Pledge, Prayer, 4-Way Test: President Pete Zucco
Sergeants Report: Jan Perruccio
Card Game Winner: Chip Adams (in a double card-off)
Raffle Winners: Jan P, Jessica, Charlie R
Happy Bucks: for the sunny morning, Camie and Jessica attending the district event in New London, being here after vacation, raffle winners, the grocery raffle - well done!, the Arts & Crafts Food Booth this past weekend, upcoming food drive, the raffle, great day, our 4 guests
Program: Dr. Anshu Chandra, OD Haitian Eye Care Director Global Eye Project
This was an online presentation with President Pete Zucco making the connection with Dr. Chandra live from Haiti. Dr. Chandra has 16 years of experience providing eye care in Haiti. She leads a permanent eye clinic in Fond des Blancs, supports mobile eye clinics, and helps train local eye care professionals, including residents in the Haitian ophthalmology residency program in Port-au-Prince. She earned her Doctor of Optometry degree and completed her residency at SUNY College of Optometry. Dr. Chandra has also provided eye care in Nepal, Haiti, Peru, Lebanon, Tanzania, Honduras, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Medico, Indonesia and India. Dr. Chandra settled in Haiti due to the need which is desperate for eye care.
Website: www.globaleyeproject.org
The Haiti Eye Clinic has been in operation since 2012 and serves adults and children. Hundreds of people are seen at the clinic but its not enough - much more is needed. They see 100 patients a day at no cost. For a population of 12 million, there are less than 10 clinics for eye care. They screen for glaucoma, retinopathy and much more to prevent a lifetime of blindness. This year, 10,000+ premature babies were screened for retinopathy to prevent blindness. Eye screening is done from birth to age 19 for 4 school systems. Care is free, eyeglasses are $2 which is very cost effective.
The clinic is being forced to vacate in 2027 from the medical center so there is an urgent need for financial aid to build a new facility with more space and more advanced equipment. Land was secured in 2025 having raised $431K but $569K is still needed. Two phases of construction are planned which will include surgical capabilities and an optical lab. The Haiti Eye Clinic needs partners to continue their work and getting the word out. Save sight changes lives! There is a matching grant in place (Rotary Arch Klump) until Nov. 30 up to $250,000. They cannot break ground until all of the money is raised so it can be built to completion. The clinic will also be a training center which is badly needed to provide systemic eye exams. Trained clinicians will be sent out to rural areas to conduct the eye exams.
Following the presentation by Dr. Chandra, we were treated to a performance by Nathan Wise accompanied by Joan Winters. Nathan is promoting the musical, The Pirates of Penzance which takes place at Valley Regional High School in Deep River Oct. 17 and 18th. It's a comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan about a pirate apprentice who falls in love with a major-general's daughter. Learn more about the story.
Contact www.ctgands.org or call 860-554-1256 for ticket information and more.
Macaroni Dinner: John Aforismo talked about the upcoming fundraiser, Macaroni Dinner which takes place 2 weeks from this weekend! The signs are out. Please sell your tickets and report your sales to John.
Shredding Day: John went on to discuss our Shredding Day event which has been postponed to Oct. 31. Signs will go out 2 weeks prior to the event.
District Workshop Club Growth Labs: Nancy Morin announced this workshop designed for Middlesex County and New London County Rotary clubs. It takes place Oct. 15 at the Acton Library 6 PM - 7:30 PM. More information.
Community Outreach: Tara Winch announced the unanimous decision by the Outreach Committee to donate $1,000 to Bikes for Kids. Tara asked for a vote of membership to accept and it was approved.
