Klumph SocietyMumbai man gives back after ‘transormational’ Rotary experience Saif Qureishi began his association with Rotary

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Source:: Rotary.org

By Rotary International

Tory Paxson, right, with Dr. Sylvia Whitlock.

By Tory Paxson, Rotary Club of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, USA

On Tuesday, 13 June, we sat down in a cool auditorium in the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, for the first annual Women in Rotary Event. The four of us sitting together were all women, all members of my Rotary club, and all at our very first Rotary International Convention. We were unaware of the impact this event was about to have on us. But then, the lights began to dim.

It has only been a short 30 years since the landmark decision to allow women to join Rotary. Being only 27 years of age myself, this reality seems a bit absurd. All of these incredible, passionate and driven women I have met since joining Rotary have only had the space of my lifetime to catch up in leadership roles, in Rotary pride and projects? Really? And yet as lights shone down on our presenters, we felt that 30 years, while short, has been plenty of time for these women to shine.

The event was organized and hosted by district governors Julie Craig and Sieglinde Warren. Among the presenters was Nicholas Krayacich, a distinguished Rotarian from Ontario …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

Smera Chandan (third from left) making new friends in the House of Friendship in Atlanta.

By Kamlesh (Kam) Chandan, president of the Rotary Club of Lake Norman/Huntersville, North Carolina, USA

As a club president, I attended my first Rotary convention this year in Atlanta with my parents, my children, and my wife. It was a special moment celebrating the end of the Rotary year with my family and with friends from all over the world. I enjoyed connecting with other Rotarians, listening to great speakers, learning about the global impact of Rotary, and celebrating 100 years of The Rotary Foundation.

I was personally touched when past RI President Kalyan Banerjee described how he and local Rotarians put together a plan of rehabilitation and rebuilding after the severe earthquake that struck my ancestral home, Kutch, in northwest India in January of 2001. He shared the story of one woman who had lost everything in the earthquake, including her 8-year-old granddaughter, who decided to give money she had saved for a trip to Mecca to the relief effort. Months later when the work was done and Rotarians gathered to dedicate the results, she got up on stage to say how, for the first time since …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

The House of Friendship is a great place to connect with other Rotary members during a convention. It’s not too early to register for the 2018 Convention in Toronto, Canada.

By Maud Huey Kenyon, Rotary Club of Boulder Valley, Colorado, USA

As I contemplated the survey I received from Rotary for attendees of the 2017 Rotary Convention in Atlanta, I had a chance to reflect on the four conventions I have been to. I think the program put together for the Atlanta Convention was both forward thinking and full of fresh perspectives. Here are my reasons why you should consider attending a convention.

Sharing common experiences with other members. At the top of the list is the opportunity to connect with others. I met up with Rotarians who had walked with me through the dusty streets in northern Nigeria in 2005. I met others who in 2008 crammed with me into tuk tuks (a form of taxi) around Delhi, India, where we participated in a National Immunization Day. I talked to Rotarians I just met who gave me ideas to re-charge my club’s local community service projects and who sponsor international projects I want to join.

Listening to great speakers. I enjoyed hearing …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

Jessica Compton enjoys the view on Mount Sunday, located in the middle of the South Island in Kakatere Conservation Park.

By Jessica Compton, Rotary Global Grant Scholar to New Zealand

As a child, I dreamed of teaching. But it took until my junior year of college to return to that dream. My undergraduate coursework had prepared me for the content, if not the pedagogical strategies, to effectively engage and teach adolescents English – reading, listening and viewing; writing, speaking, and presenting.

I figured I would pick up the rest of what I needed in graduate school in order to be able to teach. But I had no idea it would be in New Zealand. Through the benevolence of a global grant scholarship sponsored by District 7570, I earned a Master of Teaching and Learning at the University of Canterbury in 2016.

Compton and Sha Litten (right). Says Compton “she was my mentor teacher on my first teaching placement — a delight to work with and learn from.”

The experience of living abroad in New Zealand was both memorable and life-changing. Along with all the tramps (Kiwi lingo for hiking) in such a stunningly beautiful country, I learned to be a culturally responsive teacher. My courses …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

Japanese diplomat earns Rotary alumni

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Source:: Rotary.org

By Rotary International

Rotary members watch the debut of Rotary’s VR film, “One Small Act” at the Atlanta Convention.

By Bill Pollard, Rotary Club of Churchland, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA, and past governor of District 7600

It would be wonderful if every Rotarian could experience at least one Rotary International Convention. It is a great venue to hear from our leaders, listen to keynote speakers, learn useful information at breakout sessions, and visit with Rotary Fellowships and Action Groups in the House of Friendship. Of course, the best part of attending a convention is the opportunity to enjoy fellowship with Rotarians from all over the world.

I have been a Rotarian for 29 years and have had the privilege of attending the conventions in Los Angeles (2008) and Birmingham, England (2009). I have great memories of both. Each year, I encourage members of my club and district to attend if they are able. This year my club had four members go to Atlanta.

During the past several years, social media and the Rotary website have enabled Rotarians not able to attend a convention to experience it virtually. Every day during the Atlanta convention, I enjoyed seeing the photos and comments from my …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog