By Jerry Nelson
“Rotary Connects the World” What a marvelous theme! Connections really matter, especially when we are trying to find ways to improve CHILD SAFETY, HEALTH AND EDUCATION. We are half way through Rotary Year 2019 – 2020 so I would like to take a moment and review a few connections that resulted from our reaching out. Before I even start there are three things I need to say:
1. When I first came to Rotary, my dear friend Charter Member Laurence O’Keeffe told me “A Rotarian will do just about anything (good) that you want, if you ask". So, I ask you: Please think about connections for CMIRC that you may be able to develop or improve.
2. Throughout this article I will make more requests. They are things you may be able to do; they won’t cost much (if any) money and they will make a difference in the lives of the children we serve.
3. Much credit for successful connections goes to Rotarian Nancy Lindley; especially for her excellent work on our bulletin!
We have a great connection with Nel de Betue and her team in Melbourne. The ladies make the Trekker Teddies knitted toys that we have so successfully given to needy children in Northern Thailand and Myanmar. One of the challenges is transporting the Trekker Teddies to Northern Thailand. Here is the ask: If you are flying from Australia to Thailand please consider bringing a suitcase full of trekkers for us to distribute.
One amazing connection we have is with the Rotary Club of Aireborough (U.K.) and the Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin. Roger and Carol Ward are members of the RC of Aireborough and spend their winters with the RC of Royal Hua Hin. Recently Carol contacted Nel de Blue and received the pattern for knitting the Trekker Teddies. She had already set up a “Knit and Natter” and they were making things for children. We met in Chiang Mai on Sunday morning and by noon the first of their dolls had been delivered to the Burma Children Medical Fund's B. K. Kee Patient House in Chiang Mai.
Now Carol and Roger are introducing me to a NGO that supports Hilltribe children in Southern Thailand. Will that be a connection I can use in my role as Thailand Coordinator for the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery? I ask that every reader of this article check out the RAGAS website. I’m new at this, but can assure you that RAGAS may well be a great reason to join Rotary or remain in Rotary. More on Thailand and our Rotary efforts to combat slavery in the coming months.
Not long ago I received an email from a young lady who is in university studying medicine. She is interested in volunteering at the Mae Tao Clinic. The connection came from this bulletin! We are now connected with a wonderful organization called Not Just Tourists. I ask that you check them out. You may be able to bring a suitcase full of medical supplies that we can pass on to the Mae Tao Clinic. Mae Tao Clinic cannot accept supplies that have expired or are in containers with broken seals. CMIRC has projects at both the Burma Children’s Medical Fund and the Mae Tao Clinic so it’s easy for us to accept your suitcase and pass it on the people who are in most need. I ask you to accept our appreciation for your help.
Remember our 2019-2020 Theme! Rotary Connects The World! I ask you to go make a connection that will do good in the world.