Click
the image to See a larger version of the
new design.
The New Partner in Service
Program was born out of a past Rotaplast
Program called "Sustaining Partners." Among other changes,
donations made towards obtaining Partner Club status WILL count
towards district fundraising.
Clubs who already have a banner may continue to use them. Clubs that wish
to participate must purchase their banner directly. The banners will cost
$152 plus $2 for each letter of the club name. In its first year of
participation, a Club may deduct the cost of the banner from the $500
required to be a Partner in Service and donate the remainder.
Considering that many of you have been waiting for this program's debut
and have encouraged your clubs to make a $500 or more donation,
we would like to recognize and honor the generosity of your clubs. For
that reason we will provide eligible participating clubs with buttons for
the 2006-07 year as well as the 2007-08 year.
To be certain that your club receives complete details and order forms
contact Jennifer@rotaplast.org to confirm your
Club's mailing address and the name of the current Club President.
Office
Volunteers Needed
The office is working towards digitizing past Medical
Records, but it is a time consuming process. The Warehouse would like to
start sending out CDs with digitized copies of medical records from past
missions in place of the bulky and cumbersome 3-ring binders that
currently accompany all Missions. We would love to find a volunteer or
two who would be interested in joining us in the office, during normal
business hours, to sort and scan medical records. If you are interested
please contact Jennifer@rotaplast.org.
Going on a Mission in the Next
Year? What You NEED
to Know about Team Packets.
Mission Team Packets are now being sent through e-mail. If
you are scheduled to go on a mission, please check your e-mail regularly
as the mission dates approach. We want these e-mails to be as user-
friendly as possible. Please send any questions, comments or suggestions
to Eliza@rotaplast.org.
Sponsoring a Mission in the Next
Year? What you NEED
to Know About Deadlines.
Ambassadors, Please keep in mind that we must have
volunteer names and commitments in to the office three months
ahead of mission departure. As we are unable to accept late entries, we
advise you to collect names early. If you need materials or other
assistance meeting this goal, contact Jennifer@rotaplast.org.
Going on a Mission in the Next
Year? What you NEED
to Know about Passports!
Recently Passports have been taking up to three months to
process. If you plan to apply for a volunteer position, you must apply
for your passport as far in advance as possible. A US
passport is good for ten years. Even if you are not chosen for a
mission this year, you will have plenty of opportunity to take full
advantage of your license to become a world traveler! For those of you who have older passports, be advised that
passports must be valid for six months after your date of return.
Dear Friends,
This is my Executive Director formal farewell as I sail into retirement
and join the ranks of volunteers like yourselves.
I want to thank the many board members, staff and volunteers, who have
shown such dedication and support during my management of the
organization. It is now time for me to retire to Lake
Tahoe and spend more quality time with family and friends.
The past two years have been rewarding as we went through a period of
great change. I leave with the knowledge that we have reached many of
our goals and can move forward with new leadership in a smooth
transition and with new energy.
For the past three months the Board and Transition committee have
searched nationwide for the right candidate to lead Rotaplast.
I am pleased and proud that we found such a person in Ms. Carrie LaBriola. One of the first women in her Columbus
Ohio Rotary Club, Carrie has a long and distinguished career leading
non-profit volunteer organizations. Her experience with the United Way
and most recently as Executive Director of Community Boards shows
proven experience and abilities to lead Rotaplast
to the next stage in our growth.
Our transition will be managed to make your lives easier. I expect to
continue working directly with Clubs and Ambassadors to manage the
calendar and sponsorships until Carrie is fully on board. Given the knowledge
that our staff is committed as well, she will have a great start.
Please join me in welcoming her September 1, 2007 with your emails and
calls. She will be available at extension 6 or at Carrie@rotaplast.org.
You will be able to reach me as usual at Julene@rotaplast.org.
Finally, I will miss you all and always hold dear the gift you gave me
by allowing me to serve Rotaplast. May the rest
of your summer be joyful!
Most humbly, Julene Hunter
Mission Update: Cumaná, Venezuela
Mission 243
In late June, Mr. Ted Durant -
Mission Director and Dr. Hugh Vu - Medical Director returned to lead Rotaplast's eighth mission in Cumaná.
Under their direction, thanks to the generous sponsorship of The Rotary Club of Redding in
District 5160 and the hard work of Redding's Rotaplast
Ambassador -- Darrel Schiable, the
non-medical and medical volunteers kept three operating rooms busy as
they operated on 107 grateful patients performing a total of 128
procedures. Among these patients was Rotaplast's
landmark 10,000th patient served!
We are very thankful for the support of local Rotary Club Cumanagoto which is
presided over by José Gregorio Palomo . We
also extend many thanks to the Hospital Universitario
"Antonio Patricio Alcalá," our HostHospital in Cumaná.
Our biggest thanks to Mr. Roberto Saettone,
President of RotaplastVenezuela,
who provided complete logistical support while mission planning was
underway, and hosted the team while in Cumaná.
Gifts for the Friend Who Has it All
We would like to provide you
with the opportunity to shop for Birthdays, Anniversaries and Holidays
while also helping to change the lives of children around the world.
When you shop online through rotaplast.freepledge.com you can
have your pick of a wide variety of merchants (such as Amazon, Macy's, Orbitz, and Office Depot) and know that a
percentage of your spending will go to Rotaplast
International. If you already shop online please consider signing up!
Every penny counts. If you have further questions, please contact Jennifer@rotaplast.org. Rotaplast is also happy to offer you the
opportunity to donate in honor of family, friends and colleagues. For
donations of $25 or more we will send a card of acknowledgement to the
person of your choice. You need only tell us to whom and where to send
the card. Remember, this gift is Tax-Deductible! Click the PayPal button below to donate $25 now (Remember to
give us your name and address as well as the name and address of the
person you wish to honor.)
What Does Brandon
Do All Day? The warehouse has been a busy place these last
several months. It has continued to foster partnerships with several
organizations that donate medical supplies -- among them: Traditional
partners Medshare
International; Americares;
MAP International, and recently The Globus
Relief Foundation.
Recently our Warehouse Manager, Brandon Espinosa,
has initiated a volunteer program for pre-med students and other
interested parties -- these volunteers spend two Saturdays a month in
the warehouse keeping everything tidy, counted and organized. If you
would like to join the warehouse volunteers please contact Brandon@rotaplast.org.
Additionally, the Warehouse would like to report that a new design for a Polo Shirt that blends
comfort and a professional look will be available for Missions within
the next several months.
Lastly, the Warehouse, and all of us at Rotaplast,
extend our appreciation to those of you who
have reliably donated medical supplies. Please consult our website for our urgent needs
list and contact Brandon@rotaplast.org if you are interested in
making a donation of medical supplies. One enterprising club
threw a very successful "scavenger hunt" and donated over
$15,000 worth of supplies from our needs list.
Rotaplast in Salt Lake City
We had a great time with all of you at the Rotary
International Convention in Salt
Lake City. Thank you so much for stopping by
our booth! We would like to extend very special thanks to Dan Bronson,
Dr. Angelo and Louse Capozzi, Mike Fish, Paul
Fisher, Rose Marie Joyce, Peter Lagarias, and
Dr. Frank and Carolyn Walchak all of whom
directed time and energy towards work in the Rotaplast
Booth.
Click on the photos to see a larger version and captions
