President Louise along with Patrik Mayer, president of the Moscow International club welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Ildus Yanyshev, District Governor D2223 also welcomed everyone and expressed his good wishes. ADG Hubert Singh brought greetings from DG Mike Lawrie who was unable to join us today due to conflicting meetings.
As usual President Louise began the meeting by playing O Canada and also played the Russian National Anthem which can be viewed here:
Olga Kholmogorova, National Coordinator of Intercountry Committees, D-2223
Yan Brown, Chairman of Canada-Russia ICC, Canadian Section
Judy Byron, PDG D-5020, Founder and Past Chairwoman of Canada-Russia ICC, Canadian Section
Jennifer Laughton, Secretary of Canada-Russia ICC, Canadian Section
Irina Bakumenko, Secretary of Canada-Russia ICC, Russian Section
Shira Ginsler, Rotaractor Club of Stratford
Guests
Judy Proctor, guest of Bill Proctor
Judy Ginsler, guest of Ernie Ginsler
Program Highlights
Today’s meeting was a special joint meeting with The Rotary Club of Moscow International from District 2223 in Russia. Each club provided some background and highlights of the organization and activities.
Rotary Club Moscow International was chartered on May 25th, 2001
English speaking club with members from Armenia, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Russia, Serbia, Spain and Switzerland.
RCMI members: 31 (guests 34)
Statutory meetings every second Monday evening
New meeting formats are being tried (e.g. chimney meeting)
Ad-hoc events include:
- Cosmoscow Art Exhibition
Whiskey & Cigar Night
- Joint online meetings with other clubs
Their organization is similar to ours with the following committees:
Membership,
Club Life,
Special & fundraising,
Finance,
Public Relations and Media,
Club Relations - Russia / Youth
Club Relations - International, and
Legal & Governance.
Club Projects include:
RestartU
The Center of Inborn Pathologies (CIP) headed by the professor, PhD Natalia Belova, was created in 2008 and is aimed to help children with rare and complex inborn pathologies.
CIP organizes unique Multidisciplinary Consulting to establish definite diagnosis, to provide sampling for complex analyses, and to organize social adaptation rehabilitation programs.
Families having children with osteogenesis imperfecta, get psychological counselling, legal assistance, are included in social adaptation programs… which drastically improves their lifestyle.
RCMI raises funds to purchase “tailor made” wheelchairs and walking devices to be given to the families of the children.
More Than Able
Fund created in 2015 by entrepreneur and marathon runner Vadim Zelensky, inspired by the famous tandem of American runners Dick and Rick Hoyt
Target: train para-athletes to run races such as marathons in tandem with volunteers
Para-athletes with different types of handicap can participate, special focus on young people suffering from cerebral palsy.
Results: the tailor made training, with a special medical follow-up, followed by the participation to the race, gives a positive effect on the physical and mental health of the participants.
Positive impact on Society attitude towards handicapped people
RCMI raises funds to purchase special wheelchairs designed to run in “tandem” in races such as marathons
DETSKI DOM, Children’s house for Deafblind, is situated in in Sergiev Posad 60 km north of Moscow
The orphanage is home for 230 deaf and blind children.
The aim of Rotary Club Moscow International is to help the deaf children with quality hearing aids. One set of good quality hearing aids costs approximately 2,000 Euro
Just imagine a life where you are both blind and deaf !!
With good hearing aids we can help many of the deaf children to a better quality of life.
Detski Dom - One of the few places in Russia Dedicated to take care of deaf and blind children.
Deaf children are learning deaf language, and blind children are learning to read blind text.
Children are usually from poor parents or without.
The orphanage provide food, lodging, and education.
Deafness can in many cases be cured with hearing aids.
Over the last 14 years we have supplied more than 200 sets of hearing aids, and important lab equipment.
New deaf children are coming every year.
Our last Charity Evening we managed to collect 2 Mio Rub (30.000 $)
The project is ongoing, so we need to continue raising money.
Closing Remarks & Reminders
Our meeting next Monday, January 18 will have some Who Am I presentations giving us an opportunity to learn more about some of our newest members.