The Rotacian - April 4 2013

Posted by Mark Wagner 
on Apr 4, 2013
 

 

Our meeting this week was chaired by our incoming president, Randy, who also lead us in a hearty rendition of the anthem, sans piano. Jens led us in grace and Rene proposed the toast to the Queen.

Our visitors included Rotarian Taras Shevchenko from the Rotary Club Omsk Dostoevsky, Dudley Bent (brother of Nell) and local Realtor, Christine Currie.

The 50/50 draw had no winner in spite of Cleo's and Randy's best efforts and Stephan walked away with a bottle of wine.

Happy bucks

Cleo was pleased to pick up a cheque for $2000. (double what was expected) in favour of Kids Against Hunger. Nell introduced her baby brother, Dudley, whose already Stirling character she bravely hoped somehow to refine through his contact with Rotary. Warren pitched in his doubloony against the piracy of rum from is holiday cabin. Taras was pleased at collecting ideas from various clubs he is visiting while away from his Siberian homeland. Rene said something fascinating which eludes me now - but I'm new at this.


Speaker

Our Guest Speaker was introduced by Stephan. Murray Jones told us about the Canadian charity CAFA, Canadian Friends of ANIQUEM. The latter is a Peruvian charity that helps young burn victims (and whose acronym makes more sense in the original language).

Shockingly, there are 100,000 burn victims per year in Peru. Around 7000 of these are so severe that they require long term care, both for the physical and the social and psychological damage that is sustained. The Latin American charity was started in 1999 and helps children with services that the government care does not provide. Thus occupational therapy, physiotherapy and "pressure garments" are provided to the young patients.

Murray and his wife, Karen, started CAFA in order to support the work of ANIQUEM. As a Canadian charity, registered since 2006, they assist with several important value-added areas:

  1. Transportation for poverty-stricken kids so that they can return to the clinic for follow-up care.ray and his wife, Karen, started CAFA in order to support the work of ANIQUEM. As a Canadian charity, registered since 2006, they assist with several important value-added areas:
  2. Surgery support to release scar tissue which would otherwise constrict the growth of the child.
  3. Capacity building in areas such as occupational therapy and new tailoring techniques to make better pressure garments.
  4. Burn camps to help kids be kids in spite of their wounds and scars.
  5. Facilities improvement including CRA-mandated plaques.
  6. The prevention of burns through education toward the development of a safety culture in Peru.
  7. Scholarships to aid patients out of poverty and into university.

Donations to support this remarkable effort can be made through the charity's website: www.friendsofaniquem.org

Having found the piano locked, your humble scribe has discerned that we need a Rotarian with professional locksmithing capabilities. The membership chair may take this under advisement. 

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