Playa Coronadoo 07 2020 (Jul 01, 2020)

Greetings fellow Rotarians and friends - Playa Coronado's July Jamboree #11

I'm back !!!!!!

Welcome to another year of Rotary with me Mike Peers at the helm of our 'Funny Club'. "He's unique" is how I was described by our Past District Governor Ivonne Castillo. Our incoming District Governor Amilcar Cerrud has yet to pronounce judgement, but he has known me for a few years and says I should dress properly.

Last month (June) saw many activities that started under our Past President Rogelio completed or brought to a conclusion, some are detailed in later pages. I wish to thank Rogelio and his entire Board of Directors for supporting our club and Rotary in Panama where, last year, we celebrated 100 Years and held the Zone Institute, a training session for leaders in Zone 25A. Zone 25A comprises Rotary from 11 countries of which we in District 4240 have 4 countries. May I also recognize and give special thanks to all the Terán family for their assistance during the last 2 years. They have worked very hard too, usually behind the scenes.

As you are aware the world as we knew it is changing. I will not speculate on whether this is likely to be good or bad as there are too many factors to consider, but as a direct consequence we have lost, but not forgotten 4 members, Rob Brown, Elizabeth Davids, Isabel Derock and Art Letts. Together they have 59 years as Rotarians, with a tremendous expertise and knowledge. If conditions allow we will welcome them back with open arms.

The year ahead has many challenges. When in December last year I accepted the nomination to become President again, I thought easy, dust off the cobwebs, update the slides and do it all again. How quickly things change. Now we Zoom pretty much everything and everywhere (and not a Segway in sight, although they will soon be extinct). We must consider the safety risk in meeting and meetings, and working closely together on projects. As our Club has many seniors this is especially meaningful for us. The good news is that we have many young volunteers some in Rotaract (young people, 18 years upwards) and some freelance volunteers to call upon when we need help.

Until we can physically meet together the members have requested that we meet twice per month for regular club meetings, 1st Tuesday (Open Club) and 3rd Tuesday (Guest Speaker) and once per month for a board meeting, 2nd Tuesday. Meetings to start at 4pm, 1 hour maximum, via Zoom

As with most Rotary Clubs around the world, we have had to cancel our major fundraisers. We shall be seeking ways to raise funds in new ways and maybe leaning a little more heavily on those in our community as business may not be able to support us as they have in the past. If you can help, please contact us.

This year we shall continue working on and supporting projects, the emphasis will be on our local community rather than overseas. If you can help us OR if you know an area that needs our support, PLEASE CONTACT US.

Yours in Rotary

Mike

President

Donald Savino

Treasurer

Keith Dick

Secretary

Elizabeth Savino

Rotary Foundation

Dorothy Payne

Public Relations

'Roger' Terán E.

Service Projects

Mike Peers

Vice President

Elizabeth Savino

Sergeant-at-Arms

Tracy Steedman

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World Polio Report July 2020

Posted on Jul 03, 2020

WORLD POLIO REPORT

Exciting news from Nigeria, Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari said, “Milestone moment & awesome news for #Nigeria, today June 18, 2020: Attained Polio-Free status, for the first time in our history. Official announcement will come next month, at a planned Health Ministers’ meeting! “.

Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only 2 countries in the world with Polio, the latest figures are given below :-

Afghanistan 2020: 26 Cases this year to July 1.

Annual Reported Cases 2019: 29 2018: 21 2017: 14 2016: 13

Pakistan 2020: 55 Cases this year to July 1.

Annual Reported Cases 2019: 147 2018: 12 2017: 08 2016: 20

World Polio Day 24^th October 2020

Día Mundial de la Lucha contra la Polio 24 de Octubre 2020

Please give generously to help us eradicate this disease from our planet. Dulce Kellam (our Foundation Chair) can ensure your donation goes to exactly where is needed. Please check out the following links if you need more information.

https ://www.endpolio.org/ http://outbreaknewstoday.com/

Rotary Foundation 2020 -21

Last year 2019-20 our club achieved the following :-

1. All of our members donated something to the Rotary Foundation.

2. Under the scheme "Every Rotarian Every Year" (EREY where one must donate a minumum $25 per year) we continued our 100% donation tradition.

3. Our contributuons to the Rotary Annual Fund, ALLSHARE were second only to the Panama Club (96 members unlike our 20). We raised $6,740.00. Rotary International uses this money for 3 years and then returns half the money to us in 3 years.

4. Our contributions to PolioPlus were also second highest in the District, San Pedro-Curridabat, San José pipped us at the post. We raised $2,065.00

Overall a very creditable second place in the District for the Rotary Club of Playa Coronado.

It is customary for the District Governor to set a few goals for Rotary Foundation giving and this year is no exception. He asks we raise $150 per member. President Mike also sets a few challenges for this comng year too.

1. To be first in the District for giving to both the ALLSHARE and PolioPlus funds. Please can all members consider donating and talk to Dulce if you need help.

2. Goal: $150 donation by every club member to the Rotary Foundation.

3. Goal: $8,000 to ALLSHARE

4. Goal: $2,000.00 to PolioPlus

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!

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.

Rotary Foundation Awards

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.

Rotaract Coclé Chartered

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?

Young Generations Day at the Beach on Friday 23rd March 2018

Elly Davids (Young Generations Chair) and Joel Davids hosted a day at the beach for all our Scholarship students on Friday 23rd March 2018.

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.

San Carlos School Covered Walkway

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.

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