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MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

 NEW SIGHT EYE CENTER PROJECT

     Newtown Rotary Club local members recently joined with Rotarians from clubs in Stamford, Westport, New Canaan, Trumbull and Greenwich, along with the Reed Intermediate School Interact Club to hear a report on a Rotary project in Monrovia, Liberia to create the New Sight Eye Center. The Newtown Club partnered with the six clubs mentioned to seek a Global Grant from the Rotary Foundation in total $37,500.
     The venture is being hosted by the Rotary Club of Sinkor in Monrovia which is working with two eye care specialists to create the Center and to establish an outreach program to rural areas in Montserrado County, Liberia. The report by Honorary Member and Reed School Teacher Karen King, told of the desperate need for eye care. There are 11,500 blind people in Montserrado, 50% have treatable cataracts. 80% of the blindness is preventable. The project will reverse this trend, giving eye sight back so that the people may achieve a better standard of living.
     The funds provided by the partnering clubs and the global grant will purchase much needed equipment for the clinic and medication supplies.
     Pictured are members of the partnering clubs attending. In the front row (L to R) are Past District Governor and Westport Rotary member Rick Benson, Reed Interact Club Adviser Al Finelli, Stamford Rotary president Robert Goldman, President, Assistant Governor and Trumbull Rotary member Sue Horton, and Westport Rotary president Todd Mauerman. In the back row are Newtown Rotary president Pat Caruso, Stamford Rotary president-elect Dan Greenberg, Stamford Rotary past president Dick McKnight, Reed School teacher and Newtown Rotary honorary member Karen King, New Canaan Rotary president Ben Bilus, and District Governor-elect and Newtown Rotary member Brian Amey.
     This project is a fine example of what can be achieved when several clubs work together. Other projects that Newtown Rotary has undertaken around the world include: School Supplies in Costa Rica; a pen pal project with kids in a Liberian Refugee Camp in Ghana that actually lead to the establishment of the eye clinic; school materials in Kosovo; clean water projects in South India and Ghana; school books and computers to South Africa, and equipment for senior care units in South Africa. 

 CONGRESSMAN CHRIS MURPHY VISITS

    US Representative Chris Murphy visited Newtown Rotary recently to give an update on what's going on in Washington, DC and the work that he is doing there to represent the citizens of Connecticut.  Pictured above is Rotary Club president Pat Caruso presenting a book to Mr. Murphy that will be donated to the Newtown library in his honor to say thank you for his presentation.