Woodstock-Oxford Probus Club Report
Doug Vincent, a fellow Probian and longtime Rotarian, spoke on the strong connection between Rotary International and the United Nations. In fact, the efforts of 49 Rotarians were instrumental in the founding of the United Nations in 1945. Doug travels to UN Headquarters in New York on UN business and mentioned the opportunity for visitors to come to Rotary Day at the UN on November 7th.
As Fred Freeman pointed out in his introduction, "Doug travels the world speaking at conferences and working at humanitarian projects. He recently returned from Europe where he shared activities at the same convention as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the UN Secretary General".
Doug spoke of "the power of one", or how ideas can move from the local community on up the chain until they reach the top. Rotary has the proven ability to get things done. When Rotary is involved in an overseas project an almost magical force comes into action that multiplies an individual's effort in a powerful way.
In Mexico, a $6000 grant from a Rotary Club in Canada was transformed into a $42,000 project by means of Rotary Foundation and CRCID matching grants. This sum was sufficient to supply 254 wheel chairs. Doug told us that the effect on individuals was most gratifying: one man was energized to use his newfound mobility to seek work.
Another amazing project involved the setting up of 60 child-care development centres in South Africa. Thousands of children have lost their parents and are now being raised by grandparents and older siblings. These centres allow the grandparents time off during the day to work and the older children have the chance to go to school. Once again very little money in our terms but it made a great difference to people's lives.
Suresh Dixit thanked our speaker and in his remarks he reinforced Doug's call for all of us to provide help in any way we can to those in need.
As Fred Freeman pointed out in his introduction, "Doug travels the world speaking at conferences and working at humanitarian projects. He recently returned from Europe where he shared activities at the same convention as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the UN Secretary General".
Doug spoke of "the power of one", or how ideas can move from the local community on up the chain until they reach the top. Rotary has the proven ability to get things done. When Rotary is involved in an overseas project an almost magical force comes into action that multiplies an individual's effort in a powerful way.
In Mexico, a $6000 grant from a Rotary Club in Canada was transformed into a $42,000 project by means of Rotary Foundation and CRCID matching grants. This sum was sufficient to supply 254 wheel chairs. Doug told us that the effect on individuals was most gratifying: one man was energized to use his newfound mobility to seek work.
Another amazing project involved the setting up of 60 child-care development centres in South Africa. Thousands of children have lost their parents and are now being raised by grandparents and older siblings. These centres allow the grandparents time off during the day to work and the older children have the chance to go to school. Once again very little money in our terms but it made a great difference to people's lives.
Suresh Dixit thanked our speaker and in his remarks he reinforced Doug's call for all of us to provide help in any way we can to those in need.