ISRC Ensenada Dental Clinic #8

Almost 50 children were treated to free dental care at the eighth Ensenada Dental Clinic, co-sponsored the Rotary clubs of Irvine Spectrum and Ensenada Calafia. The event, held November 8th, took place at the Emiliano Zapata primary school, located in the rural San Carlos neighborhood of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

The Irvine Rotarians responsible for this year’s dental clinic are Ray Sanford, Rick Topping, and Austin Wall. In Ensenada, the project was run by Ofelia Diaz Perea, her club’s International Service Director.

The Ensenada Dental Clinic, proposed four years ago by Ray Sanford, is an event that club members look forward to attending each year. The project’s dental portion is run by Dr. Charles Tozzer, founder of Dental Care for Children, an Irvine-based non-profit organization which coordinates dental clinics for children in Southern California, Mexico, Haiti, Africa and El Salvador. The Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club has been working with Dental Care for Children and Dr. Tozzer for the past 12 years, providing dental checkups and clinics for children in Irvine schools.

Dr. Tozzer and other dental volunteers, including Rotarian Barbara Foster from the Laguna Niguel club, drove to Ensenada on Friday to get an early start on the project and to perform follow-up services for a clinic held a few weeks prior. It also gave them a chance to visit the school and preview where the clinic would be held.

Most of the Irvine area volunteers left home around 5:00am, caravanning to arrive at the school at 9:30am where they were immediately put to work They were met by members of the Club Rotario Ensenada Calafia, who were by that time busy at work attending to those parents and children who had been gathering in the schoolyard since early morning.

Dr. Tozzer and his team of volunteer dentists had already converted two of the school’s classrooms into a dental clinic. The Smiles Dental Clinic van, provided with the help of a Rotary Foundation matching grant, was carefully unloaded and the equipment and supplies were set up in the classrooms. Soon, the dental team was ready to perform much needed dental services on the little children, who were lined up and waiting in nervous anticipation for their turn in the dental chair.

Children soon filled all the dental chairs, and dentists Chuck Tozzer, Xerxez Calilung, David Levitt, and Austin Wall, with the able assistance of dental students from USC began their day’s work. Allan Schechtman, an Orange County contractor, has been helping on Dental Care for Children clinics for over 10 years, making as many as 4 trips a year to assist Dr. Tozzer.

The scene became like a busy beehive. Dentists were practicing their craft, Rotarians were giving children gifts and hugs; and, those who were bi-lingual were assisting with translations between dentists and patients.

But, dentistry was not all that was on the work schedule for that day. Rotarians also got their hands dirty by helping to paint the little school. Rotarians with paint brushes and rollers in hand, were intent on the success of their school beautification project. Parents of the waiting children helped as well by painting or sprucing up the little garden in the schoolyard.

ISRC Rotarian Diane Braasch and others brought school supplies and gifts for the children while Rick Topping gave out 20 assorted soccer and volley balls donated by coach Shelly Noble of Loara High School in Anaheim.

During that Saturday’s dental clinic, 49 children received dental attention amounting to $16,825 of free services. And the approximately 30 Rotarians, from both sides of the border had the satisfaction of knowing they made all this possible.

That evening the Club Rotario Ensenada Calafia hosted their club’s twelfth anniversary dinner in the Spanish style courtyard and garden of the home of Elsa Cortes a Past President of the Ensenada Califa club. The guest list included such luminaries as past and present Rotary International dignitaries, District Governors and Club Presidents. The Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club volunteers were honored guests at the evening’s festivities, and ISRC President Pannkaj Kummar presented the Ensenada club with a beautiful framed picture collage of past Ensenada dental clinics in honor of their club’s anniversary. It was a magical evening, filled with emotion and the satisfaction that humanity had once again been served through Rotary.

Pulitzer Prize Winner speaks at ISRC

On October 26th we had the pleasure of hearing and learning from Investor's Business Daily Pulitzer Prize Winner editorial cartoonist, Michael Ramirez. A two time Pulitzer winner for editorial cartoons, describes his job of being an editorial cartoonist as the opportunity to get people to really think about the important issues we face. Right from the beginning, and strangely enough, Mr. Ramirez announced that he does not like to draw! He does, however, enjoy being judge and jury by going through the drawing process.

And the process itself is demanding: He explained that in order to be in this line of work, one has to read many newspapers from both sides of the political landscape. One then has to gather the information, process it and only then begin drawing. This is essential, according to Mr. Ramirez, as the mainstream media, so he claims, is doing a very poor job reporting on the current financial situation and vetting our presidential candidates. Mr. Ramirez simply fills a void – as "an equal opportunity offender." His editorial cartoons are essentially drawings that make a political statement. He equated this to advertising – coming up with a precise image in order to "sell" a specific idea.

Describing himself as a member of the "Anti-Stupid" party, he has beamed a spotlight on such notables and ideas as Barak Obama, John McCain, George Bush, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Global Warming, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Oil and Drilling, War on Terror, Immigration, Social Security and Health Care.

Mr. Ramirez is the Editorial Cartoonist and a Senior Editor for Investor's Business Daily. Ramirez is a Lincoln Fellow and has won several awards during his career, including the 2008 and 1994 Pulitzer Prize, the UCI Medal from the University of California, Irvine and the Sigma Delta Chi Awards in 1995 and 1997.

Ramirez was named "Best Editorial Cartoonist 2006" by the National Cartoonists Society, and won the prestigious 2008 John Fischetti Editorial Cartoon Competition.

Mike showed cartoons from his new book "Everyone Has The Right To My Opinion" available from Amazon.com. Mike will sign copies of the book for club members. Simply purchase the book(s) and give them to Stella Cardoza who will take them to Mike for signature.

When You Can't, Don't.

On Sunday, October 26, 2008, Joanne Milo's "Shooting Stars" team that usually walks to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation instead held a Sit In Protest.

The Sit In Protest was prompted by a complication of Type 1 diabetes that Joanne is experiencing after a 42 year struggle with the disease. She is temporarily in a walking cast, and wisely decided to "sit this one out". Her long time supporters and team members joined her in a Sit In Protest with this year's theme "I Must Protest".

The sit in was held at the home of Richard and Joanne Milo in Corona del Mar and included coffee and a continental breakfast. One protester brought a guitar, but refused to play it. Another brought his American express bill, and refused to pay it. A few of the attendees protested the protest and actually walked around Balboa Island…the nerve! Civil unrest abounded, along with great fellowship and conversation.

All in all, nearly $7,000 was raised this year by the "Shooting Stars" for JDRF.  Great thanks go out to the sponsors and contributors: Audrey Lane Laufer, LLC (sponsorship and shirts), Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club and its members (major sponsor), LouiseEganDesign (graphic arts), and to the dozens of friends and family members who show up each year in support.

Ed Hardenburgh joins Paul Harris Society

Ed Hardenburgh was welcomed into the Paul Harris Society by Rotary District Governor Roger McGonegal. Paul Harris Society members pledge to donate at leas $1,000 per year to The Rotary Foundation, which supports Rotary efforts and projects around the world.

The Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club has the highest number of Paul Harris members of any club in the district. The club also is one of the top contributors to The Rotary Foundation, but per capita and total giving.

District Governor Visits ISRC

Rotary District 5320 Governor Roger McGonegal was the speaker at the Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club on Wednesday. Before he spoke, however, he helped promote Mody Gorsky to a "blue badge" status and welcomed the return of Janet Wang to the club after a year long absence. (from left, Pannkaj Kummar, Mody Gorsky, Toni Thomas, Janet Wang, Roger McGonegal)

Roger spoke about the coming changes within Rotary and The Rotary Foundation as well as this year's theme of "Make Dreams Real." The theme, set by Rotary International President D.K. Lee, focuses on helping children around the world.

Thousands of children die each day from a lack of access to basic needs such as clean water, health care or food. Children also don't thrive because they don't get an education, which gives them a way out of the poverty. Rotary's mission this year is to concentrate on programs and projects which can keep their dreams alive and give them hope for a better future.

Third Annual "Cash Bash" fundraiser

The 3rd Annual Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club (ISRC) $10,000 Cash Bash took place on Sunday, Oct 19, 2008 at the Tustin Ranch Golf Club. All 250 tickets were sold again this year. Members and guests showed up for the
Sunday Brunch and watched as all 250 tickets were placed in a drum and pulled out one at a time.

The 250th ticket drawn was the winner of the $10,000 grand prize. This year the winner was Mody Gorsky, one of the newest members of the ISRC. Congrats to Mody on his big win. (He graciously donated part of his winnings to the Rotary Foundation and some back to the club.)

There were 14 other winners of between $100 and $500. We had a "Loser" drawing for all those who did not win (and were present at the brunch). Luana Rodberg was the winner of the $300 for the "Loser" drawing.

This event raised $12,500 for the projects and charities that ISRC supports. Some of these are:

• Irvine Smiles Dental Clinic
• Irvine Special Olympics
• Irvine Senior Center
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund
• StoveTeam
• Boys and Girls Club
• Boy Scouts of America
• Reading by 9

Congratulations to the club for another successful fundraiser. Thanks to Rick Topping for his 3rd year as Master of Ceremonies (thanks also for the new jokes and friendly banter). Committee members/workers were Tom Mahony, Bob Yaap, Luana Rodberg, Rick Topping, Mary Mar, Cisca Stellhorn, Ray Sanford, Kathy White, Richard Milio, Paul Strodbeck, Ed Hardenburgh and Al Rosenstein. For the 3rd year in a row, Tom Mahony sold more tickets than anyone…55 this year. Great job, Tom… maybe next year we should name the event the 'ISRC Annual "Tom Mahony" Cash Bash'!

Meet the Candidates

Today's meeting featured three speakers: George Brown an administrator for the YMCA-Armed Services, Bob Bliss, a candidate for the Saddlback College Board, and our own Pat Rodgers, a candidate for the Irvine City Council.

George Brown shared with club that the Armed Services YMCA is completely separate from the regular YMCA. He is based at Camp Pendelton and serves 43,000 people. There are special needs for grades E-5 and below on the base both for the troops and their dependents. Our club gave him a donation for his good work and we have participated in several great events at the base. He was introduced by an "OLD Marine" Rick Topping.

Bob Bliss is a retired instructor at Saddleback community college, where he taught and headed the computer instruction in the business department. He has served as a reserve in the police force and received all his college education at night as he was working full time during the day. He presented the issues of the campaign. I found it most interesting that this community college district is very well off financialy.

Pat Rodgers, a member of our rotary club, a retired policeman from Irvine wants to be a city councilman. He has served in Iraq and Afganistan after his retirement (26 years) from the IPD. He lives in the Ranch. He presented several opinions of issues facing the Irvine voters.

I salute both candidates for wanting to serve the public and go through these elections. Both men were brief! A rare trait in a politician

The Rotary Foundation

Dr. Mike Abdalla spoke to the club about the current status of The Rotary Foundation and the upcoming changes for the administration of matching grants. Mike has been a member of the Orange Club since 1971. He has been a club President, District Governor and recently served as a Trustee of The Rotary Foundation.

He explained about Rotary's efforts and results in combatting polio around the world. Each week we pass a pig around the room to collect funds for the Bill and Melinda Gates challenge grant for Polio Eradication. This is a great example how, by working together, we can change the world. 

Crime Survivors

On October 1, the Founder and CEO of Crime Survivors, Patricia Wenskunas, visited the Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club and shared her story about being a victim of an attack that almost killed her and her son. As is the case with the majority of crime victims (83%), Patricia knew her attacker — her fitness trainer with whom she had worked out daily for 9 months.

She survived only by jumping off a balcony (covered in bruises and with her face wrapped in Saran wrap), and running for help — fortunately, her son was not at home. To make matters worse, the judge was not supportive of her case, and the attacker (having been jailed for only a few months) is still at large today (the attack took place - in Irvine - in 2002).
 
Having been both a victim of the crime and of the legal system, and stating that "long after the external bruises heal, the 'internal bruising' continues", Patricia has dedicated herself to increasing awareness about these terrible crimes.  She founded Crime Survivors (www.crimesurvivors.com) to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim, tools on how to survive the after-effects, and to advocate for changes in the laws that currently give the criminal more rights than the victim.
 
You can read Patricia's story (and those of other victims), learn more about the work of Crime Survivors, and learn how you can help by:
 

• Visiting the Crime Survivors website (www.crimesurvivors.com)
• Telling other people about this organization and arrange for a speaker to give a presentation
• Participating or sponsoring the 5th Annual Crime Survivors 5k Run/Walk on Saturday, October 11, at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, CA (www.crimesurvivorsrunwalk.org).
• Voting for Marsy’s Law: Crime Victims' Bill of Rights Act of 2008  (learn more at www.marsyslaw.org)
• Giving a donation (any amount is welcome, but $50 will provide an Emergency Survival Bag in your name for a child or adult (containing comfort items, necessities, and materials to help them through their case)
• Asking a survivor if there is anything you can do for them - don't shy away from them,  nor ask them for details they may not want to share

StoveTeam International

Nancy Hughes, founder of StoveTeam International was the speaker at today’s meeting. Nancy had just returned from a month long trip to Central America where she’s overseeing the expansion of the StoveTeam project to include El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras. With the help of an International Matching Grant sponsored by the Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Santa Ana Heroica, El Salvador, the factory in Sonsonate, El Salvador will produce over 1,400 stoves.

While working with the Cascade Medical Team in Guatemala, Nancy Hughes was moved after hearing an 18-year old indigenous woman's story. The woman had fallen into a kitchen fire at age two and was burned so badly she lost the use of her hands. For 16 years she prayed for a miracle. The medical team provided that miracle and restored the use of her hands.

The Problem

In the late 1980’s, medical teams reported an alarming number of children being treated for burns and respiratory problems.  A number of concerned volunteers found the problem emanated from the way people cooked.

Most of the poor continue to cook over indoor fires located on the floors of unventilated homes. These fires cause debilitating burns, skin and eye problems. 

Excessive smoke in homes results in respiratory problems that, according to the World Health Organization, are the leading cause of death in Central American children under the age of five. Testing of carbon monoxide, a deadly toxin, found readings in the homes to be as much as twice the level considered dangerous.

These inefficient open fires also result in massive deforestation.

The Solution

After an exhaustive investigation of the cultural and technological factors surrounding open fires, the new, fuel-efficient Ecocina stove was developed by StoveTeam International. It is economical to build and operate, saving up to 60% of the wood currently used while also reducing particulate matter and carbon output by 70%.