Tuesday, Febuary 16, 2010 — Thank you to the presidents of the Rotary Clubs of Albemarle, Charlotte, Gas-tonia, Gastonia East, Gaston Breakfast, Monroe and Shelby.
Thanks to the great generosity of your clubs and other contributions made by Rotarians to the Rotary Foundation of Gaston County, a medical team from our region departed this evening (Feb. 14) for Haiti.
The team consists of 21 volunteers of mostly Haitian origin who will assist with acute relief efforts and provide medical care to those injured and traumatized by the earthquake which devastated Port-au-Prince on Jan. 12. They will fly to Santiago in the Dominican Republic and then travel by bus to Cap-Haitien in Haiti.
The medical mission is being coordinated with Haitian authorities, and unlike other external groups, members of this team have the added advantage of being very aware of local cultural norms and can communicate in Creole, French and English.
Many thanks and kudos to AG Steve Driscoll for monitoring incoming donations, asking clubs in his area for contributions, and handling the payment of $13,609.90 to the travel agency.
I met with the leader of the Haitian Relief Team last Wednesday to finalize arrangements and talked with her again this morning. The local Haitian community is very much aware of the generous contributions made by your Rotary clubs and is most grateful for the support you have provided.
Firoz Peera
Rotary International District 7680
