This is the season when we, as Rotarians, are asked to contribute to the support of the Rotary Foundation.

Our primary speaker today was Don Allen, TRF (The Rotary Foundation) Chair for our club.  Rotarians Bev Lenihan, Its Uenaka and Kathy Nellis joined Don in his presentation.

Don began the program by sharing that our club's goal this year was to raise $51,400 for the Rotary Foundation.  However, Cupertino Rotary President Liz Gallegos thought that $55,000 would be a better goal because in 2010 our club will celebrate its 55^th anniversary.  Don was pleased to announce that as of today we have identified $46,805 and thus we still need to pledge an additional $8,196 in order to reach our goal.

President -Elect Bev Lenihan shared her wonderful experience with the Rotary Foundation of planning an international project and traveling to Cartagena, Mexico to fulfill a need.  Bev framed her discussion on the words; Relationship, Passion, Help from Seasoned Rotarians, Perseverance, Travel and Gratitude.

Bev told us that she became aware of the need for a project in Cartagena through her relationship with a friend who was a missionary there.  It became Bev'spassion and with help from seasoned Rotarians and a lot of perseverance she and other Rotarians were able to travel to Cartagena to deliver on the project.  The project became a personally rewarding experience for her for which she has nothing but gratitude.

Its Uenaka said that in his 50 years as a Rotarian he was his own most difficult Rotary project.  When he became a Rotarian he thought that being a Rotarian meant such things as attending meetings, participating in fundraisers and community projects, and writing checks.  That was until he traveled on a Rotary Foundation trip to Texcoco, Mexico to deliver wheelchairs and he realized that each of us could change the world through projects to help others.

Its shared that he and his traveling companions shared tears of joy at each delivery site as recipients young and old received the gift of mobility; many for the first time in their lives.  "That," he said, "is when I became a Rotarian."

Kathy Nellis reported that she has been on two Rotary Foundation trips.  The first was to Mexico, and the one she shared with us was to Ghana to immunize children against polio.  Kathy shared that in Ghana she was taken aback by the numbers of impoverished adults and children she saw immobile in the streets.  They had long, hard days traveling miles into rural Ghana to provide immunizations.  A significant memory was of Rotarians standing under a Banyan tree where someone had placed an old chair.  As the Rotarians waited, mothers who spoke no English, brought their young children out, sat in the chair, and allowed the Rotarians to administer the polio vaccine.

While in Ghana Kathy's group also delivered dialysis machines to a hospital.

Being in Ghana reminded Kathy of all the blessings we have here.  She was reminded of the saying that John Giovanola shared at every meeting when he was President; "Wherever Rotary is: There is less disease, less hunger, less thirst, less want; there is more hope, more life, and more peace."

In his summary, Don Allen confessed that as a young man he had been the "repossession guy" for a bank.  That work led him to becoming a callused, cold person that led to the destruction of his marriage.  It was his new wife, Sally, who was determined to turn him into a "SNAG" (Sensitive New Age Guy).  He joined Rotary because he was shy and wanted to meet and get to know people.

As a Rotarian Don went to Ghana to vaccinate children against polio and to Texcoco, Mexico to deliver wheelchairs.  In Ghana he helped dedicate the dialysis ward at the hospital where Kathy's group has delivered the dialysis machines.  In Mexico he saw people dragging themselves into the stadium where the wheelchair delivery was taking place.  Some of the people arrived with pieces of old tires tied to their knees so that they could crawl.  He was astounded to see a couple that had just received wheelchairs do a "victory lap" around the stadium.

"Rotary permitted me to change to one who helps others," said Don.  "I've been to the Promised Land and this is it.  Join me in the Promised Land."

Please contribute.