Tuesday March 28, 2006

Calendar of Events

Last Week, 3/21: Lon Penna – His Rotary Experience with Pakistan

This Week, 3/28: Sean Philot – Ethics and Epidemics

BOD Mtg at 5:00;

3/28: Interclub Dinner Meeting – Scotia Club

Next Week, 4/4 Club Assembly

Coming Up:

4/11: Tom Lopez – Jack Flanders Adventures

5/5: Chili Supper at the High School for TIB

Invocation: George Bailey, Garry Morrow, Dan Stec or Bob Youmans

Suggestions for future programs may be given to Linda LeTendre

Thanks to Mail ‘N More!!!!!!

We’re grateful to Ralph and company for running off Rotatellers during Gini’s absence. They have gone so far as to take our copy over the E-mail. They are true friends and we appreciate their responsiveness and the gracious donation of their valuable time and skill. Thanks folks!!

President Elect Linda and ADG Dan gave their past weekend to attend PETs training. Linda is going to be a great President. Many expressed thanks for the work done on the Pancake Breakfast. A special thank you to Sandra Kominoski and Ron Serapilio for co-chairing the event and for all the extra tasks they did before Saturday to make the event a success. As usual, all members chipped at the breakfast. Special kudos went to Mike Welshhans and the Mix Masters for the superb background music. Linda wants to soon start a committee working on the Christmas Party. She will be looking for volunteers and ideas.

Bill McClary reported on a visit with Doug Turpen. He said, “Doug is a tough guy, up beat and working hard on physical therapy, using a wheel chair and a walker and is progressively getting stronger.” We all wish Doug a rapid and satisfactory recovery. It is just not the same without him! Linda noted that the Shelter Box, number 2977, given by club members has been assigned for Pakistan earthquake victims and deployed. Many thanks to Bill McClary, Mary Anderson, Garry Morrow, Dick O’Rourke and Steve Caine for representing our club at the Mar 28 Interclub Dinner Meeting organized this year by the Scotia Rotary Club.

Main Pakistani Hoon

“ I am Pakistani”

Lawrence “Lon” Penna delivered our club one of its most enlightening and uplifting presentations, ever. He spoke eloquently and with passion about his work here and in Pakistan and about trips, often with his wife Helen accompanying him, to work in a village of 7,000 named Kujer. Lon’s talk provided us an inspirational example of what a dedicated Rotarian can do (Lon in this case) when he or she engages other Rotarians to create ideas and cooperative action, and how united they can use District Designated Funds and the Rotary Foundation to literally change and save lives -- and, to enhance peace and understanding between people!

Lon – President of Glenville Rotary Club next year—has made several business trips to Pakistan. During them, he took advantage of opportunities to network and build cooperative programs through which he literally empowered—all Rotarians within District 7109, Rotarians and villagers in Pakistan, Rotarians in his Glenville Club and members of our club to help accomplish for the people of Kujer such things as: buying an ambulance, school and medical supplies; setting up a computer lab (with computers donated by our Linda, refurbished by GE Elfins and set up by Frank Quinn’s son); buying a toilet and street lights; providing for English instruction and helping create the equivalent of a Rotary Community Corps to help manage current and future quality of life improvements for the village.

Probably one of the things Lon is most proud of – and rightfully so—is the Water Buffalo project that he and others, including our own Garry Morrow helped initiate. Our club was the first to donate a water buffalo and to date has provided club funding for two, and an additional one through fractional ownership. Our contribution, when matched with Rotary Foundation funds, should garner the program an additional animal. The Community Corps will decide which villagers get the life sustaining animals. The group ultimately will use the money from the sale of calves for additional community projects.

Lon clearly demonstrated the wonderful Rotarian attributes of sharing, hospitality, friendship and service above self when he spoke about how he and Helen were treated by their hosts, how so many have given funds and worked together, of Linda giving computers and Frank Quinn’s son traveling to Pakistan to set them up, and how a Pakistani volunteered to open his home for a medical clinic. He also noted that the Lahore Rotarian Club in Pakistan is sending money to help the Mother Teresa School in Clifton Park. Good Rotarian deeds flow both ways. Lon passed out a pamphlet that detailed some Pakistan oriented projects and points of contact in case you want to help: Medical Clinics - Coordinator: Dr. Mary Hendrickson DrMary@nycap.rr.com, Computer Labs - Coordinator: Lon Penna Lawrence_Penna@yahoo.com, Book Drive - a coordinator needed, Self Sufficiency (Water Buffalo) - Coordinator: Lon and Teacher Trainers - Coordinator: Helen Penna Helen_Penna@yahoo.com. Thank you, Lon, for doing so much, and for empowering so many to help.