Guest Speakers

On Rotary and Rotaplast:
 
On September 8th Rotarian Mani Joshi of the Kathmandu-Midtown Rotary Club in Nepal spoke to the Abbotsford Sumas Rotary Club. Mani has been a very Rotarian with his Club and in his District (3290) and spoke to as many Rotary Clubs in our District as possible in the four days he was here. He made a ten minute presentation on the phenomenal growth of Rotary in Nepal, from only five Clubs in 1989 to almost seventy in 2004). He shared personal experiences with us on planning, developing and supporting the Hospital, and thanked all for the support they received.
 
In addition to Mani’s presentation, Rotarian Larry Stinson of the Chilliwack Club recounted his moving experiences when he accompanied the medical team that worked with doctors in Nepal. Larry, among other responsibilities, attended to the logistics of moving a mountain of medical equipment and supplies to Nepal. Larry learned to sterilize medical equipment for the large number of nearly around the clock surgeries, He also contained some children who were flailing and disoriented after surgery by holding them tightly and close to him until they calmed down and slept. He reports being deeply affected by the experience, and that he felt it a privilege to be a member of the team.
 
Jim Sinclair Jim Sinclair, of the Rotary Club of Mount Baker gave a power point presentation and update on the Nepal Orthopaedic Hospital (NOH); a Rotary WCS Expansion project which was recently supported by our Club. The hospital expansion was formally dedicated to the King of Nepal in April of this year. The NOH is now on its way to become financially self-sufficient by 2007 thanks the efforts of Rotarians, Rotary Clubs, Rotary Districts and THE ROTARY FOUNDATION.
 
Jim noted that arranging programs on short notice is difficult, and so he wanted to acknowledge our cooperation with thanks.
 
For more information and upcoming Rotaplast missions for 2004, check out The Rotaplast International website - www.rotaplast.org