Watch today's meeting at: https://youtu.be/i6KhNYylJ90
Our Meeting was called to order by President Barbara Thomas
Announcements:
President Barbara Thomas asked that we stop and reflect for Mike O’Deen, husband of Rtn. Amy O’Deen. Mike passed away suddenly this week. No services are planned. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Boys & Girls Club of the Corridor and UI Steadfast Children’s Hospital. Visit www.Lensingfuneral.com for condolences.
Rtn. Tara Minetos, Chair for Rotarians Supporting Women, encouraged anyone interested in joining this committee to connect with her.
The Rotary moment of positivity and gratitude was given by Rtn. Dan McGivern.
PROGRAM: Rtn. Thomas Cook; Rotary Action Group for Clubfoot: One Child’s Perspective.
Dr. Cook presented the story of Lucky; an 8-year-old boy born with crooked feet. No one had seen this before. His father was ashamed and embarrassed and thought it was a curse. He thought a child that could not walk could not or should not make it through life. Lucky’s grandmother took him in and raised him. As Lucky got older, he could not walk so he crawled everywhere he needed to go. Since he could not walk to school his grandmother was his teacher. Medical students were in the village to find out how people lived and connected with Lucky and his grandmother. They talked to Lucky’s grandmother about clubfoot, so she agreed to bring Lucky to the hospital to see a doctor. The doctor examined his feet and then applied a cast to Lucky’s lower leg and then his thigh and connected the two pieces on both feet. Grandma and Lucky went back the next week and the cast came off. The doctor applied two new casts. Grandma and Lucky went back to the hospital four more times doing the same procedure. After they took off the casts for the fifth time Lucky was ready to stand up and his feet were flat on the floor. Lucky was able to return home to his family and go to school. His feet were corrected by the Ponseti Method – like orthodontics for your feet.
What is the connection between Lucky’s story and the Rotary Action Group program? Public awareness to reduce stigma because clubfoot is treatable. Early referral to facilitate community engagement. Logistical support with transportation, housing, food, childcare. Supplies and facilities such as plaster, braces, implements, space. Support training with global grants & other resources. Advocate with governments to establish sustainable clubfoot programs within the healthcare system. Learn more at the website RAG4Clubfoot.org. Ongoing projects include Columbia, Argentina, Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, and Dominican Republic.
How can you help? Become a member ($25) or donate at RAG4Clubfoot.org; contribute to The Rotary Foundation, support club and district projects and tell friends and neighbors about clubfoot. Other resources to learn more: ponseti.info; icecubepress.com for Dr. Cook’s published book; clubfootsolutions.org with Lucky’s Feet story and about Clubfoot braces. Lucky’s Feet story has a video where Dr. Cook narrates the book – go to the video here https://youtu.be/TeHZ6ssGgmk.
The meeting ended at 1:00 PM as President Barbara Thomas led the assembly in reciting The Four Way Test.
MEETING:
Visiting Rotarians included: None.
Guests: Anna Barker (guest of John Kenyon).
Program: Devin van Holsteijn; Attendance: Nancy Droll
Please forward any newsworthy items and/or photos to Jon Brown or Janice Baldes to include in the weekly slide decks emailed to members prior to each meeting and shown just before Rotary meetings at the Club. You can send information to: Janice Baldes janicebaldes@gmail.com or Jon Brown at mjonBrown@taxesplusiowacity.com
For questions related to Club administration, please contact us at secretary@iowacitynoonrotary.org.
It is our policy to have all members silence their cell phones before the meeting and refrain from answering their cell phones during the meeting out of respect to the speaker and fellow members.