Rotary Avenues of Service - International Service

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The Rotary Club of Hamden is involved in many projects in other countries.  Some of them are as follows: 

World Community Service

International Project Fair 

One of the club members attended the 1^st South American Project Fair, held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida during the weekend of October 29-31, 2004.

This was an incredible learning experience as well as building relationships with our fellow international Rotarians.  We have made contact with a Rotary Club in Colombia who is not participating in the Gift of Life program.

Project Amigo

One of our members assisted in the Vision and Medical Screening Mission from January 5-15, 2005  in Colima Mexico.

Centennial Twin Club Relationships:

Rotary Club of Colima

Project: Equipment and supplies required to screen patients for diabetes and hypertension were acquired through a District Simplified Grant. These supplies were used during the Vision Clinic in January 2005.

Rotary Club of Tbilisi

The Rotary Club of Hamden established a relationship with the Rotary Club of Tbilisi through Past President Ia Verulashvili, MD and Mike Beyers of the Toms River Club.

Together we acquired a donation of two ultrasound imaging systems, funded the refurbishing of the systems and delivery to the Women’s Center an NGO and  in Tbilisi. On the 28^th of February we met in New York and celebrated our friendship over dinner (photographs below).

Rotary Club of Minsk

We have established a warm friendship centered around the beautiful children suffering from congenital heart defects requiring open heart surgery. Lynda Hammond has visited Belarus twice and enjoys a good working relationship and an on-going cultural exchange.

Rotary Club of Dhaka West        

The Rotary Club of Dhaka West, RI District 3280, Bangladesh proposes to establish a "Ma o Shishu Shastha Kendra, (MSSK)" (Mother and Child Health Care Centre) to assist the deprived sections of the local population adequate health care facilities. RC of Dhaka West has already established a Sewing Training Centre, which provides practical training.

In view of the need of the new millennium, the MSSK has become a priority since the deprived local population cannot access the institutional facilities provided by the private sector because of higher tariff rates. The public sector initiatives are also too far away from this particular location.

This project is designed to provide the construction of a two-bed health care centre with facilities for emergency childbirth. It would also provide the daily health care assistance to children and mothers by providing an outdoor department. The project would envisage the provision of construction materials, two beds, operation theatre of local standard, generator for the smooth functioning of the MSSK.

In February 2005, the Rotary Club of Hamden donated two Fetal handheld Doppler units to be used in the clinic. These units were hand carried by Rotarian Mohammad Elahee and delivered to the Rotary Club of Dhaka West. It is our intent to support this effort in the year to come.

Ambassadorial Scholar

One July 11, 2004 our Ambassadorial Scholar committee, interviewed a wonderful candidate. The committee recommended the candidate to the district level for the next level of interviews.

United Nations

Lynda Hammond served as the District Chairperson for the annual UN Day at the request of DG Pam Akins.

The objective was to provide the members of the Rotary Club of Hamden as well as all of the Rotarians in District 7980 with a better understanding of the relationship between the United Nations and Rotary International and to stress the importance of supporting the UN as a forum for world peace.

Six members of the club attended UN Day on November 6^th  in Manhattan.

Gift of Life

Our club is extremely active in the Gift of Life program. Rev. Owen Sanderson is a member of the Board of Directors of Gift of Life International as well as the Vice President of Gift of Life Rotary District 7980 Incorporated. Lynda Hammond is a member of Gift of Life International and Secretary for Gift of Life Rotary District 7980 Incorporated.

During the course of the year we have placed an emphasis on creating an awareness and support of the Gift of Life program.  Several articles have been printed in the Beacon, RC Hamden’s Charm, and posting and maintaining information on the District website. Numerous presentations have been given to Rotary Clubs and on the District level. 

Lynda Hammond participated in a Gift of Life/International Children’s Heart Foundation mission to Minsk, Belarus in May 2004. 

October 1, 2004 Fabi Giguere at the request of Lynda Hammond visited the Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery program at the Hospital Nacional “Dos de Mayo,” in Lima, Peru and met with Dr. Efrain Montesinos and his wife Maria the founders of this program. Please refer to the report attached. This program has been accepted as a Gift of Life Regional site.

January 6,  2005 Lynda Hammond traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico and met with Dr. Jose Ramirez  (Pediatric Cardio-thoracic surgeon) regarding establish a Gift of Life program in either Colima or Guadalajara.

January 15, 2005 L. Hammond traveled to Queseria, Mexico to visit Fastino Diaz Lopez and his family. This was a wonderful loving, supportive family. It was a wonderful visit. Fastino is a terrific 12 year young man, who is being managed medically as his disease has progressed beyond where the risk of surgery is too great. Dr. Ramirez and Dr. Alan Freidman of Yale Children’s Hospital.

Haitian Health Foundation

In September 2004, our Club collected canned food and humanitarian supplies for donation. In addition, two fetal heart hand-held Doppler units were acquired and donated to the project.

University Book Donation & Walkathon

This project was a joint effort between the Rotary Club of Hamden and the International Business Society at Quinnipiac University, led by Rotarian Mohmannad Elahee, PhD. University level textbooks were collected for several universities in Bangladesh. 

On November 6, 2004 the group held a Walkathon to raise funds to cover the cost of shipping the books to Bangladesh. It was very successful, raising more funds than was required to meet the shipping costs. The additional funds were donated to the Rotary Club of Hamden Foundation.

Youth Exchange

On November 13^th the Rotary Clubs of Hamden and North Haven co-hosted a Tailgate Picnic at the Yale Bowl for youth exchange students visiting our country.

International Disaster Relief

The  members of the Rotary Club of Hamden donated funds to the Tsunami relief effort.