Jean Aitcheson (L) and Lyn McInnis (C) presented the President-Elect Linda Jones (R) with a banner from the Rotary Club of Iquitos Amazonia, Peru.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Banner Exchange - Iquitos Amazonia, Peru.
Jean Aitcheson (L) and Lyn McInnis (C) presented the President-Elect Linda Jones (R) with a banner from the Rotary Club of Iquitos Amazonia, Peru.
Laura Pogson Awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship
Rotarian Laura Pogson (L) was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship at its weekly meeting on Oct 27. The award citation was as follows:"The Festival City Rotary Club wishes to recognize Laura Pogson with a Paul Harris Fellowship for her service to the club, community and world. Laura was Club President from 2006-2007. She has been involved on a number of community committees that include: Stratford Perth County Community Foundation, Torch Relay Committee, Sister Cities Committee, and Divorce Care. On the international level, Laura has been active with First Steps, a Christian development organization fighting malnutrition in North Korea."
Club Secretary Diane Yundt (R) invested Laura on behalf of the club.
Congratulation Laura!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Who is Nobody?
The Festival City Rotary Club of Stratford has funded the introduction of the Who Is Nobody? character education program for the Grade 6 Gifted Program taught by teacher Cindy Carlson at Stratford Central Public School.
Throughout this year long program, each student will implement a service learning project and then design a 3D object to pin on the Nobody doll which will give the doll its character. This project builds on everybody's unique strengths, nurturing their self-esteem and enhancing their academic performance. NOBODY will become a SOMEBODY!
The FCRCS can look forward to a visit from SOMEBODY and Ms. Carlson in the new year.
It all began in October,2009, when a mysterious suitcase arrived at the classroom containing a blue rag doll void of features and gender.
Throughout this year long program, each student will implement a service learning project and then design a 3D object to pin on the Nobody doll which will give the doll its character. This project builds on everybody's unique strengths, nurturing their self-esteem and enhancing their academic performance. NOBODY will become a SOMEBODY! 
The FCRCS can look forward to a visit from SOMEBODY and Ms. Carlson in the new year.Visit www.whoisnobody.com for further information on this multiple award-winning program that is sponsored by several Rotary clubs throughout Ontario.
A Dispatch from Normandy
Phoenicia is a Rotary Exchange Student from Stratford. This is her first report to the Club.
Bonjour :)
Monday (October 26) marks exactly two months for me here in
I am staying with the Carli family, the father is a Rotarian, my YEO and counsellor. They have three kids - Juliette (20), Cesar (18) and Edgar (16). Only Edgar lives with us the whole year, the other two are gone to university for business and medicine respectively. I have my own room here, I stay in Juliette’s room and am usually expected to wake myself up for school (however, my host mom still insists on coming to check to see if I am awake). I switch family’s around the end of December - Beginning of January.
The Rotary Club here is the Rotary Club of Granville, they are a completely male club and have mixed socials once a month (or so) where the Rotarians bring their wives. They meet every 15 days on Thursdays. There have been, at most, about 20 - 25 Rotarians at our meetings however, there are more members than that as they have a list of common absences. Even though I am a girl, I am still invited to all of the meetings, and therefore have been the only female there on many occasions. Since I have been here the club has not done much. We had a ‘Contact Club’ come and visit us from
My host district doesn’t have very many ‘get togethers’ for the young students. We had a one day orientation meeting in September (from 11 - 4) where I met a few students but it was not nearly long enough. We then had a weekend last weekend (October 17 weekend) at Mont St. Michel for all of the students in (I think) the Northern half of France. There were over 150 most of which were from English speaking countries (excluding
I met many kids from
School is going really well, I am in Seconde, which is the equivalent of a mixture of our 11 and 10. Mostly 11. All of the kids in my class are 14/15, which makes me the oldest at 16. Our schedule is different everyday and the same every week. Over the course of the week I have: Math, English, MPI, Geography/History, French, Physics/Chemistry, Biology, Gym, First, and Civics. I go from 8 - 6 everyday except Wednesdays when I only go until
Life here is really good. I am having loads of fun and every day is a new adventure. I have yet to be truly homesick, I have only missed knowing precisely what is going on. My knowledge of French before I got here (thanks to French Immersion) has helped a lot. I didn’t get headaches like some other kids have reported. I understand most of my classes and I am getting alright grades (they are low for
I haven’t done much traveling yet. I have only seen Granville and
I hope everything is good at home. Thanks to everyone for making this happen. If anyone wants to contact me Carol can give you my email, I’d be happy to hear from anyone
À Plus tard,
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Theatre Brunch 2009
Club President Kent Chisholm officially welcomed everyone to the Festival City Rotary Club's Annual Theatre Brunch on Sunday October 25th. This year's play was West Side Story.
The Brunch was once again catered by the Queen's Inn.
Carol Rock has seconds at the Dessert Table.
Our Guest Speaker was Dan Chameroy, who appeared as Lt. Schrank in the play.
Lyn ruins another good photograph by waving.
Just as in previous years, Peter Moreton demonstrates his innate inability to his polish shoes.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Ron Rogers Is Recognized with a Paul Harris Fellowship
Ron Rogers is being recognized for his service to the Club and Foundation with a Paul Harris Fellowship. Ron is a charter member and a strong supporter of Club activities and projects. As the Club's and Foundation's Treasurer for many years, Ron's sage advice and financial knowledge has stood the Club in good stead throughout turbulent economic times.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Dazed and Confused Near Machu Picchu
Dear Family and friends,
from 40 degrees in the jungle to sitting here with hot cocoa tea to help with altitude and a heavy sweater on, What a change in one day.
I got all the medical supplies returning to Stratford packed in 3 hockey bags and true to form, they were too heavy and )tell Walter= we had to repack. But the three that returned home took 6 pieces of luggage which was nice. We still have hockey bags with us.
Pastor Fran Schmidt, the Canadian Lutheran missionary met us at the airport and it was nice to connect with our ddear Katharine´s replacement. She took all three folks and Geneva Neal, the exchange student and was going to spend the day with them in Lima.
We came on to Cusco and it is good to be here once again. All our luggage arrived and the travel com`pany picked us up in a nuce bus that is ours for the stay. The hotel is very nice, quaint with all amemities, and we have it for half their regular price due to the mix up with our regular hotel. The man who made our travel arrangements is a Rotarian and I asked the lady with us to call him and ask when the meetings were so I could plan. Lo and behold, it was right then, so I changed and Erik came to pick me up. They welcomed me warmly, LYnn did not go and I presented our banner to them. They were very interested in what our club does and what the medical project was all about. They looked at eachh other and asked if we would come here to do the same thing. They have literacy and health projects and they run a discount drug store. I have invited them to the World international convention in Montreal.
Erik brought me back to the hotel and That bed was so welcome. It is cold here. There is a heater in the room. I could not gp to sleep as my feet were cold, so yes, Ken, I got up and put my socks on. The bed is so heavy with the covers and then I could not sleep cause by feet were too hot.
Breakfast is now with hot eggs, what a change. Today we go on the Sacred valley tour and maybe a dinner show tonight.
Thanks for all your good wishes. Will try to give you updates. Everyone is still well and so far, no altitude problems.
I got all the medical supplies returning to Stratford packed in 3 hockey bags and true to form, they were too heavy and )tell Walter= we had to repack. But the three that returned home took 6 pieces of luggage which was nice. We still have hockey bags with us.
Pastor Fran Schmidt, the Canadian Lutheran missionary met us at the airport and it was nice to connect with our ddear Katharine´s replacement. She took all three folks and Geneva Neal, the exchange student and was going to spend the day with them in Lima.
We came on to Cusco and it is good to be here once again. All our luggage arrived and the travel com`pany picked us up in a nuce bus that is ours for the stay. The hotel is very nice, quaint with all amemities, and we have it for half their regular price due to the mix up with our regular hotel. The man who made our travel arrangements is a Rotarian and I asked the lady with us to call him and ask when the meetings were so I could plan. Lo and behold, it was right then, so I changed and Erik came to pick me up. They welcomed me warmly, LYnn did not go and I presented our banner to them. They were very interested in what our club does and what the medical project was all about. They looked at eachh other and asked if we would come here to do the same thing. They have literacy and health projects and they run a discount drug store. I have invited them to the World international convention in Montreal.
Erik brought me back to the hotel and That bed was so welcome. It is cold here. There is a heater in the room. I could not gp to sleep as my feet were cold, so yes, Ken, I got up and put my socks on. The bed is so heavy with the covers and then I could not sleep cause by feet were too hot.
Breakfast is now with hot eggs, what a change. Today we go on the Sacred valley tour and maybe a dinner show tonight.
Thanks for all your good wishes. Will try to give you updates. Everyone is still well and so far, no altitude problems.
Love to you all,
Jean
Monday, October 12, 2009
Rotary Saturday Fiesta
Dear Family and friends, we did not do clinic yesterday but we pulled off a huge celebration with the Canadian and Peruvian participants in this project. In the morning we took the bus to the Belen market. Belen is the slum area of Iquitos and a very unique community as all the houses are either built on 15 foot stilts or on logs so they will float when the rainy season comes. The market runs every day. There is no refrigeration and no where to store a larderso the food must be fresh every day. Lots of things are sold in little tiny amounts. We saw amazing things. As it is a very poor area, they claim it is dangerous and indeed one of our members saw someone´s pocket being picked. However for $20.00 we had 3 policepeople and 6 other helpers stay with us and look out for us. I´m not sure it was neccessary but we all came back safe and in awe of how people survive in such a tough place.
After lunch we went to the supermarket, and yes there is at least one in this city of 400,000 people. We were there to buy supplies for the fiesta we were preparing for Rotary Iquitos Amazonas and the translators. For all the things that have been wonderful on this trip, the food is not one of them, due to the hotel not the culture in general , as the students had great lunches every day from a caterer for much less than we are paying. A dinner out would have cost a lot and we could not afford to take the students so home cooking it was. The student´s caterer did some of the meal, the hotel did some and we did some in the hotel kitchen which made us wonder why only one got sick! Dinner for 56 takes a while!
We moved the tables and hotel furniture and plants around to create ambiance, picked flowers from the extensive gardens here, made appetizer trays like cheese and crackers and fruit, (pretty basic stuff Susan), and welcoming drinks. For 11 soles (pronounced so-lays), about $4.00, we made an excellant marinated tomato salad that everyone loved. Those were the first tomatoes we had had and they are cheap everywhere so I´m not sure why. We also made Canadian Mashed potatoes with garlic, butter and milk and they were a huge hit. The hotel staff was scooping up the leftovers of that. The Rotarian ladies were extremely impressed that two of our men, Cal and DR. Bruce, made the potatoes, but all our men helped. The caterer made a beautiful cake to top off the celebration. What fun to make the translators ´Canadian´., with a Canada pin and a taste of maple syrup. They kept insisting that the Peruvian flag and Canadian one is the same with the red bars at the ends, with a different symbol in the middle. What great young people they are with lots of possibilities for them with their education and ability with languages.
The Rotarians sure enjoyed the evening. They cancelled their usual meeting the night before, in favour of our gathering. They announced the fact they had just received word that they have been accepted with matching grants to be able to build a Rotary well in Belen, and man, do they need it!!! Their partners are two Rotary clubs in USA on that project.. The World International Rotary convention is in Montreal in 2010, and we have invited the members who can come to that to also come to Stratford and area. That would be wonderful for them to see some of our beautiful country.
I was dead on my feet, but the Rotrians were still partying at 1230! Sleep is a wonderful reviver. Today some are taking a tour up the Amazon, but I will sort out supplies and hockey bags to return to Stratford, give the medical supplies to Rotary to be dispensed where needed, and get ready for the travel portion of our trip.
Thank you all for your interest and support, your love and prayers. We´ve had great weather, yes very hot, but only a little rain which makes it difficult to run a clinic with all the dirt it creates. We have been safe, healthy and extremely productive, and have forged a great friendship and working relationship. Rotary wants to know when we can come back!
Hasta la vista y amor, Jean
After lunch we went to the supermarket, and yes there is at least one in this city of 400,000 people. We were there to buy supplies for the fiesta we were preparing for Rotary Iquitos Amazonas and the translators. For all the things that have been wonderful on this trip, the food is not one of them, due to the hotel not the culture in general , as the students had great lunches every day from a caterer for much less than we are paying. A dinner out would have cost a lot and we could not afford to take the students so home cooking it was. The student´s caterer did some of the meal, the hotel did some and we did some in the hotel kitchen which made us wonder why only one got sick! Dinner for 56 takes a while!
We moved the tables and hotel furniture and plants around to create ambiance, picked flowers from the extensive gardens here, made appetizer trays like cheese and crackers and fruit, (pretty basic stuff Susan), and welcoming drinks. For 11 soles (pronounced so-lays), about $4.00, we made an excellant marinated tomato salad that everyone loved. Those were the first tomatoes we had had and they are cheap everywhere so I´m not sure why. We also made Canadian Mashed potatoes with garlic, butter and milk and they were a huge hit. The hotel staff was scooping up the leftovers of that. The Rotarian ladies were extremely impressed that two of our men, Cal and DR. Bruce, made the potatoes, but all our men helped. The caterer made a beautiful cake to top off the celebration. What fun to make the translators ´Canadian´., with a Canada pin and a taste of maple syrup. They kept insisting that the Peruvian flag and Canadian one is the same with the red bars at the ends, with a different symbol in the middle. What great young people they are with lots of possibilities for them with their education and ability with languages.
The Rotarians sure enjoyed the evening. They cancelled their usual meeting the night before, in favour of our gathering. They announced the fact they had just received word that they have been accepted with matching grants to be able to build a Rotary well in Belen, and man, do they need it!!! Their partners are two Rotary clubs in USA on that project.. The World International Rotary convention is in Montreal in 2010, and we have invited the members who can come to that to also come to Stratford and area. That would be wonderful for them to see some of our beautiful country.
I was dead on my feet, but the Rotrians were still partying at 1230! Sleep is a wonderful reviver. Today some are taking a tour up the Amazon, but I will sort out supplies and hockey bags to return to Stratford, give the medical supplies to Rotary to be dispensed where needed, and get ready for the travel portion of our trip.
Thank you all for your interest and support, your love and prayers. We´ve had great weather, yes very hot, but only a little rain which makes it difficult to run a clinic with all the dirt it creates. We have been safe, healthy and extremely productive, and have forged a great friendship and working relationship. Rotary wants to know when we can come back!
Hasta la vista y amor, Jean
Update from Peru
this has been an amazing day. This was our last clinic day and for sure the busiest. Good job we get more efficient at setting up and taking down.
Today's clinic was in the poorest part of the city of Iquitos. We took our bus to Belen which is the slum area of Iquitos. All the houses are built on 15 foot stilts or are built on logs, as the whole community is the flood plain in Feb, Mar, and Apr. when all the rainy season water of the Amazon finally reaches Iquitos. We carried heavy hockey bags of medical supplies across crude wooden bridges with no railings, 20 feet above gorges running with raw sewage about to go into the river. Finally down the same crude steps to the river´s edge to a sort of ferry for the people and a boat for the supplies. The ferry just rams into the soft bank, loads and the pasengers and helpers push it away from the bank. The Itaya River is not wide and very fast moving, and same dirty water as everywhere. The houses along the river are on logs and they reach out into the river for their water to wash dishes and clothes, they bathe in it and swim in it. The outhouse for all these houses in at the end of a short dock with a crude shelter for privacy, and everything goes into the river.
We went down the river a piece and landed on the other side of the river. The San Francisco Government officials met us in Belen and took us to the school where the clinic was to be located. The school was a cememt block or brick type building built on cement Pilons about 20 feet high. We could see the marks on the pilons and all the structures for the high water marks. All the supplies had to be carried up what would amount to 3 flights of stairs. When we got there the place was packed with people and we knew it would be a busy day. But we had great facilities. They had cleaned all the classrooms, dental got one, pharmacy another, eye glasses another and one for Dr. Bruce Tomlinson and another for all the nursing assessments. The dentist used a teachers desk as his ´chair bed´, had another for his surgical instruments, children´s desks for supplies and suction and hotplate with pressure cooker sterilizer plugged into separate electrical outlets. Dr Jerry thought he had hit the jackpot. With 2 nurses, a translator and Ross Penton to keep the sterilizer going, Jerry extracted a whopping 65 teeth. He never keeps count but we had a pool going on his output.
We saw 340 patients today! That is a record, but everyone did their job and only had a short break for lunch. After lunch there had to be 100 patients in the mdical line alone. I went out with my stethoscope to triage the line. We had run out of a few medications and had Rotary buy more supplies. I was able to send a handful home without treatment, picked out the ones who were sick to go in first, but in the end, everyone was seen.
What a thrill to work under the Peruvian flag and 2 Canadian flags hanging from the rafters. At the end of the clinic, I presented the Mayor with a Peruvian flag, thanks to Rotary Lima, and a Canadian flag, with appreciation from the Government of Canada. Then it was pack up once more and make the trek back to the hotel. The pool and a beer sure is welcome when we get home about 6 pm or after. These are long days.
All the volunteers have ben amazing professionals and the Rotarians extremely helpful.
Must get my weary body in bed as it is 11pm. We have a busy day again tomorrow as we will host a dinner for the Rotarians and the translators.
Today's clinic was in the poorest part of the city of Iquitos. We took our bus to Belen which is the slum area of Iquitos. All the houses are built on 15 foot stilts or are built on logs, as the whole community is the flood plain in Feb, Mar, and Apr. when all the rainy season water of the Amazon finally reaches Iquitos. We carried heavy hockey bags of medical supplies across crude wooden bridges with no railings, 20 feet above gorges running with raw sewage about to go into the river. Finally down the same crude steps to the river´s edge to a sort of ferry for the people and a boat for the supplies. The ferry just rams into the soft bank, loads and the pasengers and helpers push it away from the bank. The Itaya River is not wide and very fast moving, and same dirty water as everywhere. The houses along the river are on logs and they reach out into the river for their water to wash dishes and clothes, they bathe in it and swim in it. The outhouse for all these houses in at the end of a short dock with a crude shelter for privacy, and everything goes into the river.
We went down the river a piece and landed on the other side of the river. The San Francisco Government officials met us in Belen and took us to the school where the clinic was to be located. The school was a cememt block or brick type building built on cement Pilons about 20 feet high. We could see the marks on the pilons and all the structures for the high water marks. All the supplies had to be carried up what would amount to 3 flights of stairs. When we got there the place was packed with people and we knew it would be a busy day. But we had great facilities. They had cleaned all the classrooms, dental got one, pharmacy another, eye glasses another and one for Dr. Bruce Tomlinson and another for all the nursing assessments. The dentist used a teachers desk as his ´chair bed´, had another for his surgical instruments, children´s desks for supplies and suction and hotplate with pressure cooker sterilizer plugged into separate electrical outlets. Dr Jerry thought he had hit the jackpot. With 2 nurses, a translator and Ross Penton to keep the sterilizer going, Jerry extracted a whopping 65 teeth. He never keeps count but we had a pool going on his output.
We saw 340 patients today! That is a record, but everyone did their job and only had a short break for lunch. After lunch there had to be 100 patients in the mdical line alone. I went out with my stethoscope to triage the line. We had run out of a few medications and had Rotary buy more supplies. I was able to send a handful home without treatment, picked out the ones who were sick to go in first, but in the end, everyone was seen.
What a thrill to work under the Peruvian flag and 2 Canadian flags hanging from the rafters. At the end of the clinic, I presented the Mayor with a Peruvian flag, thanks to Rotary Lima, and a Canadian flag, with appreciation from the Government of Canada. Then it was pack up once more and make the trek back to the hotel. The pool and a beer sure is welcome when we get home about 6 pm or after. These are long days.
All the volunteers have ben amazing professionals and the Rotarians extremely helpful.
Must get my weary body in bed as it is 11pm. We have a busy day again tomorrow as we will host a dinner for the Rotarians and the translators.
Hugs to all,
Jean
Friday, October 9, 2009
An Update from Peru
Dear folks,
this is just a short note to let you know we are all well. One of the volunteers had a 24 hour challenge with vomiting and Diarrhea (Inca revenge?), but a litre of IV fluid and some of our medication got him up and going again. A couple of people have constipation problems with all the rice we get to eat, so I have threatened them that if they do not soon get going, I'm going to give them some bed water!
It is hot, hot, hot, and feels so good knowing you are having cold, wet and windy.
We went down the Amazon yesterday to a village that has received a Rotary well. We loaded everyone and all the hockey bags of supplies into the bus and then three boats and off we went. The boat I was in must have hit something in the water (not difficult considering the water is very brown and there is all kinds of debris and flotsam in it). They could not get the motor started, so we sat in the boat and drifted down the Amazon for 45 minutes. Very interesting to see how fast we went and all the jumping fish and flying birds.
The clinic went very well. The team is amazing as I was stuck down river and they set the clinic up and were almost ready to go when I got there. This village is very productive with some help from Rotary. Rotary Chilliwack BC helped them get a rice mill in 2006 and we saw it running. Rotary has been very helpful to us as well, getting medications ans supplies we have run out of.
Must run and get breakfast as we are headed across the river to another village this am. Will write a more detailed report later. Hugs to you all. This is a great trip and a huge benefit to the health of the folks we treat and teach.
It is hot, hot, hot, and feels so good knowing you are having cold, wet and windy.
We went down the Amazon yesterday to a village that has received a Rotary well. We loaded everyone and all the hockey bags of supplies into the bus and then three boats and off we went. The boat I was in must have hit something in the water (not difficult considering the water is very brown and there is all kinds of debris and flotsam in it). They could not get the motor started, so we sat in the boat and drifted down the Amazon for 45 minutes. Very interesting to see how fast we went and all the jumping fish and flying birds.
The clinic went very well. The team is amazing as I was stuck down river and they set the clinic up and were almost ready to go when I got there. This village is very productive with some help from Rotary. Rotary Chilliwack BC helped them get a rice mill in 2006 and we saw it running. Rotary has been very helpful to us as well, getting medications ans supplies we have run out of.
Must run and get breakfast as we are headed across the river to another village this am. Will write a more detailed report later. Hugs to you all. This is a great trip and a huge benefit to the health of the folks we treat and teach.
Jean
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