President James rang the meeting to order and welcomed guests and visiting Rotarians.  He also mentioned that we need someone to take hold of our Adopt-a-Spot project downtown. Any interested Rotarian is welcome to step up.
 
There were several other announcements.  Leo Gagnon reminded all of our social evening at the Atlantic Grille on September 26 at 5pm.  Dan Marston noted that our End Polio Bridge Walk (over the new Memorial Bridge) is October 22 at 9 a.m. Every donation will be doubled by the Gates Foundation.  Let’s see if we can beat last year’s total!
 
Our Rotary Connections Committee is up and running.  Marie Brownell of Rotary Reads says she will accept books for children all year long at our meetings.  Ramona Dow explained our Basic Needs Committee and how the process works. First, make an application, which the committee reviews. That will be followed by an interview and then a presentation to the BOD.  She is happily accepting new committee members.
 
 
Our speaker was introduced by Ted Alex.  Donna-Lee Young Rubin is a Past District Governor from Boston and has been a long-time Rotarian.  She was honored at Rotary International in Barcelona, Spain as well as receiving many other Rotary awards.   In 2000, while District Governor, she began inviting the district’s clubs to begin fostering international service.   One year later she went on her first Rotaplast mission.  After the tragic loss of her husband, a surgeon, she was encouraged to apply for the Rotaplast CEO position. The New England native won the job after two trips to California to interview.  
 
 
Rotaplast operates missions in Central and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.  Their primary focus is cleft lip and palate repair. Now Rotaplast has begun to offer some treatment of facial burns.  In poor countries both of these problems are poorly handled and infants and children are shunned and ostracized.  In addition, the afflictions can seriously affect speech hearing, eating and frequent upper respiratory problems.  
 
 
As a physician, I am stunned by the extensive logistic and organizational planning needed to provide services.  In addition the local hands-on training to make these areas more self-sufficient is remarkable.
 
Rotaplast is a 501(c)3 charity. It is not directly connected to Rotary and must fund itself.  For those who are interested, there are multiple positions within each team that do not require a medical or nursing degree.  The video and slide presentation showed the life-changing impact to both the face and spirit of patients treated by Rotaplast.  
 
As Donna-Lee says, “What better thing to do than change a life.”  I think we all can agree.
 
Respectfully submitted, Al Lantinen        
 
 
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