Club Meeting Featuring Rev. David Stechholz, M.O.S.T. Ministries Mission Trip

The meeting was opened by President Nancy Darga. Members recited the Pledge of Allegiance followed by Sharon Pommerville’s Invocation, Sharon then merrily collected Happy Bucks.

We had an unexpected guest. James Hooper, Candidate for City Council stopped in and said since he now had some free time, if the club would grant him a few minutes to state a little of his background and why he is running for Council. Our President granted him 10 minutes.

Mr. Hooper said he grew up in a blue collar family on the East side of Detroit. He worked in construction before going on Mission trips to Africa. On one of the trips, when he was there for several years, he met his wife Kimberly, and they were married in Africa. When they returned to Michigan, he began working for a Machine Shop in Livonia and they decided to buy a home and live in Livonia. James says he is running for city council because he wants to make a difference in the city. He wants to work in a nonpartisan way with Council members and candidates and no matter who comes up with ideas, collaborate with others to get the job done together so the city can move forward. Nancy asked Mr. Hooper to stay after the meeting for a few minutes to answer any questions club members might have.

Nancy spoke about the largest Sudanese Flotilla ever that took food and supplies to the starving children. She also challenged Rotary members to help clean up and replant the Peace garden at Churchill HS, Also maybe the Interact club there could invite Stevenson students and even help them install a Peace Pole at Stevenson.

David Stechholz first talked about the Rotary starting in Chicago in 1905 and there are now 1.2 million members and more than 35,000 Rotary Clubs. David then spoke about the August trip to Honduras part of M.O.S.T. Ministries (Mission Opportunities Short Term) to provide rudimentary eye exams and eyeglasses.

The base for this work was in the City of Lapaz, where 63% of the population is below the poverty level. The clinics were held in the local Lutheran Church, hosted by Pastor Martinez, who spoke no English and who also happened to be a Rotarian. There were many interpreters involved, mostly young people.

There were 7 stations set up in the church. The first station was a Christian witness table; the 2^nd station was an education table. Next stations were for the eye examinations, then other stations for trying on glasses to see which ones helped the patient’s vision and also which frames fit the best.  90% of the citizens are mixed race and most cannot afford to go see an eye doctor nor even afford eye glasses. Most have never had eyeglasses in their lives. The eyeglass clinics were held in the morning and Church services in the afternoon. The funding is mostly provided by Rotary clubs, individuals, and churches. Teams of volunteers are provided by churches also. The Group that went in August carried ten 50lb. Bags of eyeglasses. They had 327 patients, and dispensed 432 pairs of eyeglasses, and 386​ pairs of sunglasses. Reverend Dave also explained that the children who go to school and learn English, also end up going to college. A fun surprise happening, some of the citizens of Lapaz wanted to learn the Hokey Pokey. The volunteers also had a chance to tour some Honduran cities and churches.

After a short “Dad” joke from Greg Greene, the meeting adjourned at 8:40 AM.

Marlene Katafias