For twenty-five years, the Mesa Baseline Rotary Foundation and the Mesa West Rotary Club have sponsored a team of audiologists and doctors that conduct a medical mission to help the people of Guaymas, Mexico with their hearing problems. Although the city has approximately 130,000 citizens, there are no ear, nose and throat surgeons, audiologists or hearing aid dispensers in Guaymas.
Guaymas is a Sister City of Mesa. It is located about 450 miles south of Phoenix, Arizona. We have worked at a school for mentally and physically challenged students, many of whom have hearing loss. We have a test booth, clinical audiometer, impedance meter, hearing aid modification tools and otoacoustic emissions screener.
Each year, a group of specialists volunteer to go and conduct hearing tests and medical examinations, fit and dispense hearing aids and earmolds, fix hearing aids, and provide consultations on matters related to aural rehabilitation and education of students with hearing loss. To instill the spirit of volunteerism in audiologists, doctoral candidates from Arizona State University and A.T. Still University join us for this humanitarian mission. To date, over 100 students have participated.
We test preschool-age children as well as adults. Over a typical four-day period, two are spent in traveling to and from Guaymas while two days are usually spent seeing patients. It is not uncommon to see between 300 to 350 patients within those two days. All patients are given a medical examination and medicine by our doctors, a hearing test by the audiologists, and, if needed, are fitted with custom-made earmolds and hearing aids. Those already having hearing aids will have those aids inspected, cleaned and fixed or adjusted as needed. Batteries are dispensed to those needing them and the patients are counseled on the use and care of the hearing aids. All services are performed at no charge.
Since 1992, over 4500 patients have been seen and over 3500 hearing aids have been fitted.
Donations of hearing aids, batteries and supplies have come from various manufacturers and audiologists, as well as patients of audiologists in the United States. Donated hearing aids are reconditioned before being taken to Guaymas. Individuals, manufacturers and suppliers have also donated medical equipment. Other medical equipment that has been taken to Guaymas includes wheel chairs, hospital beds, exam tables and chairs, bandages, syringes and general disposable medical supplies as well as medical books, office equipment and supplies.
The program does not require that the volunteers pay for their transportation or lodging but donations are welcome. The Guaymas Rotary Club provides food and entertainment and helps in the arrangement of local transportation and lodging. The Mesa West Rotary Club sends club members to act as interpreters and assistants to the medical team.
Together, the cooperative work of many groups and individuals have made this Medical Mission for the citizens of Guaymas a very effective and efficient program helping those with hearing loss hear the best they can with the hearing they have.
The program coordinator, Robert Jensen, a now retired audiologist, has received national recognition for his efforts. He received the Audiology Award in 2007 from A.T. Still University, Honors of the Association in 2011 from the Arizona Speech-Language-Hearing Association and in April, 2016, the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the American Academy of Audiology.
In 2017, we will be going to Guaymas from November 8th to the 12th. Volunteers are always welcome and other Rotary clubs are encouraged to help us through donations or participation through Rotary grants.
For more information on the program, please contact Robert J. Jensen, MS at bobcat2@cox.net or see our Facebook page at Ayudame a Escuchar.
Allan and Polly Cady hosted District Governor Omar Falcon Aburto and his family from Vera Cruz, Mexico for the USA/Mexico Friendship Conference held this past weekend. They are a lovely family who they are enjoying very much. DG Omar's wife is a Rotarian in an all women Club where she is also a past president. DG Omar has 99 Rotary Clubs in his District so is a very busy man.
They have two children who are along with them - a daughter, age eleven, and their son, who is five-years old. The daughter mentioned she would like to go trick or treating on Halloween since in Mexico they don't observe this tradition. The kids picked out Halloween costumes and are very excited to go! So in light of this, Allan and Polly decided to have a little get together Sunday night and show the kids all about pumpkin carving.
Pam Cohen, Chuck Flint, Donna and Bryan Goetzenberger along with their daughter Paige and their inbound exchange student from Austria joined in the fun and dinner. (It also happened to be Pam's birthday!). As you can see from the first picture, Pam is showing our Mexico guest how to clean the pumpkin. We then found a picture on the internet of a carved pumpkin the kids liked and Pam drew it on the pumpkin. After dinner, the carving began and all the kids, Pam, and Mrs. DG took turns carving. There was a lot of joking and funny faces with the light-up eyes used on the pumpkin. You can see the end result!
Jack Rosenberg was born in Philadelphia, Pa, and moved to Arizona 46 years ago, at the age of 17. He brought my brother with him. They lived in Douglas, AZ, so that Jack could attend Cochise College. He worked three jobs, and attended college full time.. He worked as a desk clerk, student union manager, and did janitorial work, so that he could provide a Jewish Education for his brother in Tucson on the Weekends. Jack graduated with an Associate of Science Degree, in Pre-Med. Jack has an older brother, Ted, and Younger Brother, Lee, a Half-Sister, Suzanne, a Half Brother, Larry, a Step-Sister, Elaine, and another Step-Sister, Susan.
Jack served in the U.S. Navy, his first enlistment, so that he could receive educational benefits. While in the Navy, Jack traveled to Italy, Spain, Greece, England, France, Germany, Beirut Lebanon, Rio De Janeiro (Brazil). He became a Shellback (an initiation, when a Sailor passes through the Equator. After his first enlistment, Jack attended Cypress College of Mortuary Science, where he received a Degree in Mortuary Science. Jack's first wife gave birth to his son, Eric, in Anaheim General Hospital, and Jack was given an award at Cypress College for making the entire class feel like an expectant father. They moved back to Arizona, and Jack became the youngest Funeral Home Manager, in the State of Arizona, at the age of 26.
Jack speaks English, and some version of Spanish, which helped in making funeral arrangements, in the town of Guadalupe. Jack was called back to the Navy, by the Pentagon, as a Mortician, during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Many years ago, Jack became "Jellybean" the Clown. As Jellybean, Jack worked with burned, crippled, dying and abused children, making over 150 balloon animals, trying to put smiles on the faces of these kids. Jack travelled with some fellow Rotarians to Bosnia, during their war, as Jellybean to help out with the refugee children.
Jack has lived in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Virginia, California, and Arizona. As a teenager, he wanted to become a Doctor (specifically, an OB/GYN, but life got in the way). He worked for Ross Realty for 25 years, before transferring his Real Estate License to FDR Real Estate last year after retiring from his 40-year career as a funeral director, embalmer, and advanced funeral planning counselor.
Jack has a META Certification, which he used to work with people who had a psychiatric diagnosis, to show them that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Jack enjoys his Grandchildren (Danielle, Sammy, Sydney, Nathan and Max). He volunteers at Home Base (making meals for homeless children), Feed My Starving Children, and of course, Mesa West Rotary Club. Jack has been married to Cindy for almost 10 years. His Son, Frank, is also a member of the Mesa West Rotary Club. His younger son, Eric, does triathlons for various charities.
The best vacation Jack had was visiting Frank, Amanda and Sammy, in England for 16 days, and taking a 2 week cruise to Greece, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Amsterdam and Albania. The highlights of that trip was his family in England, and being able to climb to the top of the Acropolis, in Greece.
Jack's most rewarding volunteer experience was many years ago, when the Mesa West Rotary Club, built a playground for the Child Crisis Center. "Rotarians working together is the best feeling in the World." Jack served as President of the Mesa West Rotary Club, from 1996 - 1997, & 2012 2013 He served as Assistant District Governor, from 1997 - 1998 & 1998 - 1999. He has served all of the Avenues of Service.
President, Allan opened the meeting with Darl Andersen offering the invocation, followed by John Bethea leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Ray Smith set an energetic tone for the meeting when he led those present in a Rotary version of "If You're Happy and You Know it."
Among the guests present were Spencer Jones from Utah, Warren's wife, Son Hee, Gary Johnson, AG from Tempe, Salman Mubarak, and his wife from Multan, Pakistan.
John Bethea won the attendance drawing. Ron Thompson won the weekly raffle, but did not draw the Ace of Clubs, so the $511 pot will continue to grow. Chuck Flint explained the Buck Board for the benefit of the guests, and Greg Okonowski served as Sgt. at Arms collecting happy bucks. Jim McGown paid happy/sad bucks for enjoying a great meal at Durant's where the meal for four cost $400. Pam Cohen made a $62 donation to our sponsorship program to celebrate her birthday and announce a job change even though she announced she is now old enough to retire. Chuck Flint paid happy bucks for a successful Havasu Falls trip with the inbound Youth Exchange students. Bob Zarling matched the $81 collected in the Polio Plus Bucket for a total of $162 to support the cause.
Announcements:
Donations and pledges the sponsorship program has now raised $23,500. President Allen reminded members that even though the steak and beans competition will end October 31, and final donations and pledges are now due, the sponsorship program is ongoing. Many donors have indicated a willingness to renew their gift each year and donations will be gladly accepted anytime.
Don Boucher announced the need for six to eight volunteers to help with the Guaymas Departure Breakfast. Donations for the school supplies for the Guaymas school total $324.00.
Don LaBarge reminded members that we are partnered with Mesa Sunrise for November 11. He needs a team of six to sven to meet by 7:30 AM to put flags out and again at 2:00 PM to put the flags back in the trailer.
Members were reminded of the United Sound Book Assembly Party to be held Friday, October 27 at the home of Julie Duty.
John Eagleston presented a District Achievement Patch to be placed on our banner.
John Pennypacker reminded members of the Foundation Dinner coming up on Saturday, November 4.
The Speaker, Salman Mubarak, is from the Multan Midtown Rotary Club in Pakistan. He is the CEO of a charity hospital. He has extensive Rotary experience, and has enjoyed meeting Rotarians and being part of making lifelong change possible. His home club is a small club with only fifteen members. They have participated in 2 matching grants with clubs in the United States and one with France. They have participated in a global grant to provide solar power electricity for the hospital. Multan is one of the oldest cities in Pakistan with a population of over 3,000,000.
They focus on ophthalmology, providing cataract surgeries and screening for congenital diseases. They pre-screen for diabetes and glaucoma. Some of their projects have been featured in the Rotarian Magazine. A polio awareness project involved survivors playing cricket form wheelchairs.
When asked about news reported and its influence on perceptions, he stated that Rotarians can bridge gaps caused by negative news.
The average income in Pakistan is $2/day putting enormous pressure on charity hospitals. His hospital is funded from families and businesses, but not supported by the government. He announced that Pakistan had three reported cases of polio so far this year.
(John Pennypacker was not sure he heard correctly, so did some checking following the meeting and found more current figures - 5 reported cases in Pakistan and 7 in Afghanistan this year)
There are very large hurdles being created from the war on terror. Thousands of schools have been destroyed. His wife is an ob/gyn physician. Access to health care is poor. A big hurdle for education for girls is the lack of toilets at available schools. Clean water and sanitation is a big problem as is malnutrition. Rotary can help.
Following the program, President Allan asked the members whether or not to hold a meeting on November 9, since several members will be absent and participating in the Guaymas mission. Those in attendance who will not be on the mission enthusiastically said they wanted to meet. Jim McGown will be the speaker.
Finalizing the requirement of a $2,000 district grant that was awarded to United Sound and announced at our October 5 meeting, July Duty hosted a book assembly project at her home Friday, October 27. Members and guests of Mesa West Rotary Club participated in the work project, about which Julie exclaimed, "They got them all done! It was completely amazing!"
The mission of United Sound is providing musical performance experiences through peer mentorship for students with special needs.
The district grant funds, which were matched by the Mesa West Rotary Foundation for a total of $4,000 covered printing of the curriculum/music books the participating students use. The work project will utilized the effort of Rotarians, their guests and participating family members to assemble and customize the curriculum books adding colored stickers to aid the special needs students in transferring what they see in the book to more easily play correct notes on their musical instrument(s).
Carole Kralicek is with eleven Sun Lakes Rotary Club members on a Rotary Friendship Exchange to Sydney and Gosford areas in Australia. They were hosted at an office luncheon by the Honorable Julie Bishop, Minister for Foreign Affairs (the Rex Tillerson counterpart), and Lucy Wicks, a member of Parliament. They watched Parliament “at work” during Question Time. “This shocking name-calling session was worse than our congress!!! HaHa” It even included the Prime Minister.
Carole says her new pet needs arms.
As of Friday, October 27, they had visited eight clubs. They attended a huge BBQ with the Gosford Club (which does not allow women). Carole was hosted by a member of a newer club. From Gosford, they were headed north to warmer weather to visit eight additional Rotary clubs.
.jpg)
President, Allan opened the meeting with Darl Andersen offering the invocation, followed by John Bethea leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Ray Smith set an energetic tone for the meeting when he led those present in a Rotary version of "If You're Happy and You Know it.".jpg)
.jpg)
