RadioRotary

Interact clubs for high school students, sponsored by local Rotary clubs, provide young people with an opportunity to participate in meaningful service to the community, the nation, and the world and thus learn about the many rewards of service. Rotaract clubs for college-age students, including community-based clubs, and Elderact clubs for senior citizens, especially those living in assisted living communities, also further this initiative of expanding Rotary service opportunities. In this interview, Rotarian Roger Risko, (Poughkeepsie-Arlington) creator of RadioRotary in 2008, describes how traditional Rotary clubs sponsor these other forms of Rotary service and the beneficial effects of the clubs for young and old. Over the years, Mr. Risko has been District Chair and Advisor to this initiative, expanding such clubs in the Hudson Valley. Elderact, like RadioRotary, was one of Mr. Risko’s innovations.

In this information-packed interview, Executive Director at Pure Water for the World, Rotarian Carolyn Meub, discusses how water filters of various kinds prevent disease. Safe water preserves an enormous number of lives in all parts of the world, especially the lives of children. Ms. Meub corrects many common misunderstandings about water. Fresh water seems to be in plentiful supply in most—but not all–parts of America but is in limited supply elsewhere. Water and sanitation projects are one of the six main areas with which The Rotary Foundation works to improve world health and welfare.

Poughkeepsie Journal reporter Larry Hertz describes his professional career, discussing his newspaper accounts of humanitarian volunteers in the Hudson Valley as well as major criminal cases he has covered, the stories and their trials. Regular readers of the newspaper are familiar with his byline from his column as well as on major local stories. One issue of importance covered in the interview is what should and should not be shared with the public when covering a trial, taking into account the public’s right to know without jeopardizing the rights of a defendant.

In this extraordinary interview, Shane Hobel, aka Shane “White Feather” Hobel, informs the listeners of the survival skills needed when lost in the woods or otherwise cut off from civilization. These techniques can to be used for everyone of every age when in need of them. Mr. Hobel, founder of the Mountain Scout Survival School in Beacon, New York, is a professional tracker and a member of a Search and Forensic Investigation (SFI) team. He assists in the search and recovery of lost individuals, especially those lost in the mountains of the Hudson Valley.

Interviews with Rotarians from around the world at the New Orleans Rotary International Convention include representatives from Don’t Meth with Us (drug prevention), Rotarian Action Group of Dental Volunteers (providing surgery worldwide), Malaria elimination, Thousand Smiles, promoting blood donations, and more.

Sara-Elizabeth Clark, age 16, discusses her life with epilepsy and how she has developed her philosophy: “I will not let my epilepsy define me. It’s what I have, not who I am.” Sara describes the many misunderstandings and misinformation among the public that add to the burden of those with this neurological condition and describes the support available to those with epilepsy. Sara helps support research by major epilepsy organizations with Sara’s Strikes for Seizures, a bowling afternoon that raises money for the cause.

In these on-site interviews with Rotarians from around the world at the New Orleans Rotary International Convention in 2011, co-hosts Sarah O’Connell and Jonah Triebwasser interview representatives from Brain Game for Babies, Blindness Prevention, Sewing Projects around the world, Dollywood, Shoes for Orphans, and more.

Suffern Rotarian Larry Palant, Disaster Response Chair and ShelterBox Representative for Rotary District 7210, discusses how he came to be a ShelterBox Representative as a result of helping provide relief for Hurricane Katrina victims. He describes what each Box contains that help people survive disasters. Founded by Tom Henderson, a Rotarian and former Royal Navy search and rescue diver, ShelterBox has provided relief across the globe since 2000. Mr. Henderson realized that the most needed aid after most disasters was for food, medicine, and shelter. He developed ShelterBox, a package containing these necessities that would last for at least six months for up to ten persons per box. The boxes are prepacked and can be delivered immediately, usually with the help of Rotary clubs near the site of the disaster. Mr. Palant identifies the most recent locations supplied with ShelterBoxes at the time of his interview–Japan after a tsunami, Arkansas after a tornado, and Columbia after mudslide

This lively interview features husband and wife Rotarians Ken and Doris Obremski, both Past District Governors of District 7210 (Ken 1993-94, Doris 2005-06). They describe the enormous accomplishments of The Rotary Foundation, with Doris sharing her personal story of how she became a convert, dedicated to the Foundation. Both are Major Donors to the Foundation, and Ken is the recipient of the Regional “Service Award for a Polio Free World,” awarded to very few. The interview ends when they surprise Jay Verzi, the Technical Engineer in the studio, with the Paul Harris Fellow award because of his extensive work for RadioRotary, exemplifying Rotary’s motto of “service above self.”

Jo Hausam discusses her personal journey through life with Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) and the extent of its impact on her life–therapy, surgeries, and medical support since she was three years old. She also details her recent research into PPS. Ms Hausam emphasizes the need for public awareness because children everywhere, including those in the United States, are still at risk, and she praises Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio.

In these on-site interviews at the New Orleans Rotary International Convention in May, 2011, Rotarians from around the world discuss various initiatives and action groups. Some of the topics are: the Dictionary Project in America to encourage literacy, clean water projects around the world that save countless lives, Interact clubs for young adults in secondary schools where students learn about the rewards of service, Rotary’s global history (RGHF), and more.

Lou DiPaolo (American) and Jim Morita (Japanese), both veterans of World War II, describe a remarkable coincidence involving two members of the same Rotary Club (New York Rotary). Lou, Jim, & Noriko Morita, Jim’s wife, explain what happened 65 years after the discovery of a letter. The odyssey of the letter will make listeners question the pieces of history they might have unwittingly stored away, or are about to throw out, unaware of their importance to families and to others as historical documents.

Carol Ann Armstrong, President of Philmont Rotary Club, describes her club’s journey, starting in 2002, to honor those who died on September 11—the victims, their families, and the rescue workers who saved so many lives. American flags are distributed to all visitors coming from all over the Hudson Valley, and many stay for snacks afterwards to share the unity and fellowship of this day of remembrance. The Philmont Rotary club invites local community organizations and individuals to participate in memorial services and tributes in Claverack Town Park. The interview includes a close-up on Philmont Rotary Club’s many other humanitarian activities.

Paula Zwillinger, Founder and Executive Director of Semper Fi Parents of Hudson Valley, NY, discusses ways the organization supports parents of military troops and the troops themselves, both deployed and stateside. Semper Fi Parents raises funds to offset the cost of shipping packages to troops. They also educate parents about the many services available to them and to their children in the military, provide scholarships for those recently discharged, and work in many other ways to help.

In an interview that includes music made with with bells, Rotarian Douglas Martin Sturomski (Southern Dutchess Rotary), Executive Director of the Peace Bell Foundation, describes the work of this unique organization and its successful Walk for Peace project. The purpose of the Peace Bell Foundation is to ring in awareness that we can live in harmony and love. Through our most universal language, music, and the metaphor of the bell, the Foundation aspires to build strong, flexible bridges of understanding that strengthen the unity in community. All peoples around the world are welcome to join.