January 27, 2009

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Bedford Blog


We had a great visit today from Dan LeBlanc, Jill Lennon and Ken Masson of the Merrimac Valley Rotary Club who talked about the blog network they're building in our district, Rotary District 7910. The Bedford Club is now on board!

This is our very first blog and as this year's president I'm proud to be the one to give this a try. Our guests today made it sound really easy and I have to admit that it is as advertised. Our goal is to give current updates of what's happening with our club so that we may share all the great work we do and let people know a little bit about us.

The big news today is the completion of a long term, multi-club project in Kenya regarding the contribution of a brand new van for a children's center. The need for a van to transport children and support staff who live at a distance and may otherwise not have access to the services offered at the center has increased considerably since the project first started two years ago. With the help of many Rotarians not the least by our very own Ralph Hammond, this project has been seen through until completion... Congratulations!!!

Words from Rotarian Marco Pruiksma, of the Naivasha Rotary Club in Kenya. Today I went with some of the board members of the Compass School to the factory where the bus is being build up. The board members had to choose the design and color of the interior and the exterior. It turned out to be a long meeting but it was fun. What I can tell you is that the staff and children of the Compass School are really excited! (just to confirm: these are the same people and the same kids from the former Kimuri School).

From our viewpoint in Bedford, this is what Rotary and the Rotary Foundation is all about. Having an impact, especially for the teachers and students, to demonstrate that there are people that live in other parts of this world that we truly really do care about them. It is an honor to report that the Rotarians here in the USA are just as excited about this project as those in Kenya.

Rotary Clubs (District): Bedford (7910), Littleton (7910), Cambridge (7930), Belmont (7930), Stoneham (7930), Middleboro (7950), and in Kenya, Naivasha (9200). We will put the names of the clubs on the bus together with the Rotary logo.

January 23, 2009

Gift of Life NE - Urgent Need

THIS IS URGENT ! Please consider how you can help. This is an excellent program, with many children saved by our district Rotarians. Ted Shaughnessy (see below) can give you contacts for clubs and Rotarians who have had this excellent experience.

DG Klaus

Host needed to save life of 3.5 year old Jaada from BelizeGift of Life NE needs a host family/club for 3.5 year old Jaada and her mom from Belize who are coming here for life saving open heart surgery on March 2.

Belize is English speaking. Surgery is March 2 at MA General Hospital in Boston and pre-op is Feb 25. Jaada and mom will both stay in the hospital from March 2-9 or so . Then go back for a follow up a week later another follow up a week latter and possibly ( not common) a third follow up another week later. So they will be with the host from about Feb 24 - March 2 and back around March 9 through late March. Hosting can be shared with others too.Please consider opening your heart and home so Jaada can measure her life span in decades rather than days. This will be a life altering experience for the hosts too.YOU can make a difference. Yes you can. Gift of Life NE is a project of Rotary District 7910. See our website www.golne.org Other kids will be coming later too so be sure to contact Ted if you will consider hosting at any time.

Contact Ted Shaughnessy, for more information or to discuss hosting.Email: tedshaughnessy@golne.org617-957-3461 cell781-449-4876h781-449-2320w