GUEST SPEAKER: DR. DAN PERLMAN – VICE PRES – ROTARY ACTION GROUP – ROTARIANS AGAINST MALARIA – GLOBAL (on zoom from Aspen Colorado)
Introduced by Dave Andrews, Dr. Dan Perlman Daniel Perlman completed his trifecta of higher degrees: M.D., M.B.A. and M.P.H. (Masters of Public Health). He practiced infectious diseases and public health in Colorado, holding several positions in healthcare leadership before retiring. He volunteered in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, at hashaiti.org. He has served on the Board of Directors of several nonprofits and co-founded the Colorado Chapter of the Infectious Diseases of America. He is an active member of the Aspen Rotary Club, as is his wife Bryna. He has been involved in developing projects to eliminate malaria. He currently promotes community healthcare worker training in Africa and was named 2022-23 “Rotarian of the Year” by his club. He is currently serving as vice chair of the Rotary Action Group called RAM-Global, that’s Rotarians Against Malaria and he is the lead on a new global grant in Western Kenya.
Dan gave a brief history of the very first Rotary Program of Scale (against malaria) in Zambia. He was able to partner with Bill Gates ($2 million), World Vision ($2 million) and Rotary Foundation ($2 million) to train 5,000 community health workers in malaria in Zambia.
Dan noted that with polio eradication almost over, Rotary is looking very seriously at the next “big” project which just may be malaria eradication.
We then watched the following inspiring and heart wrenching video from Australian Stephanie Rodriguez that was taken at the Rotary Action Group preconference in Melbourne Australia , this year. (Here is a link to the video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15SbBUgqN_l10Xx_4LXWsqRY6eUq6Or-9/view?usp=share_link ). Stephanie who contracted malaria on a visit to Africa. 2 weeks later she was n a come in Mass General in Boston , paralized and after 40 surgeries in the next two years (when she lost both feet) , she is now recovering. She joined Rotary in 2005 and realizes that it will be Rotarians who will improve the resources to eradicate malaria.
CIVID set them back, But the conference in Australia got them back on track. She said it is time to come together and “Finish The Fight”. Stephanie is now fencing and hopes to represent Australia on France in 2024 at the paralympics. She noted how much malaria impacts not just her but also her family and friends.
At the RAG conference in Melbourne, Dan announced a new global grant application he is working on with 20 Rotary clubs in Kenya to help eradicate malaria. He is looking for 20 clubs in North America – one from each District to raise $10,000 each. The grant will be for training health workers, equipment, cell phones, bicycles, etc . Dan will be sending us written confirmation where he stands now and the “ask”. He has 7 clubs in North America so far and need 13 more for the 2o clubs in North America.
Dan noted that the first vaccine was approved last year by World Health and rolled out in a few countries last year.
Be sure to see their website for mor details : https://www.ram-global.org
Here is a broadcast from Dan: https://youtu.be/loNd9hlMYVg
Here is a recent newspaper article too: https://www.aspentimes.com/news/aspen-rotary-club-doctors-make-headway-versus-malaria/
President Linda thanked Dan for his inspiring talk tonight.
President Linda closed the meeting at 8:00 pm.
MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND OTHER ROTARY EVENTS
AUG 9 – Rotary Club Board meeting at 7 pm at the offices of Thomas, Efraim LLP, McLaughlin Square, 50 Richmond St E Suite 110, Oshawa, ON L1G 7C7. Parking on Mary Street and Richmond Street (no charge after 6 pm).
AUG 18, 19 and 20 - Rotary Club of Oshawa Ribfest - volunteers required; Karen Dick is the contact person. We need to volunteer at this event!! Email was sent to all members asking for your help.
AUG 22 - Regular Weekly Meeting – 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM .
NO MEETING AT OSHAWA GOLF CLUB
SPOUSES NIGHT – DINNER WITH SPOUSES AT BELLA NOTTE
3570 Brock St N, Whitby, ON L1N 3J4
AUG 26 & 27 – Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood promo tent at Autofest, at Lakeview Park 1638 Simcoe St S #1450, Oshawa, ON L1H 8J7, from 9 am to 5 pm.
AUG 29 - Regular Weekly Meeting – 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM .
- Speaker: Jennifer French, MPP Oshawa –
Her Annual Address for our Rotary Club
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT, MAKE UP: Go online at www.rotary.org go to the club locator and find a club or clubs near your destination. Or you can add the free App Rotary Club Locator to your phone for instant look up of any club in the world. Please mail or fax your make-ups to Secretary Sue MacKinnon, or give your make-up card to the attendance/registration officer at the next club meeting.