Haiti (and Rotary) in our Hearts

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Patrick Joyce, President-Elect of the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club was beaming with heart-swelling pride this morning. Patrick and several other Rotarians put their money into a school-building project in Haiti…before the Earthquake. Last week, on October 18, the LaVictoire Public Secondary School opened for use by 400 teenage children.
[/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Hundreds of people in the Minneapolis/St. Paul community contributed to fundraisers and pledge drives to ensure the school was built right. Amazingly, very little damage was incurred through the earthquake, and construction was basically completed on time.
[/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Personally, I consider my experience as a Rotarian to be the ultimate Seven Fs blending experience. I’ve been a member for 18 years of our 25 years in existence. The City of Lakes Rotary Club’s 100 members have been a constant source of friend-raising, client-building (finances) fun, faith exploration and future-building. And since we’ve hosted two international exchange students (Shun from Japan, and Debbie from South Africa), it’s also been a family affair.

And this spring, Melinda, Anna and I will be visiting the Okstra Uppsala, Sweden Rotary club on official business. Our City of Lakes club is establishing a sister club relationship, and I’m the first delegate . I volunteered, because our daughter Katie will be studying abroad at the University of Uppsala, Sweden this spring. Skol!

As we count our blessings, lets remember that the dimes and dollars Rotarians collect, bring positive change to the hands and hearts of people all over the world. There are people LaVictoire, Haiti, and Uppsala, Sweden, who are in our hearts at the Batz house today.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]