Alice's Corner 12-17
Boxes for Troops met their goal!!!
Thank you to everyone that joined in helping Harold Buckholtz and his daughter Sue Gibbs. For those of us who participated we left with a feeling of having done something meaningful for our troops. They give so much for our country we can afford a little time and money to thank them for their service.
On Tuesday, “Mr. Dictionary”, Dan Contorno, passed out the last of the dictionaries for this year. He raised the money, ordered them and delivered them. Good Job!
We had a real treat Javier served homemade tamales for breakfast. Those wishing to buy some may place your orders at the restaurant.
Denise Coronado brought us an exceptional young man from MCATS, Jacob Hansen. He was accompanied by his father, John, mother Melissa and his sister Shelby .
During the months of October, November and December he completed 8 units in order to graduate this winter. From August 2012 to the present he completed 40 units. He is a shy young 21 year old. He had a revelation in August 2012 to get his life together. You could see the families pride in their eyes. He will be attending truck driving school. We truly wish him the best.
Our speaker was our own Randy Brooks. He reminded us why we have joined Rotary.
As Rotarians he reminded us that not only can we change the world we can make an impact on it. By giving to the Annual Program Fund we can make a difference. We also need to continue donating to Polio Plus.
The El Tour de Tucson raised 2.3 million dollars from Rotarian donations alone to go towards the eradication of polio.
In November, Randy joined a team going to Nigeria to immunize children with polio vaccine. With two drops these children will not have to worry about not being able to walk or lose limbs or suffer a painful death due to polio. His 10 person team vaccinated 3200 children.
By participating in this endeavor it not only raised his spirits but broke his heart.
He shared slides of their living conditions including homes with open sewers at the front door. He had to pause several times to compose himself. The genuine sincerity in his presentation conveyed a sense of pride to be a Rotarian.
Before he left for Nigeria he requested $500 from our donations. With half of this money he purchased baby clothes and blankets here and the rest in Nigeria. These things went to people in adverse poverty. Their living conditions can be called squalor. Through Rotary we improve their lives. We touch people in ways we will never see but we know we can and will continue to make a difference.
We will do this by bringing water to villages, upgrading their sanitation facilities. Starting schools and building bridges where needed. He saw all of this in a village he visited. The water in this particular village is 100% pure due to Rotarians around the world.
Each team consisted of a Rotarian an interpreter and a local Rotarian. During the approximate ten days they were their over 2 million children were inoculated in throughout Nigeria. What an impact. What a feeling of accomplishment.
Thank you Rotary for allowing people like us all over the world to help make a difference.
Have a very Blessed Christmas and looking forward to a wonderful new year.
See you in 2014.