Past President Mark Ouimet rang the opening bell and The Star Spangled Banner turned us up. Foreshadowing this week’s program on the Robert S. Northrup Humanitarian Award, Bev Seiford’s Inspiration identified passion as the key driver of accomplishment. Joey D and pianist Curt Waugh turned out the DipSticks and DipChicks to reprise the Everly Brothers’ Let It Be Me. Past President Mark thanked the people who make the meetings run smoothly, announced birthdays and anniversaries, and greeted the many guests. who had come to honor our speaker.
Linda Kentes announced that starting next week we will need a security password the access our Zoom meetings. This password will be circulated in the next Rotarian.
Bill McPherson announced that Dues Notices will be emailed next week. A small increase in Dues has been necessitated by increased expense and depleting membership. Dues are due in June.
Dan Romanchik invited us all to join Rotarians Go To the Movies, a monthly expedition that will likely be on the 13th of a month. Contact Dan to join the fun.
Kathy Waugh took the podium to nominated Leo Shedden to be Director of Club Development for the next two years. Congratulations and thanks to Leo!
Notes from the Program
Norma Sarkar and Greg Stejskal introduced our speaker. Dr. Robert H. Gilman, Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at University of Michigan. His passion is surgically repairing birth defects in children in Cartagena, Columbia, and mentoring other groups of medical professionals on similar mission trips around the world. Dr. Gilman did his first medical mission in 1998 and has done 24 since, treating more than 1300 children, most several times because several procedures are necessary to enable full functioning and participation in community life.
Many organizations are helping children around the world. Dr. Gilman introduced his full team of 21 surgeons, nurses and technicians and talked about the complicated logistics of moving a full team into a situation that has very minimal support for the sophisticated procedures that are done. He also talked briefly about the need for cultural sensitivity for the team to establish long term relationships with Columbian staff and patients. The two teams arrive one day setup another day, then run two full operating rooms 14 – 16 hours a day for three days. One day off and they resume this schedule for three more days. Most team members come multiple years. Nothing pleases Dr. Gilman more than hearing from past team members and students about their experiences in other missions. Continuity of care is very important for the success of the procedures and the same team members returning multiple years contributes greatly to the long course of treatment. Funding is raised privately.
