Past president Dave Brown shared his adventures in Belize flying medical services flights. Fifty years ago, Wings of Hope was founded in St Louis as a response to medical needs in Kenya. Thirty years ago, Wings of Hope, the Wagner Foundation (Wag Aero), and John Woods (a member of a Rotary Club in Belize and an American expat) founded the Belize Emergency Response Team (BERT). This project grew out of a lack of medical services in rural areas and patients dying in transit by ground ambulance.
Following a brief “tour” of the country, Dave shared his experiences flying for BERT providing air ambulance transport. BERT’s first plane, years ago, was purchased with a Rotary International global grant. The Wagner Foundation and the local Rotary Club provided the funding for many years. However, the Belizean government was first cajoled into supporting the operation and now funds and runs the entire program.
Dave shared that as any effort with volunteers on a 24/7/365 basis it was very rewarding, but at time tedious. He also gave credit to Pat for her support and volunteering in a residential youth home for teen age girls while in Belize.
Thanks Dave!
Bits and Pieces
Gary Coxon distributed this year’s batch of Jim Click Raffle tickets. If you need tickets, contact Gary. Our club gets 100% of the proceeds. It someone writes a check for the tickets, it is: Oro Valley Rotary Foundation. Stubs, funds and unsold tickets are due back to Gary on or before December 1, 2022
Stacey Fox shared a reminder that dues are due. So go to the club’s web page, lower left corner and click on
A 1st page reminder of District Governor’s Anita McDonald’s club visit on Thursday morning September 8. Keep in mind, she will probably be asking who is planning on being at the district conference October 23-25. President Steve encouraged us to consider attending, citing his getting a lot out of the conference last year.
On October 23, at 10AM, there will be a luncheon and speaker for the district’s Empowering Girls effort. The District 5500 lead on that program is OV Rotarian Emily Erickson. More details later, on our website.
President Steve has gotten information about Rotary sponsoring an indoor ride in support of the El Tour de Tucson polio funding. More information contact Steve.
Our $25,000 medical kits global grant for the Ukraine has been approved. Thanks to Rick Chimblo for his leadership in this effort.
Remember to check with Karen Woodford to see if “personpower” is still needed to help distribute student dictionaries.
The club meeting on September 1 will be a working community service project meeting. We will be writing appreciation notes to teachers at our local schools. Please plan on joining us to say "thank you" to our community’s teachers.
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