ROTARY CLUB OF VINELAND

Editor: Melanie Druziako Linda Foster
Photos: Jay Parks
Website: www.vinelandrotary.com
Email: vinelandrotary@comcast.net

Flag Salute & Prayer

Guests

Sgt. at Arms, Bruce Middleton, welcomed our newest members, Hope Brolis and Bob Swanson.

Birthdays

Membership

Announcements

Jack Dilks announced that the District Phantom Game tickets at the Wachovia Center were still available. The Teddy Bears will go to children in hospitals. Please participate in this worthwhile event. Dining with Rotary Chefs will take place on February 10th. Our club has 1 person participating. Tickets are $25.00 and proceeds go to the Foundation. There will be great food and entertainment including a 6-piece band. Paul Harris Talent Show will be held on May 18th at the Pine Hill Golf Club. Showcasing the District’s talents. It’s a must see.

Ron McMahon thanked everyone’s participation in the Blood Drive held last Tuesday. He thanks Sherry for the use of her facility. 40 people participated and 39 donations were made. The next blood drive will take place on April 22nd. 28 people have already signed up. The next blood drive after April will take place on June 17th, which coincides with the World Blood Donor Day.

Ken Dondero announced that January 31st we will welcome our new members to a Fellowship Meeting featuring Speed “Dating/Classification” format held at the Garden Room. It’s a time for our membership to get acquainted with our new members. Contact Lou-Ann Ferrari-Brooks if you are coming.

Shannon Kennedy announced that the Vineland Developmental Center Annual Valentines Day Dance would be held on February 19th from 6pm to 8pm.

Pres. Elect Betsy Frank, in Ron Barisano’s absence, is looking for 3 Host families for the GSE team coming from Hungary the week of April 11th. Shirley Burke & Melanie Druziako volunteered their homes for the remaining exchange students. Gus and Linda Foster, and Mike Loyle had previously agreed to host.

Finemaster

Program

There are 140 million people in Nigeria, which is 2 times the size of California. The government makes 60% of its revenue on oil. The official language is English and the faiths consist of Christians and Muslims. 90 Rotary members from North America went to Nigeria. Security was very tight. Lots of new construction is going on in the inner city. Photos were shown of both the inner city and what existed outside the city.

Their drive was about 2 hours out of the city limits. The government gets very involved with promoting IPD (Immunization Plus Day.) The children get more than just their polio shots. The outside villages are shacks with dirt roads with no running water. The villagers dry their clothes on empty lots. Each village has a crier that uses a megaphone as their communication system. The government supplies the megaphones. Rotary gets support from the village chiefs who encourage the mothers to immunize their children. All that is required is 2 drops in their mouths and the immunization process is complete. Ron showed pictures of children who did not have the benefit of the vaccine. The consequences were distressing.

There were several Rotary Projects completed and underway-in Nigeria. A water well is maintained by a Mother and Child Hostel started by Rotary. There is an orphanage and rehabilitation facility built, a Gwarimpa Estate Primary School where the students wear uniforms and have running water, and a Pilot Science Primary School that is trying to build a library and provide computers.

UpComing Programs