16

2011-2012 SERVICE COMMITTEES & SPECIAL PROJECTS

CLUB SERVICE …………...……… Sue Gardner, Director Attendance ………………………………...Kam Breitenbach Change of Command Party Sue Gardner, Cathy Groves, Jo Stone Club History …………………………………...…..Paul Elder Club Photographer ……………………….………..Jim Boyd Dinner for 8 …………………………….……...Cathy Groves Holiday Party ……………………....Sue Gardner, Jo Stone Inspiration/Invocations, Pledge, 4-Way Test, Greeters Ken Claiborne Liaison to Cherry Creek Valley Club ….Kam Breitenbach Music Jim Muir, Doug Young, Steve Gilbert, Steve Brown Newsletter Editarian ………………………..…...Bill Fernow Newsletter Editarian Assistant ……………..Steve Gilbert Programs ……………….………...Ken Claiborne, John Gile Summer Picnic Sue Gardner, Michele Duncan, Cathy Groves Webmaster ……………………………………….Bob Forbes COMMUNITY SERVICE …….......Carl Finamore, Director American Indian Center Andy Becher, Pius Schenker, Mike Oldham, Carl Finamore Castlewood Canyon State Park Carl Finamore, Jim Boyd, Bill Kelly, Santa’s Clothes ……………………...…………..Al Johnson Continental Divide Trail ………………….....Ken Claiborne Firefly Autism Center ………………..Kevin Roth, Irv Buck Flower Power ………………………………...Larree Morgan Freedom Dogs ………………...Larry Brutlag, Sue Gardner MS 150 ………Bill Shriver, Ken Claiborne, Michele Duncan Parker Task Force Jim Boyd, Carol Hein, Bob Kramer, Bill Gripman, Dean Weaver, Nancy Gripman Praying Hands Ranch …………………….………..Jim Muir Project Sanctuary …..Jane Johnson, Bill Shriver, Bill Kelly Rotary Community Corps Kam Breitenbach, Michele Duncan Rotary Reads Dick Gordon, Ted Sweeney, Bob Kramer, Bill Gripman, Nancy Gripman Second Wind Fund of DC ….Jane Johnson, Larry Brutlag Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center Sharon Nemechek Douglas County Rotarians Wounded Veterans Project Lindy Blackburn, Andy Becher, Carl Finamore, Al Johnson, Jane Johnson VOCATIONAL SERVICE …………... Jack Braly, Director Four Way Test David Selden, Doug Young, All Johnson, Jane Johnson Vocational Talks ……………………………..Ken Claiborne District Club Ethics Award …...Cathy Groves, Bill Shriver Ethics in Business ……………..…………..Dan Rodriguez

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE …... Steve Brown, Director Ambassadorial & World Peace Scholars Bob Forbes, Mike Oldham Ghana ………………………………Jo Stone, Amy Erickson Global Children’s Organization…...Irv Buck, Bill Gripman Group Study Exchange …………………………....Irv Buck India Water & Related Irv Buck, Frank Gibbs Mongolia (Commerce City Rotary Club) ……...Rick Laub Open World ..Tony Barnard, Irv Buck, John Gile, Al Johnson Polio Plus………………………….Lew Million, Tom Duncan Project C.U.R.E. ………………..Bob Haeflein, Don Clasen Nigeria Project C.U.R.E. (Fort Collins Rotary Club) Larry Brutlag ShelterBox ………………………..Al Johnson, Bob Kramer Socially Conscious Coffee (Westminster 7:10) .Irv Buck Toys for God’s Kids ……………………….…..Don Clasen Wayne Wagener, Bob Kramer Walk for Life …………………….…....Bob Forbes, Irv Buck Zimbabwe …………………………………………....Irv Buck NEW GENERATIONS ……..... Michele Duncan , Director Interact, Ponderosa Bill Fernow, Dave Selden Rotaract Dave Selden, Dan Rodriguez Rotary Youth Exchange Liz Volz, Michele Duncan RYLA/Young RYLA Mike Oldham, Cathy Groves Scholarships, Chaparral Tom VanderHeiden, Tom Duncan, Lindy Blackburn Scholarships, Ponderosa Larree Morgan, Bill Kelly, Gene Felgenhauer Student of the Month, Chaparral ………….Ken Claiborne Student of the Month, Ponderosa ……………...John Gile FUND RAISING ……………....…..… Cathy Groves, Chair Annual Golf Tournament

Chairman: Carl Finamore Site: Steve Small Tom VanderHeiden, Bill Kelly, Gene Felgenhauer Peaches Dave Gurule, Bill Shriver, Carl Finamore, Jane Johnson, Cathy Groves State of the Town ……………..………...…..Cathy Groves Finance: Dick Gordon Public Relations: Kevin Roth Parker Impact Award: Lindy Blackburn Sponsorship: Larry Brutlag, Dan Rodriguez Registrations: Bill Shriver Publications: Bob Forbes, Irv Buck, PUBLIC RELATIONS ……….……....Kevin Roth, Director

THE ROTARY CLUB OF PARKER Chartered August 18, 1993

Rotary Magazine Month

April 12, 2012

TODAY’S PROGRAM

Linda Watson, Sky Ridge Medical Center

Thursday, Apr 19—Ann Tull, District Foundation

Thursday, Apr 26—Dr. Doug Jackson, Project CURE Perspective

Thursday, May 3—Ashley-Marie Zerr/Ryan Mahoney CU Engineers With-

out Borders Projects

Tuesday, May 8—Board Meeting, Warhorse Inn, 6:45 am

Thursday, May 10—Sarah David, Firefly Autism Center

DISTRICT 5450

Jim Halderman

Governor

2011-2012 Theme

Kalyan Banerjee

RI President

The Lamplighter A Multiple Bemis Award Winning Publication of

The Rotary Club of Parker P.O. Box #473, Parker, CO 80134

Breakfast Meeting each Thursday 6:45-8:15 a.m.

The Club at Pradera 5225 Raintree Drive

The Parker Rotary Centennial Gift to

the Town of Parker - 2005

Member of

2

April 12, 2012 VOLUME 19, NUMBER 34

Bill Fernow, Editarian (303) 805-5039

FAX: (303) 805-5039 wfernow@comcast.net

John Kyle – 5.5 Ways to be Like Superman It is not surprising that a boy whose first memory is

superheroes stickers on his wall and who grew up to earn a

black belt in karate would be able to teach 5.5 ways to be

like Superman! John Kyle inspired us all with the steps to

becoming the best we can be. The steps are characterized

by the lead in to every superman episode on television.

We all remember the exciting words – “Look! Up in the

sky!” and our hearts and eyes turn skyward. This antici-

pation of something wonderful has been translated by John

Kyle into an inspiring formula for self- reflection and im-

provement. You must be….

1. “Faster than a speeding bullet” - translates into being

on top of your game. Make yourself marketable by brushing up your resume’ and getting

additional credentials in your field. John encouraged us to study other industries and know

and explore other options outside our comfort zones.

2. “More powerful than a locomotive” - means that we should develop attributes that people

love and which make us irresistible to others. John encouraged us to develop traits which

make other people feel good about themselves, much as the actor Will Smith puts his audi-

ences at ease. He encouraged us to ask “who or what inspires me, and why?”

3. “Leap tall buildings with a single bound” - reminds us that there are giant obstacles to eve-

rything that we do. Even Walt Disney declared bankruptcy seven times. John shared that

we can overcome obstacles by simply putting them into the goal category. Changing an

obstacle into something to achieve turns an obstacle into something positive.

4. “Man of Steel” -- emphasizes the importance of physical fitness. We cannot be at our best

without focusing on diet, exercise, nutrition. John shared his formula of six small nutri-

tious meals a day and engaging passionately in a physical activity that you enjoy.

(Continued on Page 3)

15

2011-2012 CLUB OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jane Johnson ..…………..….…….President Jo Stone ……...……………..President-Elect Kam Breitenbach ……..........…….Secretary Bob Satrom ..…….….……………..Treasurer Frank Gibbs ………....…..Sergeant-at-Arms Larry Brutlag …..Immediate Past President Tony Barnard ………………….Foundations

Carl Finamore ….....…..Community Service Steve Brown ……....…International Service Sue Gardner …….….....……….Club Service Jack Braly ……………....Vocational Service Michele Duncan .New Generations Service Cathy Groves …….…..……....Fund Raising Kevin Roth ...……….……...Public Relations

PARKER ROTARIANS WITH DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITIES PDG Mike Oldham - Executive Committee, Strategic Planning, Literacy and Education,

American Indian Committee Chair, Rotary Peace Corps Alliance, Ambassadorial Scholar-

ships; Nominating Committee, PDG Advisory Group, Extension Committee, Health &

Hunger Concerns, Polio Eradication, World Peace Fellowship; Bill Fernow - Executive

Committee, Rotary Awareness Chair; Al Johnson - Assistant Governor Area 12; Doug

Young - 4-Way Test Chair; Dave Gurule - Rotaract; Irv Buck - Water Management and

Sanitation; Larry Brutlag - Grants Area 4&5; Bob Forbes - Ambassadorial Scholar-

ships; Carl Finamore – American Indian

MEMBERSHIP …………………........... Jo Stone, Director Past Chair ………………………………….….Jane Johnson Classifications ………………………………..….Bill Shriver Club Roster …………………………..…...Kam Breitenbach Fireside Chats …………………………….…...Mike Oldham Inductions ………………………………………..….Jo Stone Internal Communications ……………………...Al Johnson Mentor Program …………………………….....Bob Haeflein New Member Information ………..…..Jo Stone, Jim Boyd Recruitment Program Jim Boyd, Tom Hankenson, Red Badge, Blue Badge ……………………...Bob Haeflein Remembrance, Rewards, Recognition …... Retention Program ………………..……….…..Bill Gripman

FOUNDATIONS Tony Barnard, Director

Trustees Steve Small, Jane Johnson, Bob Martin, Dean Weaver, Hank Coll, Tom Duncan, Lew Million, Bob Satrom, Harold McCloud

The Rotary Club of Parker Foundation

PO Box 1472 Parker, Colorado 80134

2012 RI Convention

14

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 14 9Health Fair, Denver Indian Center, 7:00 am to Noon

April 17 Work evening at Project C.U.R.E., 7:00 - 9:00 pm

April 24&25 Military and Veterans Employment Expo, Douglas County

Events Center, Castle Rock

April 26 Work Day at the Gazebo Flower Garden, 11:30 am

April 27-29 District Conference, Ameristar Casino, Black Hawk

May 5 Build a Shed day at the Women’s Crisis and Family Resource

Center

May 6-9 RI Convention, Bangkok, Thailand

May 23 Work evening at Project C.U.R.E., 7:00 - 9:00 pm

June 2 District Training Assembly

June 8—10 Parker Days

June 19 Work evening at Project C.U.R.E., 7:00 - 9:00 pm

June 28 Change of Command Dinner, Pradera, 6:00 pm

July 12 Inaugural Denver Region Rotary Golf Championship, Green

Valley Ranch Golf Club

July 19 Work evening at Project C.U.R.E., 7:00 - 9:00 pm

July 22-27 RYLA, YMCA of the Rockies

YRYLA, Ponderosa Retreat & Convention Center

3

PLAN AHEAD!! CHANGE OF COMMAND DINNER

Club Service Director Sue Gardner has announced that

the annual Change of Command Dinner will be held on

June 28th at The Club at Pradera. Cocktails at 6:00 pm

and dinner at 7:00 pm. Mark your calendars!

NEW MEMBER

Ryan Braden was in-

ducted at the April 5th

meeting, thus becoming

our newest member.

He is sponsored by Dr.

Paul Elder and he is

lucky to have Mr. Jim

Boyd as his mentor.

Ryan is an expert in

sleep disorders. He will

reveal more about his

background, etc. at a

future meeting.

\WELCOME RYAN!!

Randy Hill presented President Jane with a

club banner from the Yuma Foothills Rota-

ry Club (Arizona).

Sharon Nemechek asked members to assist

in building a shed for the Women’s Crisis

and Family Resource Center on May 5.

(Continued from Page 2)

5. “Form your own Justice Team” -- John

encouraged us all to have a trusted advi-

sor in every area of our lives who in-

spires us. Those advisors should en-

courage to be after results and not meth-

ods. He offered the comforting observa-

tion that we do not have to go through

struggles in life alone. A justice team

provides us with the needed support.

5.5 “Offer something to others and do what

is right.” John told us a touching story

about his teen coach who did not prac-

tice in his own life the rules he imposed

on his players. He reminded us that our

actions must match our speech – we

must “walk the walk“ that we talk about.

He suggested that, in order to be like

Superman, we must be genuine in prac-

ticing service above self. It was a mes-

sage that was not lost on a room full of

attentive Rotarians.

4

Parker Garden at the Gazebo Jeff Claar, the Parker Horticulturist, shared the

opportunities for adopt a flower bed program

with our club. The program is designed to en-

courage community involvement in beautifying

Parker. It runs from May 1 through September

30 this year and we are lined up to adopt the

flower garden at the Gazebo in O’Brien Park. In

this program we will remove litter, plant flowers,

monitor and inspect the growth of plants and

provide our own tools to work on the flower beds. Parker will monitor and adjust the water-

ing system, do winter and spring preparation of the flower beds, contact us if our flower bed

needs some work AND post a sign acknowledging which Parker group or individuals are

caring for each flower bed. The website www.parkeronline.org has all of the information

and all of the application forms to adopt a flower bed. On April 26, at 11:30 am, there will be

a work day at our flower bed. The town is working on a couple of videos, including one for

the Adopt a Flowerbed Program. They will be recording the video on the 26th and this pre-

sents a great opportunity to obtain coverage of our club working. Wear your “Rotarian at

Work” shirts. Don Clasen will have all of the details, including what tools, etc. that we will

need to bring. It takes a Master Gardener to direct us amateurs.

PDG Mike Oldham presented the Rotary Minute last week.

He discussed the Object of Rotary and actually did it in a mi-

nute!!

TEACHER: John, Why are you doing your math multi-

plication on the floor?

JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.

▼

TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have

today that we didn’t have ten years ago.

WINNIE: Me!

13

THE FOUR-WAY TEST

Of the things we think, say or do:

Is it the TRUTH?

Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Will it build GOODWILL and

BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all con-

cerned?

ROTARY INFO ON THE WEB

Rotary International www.rotary.org

District 5450

www.rotary5450.org

District Polio www.endpolio.com

CLUB WEBSITE -

www.parkerrotary.org

CLUB LINKED-IN SITE http://www.linkedin.com/

groups?gid=1813524

Eclub One Meeting on the web www.rotaryeclubone.org

Rotary on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/

rotaryinternational

Rotary on Twitter http://twitter.com/rotary

Rotary on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/

Rotary-International/7268844551

Rotary on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groups?

gid=858557&trk=hb_side_g

MAKE-UP OPPORTUNITIES

Monday—Smoky Hill Rotary Club

12:10 pm

Double Tree Hotel

Iliff Avenue at I-225

Tuesday – Centennial

7:10 am

Embassy Suites

10250 E. Costilla Avenue

(near corner of Arapahoe Road and South

Havana Street)

Tuesday – DTC

12:00 noon

Glenmoor CC

110 Glenmoor Drive

(just off Belleview)

Don’t forget that you can make-up meetings

by participating in projects and committee

meetings of the club or district.

12

GREETER PLEDGE INSPIRATION/ 4-WAY TEST

INVOCATION

Pius Schenker Steve Small Dean Weaver Tom Duncan

ROTARY MINUTE

TBD

ROTARIANS FROM COLORADO November 17 – 30, 2012

Exotic 13-day Tour in INDIA, featuring: THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE:

12 nights (4- and 5-star hotels) plus one overnight on the train

HIGHLIGHTS:

Delhi

Agra (TAJ MAHAL)

Fatehpur Sikri (magnificent abandoned city)

Jaipur (world famous 17thh century Astronomy Observatory)

Sawai Madhopur, (Ranthambore National Park – 2 jeep ‘safaris’ in this

tiger preserve)

Mumbai (Rudyard Kipling home site)

Victoria Terminus Station, Gateway to India

Noon Rotary meeting of Rotary club of Bombay Mid-town

Visit and tour our first ROTARY WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PRO-

JECT at Potkhal/Baste villages)

Tour initiated by: Janet Greiner, Rotary Club of Denver LoDo and Rod

Greiner, Rotary Club of Denver

For complete itinerary, very competitive pricing, and other details,

contact Irv Buck

INAUGURAL DENVER REGIOBN RO-

TARY GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

The Aurora Gateway Rotary Club is spon-

soring a fundraising golf championship open

to all Rotary Clubs. It will be held at the

Green Valley Ranch Golf Club on Thursday,

July 12. Entry fee is $200 per player. The

first place team will receive the traveling cup

and $1,000.

5

HELP NEEDED TO COMPLETE PLAYGROUND

The playground project for the Denver Indian Center was begun last

Saturday, April 7, and although we worked until 5:00 p.m. we did not complete the work.

We have scheduled a completion date of April 21 beginning at 8:00 a.m. Would you please consider volunteering for this task? If we have two doz-

en volunteers we hope to wrap the work up by noon. We are calling on all of the clubs who contributed to the grant to send volunteers to complete

this project. Ames Construction Company has agreed to return and help us wrap this project up.

Please contact Mike or Andy if you can help. Thank you.

THE FIRST PEOPLES-DENVER INDIAN CENTER

April 14, 2012 a 9Health Fair from 7:00 a.m. until noon at the Denver

Indian Center intended to benefit the American Indian of the greater Den-ver area and the people of the Westwood community surrounding the

Denver Indian Center. If you can help as a medical or non-medical volun-teer please go on line to www.9HealthFair.org and register as a volunteer

for the Denver Indian Center site, enter zip code 80219. If you have questions please contact Mike Oldham.

6

Editarian - Bill Fernow

Asst. Editarian - Steve Gilbert

Head Photographer - Jim Boyd

Backup Photographer - Michele Duncan

Feature Editor - Jo Stone

Special Features -Steve Gilbert

Circulation Manager Position Available

Lamplighter Staff

Speeches are like babies—easy to

conceive but hard to deliver.

Pat O’Malley

Formerly know as the MS-150, The 2012 Newmont Bike MS, presented by Great-West

Life will take place from June 30 to July 1. The ride will leave Front Range Community Col-

lege in Westminster, ride to CSU in Fort Collins, stay in Fort Collins Saturday evening, re-

turning to Front Range Community College on Sunday. The registration fee is $75. Partici-

pants must also raise a minimum of $400 in donations outside of the registration fee. Multi-

ple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous sys-

tem (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be

mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The pro-

gress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to

another. Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people af-

fected by the disease.

District Governor Jim Halderman

and the Rotary Club of Golden

invite you to the

2012 Rotary District 5450 Conference

April 27-29, 2012

Ameristar Resort Hotel

Black Hawk, Colorado

11

Special Rotary Observances

In the annual Rotary calendar several months are desig-

nated to emphasize major programs of Rotary Internation-

al.

* January is Rotary Awareness Month. This is a time to expand knowledge of Rotary and

its activities among our membership and throughout the community. * February is desig-

nated as World Understanding Month. This month was chosen because it includes the

birthday of Rotary International, February 23. During the month, Rotary clubs are urged to

present programs which promote international understanding and goodwill, as well as

launch World Community Service projects in other parts of the world. * World Rotaract

Week is the week in which March 13 falls. It's a time when Rotary clubs and districts

highlight Rotaract by joining in projects with their Rotaract clubs. * April is set aside as

Rotary's Magazine Month. Throughout the month, clubs arrange programs and activities

which promote the reading and use of The Rotarian magazine and the official regional

magazines of Rotary. * August is Membership and Extension Month, a time to focus on

Rotary's continuing need for growth, to seek new members and form new clubs. * Sep-

tember is Youth Activities Month. Rotary clubs of the world give special emphasis to the

many Rotary-sponsored programs which serve children and young people. During this

month many clubs give increased attention to youth exchange activities. * October is Vo-

cational Service Month. During this period, clubs highlight the importance of the business

and professional life of each Rotarian. Special activities promote the vocational avenue of

service. * November is selected to be Rotary Foundation Month. Clubs and districts call

attention to the programs of The Rotary Foundation and frequently cultivate additional fi-

nancial support for the Foundation by promoting contributions for Paul Harris Fellows and

Sustaining Members.

Each of these special months serves to elevate the awareness among Rotarians of some of

the excellent programs of service which occur within the world of Rotary.

10

WHAT PAUL HARRIS SAID

The Fellowship of the Saloon This Rotarian Age, Paul Harris’s second book, was written about the time that prohibition was being repealed. The following paragraph illustrates how Harris understood that alcohol was not the only lure of the saloon. People need fellowship, and they will go to where it is available. If not a service club like Rotary, it might well be a bar. With-out the warmth of fellowship, no Rotary Club would last long enough to make a difference in the community, much less the world. “It has been contended that the saloon was the poor man’s club; quite right, but it was his hearthside as well, in many cases. Saloon attendance was the great indoor sport of many, and the regular business of others. The lure of the saloon was in man’s insatiable desire for fellowship. There kindred spirits were to be found, and the stimulating influence of alcohol served as quick and certain means of breaking down the barriers between men. The pity was that it broke down more than barriers; it broke down self-respect. A strong man might withstand its demoralizing influences for a time—a long time perhaps, but it usually got him sooner or later.”

(This Rotarian Age, page 24)

Al Johnson April 8

Don Clasen April 12

Frank Gibbs April 13

Andy Becher April 18

Steve & Linda Brown April 25

You are encouraged to bring your spouse to

breakfast as a guest of the club anytime dur-

ing the month of your anniversary.

7

CORPORATE

DIRECTOR COMCAST ∙ IREA ∙ SEARCH PARKER (Media Sponsor)

DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

PARKER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

WEAVER GENERAL CONSTRUCTION

STATE OF THE TOWN SPONSORS

Cathy Groves is looking for the final few people

to sign up to man the ticket booth at Parker

Days. In addition to staying involved with the

community, this event will be a fundraiser for

our club. Parker Days will run from June 8

through the 10th.

Steve Brown and Jim Muir led the

members in singing The Gambler in

memory of Jim Pettett. Jim had request-

ed that we sing “Know when to hold‘em,

know when to fold’em” when he re-

turned to meetings. Sadly, that never

happened. Jim regretted going out on

that snowy morning to come to the meet-

ing that resulted in a traffic accident and

a broken arm.

8

A GARY MERAZ TRUE STORY

KIDS-OUR FUTURE

It RYLA and YRYLA time again. Registration is

open! What seventh grader, tenth grader or eleventh grader do you know who would benefit from our Dis-

trict RYLA program? Leader, Character, Teamwork and Fellow-ship development are some of what RYLA is about. Get students you know

in the Parker area to apply on line at Rocky Mountain RYLA. Our club will be sending three to Senior RYLA and three to YRYLA this year. Give

kids this life changing opportunity. Questions? Please contact Mike Old-ham.

A drunk walked into a lounge. After staring for 10

minutes at a beautiful woman who was sitting at the bar,

he sauntered over and kissed her. She jumped up and

slapped him silly.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I thought you were my wife. You

look just like her.”

“Ugh! Get away from me, you worthless, insufferable, no-

good drunk!” she yelled.

“Wow,” he said. “You even sound like her.”

TODAY IN HISTORY

1776 - North Carolina issues the Halifax Resolves, the first act by a colony authorizing

its Continental Congress delegates to vote for independence.

1811– Settlers sponsored by John Jacob Astor establish the first American outpost in

the Pacific Northwest near present-day Astoria, Oregon.

1861 - The Civil War begins at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina

1934 - The strongest wind gust on record, 231 mile per hour, hits Mount Washington,

New Hampshire.

1945 - Franklin D. Roosevelt dies of a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs, Georgia.

1981 - The first manned space shuttle flight begins as Columbia blasts off from Cape

Canaveral, Florida.

9

Walking through the hall of a small clinic in Managua, Nicaragua, I met Stanley. Stanley had cataracts and had lost all hope of keeping his eyesight. He was slowly slipping into a life of dependency on others. But physicians at the clinic were able to perform a simple procedure on Stanley, and today, he can see.

I visited the clinic in July 2011. People from all over Nicaragua travel to receive free eye-care for medical issues like cataracts, minor eye injuries, and complications from diabetes which are easily treatable in the United States. But because of their poverty and lack of access to medical care, people in Nicaragua lose their eyesight to these treatable issues. Before Rotary began helping the clinic, it didn’t have the supplies needed to perform necessary surgeries. The physicians made do with what they had and were able to help only a handful of patients a day.

Several years ago, Dr. Jonathan Walker from Fort Wayne, Indiana, was introduced to the clinic. He saw the potential for sustainability and a real willingness on the part of the physicians to help people and teach new physicians. He reached out to Rotarians in District 6540 and over the past few years, he and the organization have raised enough money to provide the clinic with diagnostic equipment, surgical tools, sterili-zation machines, teaching tools and more. Today, the clinic sees over 600 patients a day.

I heard many stories like Stanley’s about how things used to be and how they had to cope with what they had. One doctor told us this story: a man came in with some-thing in his eye. The doctor’s only choice was to slash it open and ask the patient to lean forward so she could smack him on the back of the head in order to dislodge it. That was the extent of their technology. Now they can screen, diagnose, treat and perform surgeries at the facility. With the new equipment, they are able to train new doctors and send them into remote villages, reaching people who would have never received the care they need. My Rotary moment occurred that afternoon in the clinic administrator’s office. I am so proud to be a Rotarian. I am forever changed because of the people of Nicaragua who give so much to each other every day.

Receiving the gift of sight in Nicaragua

By Amber Recker, president-elect of the Rotary Club of Anthony Wayne (Fort Wayne), Indiana