Notes from July 11, 2017

Posted by Kelly Salwei
Abul Sharah - International Village Clinic/Manav Khidmet Foundation
Introduced by friend Mark Lewis, Dr. Abul Sharah updated us on the activities of the clinic he founded in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh in India. Our club has provided funding to the International Village Clinic (IVC) over the years most recently with $1,000 as part of a $12,000 District 5950 grant which funded 160 cataract surgeries, 20 tricycles, built an administration building and purchased 100 blankets for villagers.
 
IVC and the Foundation have two programs (Curative and Preventive). In 2016, the curative program –
 
  • Served 36,929 patients (10% more than 2015)
  • Treated 633 patients in 12 bed hospital
  •  
  • Performed 69 surgeries
  • Delivered 39 babies and
  • Performed 61 lab tests
The preventive program-
 
  • Served 60 villages, 18 Kindegarten Schools
  • 1,324 infants received supplemental nutrition
  • Provided prenatal care for 283 women and
  • Presented 720 Health Education Seminars
All of this was accomplished on a budget of $150,000. This budget funded a staff of 60 including 4 doctors. IVC overhead is 2% of the budget.

You can help IVC by contributing or attending its fundraising dinner September 19th and contributing to the Foundation at http://www.villageclinic.org/. A matching grant is underway to help IVC add 18 villages and 18 new schools. Dr. Sharah thanked EPAM Rotary for its years of support for IVC.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • Dan O’Brien updated us on results of foundation giving. 72 Members (100% participation) provided $30,578 in Rotary International Foundation contributions.
  • The members also provided $11,000 in contributions to our own EPAM Rotary Foundation.
  • The following members were recognized for Foundation Giving:
    • Dave Anderson – 3rd Ruby
    • Dan O’Brien – 3rd Ruby
    • Jane McGinty – 1st Ruby
    • Jeannie Zetah – 2nd Sapphire
    • Rick Getschow – 2nd Sapphire
    • Becky Deelstra – 1st Sapphire
  • The new RI President would like every Rotarian to plant a tree. More to come on this.
  • Vino Classico planning is underway and the committee is looking for volunteers for assistance in a variety of areas. A signup sheet will be circulated at next few meetings or contact Becky Deelstra.
  • Get your tickets for EP Community Foundation Brewfest which will be held September 9th.
  • Sandhya Gupta updated us on the Aavishkar math and science education program in India. Program served 10,000 students with 300 teachers.
 
SPOTLIGHT ON BOB SOLOHUB
Bob flew through is vocational in under three minutes. Bob has been retired 17 years from a career in medical device industry. He and his wife have been married for 54 years. He shared a slide show which showed his passion for travel and photography. He has been to 55 countries. He moved 16 times. He was born and raised in Winnipeg and earned a degree in civil engineering. He and his wife have a son and a granddaughter. In addition to Rotary, Bob has volunteered with several non-profit organizations.
 
 
 
 
VISITORS
Sandhya Gupta
David Esposito - Prospective Member, 3rd visit
Corrine Lewis - Guest of Mark Lewis
Dan Schultz - Prospective Member - 1st visit
Student Interns - Rekha Claus,  Morgan Blixrud, Alexa Oldenkamp