The Rotary Club of Montego Bay hosted its annual Wine event this year on March 20, 2010 at the Shoppes at Rose Hall in Rose Hall, Montego Bay. The event was geared towards fundraising for the President's Club. 
(Above) President of the Rotary Club of Montego Bay East Audley Knight with guests at the Wine 10 event
(Above) Rotarian Winsome Stewart
(Above) AGD Govind Chulani
(Above) L-R: Dominica Pradere David Tavares & Winsome Stewart
(Above) Lucea Rotarians enjoy themselves at the Wine 10 event
Above: (L-R) Kay Reuben & David Tavares
Children's books donated by one generous donor to the Rotary Race to Literacy Project
What is this? An effort to collect a whole LOT of books
What kind of books? ANY kind – cookbook, novel, fiction, non-fiction, textbook etc. For adults or children
So what’s all this fundraising about? To buy books for children. This is a zero budget project – all money collected buys books for children
Why is the book drive buying books for children? Because there are not enough in Jamaica and the children need them for their development
Do people HAVE to donate children’s books? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Any kind of book will do. We need numbers and there are not enough children’s books in Jamaica to even match 242,624
Who is collecting? Until April 30th, drop off points are project partners across the country. http://rotaryracetoliteracy.org/drop-off-points/
So what is May 1-May 7? Collected books are donated to Rotary. http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/convention08_bookdrive.aspx
And what is Rotary doing with these books? Giving them to the Jamaica Library Service. Some will go to Haiti, as appropriate
Why the library?
•The library is the best custodian of the books for the long term.
•The library has its own reading programs.
•The library is accessible to all people on a daily basis.
•Service clubs can always organize literacy programs around the books once the books are there
•The library has the broadest reach – 558 public library service points. In addition to the 22 areas of service to special needs clientele in hospitals, children’s homes, penal and correctional institutions, specialized service is offered to the visually impaired and persons identified as affected by autism. The School Library Network serves 927 school libraries”
Can you donate to Jamaica alone? YES – just let us know
Can you donate to Haiti alone? YES – just let us know
Why participate?
•Be a part of history – this has never been done before
•Make a real difference- these books are needed just for the target beneficiaries but to build a more stable society
•It’s easy to do and fun!
We can do it!
The Rotary Race to Literacy is also an Amazon Affiliate.
Buy not only a book, but buy ANYTHING through the Rotary Race to Literacy Amazon Link and the Rotary Race to Literacy receives a commission for EVERY purchase. 100% of these proceeds will go towards buying books for children.
For information in using this option or if you have questions or comments, please contact the Rotary Race to Literacy Committee at rotaryracetoliteracy@live.com
Video Source: Doctors Without Borders
On Saturday February 20, 2010 a delegation of Rotarians (PRID Barry Rassin and PDG Richard McCombe) along with the Haitian Ambassador to The Bahamas Louis Harold Joseph (Honorary Rotarian) and Pilots Paul Pyfrom and Paul Aranha (mentioned because of the many, many relief flights they have volunteered to fly, especially Paul Aranha) flew from Nassau, Bahamas to Port au Prince, Haiti. Our purpose was to visit the epicenter and to meet with the Rotarian Leaders who have continued working tirelessly to bring relief to all they can.
We were met at the PAP International Airport by Rotarians from Haiti: PDG Amos Durosier and his wife Arlette, DGN Dr. Guy Theodore, AG Caleb Lucien, AG Dr. Claude Surena, PP George Nicolas, and Ted Lazarre.
First we met as a group for a briefing on the current needs in Haiti resulting from the earthquake on January 12 and the 54 subsequent tremors. We then joined the Prime Minister for Haiti, the Honorable Jean-Max Bellerive, and had a very cordial and accommodating meeting. He expressed his appreciation for what Rotary has done over many years in Haiti and specifically for what they continue to do now. He stated that all Haitians know Rotary and what they do.
The following is a synopsis of the two meetings:
1. It is believed that 250,000 have lost their lives to the earthquake.
A man carries a coffin through a street in downtown Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Behind him, a toppled building testifies to the strength of the earthquake that struck the capital on 12 January. Photo Source: United Nations News & Media
2. One million are homeless and need shelter and about 40% of the homeless are children.
3. Food, Water and Shelter are the priorities for all the country. The migration from PAP has placed a burden on all the other cities on top of the obvious burden in PAP.
4. For shelter there is still a major need for tents and/or tarps in order to at least provide some shelter for those who have been left homeless.
Photo: United Nations News Centre
5. Eighty Percent (80%) of the schools in PAP have been destroyed. On Tuesday, February 23 the government is meeting with the Association of all Schools in order to try to get them open to the degree that at least the children have a place to go and a meal to eat. (It may be their only meal of the day). If we can get larger tents (20 x 20) next to the schools then they can at least meet. The children are considered a priority by the Government. Many students have died, many teachers have died. 80% of the 80% were private schools but the government accepts their responsibility to get schools going to accommodate all the children. The consolidated education fund will continue to do everything it can to restart the schools. Clearly Rotary can help with the schools.
6. Rotary’s final NGO status will be complete in days but in the meantime The Prime Minister will give us a letter of authorization to clear customs efficiently and duty free. (This will only apply if advance notice is given to the local Rotary Leadership with details of the goods shipped, time and place of arrival and intended rotary destination). The priorities for incoming shipments will first be the NGO’s with proper documentation, second urgent commercial goods and lastly all other commercial goods. This is important as the customs duties have been restored in order to ensure that only appropriate items are received duty free.
7. While temporary shelter (tents and tarps) is critical work has to begin on sustainable housing. It must be done in a way that provides jobs for the short and long term as well as shelter and an infrastructure to support the residents (Homes, sanitation, water, agriculture, trade, transportation, etc.).
A resident of Haiti displaced by the 12 January earthquake builds a makeshift home in what used to be the stadium in downtown Port-au-Prince.
Photo Source: United Nations News & Media
8. The government appreciates the opportunity to sread out the population density to improve all facets of PAP life. With the support of the local population and the recognized needs along with international support, the government should be able to make the changes they could not make before.
9. It is clear that a caution light is now up for all to see with continued relief support for free food and water. A substantial part of the economy is small farms growing and small business along with street vendors selling produce, fruits, rice and other staples. With incorrect levels of free items distributed it puts the single family business in financial trouble spiraling the economy downhill. We must be cautious not to “kill” the economy through well intentioned donations. The economic balance needs to be enhanced through the efforts of Rotary and other NGO’s.
10. A Post Disaster National Assistance (PDNA) Committee has been formed and consists of local representatives as well as all significant international entities that are assisting in the restoration efforts. Rotary is included on the PDNA with Dr. Claude Surena on the committee. This committee is making an assessment of the damages and the resultant needs and will formulate priorities and prepare a plan. The plan is scheduled to be complete by March 15 and is intended to be presented to the United Nations around March 23 or 24.
11. The District 7020 Haiti Earthquake Relief Committee will continue to meet and assist with getting the final containers (40 to 50) to Haiti by the end of March. However, the committee is now turning to the planning for the longer term relief efforts. We have to consider:
a. Basic Education and Literacy – Getting the children back to school.
b. Disease Prevention and Treatment – Continue helping the hospital and health workers as well as developing comprehensive rehabilitation.
A mother at Delmas 33, an IDP camp in Port-au-Prince for Haitians displaced by the earthquake, comforts her child as he receives tetanus and diphtheria vaccinations provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Photo Source: United Nations News & Mediac. Water and Sanitation – The clean water needs must be addressed and effective sanitation is essential with so many tent cities now in place.
d. Maternal and Child Health – We need to address the nutrition of the children and the mothers.
e. Economic and Community Development – We need to help to boost the economy providing micro credit for business start up and we need to enhance the community life for a positive economic growth.
A man sharpens his machete inside Port-au-Prince's Petionville Club, a golf and tennis resort where some 50,000 Haitians displaced by the earthquake have set up makeshift shelters. The residents of the sprawling camp have also opened barbershops, salons, and a market. Photo Source: United Nations News & Media
We are in this program for the long haul and will be proud as we stand beside Rotarians in Haiti and lend them a hand as together we rebuild a beautiful country and show our respect and admiration for the people of Haiti.
The Future of Rotary is in Our Hands and the future of Haiti depends on what we continue to do.
Barry Rassin
PRID 2006-2008
District 7020
Ulrigue Idal gave birth to 2 day old Edwige at the Centre D'Ebergement and is now staying in a ShelterBox tent. Photograph: Mark Pearson
Click Here to see the minutes of the February 10 Haiti Injury Rehabilitation and Disability meeting as well as the list of participants.
Our biggest coordination challenge at this time to have updated information.
For organizations already operational in Haiti or those that have plans to start rehabilitation activities, we kindly request your support to share this information by filling the attached form and sending it back to readaptationhaiti AT gmail DOT com for compilation.
Thank you very much.
Article Source : Haiti Physical Rehabilitation Programs Forum
Photo: PBS
Karen McDonald Gayle (left) acting CEO of the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica, hands over a cheque to Errol Alberga, District 7020 Governor at the Launch of the Race to Literacy Book Drive Project at the Spanish Court Hotel on Wednesday. Looking on is Deika Morrison, chief organiser of the project - Photo & label : Jamaica Gleaner 
Salvation Army Volunteers are seen unloading and setting up for distribution food and water. The distribution totaled more than 260,000 meals, 1600 gallon bottles of water to help in preparation of the meals. The entire distribution effort was concluded in four hours. Source: Salvation Army Blog USA
On Wednesday January 27, 2010 a delegation of Rotarians (PRID Barry Rassin, RIDE John Smarge, PDG Richard McCombe and PP Carla McCombe, DGE Diana White) and others visited Haiti to meet with Rotarian leaders on the ground, visit the epicenter and further coordination of Rotary relief efforts to Haiti. PRID Barry Rassin has issued the following summary.
Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts Summary
District 7020
January 27, 2010
On Wednesday January 27, 2010 a delegation of Rotarians (PRID Barry Rassin, RIDE John Smarge, PDG Richard McCombe and PP Carla McCombe, DGE Diana White) along with one Orthopedic Surgeon (Dr. Patrick McGrath) who would stay, and ZNS News Anchor Jerome Pyfrom and Videographer Burton Wallace flew from Nassau to Pignon, Haiti. Our purpose was not to visit the epicenter but to meet with the Rotarian Leaders who have working tirelessly to bring relief to all they can.
We met at the Hôpital de Bienfaisance de Pignon which is run by DGN Dr. Guy Theodore. Dr. Theodore, AG Caleb Lucien and Adele Noel-Romelus from Pignon met us at the airport and transported us to the Hospital. AG Dr. Claude Surena, PP George Nicolas and Jean-Baptiste Brown flew to Pignon from Port-au-Prince to join us and ensure that we understand the present conditions and anticipated short term future needs of the most affected areas. Dr. Surena is our Rotary Disaster Chair for Haiti and also the President of the Haitian Medical Association and was appointed by President Preval to coordinate the receipt and distribution of all medical relief. His complete involvement into the relief efforts of the country is a great help for us to understand what is happening and what we need to do to assist. The Rotarians from Pignon have been coordinating the delivery of items sent in by Rotary to ensure they get to the appropriate people.
We only had a few hours as Dr. Surena had to return to meet with President Preval. When the meeting concluded we toured the Hospital which is overloaded with victims from the earthquake. We also toured the Hosean Mission and saw the housing for visiting physicians.
Below I have summarized the primary points made during our meeting:
The Government of Haiti immediately called a State of Emergency for three months which will enable an easier and more efficient entry of goods and medical personnel into the country. This could be extended to six months.
The acute relief efforts are coming to an end over the next couple days.
The next phase will be on fixed clinics and then hospitals as the medical care becomes much more focused.
They are working closely with the World Health Organisation to get the supplies and equipment needed for patient care.
Orthopedic supplies and strong antibiotics (Bactrim, Cipro and Keflex) are still the most urgently needed in the medical area and will be for some time.
72 yr. old retired Salvation Army officer Lt. Col. Herb Rader undertakes an operation in the Salvation Army clinic in Port-au-Prince. (Photo: Jeremy Watt/The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory)Source: The Salvation Army Blog USA
The Hospitals have been treating and the patients are recovering to go home but they have no home to go to. The plan is to put tents up next to the Hospitals in order to provide a step down situation for the patients out of the hospital.
They estimate a need of 200,000 tents to house those who lost their homes. Not necessarily full blown shelter boxes but just the tents.
Dr. Surena suggested that one possible Rotary project, in partnership with other agencies, would be to establish a Rehabilitation Center for all those who need Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Psychosocial Counseling. In conjunction with the facility we need to establish a workshop for artificial limbs (DGE Diana White has begun discussions with the Rotary Jaipur Limb Project to plan for establishing locally the necessary workshops). There have been a substantial number of persons with crushed limbs resulting in amputations.
The School System in Port-au-Prince has been shut down. Those migrating to unaffected areas of the country are now causing an overflow situation in all schools that are available to continue. Many children have no school to attend.
The Government is now setting up a committee to handle the airport landing priorities as the Port-au-Prince airport has been overwhelmed.
Significant Rotary manpower will be needed but not yet.
They are in great need for psychological counselors who speak Creole.
There is probably no more need for Rotary to supply medical teams as other organizations have now geared up and are providing appropriate manpower in the medical arena.
There is an urgent need for Food and water and that will continue for some time. While fixed and pre-prepared foods are good they would like to see more of a focus on staple goods like Rice and Beans. They will need to provide about 150,000 meals per day for many months to come. They are able to buy some of the basic food items locally for distribution if they could receive cash donations to do so. That would also help the economy.
They need clothes including shoes as they lost all of their possessions. They ask for separated and sorted clothes.
They understand the need for an overall plan for relief and will begin on that task as they can; however they must do all they can to sustain life and develop an ability for the population to become self sufficient in the short term.
They have begun a concerted effort to locate Rotarians from all of the five Rotary Clubs that were affected. We will develop a report from each of the five Rotary Clubs so that we can also support them and assist them as individuals as they are also victims of the disaster. They have lost everything and need our help.
We are considering the purchase of a truck for Rotary in Haiti in order to help them move the high volume of supplies from the ports or the airports to those that have been targeted for distribution and assistance. What Rotary sends in aid is received by Rotarians and distributed to those in need.
All of these priorities listed does not mean that there are not other needs like x-ray machines, autoclaves, or specific supplies, but these listed are considered the top priorities for Rotary to pursue.
We in Nassau are now organizing a cargo ship to take into Port-au-Prince all the collected supplies from Rotary in The Bahamas, The Red Cross and the Methodist Conference. We are able to fill about 12 containers or more and so it will be much more effective to spend about $40,000 for the ship to transport the goods. We will ship when the Port is ready to accept which is expected in two weeks. We will need the cash to pay for the ship but the containers are being lent to us at no charge. Again our Rotarians will meet and unload and distribute.
The Rotarians in Haiti greatly appreciate the outpouring of support from Rotary in The Bahamas and the District 7020 but also from all the neighboring districts and around the world. They are strong and positive and will continue to work to bring their country to the healthy, vibrant and productive country that it needs to be.
They specially thanked PDG Richard (Dick) McCombe for his incredible support and assistance from the first moment of the disaster. They also thanked RIDE John Smarge and DGE Diana White for our District 7020 for taking the time to fly in for this visit. They also appreciate the hard work being done by Rotarians within our District led by our excellent District Governor Errol Alberga.
We ask Rotary Clubs and Rotary Districts to consider the above and work with us to focus on their needs for today. However, please keep in mind that this is a long term relief effort and we will be part of the rebuilding and will need significant cash to participate in meaningful projects as time goes by and we have a plan in place for us to help implement.
I am proud to be a Rotarian and know that Rotary around the world will work side by side with our Rotarians in Haiti to bring them to a new and positive era for their country.
