The Scoop - May 1, 2017
Posted by Heather Rutz on May 03, 2017
MESA is a uniquely regional commitment to international service.
The Lima Rotary Club has a long history of supporting international medical work and the MESA warehouse that supports it, MESA Chairman Bob Vincent said Monday. Vincent spoke to the club about how the Medical Equipment and Supplies Abroad warehouse in Fostoria can be supported, and how the MESA work is accomplished. Vincent used the metaphor of ‘gleaners’ written about in the Bible, people who would scoop up or ‘glean’ what was left of grain and still put it to use. The same is true with MESA, which works with hospitals and clinics to retrieve medical equipment and supplies past its United States expiration, but that is still usable, and ship those items to people in less developed countries.
Doing that work requires a warehouse, and after years of renting space, in 2014 MESA bought a warehouse in Fostoria, geographically centered in Rotary District 6600. The warehouse, portable dock, and renovations cost $91,000. Part of that was funded immediately with $55,000 in Rotary gifts. Part of it was funded with a $50,000 loan.
Vincent, a Bowling Green Rotary member, is a past district governor and finishing his term as MESA chairman this spring. He said larger Rotary clubs in the district are important to MESA because they have more resources and more Rotarians to put toward the cause.
MESA was founded in 1979 and remains a regional project. Vincent believes the concept can be replicated and taken national or international through Rotary or the international Rotary foundation. MESA has since added an education component, teaching English through preschool resource centers.
“There has never been a time when medical equipment and education was needed more,” Vincent said, “because of refugees and climate change.”
The annual bike tour is MESA’s No. 1 fundraiser, and supports costs associated with shipping containers of supplies. The ride, June 2-6, funds half of MESA’s operational budget and has a goal of $55,000 this year. A Rotarian looking to ride the whole 300-mile tour must raise $500 in pledges. Clubs can support riders and the tour in general. See Harold Bischoff for more information.
In other Rotary business:
George Diller, Andy Farley, and Jeff Unterbrink were recognized as Paul Harris Fellows, and Tony DePalma was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow plus one, Dave Frost as a Paul Harris Fellow plus three, and Larry Webb as a Paul Harris Fellow plus four.
Tracey Regula earned her blue badge and turned in her red badge.
Members of the UNOH Rotaract Club are holding a Color Run event June 3 at Faurot Park to raise money for opiate addiction awareness and prevention. The club is looking for participants and sponsors to help cover more than $500 in costs.