TODAY’S PROGRAM

 Rotarian Lewis Epley's Personal Story of Polio

LAST WEEK’S PROGRAM:

Wendy Kumpe, President-Elect, led the club in the singing of “America” and the saying of the “Pledge of Allegiance”. The invocation was given by Rev. Biff Averitt.

Joe Mills led the club in a new song written by our own Wendy Kumpe, “Take Me Out To The Fish Fry”, sung to the melody of “Take Me Out To The Ball Park”. There was a riotous response to the new tune.

Bert Kell introduced Dr. Rob Lewis who spoke about Operation New Life Medical Missions in Honduras. Dr. Lewis, founder of Ozark Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in Rogers, has been in practice in Rogers since 1980. He indicated that procedures that have been common in his practice for over 28 years, are often brand new to physicians in Honduras.

He described the lifestyle in Honduras:

• The second poorest country, an entire family lives on $680 per year income.

• Generally there is no electricity, no running water, and families cook on open fires in their homes.

• School is only required until 6th grade, and is taught under open tents, even in the middle of thunderstorms, with nothing but the tent for shelter.

• 1% of the population controls 95% of the financial resources in the country.

Two physicians in Little Rock founded the Operation New Life Medical Mission that is a division of Love Truth Care Ministries. The mission takes a team of 18-20 medical professionals for one, week twice a year in April and October, to provide medical care to the public and teaching to the physicians. The physicians and staff all pay their own way and take personal vacation time to work in the ministries in Honduras.

The hospital where they work in is an 1800 bed hospital. Lewis said, to put that in perspective, the total number of hospital beds in Benton AND Washington Counties total only about 900. Typically in Honduran hospitals, surgeries are only completed between 8am and 1 pm due to limited staff and resources.

On one Saturday, the Arkansas team saw over 80 patients, many who had stood in lines for many, many hours, just to see a physician. The priorities for the Surgical Team are: Acute patients first, then Chronic conditions, and finally the Reconstructive surgeries. They also complete many surgeries on tumors. It seemed that many of the surgeries were either burn- related or cleft-related. Because of the open fires used for cooking in the homes (that were more like disheveled huts), Lewis indicated that many of the patients are young children with severe burns from accidental fires. He also said that many reconstructive surgeries are because of disfigurement from machete fighting among the gangs in the communities. The gangs are a way of life in Honduran communities where it is not uncommon for 13 year olds to be the oldest in the household.

He also described many cases of cleft reconstruction from cleft palate to cleft conditions that reach all the way up to the patient’s eyes. Lewis said cleft is typically related to poor prenatal nutrition, as well as hereditary tendencies. Cleft reconstruction usually involves multiple reconstructive surgeries. For many, it is the first time in their life that they can speak, eat or drink normally. Some of the reconstruction surgeries involve “harvesting” bones or cartiledge from hips, legs, or ribs to transform them into new jaws and facial bones, or to create new jaw joints. Lewis’ description of the process was fascinating.

Physicians in Honduras go to medical school directly from high school. It is a 6-year program, with a following year of community service before they can get a license to set up their own medical practice. It is not uncommon for there to be only one general surgeon in a town of 200,000 people.

Lewis indicated that as much as the week of surgeries are intensive and rewarding, probably the most important part of their mission work is teaching the physicians how to do the surgeries. Lewis added: if give a man a fish, he can eat for a day; if you teach a man to fish, then he can eat for a lifetime.

Following Dr. Lewis’ program, Wendy led the club in the Four Way Test.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Wendy Kumpe reminded members to pick up their tickets to the Fish Fry for Frisco Festival. Tickets have already been paid for in their dues.

• Wendy also reminded the members of Chad’s Cups: Your change can change a lot.

• Hal Savage announced that the funeral for P.K. Chung, a former member of the club, was to be Thursday at 11 am at the First Methodist Church.

• Congratulations to Pam Bird as Chairman of Frisco Festival this year.

• Corey Davidson announced that the District Medical Supply Network is selling tickets for a drawing for a 2009 Mercedes. Tickets are $25 each, or 5 tickets for $100.

• Corey Davidson announced that Allison McElroy’s father is doing better.

• Jonathan Moore made presentations to Randy Shofner for thanksgiving for printing the weekly Rogerote; to Buddy Rogers for his service as a Board Member in 2007-2008; and to Darren Chisolm in his official, un-official capacity as assistant secretary to club secretary Hal Savage.

• There are currently 130 members in Rogers Noon Rotary.

VISITING ROTARIANS & GUESTS:

Bruce Branch made the introductions
Larry Murphy introduced Caitlin and Sam Murphy.
Kent Eikenberry introduced Diana Eikenberry.

IN THE NEWS:

Chad Kumpe has gone high-tech and presented the “Members in the News” in a new Power Point format,\:

• Jerry Hudlow was golfing for Octagon

• John George for Youth Bridge & a Jungle Party

• Rusty Turner for an awesome editorial on the importance for ALL singing the National Anthem as it is OUR song, each and every citizen’s song.

• Ray Burns at Daisy

• Dick Trammel as the University of Arkansas Sports Network volunteer Auctioneer

• Cindy Beleu for raising $750,000 thru the Cancer Challenge

• John Rex Spivey at Boy’s State

• Joe Rice in Fiddler on the Roof

• Nathan Gairhan family in a golf outing

• Marge Wolf for Frisco Fest

• Betsy Reithmeyer for Women’s Golf Day with the LPGA

• Pat Harris playing Tennis!

• Lori McBee & Raymond Burns at the Chamber

ATTA BOYS & GIRLS (Make-ups):

Nathan Cash @ e-club
Chuck Gay @ e-club x 4
Dave Swearingen
Kent Eikenberry
Jene’ Huffman-Gilreath

UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
TBA