Pledge: President Sam Fulginiti
Prayer: Rev. Ed Cornell
Song: X
Brents Card Game Winner: Brian (High hand - 2 Aces)
Guests: Lynda Hammond, spouses of Rotarians
Sergeants Report: Joe Arcari
Raffle Winners: Mary Roche, Joe, Charlie R.
Happy Bucks: Lots for the evening venue, Joe was happy for Heinz 57 ketchup, Sam was happy for the great turnout, there were happy bucks for our guests, Charlie R was happy Bob didn't run him over in the parking lot, Brian gave all his winnings for multiple things including the great job John G. is doing to improve attendance at the meetings and Brents 'fixed' card game, Jan for the 1st day of school, Christie happy to be back and Marty for the latest addition to his family - grandchildren Sophia and Sally!
Following a great dinner, Bill O'Shaughnessy introduced our speaker Lynda Hammond of the Orange Rotary Club. Lynda has received many awards including the Service Above Self Award in 2006 and Meritorious Service in 2016. She has served in many positions both in the club and the district level.
Lynda has worked on many projects so she brings a wealth of experience in writing, proposing and gaining grants all over the world. Lynda's passion has been her program Gift of Life which provides cardiac care and intervention for children. Some have received heart transplants and have had their lives extended thanks to this program. Lynda is currently working on a water and sanitation project in rural Kenya not far from the Ugandan border. Drinking water is running out and this project helps preserve and increase supplies through recycling and other methods. There is no safety net, no social services in these impoverished areas. Volunteers from Yale Divinity School, engineers who know solar power and others, are working to make people's lives better and healthier. Grant writing can be very involved. Lynda likened it to gaining ISO certification in industry. The goal is to not only complete a project but make sure its sustainable for years to come even after you've left. Communication is extremely important and the advent of Skype allows for correspondence with people on the ground.
Lynda has been all over the world helping with projects and it has been very rewarding. She has made lifelong friends in the process working side by side with local populations.
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