Highlights of March 14 2019 Meeting

President Chris Krueger opened the meeting with Darl Andersen offering the invocation in Spanish.  John Pennypacker led the Pledge of Allegiance.  She thanked seasonal visitor Tom Mellen, from Farmington, Maine for serving as greeter. 

 

President Chris explained that the reason the invocation had been delivered in Spanish was to remind members that Darl Andersen, herself, and Chuck Flint had missed the March 7 meeting as they were in Hermosillo, Mexico meeting borrowers and learning more about the micro credit project Mesa West is involved with.  They spent one full day meeting borrowers, and also met the Mayor of Hermosillo.  Initial loans are under $1,000.  Most are to women to help them start and grow small businesses which better enable them to provide for their families.   Darl will go back to do an audit.  Finreg manages the details of the loan process.  The audit will assure that the integrity of their process is sound.

 

Penny May introduced Ginger George-Smith with the Anchorage International Rotary Club.  While Penny and Ginger would like members to think their club name was earned because of their high participation in Rotary International projects, the club name has more to do with their close proximity to the Anchorage International Airport.  Pam Cohen introduced Erwin and Loan Reiman from Rapid City, South Dakota.  They have three grandchildren attending the University of Michigan.  They announced that since they are now in Mesa more months out of the year than they are anyplace else, they have started the paperwork to transfer their membership to Mesa West.  Guest Dave Stratton introduced his harem - his wife, Anna and their friend whose name is Sharon but is known as "Gus."  Jackie Hildebrand was introduced as a Rotarian form South Bend, Indiana.  Linda Roe, a former Rotarian in South Bend, but who now lives in Arizona, was also introduced.

 

As President Chris was asking a guest to draw a token for the attendance drawing, Chuck Flint called out his own badge number from across the room.  His suggestion worked as it was the token with his badge number that was drawn.  Chuck Flint announced that the weekly raffle winnings would be $33, and if the holder of the winning ticket were to draw the ace of clubs, they would win the accumulated winnings of $660.  Because there were so many guests, Chuck explained that each week, tickets are sold for $5 each.  One third of the money collected goes in the accumulating pot, one third goes to the weekly winner, one third goes to the club.  Aubrey Luma held the winning ticket, but drew the four of clubs rather than the ace.

 

John Pennypacker served as Sgt. at Arms.  Dick Myren donated his traditional $1 remembering honorary member, Rod Daniels' tradition of paying a dollar because he was happy to be a member of Mesa West Rotary.  Dick also contributed $83 because he had just celebrated his 83rd birthday.  Chuck Flint contributed because he had enjoyed a great time on the microcredit trip, and he applauded Darl Andersen's command of the Spanish language.  Ray Smith contributed sad dollars reporting that Carolyn Jones had fallen and broke her hip, which was surgically repaired.  Carolyn is recuperating in a care facility. 

 

Ginger George-Smith contributed and told quite a story about her car rental experience when she arrived in Phoenix from Alaska.  She said the Rotary flag she brought to exchange had been on quite an adventure.  The car rental agency had sent her to the lot to pick out a car saying the keys were in them and she was free to go.  She loaded her luggage and a package of frozen fish she had brought to Arizona for friends in the back seat of a car, but the keys were not in it.  She went back in to request the keys, but had to wait while another person was being served.  When she finally made it to the counter to be served, as she was explaining her situation, she saw the car containing her luggage leave the lot being driven by the man who had been ahead of her in line.  After some considerably frustrating communications, she was given that person's contact information and another car.  It took several hours before she was able to reach the other customer.  When she did, he was two miles away from Nogales.  He was on his way across the border to meet with his boss who was from Dallas, but in Nogales.  She explained to him that he not only had her luggage, but also had a package of frozen fish he would need to explain to border agents going out of and back into the U.S.  Several hours later, she met the other driver at a mall and collected her things which had been x-rayed and were still amazingly in good shape. 

 

Darl Andersen contributed as he believed Chuck Flint should be renamed "Mr. Rotary" for his 30-year history of participation in various missions and projects to benefit those less fortunate across the border in Mexico.  Aubrey was happy to be the weekly winner.  Erwin Reiman was happy to be alive.  He has had heart disease for over thirty years.  He saw a new local cardiologist who assessed his symptoms, and after placement of three stents, Erwin feels like he is "back to normal."  They were also happy to have recently become great grandparents and also enjoyed a visit from a son who was here from Michigan.  Pam Cohen was sad to hear the news about Carolyn Jones.

 

John Pennypacker was happy.  He was going to spend the next two days announcing from the first tee at Longbow for the Clover Cup Golf Tournament being hosted by Notre Dame.  Young ladies from fifteen colleges would be participating.  They would be representing colleges in Miami, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Houston, USC and Mississippi State, and others.  John has enjoyed announcing for a few years, but is humbled by the long drives made by the tiny coeds, and challenged by trying to pronounce names correctly which often contain many more consonants than vowels.

 

John Pennypacker said that he first met Meredith Potts when she was a candidate for the last Group Study Exchange (GSE) team sent by District 5510.  John was on the selection committee.  They sent four blonds with Rotarian Tania Watson as their team leader to Bangladesh.  They were a big hit.  They made many presentations and were on local television.  Meredith is Executive Director for FIRE - Flagstaff International Relief Effort.  She joined the Flagstaff Rotary Club in 2015.  Meredith started the hepatitis project in Mongolia.

 

Meredith explained that Mongolia has the highest rate of hepatitis and liver cancer in the world.  Because liver cancer is frequently diagnosed too late, it is known as a silent killer.  93% of those diagnosed with liver cancer also had hepatitis.

 

FIRE started doing screenings in Mongolia in 2011, but were only able to do 500 screenings at the most.  With the help of Rotary, through a Rotary Global Grant in 2017, they were able to increase their reach ten times.  The project involved 28 clubs, 18 individuals, 8 districts, and 6 countries.  It was a true global effort.

 

Meredith is now working on putting together another grant for phase 2, which they hope to launch in the spring of 2020.  It will be another collaborative effort, with a Rotary Club in Mongolia playing a key role.  Liver Cancer specialists will be involved.  They will work to connect future care and lifestyle changes to improve length and quality of life.  The primary goal will be early detection of liver cancer and testing for hepatitis B and C.  They will distribute awareness materials and have advocacy meetings with leaders.  To ensure sustainability they will measure impact, and train local workers through shadow training, classroom training, and computer training.  Mongolia has a goal of eliminating hepatitis by 2020.  The World Health Organization has set the same goal, but with an end date of 2030.  

 

Phase 2 as an additional component of adding in the cost of health insurance as an ethical problem in the original program was that some were diagnosed but did not have insurance and could not be treated.  The insurance is extremely inexpensive - $10 per year per person.  

 

In Phase 1, they were able to save $200,000 through lots of in-kind donations.  They used the savings to train workers.  In phase 2 they will be adding coordinators to ensure follow through happens including treatment.  A portable machine will help to remove barriers to early detection in remote locations.  A fiber scan is required to get free treatment.  That will be possible with Phase 2.  If patient tests positive for Hepatitis B, they receive a vaccination, ultra sound, and fiber scan.

 

When asked why there was such a high incidence of hepatitis which is a blood to blood transmission disease, she said that one reason might be the standard protocol for vaccinations in the former Soviet Union involved re-using needles.  Dental practices also created transmission vulnerabilities.  This has prompted training in medical waste management.  They have distributed a two-year supply of needles.  

 

Meredith explained that Hepatitis B has a vaccination but no cure.  Hepatitis C has a cure but no vaccination.  Cirrhosis of the liver in the US is commonly believed to be caused by alcohol, but it is also caused by hepatitis, and that has contributed to the high incidence of liver cancer in Mongolia.  

 

It is clear that Meredith has a real passion for the work they are doing and believes that their goal of a hepatitis free Mongolia is realistic.  She is looking for Rotary Clubs and individuals that will participate in the Global Grant to fund Phase 2.