Spirit of Rotary

 
The story about Sir Nicholas Winton [“Guardian angel, December] was just lovely. How inspiring to read the story of a man so humble that he did not even think to mention saving the lives of hundreds of children to anyone. There is someone who embodies the spirit of Rotary.
Elizabeth Gaffney
Stratford, Ont., Canada

The best way to honor the amazing action of guardian angel Sir Nicholas Winton is to make sure all our clubs welcome members of all races, creeds, cultures, and faiths.
Shirley Farlinger
Toronto, Ont., Canada

Think before you shoot

The tips in your November issue for traveling Rotarians shooting photos and videos [“Very moving pictures,” Technology] should have contained a stronger caveat about approaching children, especially in rural areas of third-world countries or in isolated and poor areas of their larger cities where, in recent years, rumors have spread of child stealing by outsiders.

People traveling in these areas have been threatened, attacked, and even killed by mobs who suspect them if they approach children for any reason. A recent U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory on one such country states: “Avoid close contact with children, including taking photographs, especially in rural areas. Such contact can be viewed with deep alarm and may provoke panic and violence.”
Ricardo Nicol
San Clemente, Calif., USA

Destroyed city, tattered flag

Your article on Hugh Craft in the December issue [Up Front] brought back memories. I met Hugh in January 2007 when Rotary had its disaster response workshop in New Orleans. Hugh met me at the airport and showed me around St. Bernard Parish, and we visited his home, which was a total disaster. And to think, after all this time has passed, he and his wife Carolon are still not back in their home! Hugh is exemplarily in his ongoing efforts to restore St. Bernard Parish and its school system to some degree of normalcy.
Steve Laine
Boca Raton, Fla., USA

I could not find any relationship between the article “Three years after Katrina, Hugh Craft is still rebuilding” and the accompanying photograph of a tattered American flag. As a Rotarian and as a veteran, I was distressed that you would think that a photograph of the American flag in that condition should be published. It is contrary to the U.S. Code and does not speak well of The Rotarian’s editors who would publish such a photograph, nor the photographer who would take such a photograph.

The photographer should have removed the flag and delivered it to any veteran’s organization or Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop for proper retirement and disposal. I carry several new flags with me in my automobile, and when I see a flag in poor condition – much less than the one in your photograph – I have replaced it with a new flag.

Any time our flag is flown in a tattered, faded, torn, or damaged condition, it is a sign of disrespect for the thousands of military men and women who have fought and died to protect that flag.
Frank R. Plichta
Galax, Va., USA

Editor’s note: We meant no disrespect in running the photo. Its purpose was to convey journalistically a moment in the overwhelming devastation, a time when the lack of proper attention to that flag was one of many emergencies that residents faced.

Sunset on polio road

Let me congratulate you on a great article about polio [“Follow the polio road,” December]. It really gave the complete story.

In 1988, I attended the RI Convention in Philadelphia. I was an area coordinator from District 712 (now 7120), and I remember the excitement as we doubled Rotary’s goal of US$120 million – the band, the fireworks, and the balloons. However, my greatest moment as a Rotarian followed, as 50 children from Taipei, Taiwan, were introduced. They struggled across the stage with their crutches, canes, braces, and wheelchairs – they all had polio – and sang to us as we stood en masse and cheered. There wasn’t a dry eye in the convention hall as we realized that because of what we as Rotarians were doing, the children of these children would not have polio. I am now 74 years old and looking forward to the day when we declare a polio-free world. What a celebration that will be!Robert T. Goodman
Newark, N.Y., USA

Birmingham memories

The October Editor’s Page about the RI Convention reminded me of a Board of Directors meeting in 1982 when RI Treasurer Tibor Gregor was asked to give his report as chairman of the 1983 Toronto Convention Committee. He announced, with a mischievous smile towards me (I was chair of the 1984 Birmingham committee), that the slogan was “Toronto is the place to be in 1983.”

RI President Stan McCaffrey turned to me with a smile and asked what my slogan was. He must have known that this had not been discussed at this early stage, but my experience in my political career came to the rescue. I took a deep breath and replied, “We have everything for you in store when you come to Birmingham in ’84.” This slogan was later approved by the convention committee!

I hope to attend the 2009 RI Convention in Birmingham, but as I shall be 94 at that time, it is “in the lap of the Gods.”
Douglas W. Imrie-Brown
Pembrokeshire, Wales

More on Inner Wheel

I agree with Laura Kann that Inner Wheel should be laid to rest [Letters, November]. I find it unbelievable that in Nigeria, for instance, there are women who still proudly showcase themselves as Inner Wheel members. Could it be that they are not well informed concerning the raison d’etre of Inner Wheel? As the immediate past president of a 26-year-old Rotary club, I find it unacceptable for women in this 21st century to continue to live and act as if they are second-class citizens of the world. By so doing, they are pulling humanity backwards.
Euckay U. Onyeizugbo
Nsukka, Nigeria

I read Ms. Kann’s letter and was dismayed and disappointed. She clearly didn’t do her homework. Inner Wheel was founded to assist Rotary clubs with their projects – thus the name and logo. It still fulfills that need, when clubs so desire. As a separate organization, Inner Wheel has established its own foundation, currently worth about US$1.2 million. The Inner Wheel USA Foundation provides funding for myoelectric arms and hands for limb-deficient children. This foundation was featured recently on the Today show, with Matt Lauer interviewing one of the recipients of a myoelectric arm and hand.

Inner Wheel promotes friendship and public service as well. Each club has special projects, community involvements, and charities. Time requirements for Inner Wheel are much less stringent than for Rotary clubs – meetings generally are monthly, rather than weekly. This is about choice; the fact that many women choose to belong to Inner Wheel, or perhaps Inner Wheel and Rotary, does not reinforce inequality. I have chosen Inner Wheel because it is a good fit for me. You have a choice too. You chose Rotary.
Susan Kasper
Wilton, Calif., USA

Correction

Rotarians are extraordinarily generous, but we reported an incorrect figure on how much so in our Editor’s Page in November. In one Rotary year, about US$4.5 million from RI’s Permanent Fund supports Rotary Foundation projects.