Medical Equipment & Supplies Abroad

For more information, please visit the MESA website  http://www.rotarymesa.org/

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.

JULY 2008 - Fremont Hosted 4^th 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 13^th, and the riders returned to Fremont on Saturday, July 19^th.

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!