Rotarians in China

Posted by Jon Winston

Tom Wichelmann opened today's program by introducing our speaker Russ Hobbs. Russ' presentation was both a pitch for the "magic" of RI matching funds for international projects, and a travelogue of his May '08 trip to China as part of a Rotarian and non-Rotarian humanitarian delegation.

Accompanied by Bob Paget, Rotarian of Scotts Valley whose mission was to gift cardiac care equipment to remote healthcare facilities, and Santa Cruzian Maria Yee, a humanitarian with the desire to give back to the country of her birth, Russ described an amazing journey through a very welcoming, receptive and appreciative country culminating in the emotional delivery of 500 wheelchairs.

For his part of the mission, Russ partnered with the Cupertino club with the objective of equipping libraries in rural schools, delivering medical equipment and distributing wheelchairs. Russ extolled the virtues RI matching funds demonstrated by his success in parlaying his club's $10,000 contribution, along with funds from other clubs, into $60,000 for the project.

Their travels took them through city and country from Beijing to the remote regions of the Hunan province. They assisted at 6 different schools including one for disabled children. Everywhere they when they were received in regal style and with great fanfare.

This was a moving and enlightening presentation demonstrating again the power we possess to improve the lives of the less fortunate, and how just a few motivated individuals, with the backing of Rotary, can accomplish truly amazing things.