09/01/2020 Virtual Meeting:
Our Rotarian of the Day was Laurie Harrison who introduced our speaker.
Lyne Abanilla, COO of Physicians for Peace joined us virtually from the Philippines. She worked for years for the Manila Bulletin. Then she joined Physicians for Peace, partnered with UNICEF. She has been a Rotarian since 1994 serving as president of her club and District Governor. She actually discovered Physicians for Peace because she was a Rotary member.
Lyne Abanilla posed the question for us IS ROTARY RELEVANT DURING COVID 19? Her answer was a rousing yes, perhaps even more relevant than ever.
Covid 19 has not just caused terrible physical health problems. It has also brought much mental and emotional distress to people in the Philippines, including many children. Rotary’s mission to support communities in need has become very crucial in the fight against Covid 19.
There have been three main areas where Rotary and Physicians for Peace have helped.
1. Encouraging each individual to take action. This has been crucial.
2. Rotary has supported government action by spreading information to people and helping to furnish sufficient supplies, include PPE to health workers.
3. Sending messages of hope to those suffering.
Among other activities, Rotary and Physicians for Peace in the Philippines have created a mobile clinic to serve the sick; purchased and distributed PPE to health care workers; distributed food to the needy; distributed rice to many of the poor; provided food to Filipino workers stranded at Manila Airport.
Physicians for Peace is headquartered in Norfolk. The Philippine chapter is closely tied to UNICEF and works especially to help children with disabilities. Three locations on different islands are maintained to help children. It is still very much working with Rotary to eradicate Polio. For many years the country was polio free but because of parent fears about other vaccines, the disease has reappeared. The fight is not over.
Rotary has done so much to help Physicians for Peace in the Philippines that the slogan of the founder of Physicians for Peace would be appropriate for Rotary as well: Each One, Heal Many.
A book was donated in honor of Lyne Abanilla to Campostella Elementary School.
The Meeting:
- Eleanor Schoonover led us in a rousing rendition of It’s a Grand Old Flag.
- Barry Kesser gave the invocation by reading a psalm.
- Joe Massey gave the visitation report. No one has been sick or needs visiting.
- We had three guests: Gary Gardner, Pat McCollum and Danielle Carpenter.
- Gus Stuhlreyer was recognized for becoming a Paul Harris Fellow plus 4.
Club Business:
Time to register for the District Conference to be held at the Oceanfront Marriott in Virginia Beach 6-8 November. If you sign up soon, our club will pay your registration fee for you. In case you don’t want to attend in person, there will be a remote option.
Service projects in August, Food Bank and Keep Norfolk Beautiful, were both very successful. In case you missed and want to participate we will be repeating both of them in September.
Happy Bucks/Fines:
- Joe Massey was happy because he has a new granddaughter, Alice Ashley Marks born 26 August.
- Laurie Harrison was happy because of our wonderful speaker today.
- Past President Lorna gave happy bucks to celebrate the great work done for the city by Mike Goldsmith.
- Bob Batcher owned up to celebrating his 62nd birthday and his 42nd wedding anniversary on the same day this month. And next week classes will slowly resume at the Senior Center.
- Barb Lipskis had money for her fundraiser on 12 September. Come out and run up and down the bleachers at the ball park. Contact Barb for details.
- Only one fine: Mel Branch was featured in the Virginian Pilot discussing caterpillars and butterflies.
