In-Person meetings of Regina Eastview are always special as fellowship and shared moments of individual and group conversations remind us that this is the foundation of Rotary's motto of 'Service Above Self'. Members of Regina Eastview's International Service Projects Committee were primed to share stories of the Club's international involvement and the impact this focus has on the lives of people and their communities who were, and are, beneficiaries of these activities. In an almost crowded room President Al gonged the bell, extended a warm welcome to all present, introduced guests, led in the singing of our national anthem, and appropriately connected the anthem to our Club's Land Acknowledge statement. Following the Invocation the President provided direction for an orderly process to get to the bountiful buffet.
Post dinner, we witnessed one of Rotary Clubs most prized highlights, the induction of a new member. Greg Baca was welcomed into the Rotary Club of Regina Eastview and the Rotary International family of "over 1.9 million individuals in 46,000 clubs" (according to Google).
The Club's International Service Projects Committee is comprised of an enthusiastic group of Rotarians who have each assumed a role and served as the Committee's connection with this aspect. Past President Shreedhar Jachak probably the longest serving member on the Committee was our authority and connection with Rotary Friendship Exchange and was to introduce today's Program. However, today's ROTOR Editor forgot about the planned order and as a result Shreedhar's introduction was never heard - that miscarriage of order rests on the Editor.
The planned Program then unfolded as planned. Peter Neufeldt began with an overview of the Club's involvement in the Ripple Effect Program (REP), an initiative of the RC of Winnipeg West in 1999, which became a program of District 5550 in 2010. Eastview's involvement with its first of seven school classroom builds was in the construction of a 3-classroom school in 2007-08. Other builds included 3 kitchen facilities; 5 washroom builds or washroom enhancements which have a dramatic impact on school attendance of girl children; 2 computer installation initiatives which will see this technology made available in 36 rural community schools impacting the lives of thousands of children; scholarships for children entering middle and high school are making a difference. The REP is built as a partnership of organizations including the Government of Canada, TRF, Rotary Districts and Rotary Clubs in Canada, Guatemala and the USA. Each project is made possible by donations through Club Fundraisers and the resources raised by Peter Neufeldt and Doug Mortin's annual Motor Cycle Fundraiser Ride for the REP which began in 2010 (you will hear more about this in the coming months.
Tania Woroby is the committee’s connection with the Amarok Society, to which they have added the designation, "Start With Mothers". Eastview connected with the Society which was functioning in large slums in Bangladesh nearly a decade ago. In 2022 Eastview selected to support one of the Mothers who chose to take classes to serve as the teacher of 5 children in their community. Tania introduced us to Sathi who is an, "amazing mother, an outstanding teacher, and a positive inspiration for positive change in her community", and read the most recent letter she received from Sathi. From listening to Tania's dramatic reading of Sathi's letter it was clear this program is "magic" personified.
Eghosa Amadasun oversees our Club's ShelterBox experience and told us about its beginning in 2000 and its formal partnership with Rotary in 2012. We were told ShelterBox provides emergency shelter to persons who have lost their homes because of natural or man-made disaster; it helps the most vulnerable struggling people around the world; and, is providing aid to 3 million people around the world. ShelterBox is attending current disasters in Myanmar and Thailand, and in Gaza and earlier in the Bangladesh flooding and before that the Philippine cyclone and others. Eghosa showed pictures of the contents of the ShelterBox which has replaced the familiar green box. In concluding he reminded us of our Club's annual commitment of $2400.00 to the Program and encouraged as we are able to contribute to ShelterBox and be part of this service with provides basic needs to persons experiencing a disaster.
Toshi Shinmura distributed information on Africa which defines the Epidemiological Zones on this continent and clumps the countries into each of these Zones. Linked to this information is the country risk prioritization on the continent in 2024-2025. Toshi reminded us of the critical need for immunization and the concern related to failing to do so for the children of the world. In concluding his observation Toshi drew attention to Eastview's last two World Polio Day Chinese dinners where funds are raised for PolioPlus which about matches the amount contributed annually through our Club fundraising efforts.
Ron Okumura Eastview's Director of Projects was the concluding presenter thanking the committee for their dedication and work. and in the absence of the the Club Rotary Foundation Director shared up dated information on the donations to The Rotary Foundation.
President Elect Jayna Amadasun concluded the meeting with a enthusiastic expression of appreciation for the presentation and thanked them for sharing the Club's exciting International story.
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