Observer for March 12, 2013

VISITING ROTARIANS AND GUESTS

Visiting Rotarians:

Sheri Maier the current Foundation/International Director for the Sausalito club

Drew McIntyre, past president of Novato Sunrise, and our Assistant Governor

Angelo Capozzi, MD from the San Francisco club and a plastic surgeon

Jack Wilkinson from Mission San Rafael, specializing in real estate

Guest of members:

Molly Tackabery accompanied Craig for the Rotaplast presentation.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CLUB

Tony read the list of upcoming Rotary events:

District Assembly, March 16^th , at Redwood High School.  This is a fun and educational event and a must for new members.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowling on March 23^rd, sponsored by the Mill Valley Rotary Club this fun filled event is a major fundraiser for the local Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Marin Evening’s Surf & Turf will be held on April 13^th. This is the perfect event to spend a little money before the government takes the rest on April 15^th.

The GSE Team going to Finland will be leaving this Sunday at 6pm from SFO. Please try to go down and wish them a successful mission.

GSE Team from Finland (the country next to Sweden) will be visiting our district from April 20^th to May 18^th, and they will be speaking at our club on April 30^th.

If you have any questions on GSE please contact Christine Goodin.

John Zeiter updated the club on his travels to the Dominican Republic with approximately 14 kids from the Terra Linda High School Interact Club. Strange he never told us how many kids made it back… However, the kids had a great time learning how people live there and are now planning on fund raising to go back and help re-build some of the homes there.

MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS

John Zeiter celebrated his 48^th birthday on Saturday, and reminded the club how young he was compared to some of the old farts around him.

 RAFFLE/MARBLE

Wally Chipman was the luck winner of two magnificent Terra Linda Rotary Pins.  These collectors’ items are available for the bargain price of $5 each.

Ed O’Neill’s ticket was draw for the marble pull unfortunately he drew the green marble.

PROGRAM SUMMARY

We were honored to have the Co-Founder of Rotaplast, Angelo Capozzi, talk to us about how it came to be the success it is today.  Starting as a one-time trip but after changing the lives of all those original volunteers, they grouped together to keep the dream alive.

In 1971 Angelo joined the 600 members of the San Francisco Rotary Club. He later met fellow member Peter Lagarias. In early 1990 Peter Lagarias was asked by his wife if there was any way the San Francisco club could sponsor an international project in Chile. She had spent many vacations there and had developed close relations with many of the people living there. They started their project by gathering educational materials and medical supplies and shipping them to Chile.  Through the connections they had developed, they were able to break through much of the red tape and get their items delivered to the people in need. Later Angelo worked with Peter to get the club to donate $5,000 for an Interplast trip.  After returning from the trip Angelo gave the club a presentation on the success of the mission.  Peter was so impressed with everything that was accomplished on the trip that he asked Angelo if the San Francisco club could sponsor a trip, and that was the start of Rotaplast. Their first trip was to the coastal city of Las Herana in Chile.  This was the first “hands on” trip the Rotary Club of San Francisco had done and Peter did not know what to expect.  When they arrived there were 350 people waiting. They completed 132 procedures on that first trip.  Because of the enthusiasm of the participants the club continued and expanded the trips to other countries.  The program became so large that in 1996 they became an independent charitable entity. The program continues to grow, ever expanding the number of locations they are traveling to help out the needy.  It is important to know cleft lip is caused by genetic and environmental components.  When they travel the Rotaplast doctors try to train local surgeons how to perform the procedures, however, most hospitals do not allow the surgeries to be performed unless the patient can pay. In 20 years Rotaplast has had 181 missions and completed 15,506 operations.  Our club continues to be a strong supporter and we applaud those founders for following their dream. Thank you, you truly change lives.

NEXT WEEK’S SPEAKER

Next week’s the program will be presented by our very own Sandy Magid, who will talk about the recent tax changes.

Written by Tom Martz, standing in for Dick Kuhn.