Ed Fink, Director of the Orphan Train Project presented Glen Koepp Scholar Plaques to Mariela Savkova, Bulgaria, and Joanna Jones, South Africa.
L to R: Joanna Jones, Tony Burns, Club President, and Mariela Sovkova
Joanna Jones from South Africa and Mariela Savkova from Bulgaria spoke to us about the situation of orphans in their countries. Both had come to the US under the auspices of the Orphan Train program for training at the renowned Mooseheart Child City & School an hour west of Chicago.
Joanna works at TLC (The Love of Christ Children's Home) south of Johannesburg. The orphan situation in SA is dire ... 3,000 children abandoned each month. The country is under great financial stress, with 33% unemployment. For the last 24 years, TLC has worked at improving the lot of some of these children, SA doesn't utilize foster care in placing orphans; TLC has placed 890 babies in loving families over the last 24 years. Our Club and the Orphan Train program has supported TLC's difficult and sometimes dangerous work for many years.
Mariela Savkova has served as the Orphan Train liaison for Bulgaria for over two decades. She's currently engaged in managing European Union funds targeted toward deinstitutionalizing Bulgaria's orphanage system. When she first became involved with the system ... when the Iron Curtain fell in 1989-90 ... it was a disaster. The 190 orphanages held 14,000 children, and they were underfunded and officially neglected, By February, most orphanages were closed, replaced by small family centers with a dozen kids in far better conditions.
The work of Joanna and Mariela is something our Club (led by the indefatigable Ed Fink) can be very proud of supporting for more than twenty years.
Join us in helping the River Food Pantry provide a traditional Thanksgiving feast to those who otherwise could not afford to enjoy one. Last year alone the event provided over 1,000 Thanksgiving meals to Dane County families who are struggling to make ends meet. The River Food Pantry needs assistance setting up, serving food, washing dishes, clearing plates, and facilitating this high volume event. We only have space for 12 volunteers, so it will be first to respond, first on the list. Anyone who responds after the list is full will be included as alternates just in case we have volunteers who end up unable to attend. For questions please contact me directly at patrick.rees@usbank.com.
We hope you can make it!
Cheers, MWT-M 12X12 Program and The River Food Pantry
Posted by Derek Schneider, Oregon Rotary Club on Oct 26, 2017
Rotary Leaders! A wonderful event that I have attended for years! See attachment. Bridget Krueger, President, and her Club do a wonderful job in putting this event on each year. Hope to see many of you there. Zing her a note to make arrangements to get tickets!
One of our service projects for this Rotary year is a winter clothing drive for Jefferson Middle School. Since the weather has turned cold, it is time to hunt through your home or go to the store and purchase hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves suitable for middle school boys and girls.
Sizes:
Ladies sizes small, medium and large
Men's sizes small, medium, large and extra large
Please bring your items to the rotary meetings over the next few weeks.
Since we are looking for a Youth Exchange Officer (YEO) for our club (did you know we were looking for one?) I thought it might stir up some conversation if anyone is interested to go to a training session in February.
The date has been set for the face-to-face youth exchange volunteer training. This training is required for Youth Exchange Officers and Youth Exchange Counselors. We also welcome other club members who are interested in working with Rotary Youth Exchange students including our Youth Protection Officers. Please mark your calendars, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Saturday, February 17, 2018, at the CLARION HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER, 626 W Pine Street, Baraboo, WI, 53913.
All aspects of youth exchange rules and regulations will be covered, however; we welcome your input on those topics that you would like to see covered during the training. Please feel free to e-mail me, Brenda Weiss bkweiss61@gmail.com, with suggested topics.
Registration information will be made available closer to the training date.
A generous McAdow’s Miles for Rotary Team supporter has presented us with a Pledge Challenge. For each pledge made by a person who is not a member or a relative of a member of the Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton, an anonymous sponsor will donate $25, up to a total of $1,000.
Your tax-deductible Pledge will help fund our Rotary Club's ongoing activities both in our local communities and internationally.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Paul Patenaude at 608-609-8034 or email at ppaten98@sbcglobal.net
As bingo has become a go-to game for many seniors, researchers have also discovered that playing this game can have health benefits for the elderly. It can be an excellent way for them to promote their mental, emotional, and physical health.
Our own John Gerold (Bingo Czar) leads a group of volunteers to run bingo games at Oakwood Village – University Woods at 6 – 7:30 pm the third Thursday every month from October through May.
Sign up on the pass around sheet during Friday meetings.
John will send a reminder and logistical information to each volunteer ahead of each session. This activity also qualifies for a meeting make-up, if one is needed.
Our District 6250 believes that a strong leadership succession plan helps keep our Clubs strong and vibrant and we encourage all Clubs to have succession plans.
It is now time to work on the selection process for the 2020-2021 Rotary year District Governor year. The nominated person must have been a Club President and be in good standing with the Club.
Please give serious thought to the Rotarians in your Club who you believe have the qualifications to lead our District and notify Nominating Committee Chair Mary Van Hout at maryevanhout@gmail.com or 608 836 1603 before the end of September. The committee can provide all details of the position and answer questions that may arise. Working together, we can build a better District and stronger Clubs today and in the years to come!!
Please let me know of any events or special situations in our fellow Rotarians' lives where a card, flowers, or a plant would be appropriate for their situation.
If you are volunteering with youth (one-on-one)? Mentoring, Youth Exchange, RYLA, Academic Decathlon, High School Business Plans, Etc... You must have an annual background check completed. This only applies if you are working with youth one-on-one. If you are in a group more than 2 people, you don't need a background check.
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