The morning of November 8, 2017, the parking lot at Red Mountain Community College was filled with those of us anticipating the trip to Guaymas for the Hearing Aid Project. As I had never been there before, I was unsure what to expect. Several Rotarians from our club met us with breakfast items that were welcome at that time of the morning and a great way to see us off on our journey.
The journey ended up being a long one, especially for those on the bus. The bus was stopped at the border for three long hours, initially being told that new paperwork was not filled out and therefore, they would have to return home. Luckily, our Guaymas Rotarian friends were able to procure an email that allowed us all to continue.
November 9, brought us all together at the school where we were to conduct our clinic for the next two days. Day one was for children and day two was dedicated to adults. As we arrived, the courtyard area was already full of children and their parents and grandparents waiting for the clinic to begin. We set up as quickly as possible.
The process was that the individuals seeking treatment first went to an intake area. They were asked for information such as name, etc. and files were pulled from last year or new files were created with the issues they were seeking treatment for. A new process was added this year as we are seeking Global Grant money from Rotary International. Additional questions were asked to better identify the needs of the community in the hopes that we can use this information for the Global Grant.
After intake, the patients were shown to either the ENT doctor or to the initial screening areas. Doctors and Audiologists worked to diagnose the issues so that proper hearing aids could be issued. We had two Audiology stations that tested patients hearing in somewhat soundproof environments. We are fortunate to have these testing areas, however, this is where most of the time is spent waiting as most patients need these tests and with only two stations, this takes much time. As you can imagine, the cost of these stations are immense as they need to be as soundproof as possible, and building them is not only costly but prohibited by space. We were told of a new invention that allows the audiologist to test the patient without the need for the soundproof booth that only requires some advanced headphones with other equipment. We are going to look into that as that would help this process tremendously. Several of the audiologists spent two whole days in these dark, cramped spaces in order to serve all of the people that came for help. They never complained once and were as attentive and caring at the end of the twelve hour day as they were at the beginning.
Once the patient has completed the testing, they move on to the hearing aid area. Three people spent the two days fitting patients with new hearing aids as well as repairing hearing aids that were given in the previous years. Translators were used so that the best fit could be made. Sometimes, the patient only spoke in sign language so that had to be translated to Spanish and then to English. Did you know that Mexican sign language is different that American Sign Language? Neither did I until this trip.
After the hearing aids were adjusted, the patient then went to get new ear molds made. Three individuals spent the two days filling ears with the material that becomes the ear mold, drilling a hole in that mold and finally, attaching the hearing aid to the mold and completing the process. This is where you get to see much of the magic. I know of at least two children that heard for the first time after this process was completed. I watched them look in wonder at hearing for the first time and their mother’s tears being shed for the miracle of hearing.
The ENT doctors worked the two days treating patients with many various hearing issues. Tubes were inserted to drain fluid, medicine was prescribed for ear infections and there were even some objects removed from the ears of children that somehow managed to place them there. I witnessed a small bead extracted from a little girl’s ear. Imagine the pain that she must have been in with that in her ear and no medical care to remove it until we arrived.
The most amazing thing was the people, both the ones that served and the ones that we served. Some of them waited all day to see someone for their hearing issues. Children waited in cramped areas for hours and were still so well behaved. (Sometimes better than the adults). One child and his mother were there all day on Thursday and then had to come back on Friday morning to complete the process. Many came from many miles away in order to seek treatment. Due to the large demand, we can only give one hearing aid per person. There was no complaining.
The volunteer staff was absolutely amazing. They worked tirelessly for two twelve hour days. Some didn’t even eat lunch and barely had time to take restroom breaks. They gave not only the gift of hearing, but they gave of themselves. They were compassionate and loving to a group of strangers simply because they knew they had the skills that these people needed. It was a true example of service above self.
The team of doctors, students, and other professionals were honored at an evening of festivities celebrating 25 years of Mesa Baseline Foundation and Mesa West Rotary teaming with Rotarians in Mexico to carry out the Gift of Hearing mission to support needs in Guaymas and its surrounding communities. Mesa West Rotary President, Allan Cady started the festivities with the Spanish translation of: "Greeting to all Rotarians, Doctors and Students. Thank you all for participating in the 25th clinic for people of Guaymas and surrounding areas. Tonight we wish to present Paul Harris fellows to our friends from the Guaymas Rotary Club. This a very special occasion. May I introduce Chuck Flint." Everyone was very impressed that he made the effort to make the greeting in Spanish.
Chuck Flint made the Paul Harris presentations in Spanish, as well. As seen in the photo, receiving this honor in their community is achieved by very few. Those who were named were elated.
Bob Jensen, who has been the organizer behind the Gift of Hearing project since its inception gave certificates to the participating doctors. He also honored Mesa West Rotarian, Ray Smith with a certificate recognizing his loyal dedication to the project for so many years.
It was truly an evening of celebration!
Special thanks is owed from Mesa West Rotary to Mike Whalen of New Line Trophy for his donation of name pins for all the doctors, audiology students and Rotarians participating in the Guaymas Hearing project, and for his discount given for the certificates and plaques presented at this special celebration.
PDG, Don LaBarge reports "All went like clock work at the Veterans Parade." His team gathered at 7:45 am at 8st & Center. The team included Melodie, Jim McGown, Chris LaBarge, Warren Williamson and Ted Williams. Chris and Don LaBarge picked up the U-Haul about 7:15am. It had been loaded with supplies for the Fallen Soldiers Event the day before by Theresa Carmichael and her staff. The fallen soldiers event honors the 170 soldiers killed in action since 9-11. They drove the U-Haul to the loading area at 8st & Center.
Theresa was Parade chair & Member of Mesa Sunrise. Several Mesa Sunrise folks were assigned other duties, but very visibly working to support the parade. The Mesa West crew had worried about getting past the barricades, and possibly being hassled by the Guard. It turned out Rich Guin from Mesa Sunrise was the Guard, so it worked perfectly. The first shift included Don and Chris, Melodie, Jim & Warren and about 75 ROTC kids from all branches. It took every hand to prepare the Fallen Soldiers poles and pictures for hand out. The parts came in four different boxes. The ROTC kids received the poles, pictures, wreath and ribbons from the Mesa West Rotary crew. In two-person teams, the ROTC kids put the poles together with the wreaths, picture and ribbons using zip ties. One of the jobs was to tie the ribbon into a bow to give the kids, Chris spent some time trying to teach Don how to tie a bow. He gave up and took the role as supervisor. He recruited two girl scout mothers, who happened to be using Don's truck for shade while they were waiting for other scouts, to help Chris tie the bows. Chris and the two girl-scout mothers tied bows and gave them to the ROTC kids. The ROTC adult leader and the head boss barked orders at the kids like it was boot camp. Don said, "It was great. Trust me when I say the kids paid attention to the boss."
After all the Poles were finally assembled about 10:30 am, Don and Chris moved to 2st street and Country Club which was the end of the Parade route. They parked and set up with gear to receive the poles. Their job was to disassemble the parts and repack the boxes for next year. The Mesa Fire Department showed up with a large grill which they set up next to the truck and trailer. Don and Chris knew several of them as they are a retired group, and were part of the grilling crew. (Chris's brother Grant is a retired Mesa Fireman and they knew them from what Don calls the old days. After everybody shook hands and told stories, the firemen set up their grill and began the task of giving away 1500 hot dogs to the parade workers and participants, or, basically, anyone who asked for one, Their event was paid for by the Fire Union. While Chris and Don waited for the Parade to end, they accepted the assignment of testing the hot dogs for quality. After eating two or three, they gave the fireman the OK. The firemen had been warned by Theresa to be ready for the ROTC kids at the end as they would be hungry and tired and eagerly invade the hot dog stand.
Ted Williams joined Don and Chris about 11 AM, along with Colton and ten Interact kids. They were ready for the ROTC, at about 12:20 PM, the 170 ROTC kids arrived with the boss barking orders and they marched straight to the Mesa West team's setup. The chaos began. After about thirty minutes all 170 poles had been collected. The team began the process of removing the wreaths, pictures, ribbons and zip ties and repacking. "Thank goodness for the Interact kids!" Mental notes were made about what will be needed next year: chairs, more cutting pliers, pipe wrenches to undo the poles etc. Tje team finished at 2 PM and returned the truck to Theresa's office.
Presiding over the meeting was Immediate Past President, John Eagleston. The invocation was given by Geoff White, and Jim McGown led the Pledge of Allegiance. It was noted that many of our Mesa West Rotary members were missing, as they were participating in the 25th Anniversary of the Gift of Hearing Project in Guaymas, Mexico. Guests in attendance were Kristen Kelin, an audiologist, a guest of Jeanie Morgan, who responded to an inquiry from Kristen made through the Mesa West Rotary Facebook page. Aubrey's daughter, Brin, was also present as a guest.
The owner of the first badge number drawn in the attendance drawing was not present, but on the 2nd draw, Geoff White was the lucky $5 winner. There was no weekly raffle, and no buck board solicitation. It was again noted that the board is now full, but because we will be dark on November 16 due to our joint meeting November 15 honoring the District Governor's official visit, and dark the following week as we all celebrate Thanksgiving, the draw-down for the Paul Harris donation from the full buck board will likely be held at our November 30 or December 7 meeting.
Don LaBarge gave a report on the Guaymas sendoff Wednesday morning, November 8. He admitted making two logistical mistakes - too many muffins and not enough coffee. He could send the muffins on the bus with the team, but could not sooth the angst of those suffering caffeine withdrawal.
Announcements:
John Eagleston announced we are now over $35,000 in donations received from our sponsorship program, significantly exceeding the $30,000 goal. A date will soon be sent for the Steak and Beans celebration.
Don LaBarge has 10 Interactors helping distribute water along the Veterans Day Parade route. He has the help he will need to get the banners for the 170 fallen soldiers since 9/11 assembled and distributed to the ROTC marchers who will carry them. He also has help who will meet the ROTC marchers at the end of the parade and put the banners back in the trailers. Don announced he is the supervisor, which means he does not have to work. One of his helpers is his wife, Chris, whose payback for helping with the parade is that Don has to help her with a volunteer project at the Phoenix Open.
Bob Zarling reported he visited the Westwood High School Interact meeting on November 8 and learned they had raised $853 with their Purple Pinky project to raise funds and awareness for Polio Plus.
Mesa West Rotarian, Jim McGown, presented the program discussing his experiences while involved with DUI Enforcement, where he spent the final years of his 30-year tenure with the Mesa Police Department.
The legal limit is equal to or greater than .08. "Impaired to the slightest degree" can be enforced with .05 with proof of impairment. Extreme DUI occurs at 1.5 or greater, and Super Extreme requires a reading of 2.0 or greater.
The first two offenses of DUI are missdemeaners. They can be automatic felonies if driving with a suspended license, or there is a child under 15 in the car. A third DUI is an automatic felony.
Drug impairment does not carry a specific measure - you either are or are not impaired based on the field tests. Most who are stopped willing take the tests administered by the officers, since they firmly believe they are "fine." The average intoxication level of those stopped is 1.4. To reach the legal limit - on average - would require 12 oz. of beer, 6 oz. of wine, or a shot. Generally speaking, women are affected more by less alcohol. The liver typically can clear approximately .015/hour.
The myths that coffee will make a person sober, or sufficient food intake will prevent impairment, are erroneous. Coffee simply makes one wider awake. While food intake does slow the absorption of alcohol, it does not prevent it from being absorbed. It just takes longer for the impairment to occur.
The Mesa PD has a phlebotomist on staff. Blood samples are preferred over breathalyzer tests, as the blood samples can be saved. Jim shared some entertaining anecdotes from his experience in the field, including one stop where he successfully arrested two impaired drivers with a single stop after observing them stop to switch places before he was able to make the stop.
Bryan Goetzenberger was born in Tempe, Arizona. He is the middle child. He has a younger sister and had an older brother who sadly is deceased. Bryan is an Arizona native who has resided in Arizona all but four years of his life, when he lived in the Seattle, Washington area working for an engineering firm.
Bryan has traveled to Canada and Mexico. They are looking forward to a European vacation in the summer of 2018. English is the only language in which he is fluent.
As a teen, Bryan dreamed of a career with the US Navy doing aerial surveillance. At that time, that was an expanding technology in Naval Intelligence, which he found very intriguing. While he has enjoyed an interesting and productive business in Land Surveying, he says he does regret "not following through and entering the US Navy."
Bryan has been in the land surveying profession for approximately thirty years. He is the owner and founder of Alliance Land Surveying - a full-service land surveying firm providing services statewide in Arizona, Nevada, and California. He started Alliance in 2005 and currently has twelve employees.
Bryan has been married to Donna for seventeen years. They have three children. His best vacation memory was a trip to Cozumel, Mexico in April where he found snorkeling in the crystal clear blue water to be "an amazing experience."
Bryan's favorite volunteer experience was coaching youth basketball for third and fourth grade boys with special needs. "It was very rewarding to see these boys get a chance to play sports despite their challenges. The boys never cared what the score was or who won, they just had fun."
Polly Cady is shown with the director and assistant of the school where the Gift of Hearing clinic is set up. The photo documents the school's acceptance of the school supplies that were donated from Mesa West Rotary Club, as well as from private donors, i.e. Warren and Sunny Williams and University of Arizona sorority Kappa Alpha Theta.
The second photo shows a donation of money being presented to the school's director for badly needed repairs to a school bathroom. The school requested the donation in lieu of more school supplies. Presenting the cash are Mesa West President, Allan Cady, and member, Ray Smith.
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The team of doctors, students, and other professionals were honored at an evening of festivities celebrating 25 years of Mesa Baseline Foundation and Mesa West Rotary teaming with Rotarians in Mexico to carry out the Gift of Hearing mission to support needs in Guaymas and its surrounding communities. Mesa West Rotary President, Allan Cady started the festivities with the Spanish translation of: "Greeting to all Rotarians, Doctors and Students. Thank you all for participating in the 25th clinic for people of Guaymas and surrounding areas. Tonight we wish to present Paul Harris fellows to our friends from the Guaymas Rotary Club. This a very special occasion. May I introduce Chuck Flint." Everyone was very impressed that he made the effort to make the greeting in Spanish.
Presiding over the meeting was Immediate Past President, John Eagleston. The invocation was given by Geoff White, and Jim McGown led the Pledge of Allegiance. It was noted that many of our Mesa West Rotary members were missing, as they were participating in the 25th Anniversary of the Gift of Hearing Project in Guaymas, Mexico. Guests in attendance were Kristen Kelin, an audiologist, a guest of Jeanie Morgan, who responded to an inquiry from Kristen made through the Mesa West Rotary Facebook page. Aubrey's daughter, Brin, was also present as a guest. 
Bryan Goetzenberger was born in Tempe, Arizona. He is the middle child. He has a younger sister and had an older brother who sadly is deceased. Bryan is an Arizona native who has resided in Arizona all but four years of his life, when he lived in the Seattle, Washington area working for an engineering firm. 
The second photo shows a donation of money being presented to the school's director for badly needed repairs to a school bathroom. The school requested the donation in lieu of more school supplies. Presenting the cash are Mesa West President, Allan Cady, and member, Ray Smith.
