June 9, 2008

Posted by Fred Woodhams 
 

Today, June 9, 2008: Shea Charles, Howell City Manager, will update the club on the state of the city.  Welcome, Shea!

June 16:  Next week we meet at the Rotary Pavilion for our annual Picnic in the Park.  Ron will be celebrating his last full day as president of the club.  Congratulations, Ron.  You have done a wonderful job!

June 23: The Annual Luncheon and Officer Induction Meeting at the Howell Opera House.  You must sign up for this event.  Tickets are $30.  Kim Dane will be installed as the new president.

June 26: The Steering Committee meets at Cleary's Pub at Noon.

June 30: NO meeting.  We must be celebrating the 4th of July.

Last week we welcomed several Rotarians back.  Don Williams, our longtime song leader, was here.  Milt Sandling, the program chairman, brought a very good program and his wife Betty. And Bill Earl, our intrepid secretary, was back with us after an illness. And of course, our newest Howell Rotarian - Ros Stuber! Ros is back in the club after a brief stint as a member of the Sunrise Club. Welcome back Ros. It would be interesting to hear how the two clubs differ and how they are alike. 

It is also time to sign up to be program chair.  Pick a date and sign up at Monday's meeting.  Otherwise, you will be assigned a date to be the chairman.

Remember that the Balloonfest is coming up.  We need YOU to help park cars.  From all reports, this<

 
Disasters in China and Myanmar: Rotary's response
Rotarians are responding to the recent cyclone in Myanmar and the earthquake in China by providing disaster relief through Aquabox, LifeBox, ShelterBox, and World Water Works. These Rotary club-sponsored organizations are raising funds to provide shelter and clean water to victims of the disasters.
 
ShelterBox was one of the first aid organizations to reach cyclone victims in Myanmar, delivering a shipment of 644 boxes within a few days and another 1,050 within two weeks of the disaster. It has also distributed 800 boxes to China, providing assistance to the hundreds of thousands left homeless after the May earthquake.
 
LifeBox sent 100 LifeBoxes to the Sichuan province of China, each of which included six LifeStraws, a portable water purification tool. They also sent an additional 1,280 LifeStraws to the victims.
 
After negotiation with Myanmar authorities, Aquabox shipped 120 Aqua30s and 180 standard Aquaboxes to the Yangon International Airport for distribution. Each Aqua30 is able to process 33,000 liters of portable water. They are due to arrive in Myanmar in the beginning of June. Additionally, World Water Works is set to ship 300 Water-Survival Boxes to Myanmar as soon as possible.
 
Rotary clubs in China are requesting international assistance for the provinces affected by the devastating earthquake. The clubs are suggesting that aid be sent via the Chinese Red Cross or ShelterBox. Learn more at www.rotarychina.org and www.rotaryshanghai.org.
 
The newly formed Disaster Relief Rotarian Action Group is helping Rotary clubs to coordinate disaster relief efforts. Once fully operational, the group will provide a worldwide structure for Rotarians to effectively participate in disaster response and recovery that will be both timely and long-term. Currently, the group is collaborating with ShelterBox in order to distribute boxes in Myanmar. Find updates on the Disaster Relief Rotarian Action Group and RI Web sites.