ur “Rotarian of the Day” today is Greg Chalmers, past president of the Southside Rotary Club. Greg moved from Tulsa to New Mexico in 1996 to help start Don Chalmers Ford.
Before that, Greg owned a business in Tulsa. He joined the Rotary Club of Albuquerque Del Norte, where he also served as president. Greg traveled to Guatemala this year with a Rotary team and helped drive two “old” ambulances from Albuquerque to Guatemala.
Greg, it is great to have you visit our club, and thank you for arranging today’s program!
This Week’s Program
Deborah Simon
ur speaker today is Deborah Simon. Deborah has been coordinating Rotary projects in Guatemala since 1997. Prior to that, she worked for 12 years as a nurse on medical teams to Guatemala. In 2004, she founded “United by Friendship,” a non-profit organization that does humanitarian projects in Central America.
Deborah was raised in Guatemala and came back to the United States to continue her education when she was 14. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in nursing. She now lives in Espanola, New Mexico, where she works as a home health care nurse for the Presbyterian Hospital Group. She is a past president of the Espanola Rotary Club.
In 2007, she was awarded the annual “Service Above Self” Award by Rotary District 5520 for her efforts for Rotary on the international level. She speaks Spanish fluently and has a wide range of contacts throughout Guatemala.
Deborah, the Rotary Club of Southside Tulsa welcomes you today. Thanks for being with us.
Southsider Quick Notes
Last week…
- The ROD was John Benjamin and our speaker was Police Chief Ron Palmer.
- Happy Birthday to Phil Scott and Jim Netherton!
- Starting next month, Jerry Ramey said that the monthly “Rotarian” question will be worth a $50 Ti Amo’s gift certificate. So everybody, read your magazine!
- Scotch and Cigar Night will be October 3 at 6:30 p.m. This year’s S&C Night will be at Tom Wilson’s house, 6920 S. Columbia Ave. (494-9949). Cost is $30 per person and sign-up sheets will be at the meetings.
- The first annual Run for the Roses will be Saturday, Oct. 11 at Centennial Park. Registration is at 7 a.m. and the 3K race starts at 8 a.m. The entry fee is $10, and cash or checks will be accepted. Make checks payable to the City of Tulsa. Entry fees go up to $15 on Thursday, Oct. 2, and you won’t be guaranteed a T-shirt. There will be no on-site registration, and entry fees will not be accepted after Thursday, Oct. 9. You MUST be 50 or older on the day of the race in order to enter. Entries can be dropped off or mailed to:
The Broadmoor Retirement Community
8205 E. 22nd St. Tulsa, OK 74129
- Bob Winters picked all the games last week, so we all had to pony up $2 for two weekends. This week, he only had OU and OSU to worry about, as Arkansas’s game against Texas was postponed and TU had a bye this week.
- OSU vs. Missouri State
Bob picked OSU, 63-7. The final score: 57 – 13, OSU. - OU vs. Washington
Bob picked OU, 38-21. The final score: 55-14, OU. (Take, THAT, Pac 10!)
A Note From Past District Governor Don Walker
We received this email from Don Walker, the past governor for District 6110. Here’s what he has to say about Alliance for Smiles:
“During the first two weeks of August, I accompanied Anita Stangl, The President and CEO of Alliance for Smiles, to a number of Rotary clubs in District 6110. Alliance for Smiles provides free cleft lip and plate surgery for needy children and has captured my heart and imagination. I now want to tell all clubs in District 6110 about their work and commitment to Rotary.
“Many of you know that after my time as District Governor, I have gone on medical missions where I personally have seen hundreds of children’s lives changed. I want people in District 6110 to have a similar opportunity. I am reaching out to Rotarians in this District to sponsor Alliance for Smiles’ 14th medical mission to Huangshi, China.
“I am arranging for a number of non-medical volunteers to go on this mission and help. For those who cannot go this time, I am asking you to open your hearts and donate to cover the direct costs of the mission. This amount is $80,000 and will give full Rotary sponsorship recognition to District 6110 on T-shirts, press releases, and the web page. Over 120 children will have their lives changed in a positive and dramatic way.
“I want to tell you what impresses me about Alliance for Smiles. I love children and I want to make a difference in their lives when I can do something. There is tremendous satisfaction that I personally have experienced because of volunteering and literally seeing miracles take place through the skill of our surgeons. Being part of an effort that changes children’s and families’ lives, has changed me as well.
“The second part of the organization that impresses me is the commitment of Alliance for Smiles to spread the work and message of Rotary, of Service above Self. Alliance for Smiles was founded by five members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco and the philosophy of Rotary is core to their mission statements and goals.”
If you would like to donate or learn more, talk to Don den Daas.
