Rotary Foundation News

 

Our club continues to support the Rotary Foundation, and continuing on from the challenges set by Past President Mark Kendziorek (2014-2015) that year, we have achieved the following due to the efforts of this year's Foundation Chair Phil Birn. 

Goals are set by President Mike or Rotary International.  A reminder, there are 40 clubs in our district spread across 4 countries.  Today we have 19 members and within Panama, the Panama City Club has around 108 members, many of whom we suspect have slightly larger disposable incomes than us.

 

1.  Goal: $2,000.00 to PolioPlus (to eradicate Polio in the world, 6 cases in the world 2018 so far, all in Afghanistan).

           Achieved $2,305.00 (We are the largest donor club in the district). 

 

2.  Goal: $100 donated by every club member to the Rotary Foundation. 

           Achieved - this gains us an award for Every Rotarian Every Year.

 

3.  Goal: Increase club giving by 10% over last year. 

           Achieved.  We received an award last year thanks to Art Letts, Foundation Chair, for being 3rd in District. This year better?

 

4.  Goal:  To be first in the District for total giving

           We are currently second in the district. (less than $1,000 behind the Panama Club).

 

There are other goals I could mention, but the important thing for us now is that we given to the Foundation to the ALL FUNDS Share (AF-Share) programme.  With AF-Share, we, the Rotary Club of Playa Coronado, gets almost 50% back of the donations made this year, in 3 years time.  In the interim Rotary International uses the money across different programmes.  Its a win-win for us.

 

A Paul Harris Award is made to those who have donated $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation.  A +1 etc means another +$1,000.  You don't have to be a club member to donate.  Check out "The Rotary Foundation" on Wikipedia.com and on Forbes.com if you want to know a little more about how good and transparent the foundation is.  Our club includes many Paul Harris Fellows both members and non-members (anyone can donate). If you see a specific area where you wish to support, just contact Phil Birn (or me).  The main areas that the Foundation supports are Promoting Peace, Providing Clean Water, Saving Mothers and Children, Supporting Education, Growing Local Economies and Fighting Disease.  All relevant to Panama!

 

This month I would like to recognize the following 3 members who have recently given very generously to the Foundation (and whose awards really did get lost in the mail):-

    Erika Kugler   PHF +4

    Keith Dick       PHF +2

    Kit Filbey         PHF +1 

 

We can do more, so please support us, our fundraiser and we will do everything we can to make your giving painless (at least that is what Phil says) and we will endeavor to use your donations in the most efficient way we can.

 

Our new Rotaract Club, Rotaract Coclé received their Charter at Penonomé University on Friday 16th March 2018. 

 

Rotaract is a Self Managing Service Organization (Leadership Training) for 18 to 30 year olds, which comes under the auspices of Rotary and is part of our family.  They usually organize their own events, doing good in the community, and are renowned for their parties.

 

The meeting, held as an extraordinary meeting of the Rotary Club of Playa Coronado was chaired by President Mike (ex-Rotaractor) with 8 Rotarians and approximately 40 people present including the Director of the University, Doctora Betty Gomez, members of the faculty, staff of the Nursery and of course Rotaractors.

 

The Charter was presented to Ashley Torres, President and each member pinned in turn.

 

We then presented a plaque for the wall of the University,  which stated in Spanish, appreciation of the collaboration of the University and the Rotary Club of Playa Coronado for the construction of a new Health Teaching Center and improvements to the Children's Nursery. (Conversion of one toilet and high washbasin in two toilets and a low sink unit suitable for at least 3 children to use together.  The nursery serves around 30 children of both staff and students.

 

Rotaract President Ashley holding the Charter, Dra Bett.y Gomez in pink dress, Rotarians and Rotaractors.  Can you tell the difference?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever tried herding cats?

 

Elly Davids our Young Generations Chair knows what it is like since she tried to get all our Scholarship students together in one place at one time.

 

She and her husband Joel managed to get most, but not all, together on Friday 23rd March 2018 and we have proof in the photograph below. 

Note that Elly, Joel and Mike are included are in the picture too, slightly older looking than the current students, can you spot them? 

 

The picture was taken in the rain at the poolside and from there we went to the beach, had lunch and a walk on the sand, for those young and daring enough.

 

We wish the student all the best for their future studies and hope that maybe a few will return and tell us of their experiences at university.

 

The Rotary Club of Playa Coronado donates $2,000 to the San Carlos School for the purchase of materials to be used for the building of a $12,000 covered walkway, to shelter students from the sun and rain as they make their way from school buses to the school. 

 

 

The check was presented to the Head of the School, Profesora Rosario Corrales (in blue) by Elly Davids, Young Generations, on Tuesday 3rd April 2018, in the presence of Dulce Kellam and Mike Peers.