Angie Cox presented new club member Kelly Blackall with her blue badge for fulfilling the club’s new member requirements. Kelly is a long-time resident of Old Town Lewisville and a professional photographer. Despite rumors to the contrary, Kelly is happily married to retired firefighter Troy Blackall, not some guy named Tony. Congratulations, Kelly, and welcome to Lewisville Noon Rotary!

 

Foundation Committee chair John Kazor stepped upon as the featured speaker for the holiday week meeting, presenting on opportunities to support the people of Ukraine through Rotary International.

 

Kazor recently attended the Rotary International convention in Houston was inspired by the ideas and experiences other Rotarians shared during the event.

 

“We can get things done,” said Kazor, noting that Paul Harris Fellowship donations go to the Rotary Foundation and can be directed toward specific initiatives to help people in war-torn areas. He played a brief video illustrating how Rotary International is responding to humanitarian needs in Ukraine through grants given in 20 countries globally.

 

“They’ve opened a special fund and are trying their best to take care of the needs of people who are really suffering,” Kazor said. He also met two Rotarians from Ukraine at the conference and got to hear firsthand how the relief efforts are helping individuals and families.

 

One of the immediate needs is for mobile medical clinics and emergency field hospitals, Kazor noted, since existing hospitals and pharmacies have been decimated by bombing. The mobile medical clinics are designed to be blast resistant and can be used not only for trauma patients, but standard medical services, like routine checkups. “They’re multifunctional and durable,” said Kazor, adding that the goal is to have 10 units operating by January 2023. The budget for the project is just over $358,000, of which $199,000 would come through funds raised by individual clubs, with $159,000 in matching funds.

 

“I would like to see our club’s name on one of the trailers,” said Kazor, who pledged to give $1000 toward the effort. “We need to raise $20,000,” he added, exhorting other club members to reach out to local businesses and get them to contribute, too. For more details, please contact John Kazor directly at jkazor@icloud.com, or catch him after an upcoming meeting.

If you want credit for a make-up, contact LNR Membership chair Terry Russell to let him know when and where you attended another Rotary club meeting, or the date and service activity that you participated in to count as a make up. You have two weeks before and two weeks after a missed meeting to make up for your absence. Make-ups are a great way to meet Rotarians from other clubs and become more engaged with the outreach activities we do in the local community!