Wheelchair Program Update
Posted by Peter DeNooy
on May 08, 2011
Last week I sent an e-mail to all Presidents Elect in our District and to several others involved with our program. DG Purwa from Indonesia has forwarded this message to all the clubs in his district and at this time 15 people have committed to coming to the informal get-together in New Orleans.
Next week I will update you on the status of the other wheelchair project: local distribution.
Dear President Elect,
With the consent and support of DG Jackie Hobal and DGE Harry Buddle I am sending this e-mail to all those that are currently President Elect for their Rotary Club in District 5370.
The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona has been involved with the distribution of wheelchairs to those that can not afford them since my year as President (2007 - 2008).
With the help of other Rotary Clubs in our district, and by working together with clubs in District 5790 (Dallas/Ft/ Worth area) we have utilized funds and matching grants and other donations to raise a total of $ 220,000 which has resulted in the distribution of some 2000 wheelchairs in Mexico and Panama.
The impact of the use of one wheelchair by a disabled person is estimated to affect the lives of 9 other individuals, which means that 2000 wheelchairs most likely changed and hopefully improved the lives of some 20,000 individuals. (Check out some reports on our club website: Wheelchair Pages)
Our club is committed to continue with this very worthwhile program and likes to see it grow by having more clubs in our district participate. Clubs and Districts working together and combining funds for international projects will enable us to look for grants that will make this program grow much larger and even more successful.
Our next wheelchair project will take place in Indonesia: the Rotary Club of Yogyakarta Tamansari will coordinate with several other clubs in District 3400.
For those that will be in New Orleans, I have planned a get-together for Sunday evening. Several Rotarians from Canada (DGE Harry Buddle), Indonesia (DG Al Purwa) and Texas (PDG Dan Morales, PDG Paul Geisel) will be attending, as well as fellow Rotarian Christiana Flessner, Executive Director of the Wheelchair Foundation Canada (website: http://www.cdnwheelchair.ca).
If you or somebody else from your club would like to join us, while in New Orlenas, please contact me and I can make enough reservations for all to attend.
Here is the plan:
6:00 - 7:30 Cocktails at Clock Bar, Chateau Bourbon, 800 Iberville Street
7:30 - ???? Dinner at Bourbon House, 144 Bourbon Street
During the RI Convention you can stop by at the Wheelchair Foundation Canada booth in the House of Friendship for more information about the program. I will also be available for information during the District Conference in Athabasca in June.
I will gladly come to your club and make a presentation about what we have done sofar and where we see this program going.
Please consider making wheelchair distribution a part of your International Services Portfolio, and I look forward to hearing from you or one of your Directors in the very near future.
Regards,
Peter
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives nor the most intelligent, but the one that is most responsive to change" Charles Darwin
Peter Denooy, DVM
Past President
Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona
Ph.: 780-984-1251
E-mail: pdenooy@eidap.com
With the help of other Rotary Clubs in our district, and by working together with clubs in District 5790 (Dallas/Ft/ Worth area) we have utilized funds and matching grants and other donations to raise a total of $ 220,000 which has resulted in the distribution of some 2000 wheelchairs in Mexico and Panama.
The impact of the use of one wheelchair by a disabled person is estimated to affect the lives of 9 other individuals, which means that 2000 wheelchairs most likely changed and hopefully improved the lives of some 20,000 individuals. (Check out some reports on our club website: Wheelchair Pages)
Our club is committed to continue with this very worthwhile program and likes to see it grow by having more clubs in our district participate. Clubs and Districts working together and combining funds for international projects will enable us to look for grants that will make this program grow much larger and even more successful.
Our next wheelchair project will take place in Indonesia: the Rotary Club of Yogyakarta Tamansari will coordinate with several other clubs in District 3400.
For those that will be in New Orleans, I have planned a get-together for Sunday evening. Several Rotarians from Canada (DGE Harry Buddle), Indonesia (DG Al Purwa) and Texas (PDG Dan Morales, PDG Paul Geisel) will be attending, as well as fellow Rotarian Christiana Flessner, Executive Director of the Wheelchair Foundation Canada (website: http://www.cdnwheelchair.ca).
If you or somebody else from your club would like to join us, while in New Orlenas, please contact me and I can make enough reservations for all to attend.
Here is the plan:
6:00 - 7:30 Cocktails at Clock Bar, Chateau Bourbon, 800 Iberville Street
7:30 - ???? Dinner at Bourbon House, 144 Bourbon Street
During the RI Convention you can stop by at the Wheelchair Foundation Canada booth in the House of Friendship for more information about the program. I will also be available for information during the District Conference in Athabasca in June.
I will gladly come to your club and make a presentation about what we have done sofar and where we see this program going.
Please consider making wheelchair distribution a part of your International Services Portfolio, and I look forward to hearing from you or one of your Directors in the very near future.
Regards,
Peter
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives nor the most intelligent, but the one that is most responsive to change" Charles Darwin
Peter Denooy, DVM
Past President
Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona
Ph.: 780-984-1251
E-mail: pdenooy@eidap.com