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Medical Equipment & Supplies Abroad
For
more information, please visit the MESA website
http://www.rotarymesa.org/
(Under International Service)
Committee:
President Linda Havens
Rotarian Angelica Rinehart
Rotarian Pam Hoesman
HOW it all started …
Rotary Club of Fremont's involvement in the Rotary Tour for M.E.S.A.
(M.E.S.A. stands for Medical Equipment and Supplies Abroad) began in
2007 when President Helene and Rotarian Angelica Rinehart participated
in the bike tour as riders. Their fulfilling experience last year led
to Fremont Rotary Club hosting the opening and closing ceremonies at
this year's bike tour. Over the past year not only has the Fremont
Rotary Club participated in the M.E.S.A. program through the Bike Tour,
but also through their donation of a truck load of school supplies which
was shipped to Central America. All of the efforts of MESA go toward
sending medical equipment and other supplies, such as school supplies,
to countries abroad who are in need of assistance.
JULY 8-13, 2007 – ROTARY M.E.S.A. BIKE TOUR 2007
Fremont Rotary Club’s
representatives: Club President Helene Horvath-Zielinski and Rotarian
Angelica Rinehart participated in the 2007 bike tour and survived.
Though they didn’t reach
the 400 miles or bike all 6 days, they still did well. President Helene
rode 3 days about 135 miles and Rotarian Angelica did 2 days for 90
miles! It was a wonderful experience for meeting new friends, visiting
Rotary Club members and places, and understanding M.E.S.A. better.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2007 – DONATION TOWARDS M.E.S.A.
Fremont City Schools
through Rotarian Kim Theller have donated a semi load of obsolete
educational materials and supplies i.e. school desks, chairs, bookcases,
a piano, books and misc. school supplies items to Fremont Rotary
Club’s M.E.S.A. Program. This is part of meeting the needs and
strategies in the fight against illiteracy in Central America. Our
action will benefit so many children in Santa Tecla Rotario, El
Salvador for generations to come.
On Friday, September 21st
Fremont Rotary Club President Helene traveled with another member, Jerry
Clark, to Waterville to unload the donated items from the semi truck
into the warehouse. Helene’s nephew and two drivers from
Crown Battery assisted in the unloading.
This project would not have materialized without the assistance of our
fellow Rotarians - Dr. Kim Theller and
Dr. Traci McCaudy from Fremont City Schools, Jim Toews, who is the
coordinator of this project and Hal Hawk from Crown Battery.
Extracted from MESA January Newsletter
President Mario Cruz of Santa Tecla
Rotario in Santa Tecla, El Salvador sends his greetings for the
season. His club received a container from Fremont Rotary on
December 21st. The shipment contained school equipment from Fremont
Schools. Mario sends a big thank you to Jim Toews and President
Helene Zielinski.
JULY 2008 - Fremont Hosted 4th MESA Bike Tour 2008
This year
Fremont Rotary Club hosted the tour and where it left Fremont at
President Rutherford B. Hayes’ Barn (adjacent to Fremont Memorial
Hospital) on Sunday, July 13th, and the riders returned to
Fremont on Saturday, July 19th.
On the early morning of July 13th, Sunday,
Rotarians and friends gathered at the car park of Memorial Hospital to
send off a group of cyclists. Fremont City Mayor Terry Overmyer was
present to flag the tour off to a smooth sailing and safe week of
biking.
After seven days and 430 miles, the MESA bike
tour returned to the President Rutherford B. Hayes’ Barn on Saturday,
July 19th. 1st Ward Councilman Don Nalley, accompanied by Fremont
Rotary Club President Rob Lytle and District 6600 Governor David
Daugherty all welcomed the cyclists and thanked them for their
contribution.
Fremont Rotary Club presented MESA with a
$1,600 check and $20,000 worth of used-but-useable equipment. $30,000
was collected among the 19 Rotary Clubs the tour visited this year.
Tour stops included Bowling Green, Perrysburgh, Toledo, Swanton,
Archbold, Bryan, Edgerton, Hicksville, Defiance, Van Wert, Delphos, St.
Marys, Kenton, Marion, Galion, Mansfield, Shelby, Willard, and finally
Fremont. Tour leader Edward Stewart said he is confident that they will
exceed their $50,000 goal for MESA this year.
Representing Fremont Rotary Club were Immediate
Past President Helene Horvath Zielinski and Rotarian Angelica
Rinehart. The duo rode all 7 days on their very first complete tour.
Together the Fremont duo completed more than 500 miles in 7 days and
raised more than $800 in pledges. Another Fremont rider, Karen Vargo,
joined the tour for 3 days.
SEPTEMBER 2008 to MAY 2009
– FREMONT HOSTED BIKE TOUR 2009 PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Fremont was (again)
chosen as the best strategic place for the planning committee to meet.
The Club has played host to four
bi-monthly MESA Bike Tour 2009 Planning Committee Meetings since last
September. The meetings were held at the office of United Way, courtesy
of PE Linda Havens.
JULY 11-17, 2009 – ROTARY M.E.S.A. BIKE TOUR 2009
Fremont Rotary Club’s
representatives: Past President Al Gorman and Rotarian Angelica Rinehart
participated in the 2009 bike tour and survived. They rode all 6 days
and reached approximately 370 miles. Again it was a great, unique
experience for meeting new friends, visiting Rotary Club members and
places, and better understanding M.E.S.A. better.
Rotary Club of Fremont
collected $1,056 for MESA this year.
Visit the ride pages to
read daily journal and see ride photos.
http://www.rotarymesa.org/biketour.html
Start planning for the 2010 MESA Bike Tour
YES you heard it right …
the planning is already underway for the 2010 MESA Bike Tour.
So, if you start pedaling
now, you could be in shape for the approximately 380 – 400 mile trip
that they are planning for July 2010.
By the way, the bike
tour’s goal is to visit about 1/3 of the District each year, so you will
see the whole district in three years … how about that!
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