THE CHILDREN OF RUSSIA AND THE ROTARY FOUNDATION

 FOR THE CHILDREN OF RUSSIA

Contribution by Paul McGuire PHF 1995/96 President Rotary Club of Anchorage East ALASKA  D 5010 :

    I can tell you the story of our last DG Carolyn Jones, who with the aid of a New Opportunities Grant, took a country western bluegrass band, named " McCloud"  to the Russian far East.  This grant was provided by the Rotary Foundation, and was made possible by people, clubs, individuals, etc. that saw reason to donate  money to TRF.  You know, the original concept behind TRF was for "doing good in the world"         So what good does it do to send a bluegrass band to Russia.  How does that help feed, clothe or shelter people?  Let me help you answer that question. ....................  It gives people something that I consider to be more helpful than clothes, food , or shelter.  What's that?  What could be more important than food, clothing, or shelter?   In English, the word is hope.!!!     That's what was afforded to the people who  were exposed to this experience in Russia.      Probably the most stirring vision I have from listening to PDG Jones story ,is the tale she told of a mothers comments after the band had performed another concert in yet another children's hospital/orphanage. (In Russia, there are many towns that have had similar experiences to Chernobyl, but because they were all smaller in numbers, they did not receive the press attention of Chernobyl. )    The result is, none the less, the same.  Many, many children are sick and dying from Cancer from Radiation poisoning    After the show, the mother grabbed Carolyns hand, looked her right in the eye and said  "Thank you for not forgetting us".  Can you imagine?  Hope.!!!    A reason to get out of bed the next day and somehow manage to make it through another day.  To realize that you are not forgotten.  People do care.  And what do this people remember?

     Not having enough "gifts" to give to all the children she visited (the children all gave her drawings, paintings that they had lovingly done by hand) she started passing out her color DG Rotary cards.  Not such a big deal, right?  Do you know that when she returned to visit these children in November (not knowing how many would still be alive) all of the children still clutched tightly her Rotary card.  So what do they remember?  They remember Rotary is "someone" who has not forgotten them and has given them the greatest gift of all, the gift of hope?  Can we save them all.  No. !  But reaching and helping any is more than enough reason to continue. So this is one of the many reasons I will continue to be a big supporter of TRF.  And yes, I give generously.  No, I am not a wealthy American. .  You see, I truly believe that these kinds of things are what the foundation is truly all about. ! . PDG Jones started a project during her year entitled "The Children of Russia".  Past RI President Glenn Kinross and his recently dearly departed wife Heather,  made a special trip to Anchorage in February of 1998 to receive a check from Carolyn to TRF for ~$575,000US.  This money was earmarked for specific Rotary projects in Russia  which  Russian clubs had developed.  This money was raised by individuals, clubs and districts from all corners of the Rotary World. Carolyn had VHS tapes made of the report she sent to RI after the New Opportunities Grant.  Also on the end of that tape is an update she provided for a video presentation at our Foundation Seminar in November 98.  In the update, she describes the actual mechanics of the projects and gives updates on how they are actually being implemented.  A local Rotarian had copies of these made.  His only request was that people donate $30 in exchange for a tape.

The Achorage Rotary Club has put a proposal to PDG Carolyn Jones to select 13 orphans or children from very poor homes in Russia for financial adoptions by that Rotary Club.

Do you want to know more about Paul McGuire or his Alaska Rotary club,or his District which is  charged with establishing  Rotary  in  Russia East of the Urals?   Then visit Paul at <pmcguire@alaska.net> or his club <@http://www.alaska.net/~aer>

List of Rotary Clubs in Russia east of the eastern boundaries of the Komi Republic and the Yekaterinburg/Sverdlovsk and Kurgan Oblasts; Western Boundary as redefined by Rotary International Board November 1994

Pick up from http://www.rotary5010.org/clubs

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