The Westerner for May 11, 2009

RYPEN:  Mike described a new program that was well received by 48 students last weekend (Rotary Youth Program for Enrichment)

Youth @ District Conference:  Lorne specified the expected program for exchange students next weekend in Jasper - many activities

Cosmopolitan Music Society:  Jim advised tickets ($2 cheaper if bought from him than at the door) were available for the annual spring concert, June 7 @ Winspear

Finemaster: Michel fined $2 for the following:  out of country since Jan 1, serving pizza in last 2 weeks, anyone sitting by Joe, anyone leaving early, anyone sitting by Mike, Mike for being Mike; then everyone else $1

Proposed New Member:  Doug Burchill, proposed by Bill Buckham; self employed consulting engineer

Happy Bucks:  Jim Spalding picking up a second Porsch 911 today; Mike, dared by RYPEN students to climb a 25 foot pole which he did; Grace returned with all her family to Canada 50 years ago today

Scarlet's luggage:  Scarlet built & decorated a patio table which she then auctioned for $2 per ticket; proceeds to pay for extra charge by airlines for overweight luggage when she returns to France this summer; table won by Dave

Guest Speaker:  Ben Doz described the eye exam team's trip to Huehuetenango, Guatemala, and he thanked Rotary Club of Edmonton West for the $5,000 to defray costs.  We thanked him for the Optometrist's Clinic contribution of over $10,000

Left Edmonton Jan 3/09; group included Drs. Hodges, Smith, Pearson & Doz; nurses Hengbach & Berg; Rotarians Ralph (& Kathy), Marley Doz, Doug Sollows, Lorne & Chris.  Next day, after long travel hours, clinic held in Parramos where team saw 100 patients, team assisted by host Dr. Carlos Solarzano. 

Dr. Solarzano is a member of Rotary Club of Huehuetenango and he has been involved in "Eyes for Huehuetenango" since early 1990's, travelling to remote villages to offer free eye care.  Rotary Club of Edmonton West, through Zen & Ben Doz have been involved since 1998.

Jan 5 travel to Huehuetenango (city of 100,000) a 5 hour trip north of capital of Guatemala.  That afternoon primary care clinic began there which continued Jan 6.  Jan 6, the eye surgeries began in Huehuetenango.  Primary care clinic was busy - saw 470 patients.

Jan 7 subgroup went to Los Ramiriez (Drs. Solarzano & Doz, Lorne, Chris & Kathy).  5 hour drive, crossed Cuchumatanes mountains with highest peaks @ 12,000 feet, dropped into valley (4,000 feet deep).  Clinic saw 120 patients - very poor people.  Surgery continued in Huehue.  Subgroup returned to Huehue for a banquet prepared by local Rotary Club - note surgery team worked an hour past the arrival of the subgroup - long hours for a good cause.

Surgery continued another 2 days.  Another primary care clinic was attended in El Pojom, a very remote village (the most remote that Ben has been to).  A 6 hour drive which included picking up hitchhikers who helped push the 4 wheel drive truck out of several difficult road stretches.  Pojom clinic building is newly built by a pair of Belgian nurses supported by Rotary in Belgium - staffed by 2 doctors & a nurse.  Ben's team saw 170 patients (heavy parasitic conditions).

History - Eye trips began because of destruction of social services in Guatemala in civil war that ended in 1997.  Program includes free eye exams, free medications, free glasses & free eye surgeries.  Some drugs are donated by Novartis, Allergan and Alcon.

Final count :  879 primary care patients in 4 clinics; 39 surgical patients; 350 pairs of ready glasses; 151 pairs of spectacles.

Thanks from the club to this team effort.

Ben would like to take two teams next year for primary care clinics, pre-operation clinics and surgery clinics.  Think about joining him.