 Rotary Int'l |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Above: Wednesday, Arrival on the tarmac at Port au Prince, Haiti, and the journey in Haiti begins. Haiti is the third poorest country in the world. The average per capita income is $1 per day. 60% of the people go to bed hungry every night; 70% are illiterate. Our goal is to try to make a difference. View slideshow of arrival at Port au Prince airport in Haiti.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Above: Checking in at Hotel Montana in Port au Prince, which is guarded by U.N. armed troops and local police. The main Capital City has no power much of the time. All big businesses have generators that they run more often than not, importing water by the tanker. View slideshow of Hotel Montana in Port au Prince, Haiti.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Above: Thursday, After months of email & cell phone communiation, first in-person meeting between Marlene & her team of Brad & Earl with District 7020's DG Dick, wife Carla, and DG Nathan from D-6910. We discussed the Matching Grant we had proposed for Cap Haitien and how we should proceed. View slideshow of our first meeting.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Above: Friday, flying via TortugAir's 14-seater propeller plane to Jeremie, Haiti, to take part in their District Assembly. While tickets were reserved, they were oversold so it was a relief to get boarding passes in hand. Upon arrival, we were met by ADG Robert & his wife Rotarian Rosa. View slideshow of airport and travel.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Above: Views of the poor conditions in the countryside as we drove to our hotel, set high on a hill with a great view of the ocean. Haitien's have one chance in ten of dying beforetheir first birthday, one chance in five of dying before their fifth birthday, from diseases which cost pennies to treat. View slideshow of drive through the countryside of Haiti and meetings at our hillside hotel.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Above: The entire team traveled over rough roads in a four-wheeler to a private bar a half hour away. There we enjoyed an evening of local talent and fun. The band from Port au Prince that was due to play did not arrive so Haitien Rotarians improvised by singing, telling stories, and reciting poetry. Despite shortcomings in development, Haiti has the basics of true social art and culture. View slideshow of this enjoyable evening.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Saturday: 7:00am, we traveled to the Club Assembly held at the Mormon church. As they arrived, we met other Haitien Rotarians from around the country, and began our discussion with the Cap-Haitien Rotary Club's Raoul, through interpreter Dr. Guy. A city of 130,000 on the north coast, Cap Haitien operates with practically no water. The little it has is contaminated. View slideshow of traveling to the Assembly.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Assembly: AG Dr. Robert and DG Dick opened the Assembly with Dr. Guy, Haiti Water Task Chair, and PDG Amos. While well attended, it wasn't easy for Haitien Rotarians around the country to attend. Two Clubs left by car at 3:00am and arrived 10:00am after a rough trip due to rain and a flat tire. Bottom right, while Brad speaks some French, we were pleased to have a Rotarian interpret the French and Creole for Earl & Brad & Governor Marlene.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Above left: continuing our conversation with the Cap Haitien Rotarians. Above right: first in person meeting with AG Caleb, part of the Haitien team we had been corresponding with via email for months. Bottom, lunch break. In the afternoon, our team sat in a room with the Cap Haitien team and an interpretor, while Marlene worked on her laptop to modify our proposal with a Matching Grant the Cap Haitien Club had submitted. Agreement was reached at 5:50pm.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Above: just before the Assembly 6:00pm conclusion, we joined the Haitien Rotarians in receiving our Certificates of attendance from Jeremie area AG Dr. Robert and President Gaiten. Top left, our team of Brad & Earl with the Cap Haitien team of Raoul & Davilmar. Bottom, one last picture. View slideshow of Haiti's District Assembly.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Above: back for our last night in Haiti. Top row: Much fellowship and fun during dinner, while DG Dick & DG Marlene worked on their laptops, finalizing our Matching Grant application. A torrential downfall of rain took down the wireless connection, so signatures weren't exchanged by email until 5:00am the next morning. Following that, our convoy bid farewell to each other and set out for the local airport. View slideshow of our last day in Haiti and our journey to the airport.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Above: Sunday, A weary but happy D-7150 & D-7020 team checking in at the Jeremie airport, prior to flying back to Port au Prince on the small propeller plane. After a crowded terminal check-in, a late arriving plane, and a long walk down the tarmac, the plane to carry us back to our respective homes in The Bahamas (Dick), Florida (Brad), and New York (Marlene & Earl) departed Haiti. My last act of Haiti kindness, for now, holding a Haitien baby on the airplane to NY so her Mom could take a break. View slideshow of flight from Jeremie, Haiti airport back to Port au Prince airport for final leg home.
Monday
all day was spent getting additional signatures via email from D-7020 which
were necessary to complete the Matching Grant and get it submitted to The
Rotary Foundation by the midnight deadline. Our thanks to DG Dick, Grants
Chair Dennis, Task Chair Guy, AG Caleb, Cap Haitien Rotarians, and my team
of Earl & Brad for the roles they played in making this happen. Mission
accomplished at 11:50pm. TRF approval pending.
|
2007-2008: District Water & Literacy Project defined - Our goal is to provide clean water through purifiers and sand filters; green energy generators & sun ovens to bring renewable, human-powered energy to the community; along with literacy training & resources to ensure healthier living conditions. Download the online printable Project form letter & join in with us to make a difference! NOTE: Our DRFC Jack Luchsinger reports "Any money given to the 'District 7150 - Haiti Project' account toward our Matching Grant from RI can be used to designate Paul Harris Fellows by the clubs donating the money". To have a program presented to your Club on this Haiti Project, Contact DRF Chair Jack Luchsinger or one of the following (who have copies of Bob Hood's DVD): Foundation Committee Members: Sandra Fentiman, Tim Gaul, Jerry Gortner, Earl Lewis, Ward Vuillemot, Frank Decker, Tom Taylor, Joe McCarthy, Jim Austin, Paul Scott, Jim Yonai; or Resources: Roger Skinner, Stu Wood, Jack Weidner, Dick Shineman, Peter Anderson, Bill Tuthill; or our Assistant Governor's: Doug Mouncey, Charlotte Tarwicki, Ann Blask, Sam Crisino, Cal Lyon, Colleen Bennett, Fred Cholet, Paul Graziano, Jim Gascon, Tom Collins. Read more about Rotarian Bob Hood's Haiti Project. Email us if you'd like more information. While we will witness the poverty and hardship of these people, we will also witness the gratitude of those we'll help. In many areas, there are no improved water sources sufficient to meet the needs of the 1,000's upon 1,000's of people living in some of the regions of Haiti. The majority of people rely on fresh water springs for their daily water needs and many women must wake at 3:00 am in order to begin the task of providing water to meet the day’s needs. How fortunate it will be when each day children and families have plenty of clean, pure water and do not face disease and death due to impurities and water shortages, all due to Rotarians who Care, and the Rotary Foundation's matching grant programs. The U.S. remains Haiti's largest trading partner. Port-au-Prince is less than 2 hours by air from Miami, with several daily direct flights. Rotary Solutions- Recognizing the vital importance of safe water, Rotary International policy encourages all Rotary districts and clubs to support efforts which help people to provide themselves with safe water. The safe water projects are to be reasonably close to homes using simple sustainable technology. This policy is reflected in projects of all sizes in all parts of the world. Indicative of Rotary activity are the number of Matching Grants awarded by The Rotary Foundation for water-related projects. The trustees of The Rotary Foundation have made clean water as one of three priorities for major Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grants. The Rotary Foundation awards Matching Grants to projects coordinated by Rotary clubs throughout the world for wells, water tanks, school or hospital water systems, and lavatories. |
to top
View more info on Water Projects
to top
|
This page was last updated: This web site was designed and is maintained by Marlene
B. Brown, DG 2007-08 The Rotary name and logo are the exclusive property
of Rotary International and are |