Meeting of November 11, 2015
Posted by Rosalyn Graham
President Trafton Crandall led the Pledge of Allegiance and Kris Engstrom gave a devotional that paid tribute to the veterans and their service.
Calendar:
11/18 – RYLA students and Judy Christensen
11/25 – no meeting
12/2 – Michael Dubie
Turkey report;
Tod Whitaker reported that the 120 turkeys for Thanksgiving are ordered (plus turkeys for Christmas) and will be picked up from the freezers where they are stored on Nov. 18, for delivery to Shelburne Foot Shelf, and on Nov. 21 for delivery to Charlotte and Hinesburg Food Shelves.
Football Pool
Alan Bates reported that the winner of Round 9 was a friend of his who lives in Singapore, Stu Schuster. Alan commented that the season is half done, and that no one should give up.
Membership:
Ric Flood announced that David Buley has been proposed for membership. There is still paper work to be completed.
Announcements:
Linda Gilbert urged everyone to get their tickets for the Shelburne Players’ production of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” which will be on stage at Shelburne Town Gym this weekend and next weekend – tickets available online atwww.shelburneplayers.com and click on the Buy Tickets bar.
Foundation Committee Chair Carol Obuchowski asked that members plan to make contributions to the Rotary International Polio Plus campaign or to the Foundation. The Club will match your contribution to a max of $1,000, and your contributions count towards Paul Harris Fellowships … and of course support the history-making work of Rotary in stamping out polio around the world. Carol added a personal reflection, having been one of the children who participated in a test of the polio vaccine before it was approved and available for general use.
With its polio goals almost reached, Rotary International is moving its world-wide goals to projects involving clean water, a goal that is even more challenging as there are so many variables in the improving of water quality around the world.
Contributions can be made online at the CharlotteShelburneRotaryVT.org webpage or to Rotary International.
Trafton Crandall reminded everyone that Bill McKibbon is speaking at The Old Lantern in Charlotte on Friday, Nov. 13, a guest of the Land Trust.
Thank you received for a donation made to the Alzheimers Association in memory of George Ewins.
Sergeant at Arms
Evan Webster asked for happy fines in honor of veterans. Rotarians who shared memories of relatives and friends who had served were Phil Denu, Dave Jonah, Kris Engstrom, Carol Obuchowski, Linda Gilbert, Trafton Crandall, Alan Bates, Barb Comeau, Richard Fox, Linda Schiavone, Chris Davis, George Schiavone, Terry Kennaugh, Michael Clapp, Denny Bowen, John Dupee, Dave Rice, Bill Deming, Tod Whitaker, Howard Seaver, Jane McKnight, Ric Flood, Ron Keene, and Sam Feitleberg who said that the Shelburne Veterans had met at the Veterans Memorial in Shelburne at 7:30 to lower the flag to half mast in honor of the veterans.
Lucky Draw:
Ron Keene’s number was drawn, but he chose the wrong card and the big $53 prize rolls over to next week.
Speakers:
Linda Gilbert, Al Gilbert, and Dave Jonah
Hands to Honduras – Tela Report
On Oct. 21, Linda, Al and Dave traveled to Tela, Honduras, to participate at the grand opening and dedication of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Tela Hospital. On Nov. 11, they shared the story of the history, planning, construction and successful completion of this, the second of three major projects Hands to Honduras Tela has on its long-range plan.
The major projects in Tela began with the Hogar Materno, a well-equipped comfortable building where pregnant women could await the births of their babies, a big improvement over the local tradition of pregnant women waiting outside the hospital until they were ready to deliver.
While the Hands to Honduras Tela volunteers were building the Hogar Materno, from 2010 to 2012, they saw the next serious need: a neonatal intensive care facilities for the newborns who were premature, frail or generally in need of more sophisticated care than was provided in the small, crowded and ill-equipped nursery of the maternity hospital. They began planning a neonatal intensive care building. “We knew we would do it,” Linda said. When the site was identified and the building plans drawn, they began work in Feb. 2015 on a 35 x 57 building, connected by an enclosed walkway to the hospital, designed to be equipped with important services such as electricity, oxygen, air conditioning, and accommodating 26 infants, up from the space for four in the previous neonatal room. By the time the volunteers had spent the month of February in Tela, the concrete foundation was complete, the cement block walls were up, securely supported by rebar that the volunteers had made. After they left, local workers added rafters, the roof, drains, air conditioning, oxygen, electricity, walls to create isolation units, easily cleaned white tile walls and floors … and it was time for the Vermont crew to go back to participate in the dedication which was attended by local and national government officials who described the Unit as “a model for our country.”
What’s next?
Having observed the new mothers at the hospital crowded in a small room with no place for privacy, quiet or consultation with their doctors, the Hands to Honduras Tela group has now focused its sights on a New Mother Education Center which would fill those needs: a place to talk to the doctor, a place for instruction of how to nurse or take care of a baby, a place for birth control conversations, or just a quiet place.
Some H2H-Tela history
Linda said that 12 years ago she was inspired by a speaker who told of the work to be done in Honduras, and Al shared her interest and enthusiasm. The first year John and Dorrice Hammer and Colleen Haag volunteered as well. The original H2H group has fragmented into three groups, two of which are working in Tela.
Projects come about when someone in Tela describes a pressing need, anything from more schools and classrooms to improvements in the hospital and providing rehabilitation services. The H2H Tela group examines the need, weighs it against their mission of helping children and families, and considers if they could succeed, and then tackles the project with planning, energy and lots of volunteers. Funding comes from community contributions, family, friends, fund raisers, grants and the Rotary Club. When a project is completed, it is turned over to the Tela community.
Recorded by Rosalyn Graham
Calendar:
11/18 – RYLA students and Judy Christensen
11/25 – no meeting
12/2 – Michael Dubie
Turkey report;
Tod Whitaker reported that the 120 turkeys for Thanksgiving are ordered (plus turkeys for Christmas) and will be picked up from the freezers where they are stored on Nov. 18, for delivery to Shelburne Foot Shelf, and on Nov. 21 for delivery to Charlotte and Hinesburg Food Shelves.
Football Pool
Alan Bates reported that the winner of Round 9 was a friend of his who lives in Singapore, Stu Schuster. Alan commented that the season is half done, and that no one should give up.
Membership:
Ric Flood announced that David Buley has been proposed for membership. There is still paper work to be completed.
Announcements:
Linda Gilbert urged everyone to get their tickets for the Shelburne Players’ production of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” which will be on stage at Shelburne Town Gym this weekend and next weekend – tickets available online atwww.shelburneplayers.com and click on the Buy Tickets bar.
Foundation Committee Chair Carol Obuchowski asked that members plan to make contributions to the Rotary International Polio Plus campaign or to the Foundation. The Club will match your contribution to a max of $1,000, and your contributions count towards Paul Harris Fellowships … and of course support the history-making work of Rotary in stamping out polio around the world. Carol added a personal reflection, having been one of the children who participated in a test of the polio vaccine before it was approved and available for general use.
With its polio goals almost reached, Rotary International is moving its world-wide goals to projects involving clean water, a goal that is even more challenging as there are so many variables in the improving of water quality around the world.
Contributions can be made online at the CharlotteShelburneRotaryVT.org webpage or to Rotary International.
Trafton Crandall reminded everyone that Bill McKibbon is speaking at The Old Lantern in Charlotte on Friday, Nov. 13, a guest of the Land Trust.
Thank you received for a donation made to the Alzheimers Association in memory of George Ewins.
Sergeant at Arms
Evan Webster asked for happy fines in honor of veterans. Rotarians who shared memories of relatives and friends who had served were Phil Denu, Dave Jonah, Kris Engstrom, Carol Obuchowski, Linda Gilbert, Trafton Crandall, Alan Bates, Barb Comeau, Richard Fox, Linda Schiavone, Chris Davis, George Schiavone, Terry Kennaugh, Michael Clapp, Denny Bowen, John Dupee, Dave Rice, Bill Deming, Tod Whitaker, Howard Seaver, Jane McKnight, Ric Flood, Ron Keene, and Sam Feitleberg who said that the Shelburne Veterans had met at the Veterans Memorial in Shelburne at 7:30 to lower the flag to half mast in honor of the veterans.
Lucky Draw:
Ron Keene’s number was drawn, but he chose the wrong card and the big $53 prize rolls over to next week.
Speakers:
Linda Gilbert, Al Gilbert, and Dave Jonah
Hands to Honduras – Tela Report
On Oct. 21, Linda, Al and Dave traveled to Tela, Honduras, to participate at the grand opening and dedication of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Tela Hospital. On Nov. 11, they shared the story of the history, planning, construction and successful completion of this, the second of three major projects Hands to Honduras Tela has on its long-range plan.
The major projects in Tela began with the Hogar Materno, a well-equipped comfortable building where pregnant women could await the births of their babies, a big improvement over the local tradition of pregnant women waiting outside the hospital until they were ready to deliver.
While the Hands to Honduras Tela volunteers were building the Hogar Materno, from 2010 to 2012, they saw the next serious need: a neonatal intensive care facilities for the newborns who were premature, frail or generally in need of more sophisticated care than was provided in the small, crowded and ill-equipped nursery of the maternity hospital. They began planning a neonatal intensive care building. “We knew we would do it,” Linda said. When the site was identified and the building plans drawn, they began work in Feb. 2015 on a 35 x 57 building, connected by an enclosed walkway to the hospital, designed to be equipped with important services such as electricity, oxygen, air conditioning, and accommodating 26 infants, up from the space for four in the previous neonatal room. By the time the volunteers had spent the month of February in Tela, the concrete foundation was complete, the cement block walls were up, securely supported by rebar that the volunteers had made. After they left, local workers added rafters, the roof, drains, air conditioning, oxygen, electricity, walls to create isolation units, easily cleaned white tile walls and floors … and it was time for the Vermont crew to go back to participate in the dedication which was attended by local and national government officials who described the Unit as “a model for our country.”
What’s next?
Having observed the new mothers at the hospital crowded in a small room with no place for privacy, quiet or consultation with their doctors, the Hands to Honduras Tela group has now focused its sights on a New Mother Education Center which would fill those needs: a place to talk to the doctor, a place for instruction of how to nurse or take care of a baby, a place for birth control conversations, or just a quiet place.
Some H2H-Tela history
Linda said that 12 years ago she was inspired by a speaker who told of the work to be done in Honduras, and Al shared her interest and enthusiasm. The first year John and Dorrice Hammer and Colleen Haag volunteered as well. The original H2H group has fragmented into three groups, two of which are working in Tela.
Projects come about when someone in Tela describes a pressing need, anything from more schools and classrooms to improvements in the hospital and providing rehabilitation services. The H2H Tela group examines the need, weighs it against their mission of helping children and families, and considers if they could succeed, and then tackles the project with planning, energy and lots of volunteers. Funding comes from community contributions, family, friends, fund raisers, grants and the Rotary Club. When a project is completed, it is turned over to the Tela community.
Recorded by Rosalyn Graham