“After a year of incredible dependence on our medical institutions, have you ever noticed some weird symbols on the American Medical Association and the World Health Organization? I had never really paid attention, but recently I noticed the snake wrapped around a pole (the caduceus) and I thought, That’s pretty weird. There lots of historical connections to this, but the symbols of healing resonate for me, especially from the Bible.

 

I don’t know if you remember the story in the Old Testament, Numbers 21. People had been dying en masse from snakebites. And so Moses held up a staff that had a bronze serpent on it and if the people looked at it, they actually were healed.

 

And then in the New Testament in John 3, Jesus, knowing that his crucifixion was coming, and of course we’ve just gone through Holy Week and Easter yesterday, says in the message, ‘No one has ever gone up into the presence of God, except for the one who came down from that presence, the Son of Man. In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and to believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up, and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life.’

 

My prayer this Easter season is that you will find healing from the ravishes of the pandemic that we are going through and renewal in the deepest part of who you are because you are so very loved. Amen.” 

 

Barb Wachtman shared that her church, Trinity English Lutheran, had its Easter service at Parkview Field. Many in attendance had kudos and said “the  Parkview staff was absolutely the best staff they have ever worked with.” They also blessed Holly Raney, special event manager. President Jeff said, “And it’s fun when the service is held at Parkview Field because the Communion is actually brats.” (No lightning was heard or seen on camera.) He gave a high five for the Go Baby Go project.

 

 

 President Jeff said the social media committee started the Rotary Proud campaign as a way to inform the public about what Rotary is doing in the community. If you haven’t shared a statement, please do so or email Barb or Jeff and say why you are proud of being in Rotary.

 

Two that he shared:

Barb Wachtman: “The Rotary Club of Fort Wayne is vibrant, from our diverse projects to our compelling weekly programs and then when I realized that my Rotary contribution stretched around the world to literally help millions, it makes me grateful and proud that I am a Rotarian.”

 

Sharon Pohly: “Of the tremendous ripple effect that our Rotary Youth Exchange program has, one student travels, two families are deeply touched, a whole high school and members of two Rotary clubs in different countries all become changed through the experience of that one student.”

 

Keep reading further in this week's Spin for more information for how you can make your Rotary Proud statement and video.

 

 

 

 The past district governor of District 3150 in India sent the club best wishes on our 106^th anniversary April 1. 

April 3 Go Baby Go Get Your Keys event day: Vroom vroom! 

 

Lynne Gilmore reported on Rotarians from the Fort Wayne club as well as Summit City South, Columbia City and Ossian, physical and occupational therapists, and friends and families being on hand Saturday, April 3rd as five children received a Go Baby Go vehicle and baby driver’s licenses at the Fort Wayne Go Baby Go Chapter at Turnstone. 

 

Due to the generosity of donors, especially Nick and Priya Shah, a second event has been added to this year's calendar, meaning five more children will receive a Go Baby Go vehicle over the summer. 

 

These vehicles are adapted so children with different mobility abilities can operate them. For instance, Lynne attended the build day at Huntington University where the Jeep for Landon, who has spina bifida, was adapted with an extra disc on the foot pedal so he could reach it. Rose Marie, who has a form of dwarfism, is tiny “but, boy, does she rock that car; she’s bigger than life,” Gilmore said of the yellow sports car.

 

Audrey Bruce, a doctoral student at Huntington University, seen in the photo with Landon’s Jeep, is the reason behind the program coming to the community. Ruth Ford, director of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at Huntington, is a past Rotary Club of Fort Wayne member and will be returning to the club July 1 after she retires at the end of the school year, Lynne said. She said a student is already working on the project for the next five vehicles.

 

Lynne also talked about Rotary adopting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and was excited to see a Sunday newspaper article on Carroll’s unified sports program, which combines teams of students with and without disabilities, with the Go Baby Go article underneath. “Fort Wayne gets a lot of great news about what inclusion looks like in our community and that’s a really proud thing to be.”