By: Emma Bodwell, DISC Chair, DGN 2025-26, RC of Bridgton-Lake Region
and Bill Dunn, DISC Member, ADG, RC of Yarmouth
I will be in Columbia at the Rotary Project Fair when you read this article with others from the District. We will have more to tell you about the opportunities presented in the next newsletter and the next Café on Saturday, March 4 from 9:30-11:00 am.
On January 21 about 25 Rotarians attended the latest International Café. Andy Johanson and Wendy Axelrod of District #7430 talked about Rotaplast and their District’s funding of and participation in missions providing cleft lip/palate repair in developing countries. They would welcome the participation of District #7780. Dave Underhill noted that the Portsmouth Club funded a mission in 2019. Bill Dunn said that the District needs a Rotaplast Ambassador (a role he left ~10 years ago) to coordinate District efforts and would welcome a volunteer to take on this role. Andy & Wendy mentioned the Wrap-a-Smile quilts they bring on missions, and Marty Peak Helman noted that Wrap-a-Smile was started in District #7780. For more information, feel free to contact our presenters directly. Wendy Axelrod, email or phone at 215-837-6198, and Andy Johanson – email.
Ron Smith and Ronald Sekitoleko presented information on Hope Always, which cares for severely disabled children in Uganda. They are raising money for both short-term goals, housing up to thirty such children in a refurbished home, and long-term goals, building an Uganda Center for Severely Disabled Children. Besides medical rehabilitation, the Center will also provide education and vocational training. One fundraising effort is to attract sponsors of individual children for $20/month. Hope Always is looking for more Rotary partnerships. For more information about the project Uganda Center for Severely Disabled Children, contact Fryeburg Area Rotarian Ron Smith – by email or phone at 215-896-6870 or his colleague in Uganda, Ronald Sekitoleko email.
Bill Tobin talked about ShelterBox, which was started by a Rotary Club in the UK. ShelterBox is an Official Project Partner of Rotary for disaster relief. There are several types of ShelterBoxes, in addition to smaller ShelterKits and larger shelters. They are currently active in thirteen locations in ten countries, mostly related to conflicts, but also disasters (e.g., Typhoon Rai in the Philippines). They conducted after-the-fact surveys to identify areas for improvement and adaptation. They have been active in Syria since 2011 and are currently active in Ukraine, where they have assisted 18,000 internally displaced families, 6000 families living in damaged homes, and 15,000 families fleeing the country via Moldova. Through financial support, three District Clubs are “Heroes” of ShelterBox, and they would welcome more such Clubs. For more information, see the Shelterbox website or contact Bill via email or by phone at 916-616-6973.
Also as a reminder - there are a couple of events coming up that we mentioned on the call:
February 7 – Rotary Foundation Basics 101 – ZOOM 7:00-8:00 p.m.
February 14 - Mid Year Leadership Dinner and Peace Concert – USM Portland Campus 4:00–8:00 p.m.
Next International Café – March 4 – ZOOM 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Please reach out if you have an international project in the works (or completed) that you would like to share with the district!! For more information about DISC and/or to express an interest in membership, contact me.