April, 2006 My Fellow Rotarians - Rotary's Global History Fellowship

District 6440 Histories 2005
In cooperation with the Foundation and other clubs, sent blind young lady to four Latin American
countries to initiate program to rehabilitate blind women. Developed civic program, which allowed
student to spend one day with local authorities, learning government functions. Sponsored local students
one-week trip to Washington, D.C. to study functions of Congress. Assisted students in sports activities.
Sponsored baseball and softball teams. Directed cooperation with Braille printing presses in Spain and
Latin America to develop better services for the blind. Provided help in Ecuador, including organization
of chicken farm; sent pigs and bull to help farmers to improve breeds; sent braille clocks to four schools
for the blind; established two sewing schools, one in slums and one in orphanage. Sent money to pay for
eye operations in cooperation with blindness prevention program called “Okulo pro Okulo” (an eye for
an eye) which operates mobile clinic units in Africa. Bicycle safety program. Boy Scout activities.
Bicentennial projects. Sponsored art exhibit for local and foreign high school students’ participation.
Encouraged youth operatic group performances. Created ROAR (Rotarians of Amateur Radio).
Organization prints call letters for Rotary ham operators all over the world.
Collected and sent books to schools in Ecuador. Sent 50 Mahler canes to four Rotary Clubs in Ecuador
for distribution to schools for the blind. Provided English correspondence courses through Hadley
School in response to club in India. Worked with Venezuela Government in setting up rehabilitation
center. In cooperation with Osaka, Japan club, distributed folkloric tales to department of blind and
physically handicapped through Chicago Public Library. Provided seed money for PTA Safety Town for
children.
50th anniversary celebration of club preceded participation in various facets of 75th anniversary of RI.
Operation Detector (smoke detector) program of education for the community. Participated in
organization of, and sponsored continuing operation of Glencoe Explorer Post 25, Boy Scouts of
America. Sponsored and produced operas performed in Glencoe by professional opera company;
members were in charge of arrangements, ticket sales, and promotion. Purchased and arranged for
transportation of ten sewing machines to Ecuador used by educators to establish a school to teach
sewing to blind girls and women. Sponsored, promoted, and participated in presentation in the Glencoe
rodeo and circus. Sponsored and participated in two annual “Operation Smoke Detectors” in Glencoe.
Financially supported numerous family service projects in Glencoe. Support Glencoe Community Blood
program financially and with volunteers. Supported Los Amigos Latin American youth program for
number of years providing health services to underdeveloped areas. Conducted “Career Day” student
government programs for past ten years in conjunction with local schools. Carried out scholarship
programs to help finance studies by area students overseas as well as in area schools.
1988-89 - Participated in all President’s PolioPlus Walks raising funds for the program; supported the
Glencoe Park District tree planting program; financially supported the Ecuador Disaster Relief efforts
following an earthquake, working with the Rotary Club of Ibarra; support Glencoe Blood drives by
providing coffee, juice, snacks, and one person to assist with registration; supported Law Enforcement
Torch Run for Special Olympics; supported Winnetka senior Center; provided funds to Colegio
Nacional Guayaquil for disaster relief; with R.I., providing ten typewriters for school in Ecuador; hosted
two Russian businessmen on Rotary Exchange program; and are sending “Rehabilitation Watches” for
the blind to the Rotary club in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
1991-92 - Ongoing projects include; sponsoring baseball and softball team; Boy Scouts Explorer Post
25; ROAR; supporting Glencoe Blood drives providing coffee, juice, snacks, and one person to assist
with registration; sending “Rehabilitation Watches” for the blind to Rotary Club in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
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