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via Rotary.org Alejandra Rueda

By Alejandra Rueda, 2008-10 Rotary Peace Fellow, University of Berkeley

When I became a Rotary Peace Fellow in 2008, the presidential theme was Make Dreams Real. My dream was to support the Colombian countryside by improving the quality of life of farmers and, in turn, to achieve a more responsible use of nature and the ecosystem services it provides. I also wanted to help resolve the social conflict that Colombia has experienced. Or at the very least, to contribute to the development of projects that would spur economic and social recovery in areas that sorely needed it.

I was already envisioning a new professional focus in my life, through my pursuit of a master’s degree in Energy and Resources from the University of California, Berkeley. But coupled with the Peace and Conflict Resolution program, I was touched by a totally exciting new topic: sustainability. I knew that sustainable practices would be needed across the globe. As a peace fellow, I learned valuable tools to have an impact and make a difference in diverse communities.

During the last decade, I have been able to interact with hundreds, if not thousands, of farmers in Latin America. Nearly 4,500 farmers have been impacted by the programs that we, at NES Naturaleza, have developed. The Rotary Peace Fellowship started a chain of positive impacts. A chain of light which we have been able to continue and bring to the farmers.

Rural people have gained access to knowledge and been trained in sustainable practices in very remote areas of Latin America. Some of them have already been certified in existing sustainable standards. Unmistakably, without the Rotary Peace Centers program, this would not have been possible.

The knowledge I gained, I was able to spread to thousands of people. Farmers who in turn conveyed it to their relatives. Entire families were impacted. Thanks to Rotary and my experience through the peace fellows program, many of these farmers are now entrepreneurs. Those who did not know very well their markets or their potential, now have a completely different vision, not only of their farm as a business, but also of the surrounding natural ecosystems that complement them.

Nevertheless, there is still work to do.

This year’s presidential theme, Imagine Rotary, returns us to a spirit of dreaming and doing. We are being invited to act for a better and more sustainable world where the pillars of sustainability become the philosophy that drives each one of us.

Our planet can no longer wait. We have seen it, we have heard it, and we have lived it. We know the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. But in our daily lives, we have not yet appropriated them. It would be great to go back to basics. By knowing the definitions of social, environmental, and economic responsibility, we will clearly understand what they entail.

Imagine Rotary is imagining our world because Rotary is in every corner of our planet. Rotary embodies thousands of people always committed to giving something more. Thousands of people who, through Rotary Foundation programs like the Rotary Peace Fellowship, have positively impacted the lives of thousands of others. It is this chain of positive impacts that shines brightly every time someone in the community dreams and acts and connects to someone else.

For this and much more, I thank you Rotary.

Community Service chair Geoff Carton has been honored as 2021-2022 Rotarian of the Year by the Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent.  He was presented a plaque for “outstanding dedication and service” by immediate past president Jim Ehle at the club’s annual dinner.

Carton is a Maryland native who joined Rotary in January of 2018 and resides in Clarksville.  He graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a BS degree in resource development. 

As Community Service chair, Carton arranges various hands-on projects and volunteer opportunities that support Rotary’s historical emphasis on improving the lives of local citizens.  Under his leadership, Columbia-Patuxent members in the past two-and-half years have given more than 4,400 hours of volunteer service. 

The economic worth of a volunteer’s time is $29.95 an hour, according to the University of Maryland’s Do Good Institute and Independent Sector, a national coalition of nonprofits, foundations and corporate giving programs.

Columbia-Patuxent Rotary’s volunteering has benefited local charities and non-profits including the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, Respite Retreats, Freetown Farm, Just Living Advocacy, the Dictionary Project, Little Portion Farm, Robinson Nature Center, Howard County Food Bank, Howard Community College Food Bank, Humanim, Howard County Conservancy, Heritage Housing Partnership and Rebuilding Together Howard County, among others.

Carton also helps steer the club’s annual Grants Day program that awards funds for civic and non-profit organizations and projects.  For 2021-2022, these merit-based grants totaled more than $40,000 and went to 21 local recipients.

The Columbia-Patuxent Rotary Club and several of its members earned notable recognition at the recent District 7620 Annual Conference in early May. The club received a Gold Presidential Citation Award, a Gold Public Image/Public Relations Award, a Silver Enviro Club Award and a Bronze Award for Membership Development.

Awards go to clubs that have outstanding performance throughout the year, based on points earned in meeting District and Rotary International goals and annual themes. There are three levels of achievement: bronze: (60 points), silver (75 points) and gold (85 points). Since Enviro Club awards are only in their second year, a silver citation is the highest given for 2022.  Columbia-Patuxent Rotary was one of 19 clubs to meet this standard.

Four club members were named Outstanding Rotarians for 2021-2022 at the conference. They are Geoff Carton – Chair of Community Service; Jim Ehle – Club President; Kashonna Holland – Club Vice President; and Ken Solow – a past district governor who also serves as Book Club chair. Club past president and longtime member Charlie McCabe was recognized as a member of the Hospitality Suite Planning Committee for this year’s district conference.

Hammond High School student Karina Ward was recognized as a semifinalist in the district’s Four-Way Speech Contest. She was sponsored by Columbia-Patuxent Rotary and is a member of the school’s Interact Club, a service organization for young leaders ages 12-18. The speech contest is a chance for students to address a topic of their interest while applying Rotary’s values of truth, fairness, goodwill and benefit to all concerned.

Rotary District 7620 includes more than 60 clubs and over 2,100 members in the central Maryland and Washington, DC area.  

The Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent has donated $6,170 for disaster aid to Ukraine.  The money came from individual club members and from a two-night “eat-in” fundraiser at The Periodic Table restaurant, which gave 10 per cent of proceeds toward the cause.

The donation was made through Disaster Aid USA, a Rotary partner organization working with Disaster Aid Europe to answer the call for Ukraine relief.  Rotary clubs in the U.S. and around the world are responding to needs for water, food, medicine, shelter and clothing.  

The United Nations says Russia’s war on Ukraine has forced more than three million people to flee the country in search of safety.  Additionally, nearly two million Ukrainians have been internally displaced, making it the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.

“Our club is proud to be part of the one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations,” Columbia-Patuxent Rotary president Jim Ehle said.  “World peace and service to others are key to the mission of Rotarians here and everywhere.”  

The disaster relief contribution is the second recent instance of Columbia-Patuxent Rotary’s support for refugees.  In late February, several club members volunteered at Howard County Food Bank to pack bags of groceries going to Afghan families resettling in Maryland.

Since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban and the American military evacuation from Afghanistan, about 1,700 refugees from that nation have arrived in communities across Maryland.  They’ve been moving into Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Frederick County and Howard County, according to the national Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.      

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Twelve Howard Community College entrepreneurial program students pitched their innovative business ideas to a panel of business professionals at the 2021 Entrepreneurial Celebration held online Dec. 8.  In this event, each student had five minutes to explain his or her project.  Judging is based details including content, idea, marketing, feasibility, financial model and delivery.  

The top two scorers win the Rotary Rocket Pitch Prize sponsored by Columbia-Patuxent Rotary.  This year’s $1,800 first-place winner is Seth Greenberg’s “Track Them Down” infestation app/website.  The $700 second-place winner is David Longard’s “ZaLa” web browser.

“Track Them Down” is focused on rats, which Seth called the most infamous, dangerous, destructive and infectious of pests.  He said infestations are treated like a private issue, but the rat population can spread from house to house long before exterminators arrive.  Warning neighbors as soon as possible is key.  Informing the database about a discovered infestation means one person can help thousands of others to be on the lookout for rodent trouble.  

“This is saving a neighborhood’s quality of living, not just protecting a specific house,” Seth said.  “This is not just one person's problem.  This is a public issue because we're all affected by pests.”  There are 125 million homes in the U.S., but a rat database would be helpful not only to homeowners, but also to farmers, construction workers, office building tenants, restaurants and all property owners.  “You can download the app, or you can access the website and find out where rats have been spotted,” Seth explained.  “All it takes is a little bit of knowhow and a little bit of a commitment for us to actually be in connection with each other.”

“Track Them Down” is a company about advertising and awareness.  Seth estimated the cost of making the app and website is $10,000 to $20,000, with maintenance of these two platforms running at $600 per month.  Rates for companies to advertise on the website and app would be 1% of a dollar per view.  Using the town of Frederick as an example, he said that if half of adults there were monthly app/web users, a single advertiser would pay $280 a month to be able to sell their products under a banner or picture that's part of the general website. 

David Longard’s ZaLa web browser promises to give its users privacy, unlike the major browsers such as Google, Yahoo and Bing.  “They track everything including personal information purchase history, website behavior, and even where you are,” David said.  “These browsers track all this information to create a profile of you to sell to companies to create ads.”  

ZaLa won't engage in that practice because its market is “those who truly value internet privacy, who feel exploited and disturbed by the invasive nature of major internet browsers, and who are fearful of their personal information getting into the wrong hands” David explained.  ZaLa is subscription-based so it’s not dependent on ads, and thus not dependent on tracking/sharing user information.  

“Currently, it's estimated that there are roughly 313 million Internet browser users in the world,” David said.  “Although omnipresent competitors like Google and Safari dominate the market share, the demand for privacy is here from users tired of being tracked and scared of their data being collected.  We obviously don't think we're going to dominate the market, but we will be aiming for a small group of loyal users to compete with the behemoths like Google.”

David estimates start-up costs of $100 million, based on $70 million to develop a prototype, $5-$7 million for a 50-person development team, $3 million for 24/7 support for users, and $20 million for advertising and overall refining.  ZaLa’s income strategy gives customers two options, a $19.99 monthly subscription or a $200 flat annual subscription.  “Even if we only get 1% of the overall 313 million internet users to use ZaLa all in one month, we will make $60 million in revenue, and that’s just the beginning” David said.  “This unique business model offers true privacy that no other browser can.  Remember, at ZaLa your privacy is our promise.”

Dr. Mohammed Shafeeq Ahmed, CEO and president of Howard County General Hospital, discussed the COVID pandemic, healthcare hiring, vaccines and expanding local medical services as guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent’s Oct. 8 breakfast meeting. 

Dr. Ahmed was appointed to his leadership post by Johns Hopkins Medicine in June of this year. He had been serving as interim president since November of 2020.  Prior to that, he was vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer.  Previously he served in healthcare leadership at hospitals within the BayState Health System in Massachusetts.

A gynecologist-obstetrician by training, he was in the Navy Medical Corps as an attending physician with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.  Dr. Ahmed grew up in the US Virgin Islands for a good portion of his childhood, but also lived here and saw Columbia as an incredibly progressive, important and really wonderful place.  He was eager to come back to work and live here. He and his family reside in Clarksville.

Dr. Ahmed said the world changed in 2020 because of COVID.  The challenge for everyone, hospitals included, was how to respond and manage that, especially not knowing how the pandemic was going to turn out.  Doctors and staff members worked to care for patients and to keep themselves safe. By and large they were successful, but extra stress and burnout has taken its toll.  The hospital here - like others nationally - is struggling to find healthcare employees that would love taking care of people and taking care of their community.

In addition to staffing, the big issues now include getting people vaccinated, getting booster shots out, and getting through this COVID wave and the next one.  Maryland and Howard County have been doing very well with vaccinations, keeping our disease rate down.  Now, the hospital has to care for other patients returning for other treatments, posing time and management issues.  Fortunately, Howard County General is able to handle that safely, but “just not necessarily as fast as we'd like to be,” according to Dr. Ahmed.

Dr. Ahmed said the hospital “thinks ahead” in five-year increments focusing on “where we need to be and where we've been.”  The commitment remains for high-quality care and high-quality outcomes. There are opportunities to improve operational efficiency.  Expanding clinical services to have more Johns Hopkins specialists here in Columbia “is a great opportunity to continue to make sure that you can get that top notch care right here,” he said.  “I'm looking at a number of specialties and working with folks to get those things going.”

In response to questions from club members, Dr. Ahmed touched on these other topics:

NURSING SHORTAGE - In addition to staff burnout, the growing travel nurse industry has impacted hospitals adversely. Better pay, bonuses and improved working conditions are part of the answer, along with fewer barriers for persons wanting to enter the nursing profession.

VACCINE SAFETY - The hospital has a vaccine mandate for its employees because patients need to feel the facility is safe and that they have a very low COVID risk when coming in for treatment.

PANDEMIC BECOMING ENDEMIC - Are there going to be regular requirements for COVID vaccines on an annual basis like the flu? And will they be combined or multiple shots? It’s anyone’s guess right now, Dr. Ahmed said, but the likelihood is this could turn into a flu shot type thing, where every year there may be different strains, and we prepare for different strains and get an update.

MORE PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS - In general we need more schools and programs, but shortages in the number of professionals also is affected by where practitioners are. Some are becoming boutique practices that limit access. The real question is: do we have enough of the right type of doctors practicing in the right places?

“Here in Columbia, you have no shortage of physicians,” Dr. Ahmed said. “If you go out to rural areas, that's where you have a real shortage. I worry about smaller hospitals and rural places where you don't necessarily have access to care.”

DRUG PRICES NEGOTIATION - Yes, from a supply chain perspective, as a whole health system, we negotiate with the insurance companies and the drug companies, plus we have some special drug pricing programs.

TELEMEDICINE - Is being used more in practices, less in hospitals. Medicine has been fairly antiquated as an industry, in terms of how we adopt technology and how we move to the next step. But, definitely, it's the way of the future and a total game changer.

RANSOMWARE - Hospitals are constantly on the defensive and try to stay prepared, but this is a consistent threat. If you have to shut your IT system down for a few days, it's devastating. This issue is less about the loss of life due to ransomware - that’s not common - but more about the massive inconvenience to all our patients.

SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE FROM ORGANIZATIONS - Help the community remember that the hospital, as a nonprofit, needs local support for its fundraising, to understand the why, and understand what we're doing, and why it's so important. In terms of volunteering, ever since COVID struck our volunteers have been put on pause until we feel things are safe. But there are always volunteer opportunities, just on hold at the moment.

The Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent named the Rotarian of the Year at its annual meeting in July and recognized two other longtime members for accomplishment.  Rotarian of the Year honors went to Laurie Reuben, while Cliff Feldwick received a Service Above Self Award and Dushyant Patel (with spouse Palli), a Legacy Award. Presentations were made by RCCP 2020-21 president Walt Mazzell.  

Reuben, Club Service chair since 2015, joined Rotary in February 2010 and is a past club secretary and president. She’s also served on the Community Service Committee, Public Relations Committee, chaired the Service Above Self Award task force, and has been working with the Programs Committee to help automate the finding and booking of guest speakers for RCCP’s weekly meetings.

Mazzell said Reuben is “probably the most organized person I have met, who has an uncanny ability to ‘read a room’, is always smiling, eager to pitch in … we have spoken after meetings, during meetings, texting, e-mailing back and forth, (she) has been a sounding board for me all year.” 

Reuben called her award a surprise but said “being recognized for doing what you love makes the honor even more special.”   

I love my Rotary friends, those I’ve met in the club and those who’ve come into my world through my Rotary connections,” she continued. “I know that Rotary will always be an important part of my life.” 

Mazzell said that Feldwick’s Service Above Self Award recognizes his record as “a standout Rotarian for many years and a standout member for many volunteer activities over the years.” 

“Most recently, Cliff has been our Program Chair for about five years,” Mazzell added. “This is a crucial role in our club, keeping the weekly speaker series on track.” 

Patel is a founding Columbia-Patuxent Rotary member and was one of five who contributed seed money for the club’s charitable endowment which now totals nearly a quarter-of-a-million dollars, Mazzell noted. Patel also is a Major Donor and Paul Harris Society contributor to Rotary International.  

"Dushyant is very active, attends meetings, participates in our hand-on projects,” Mazzell said. “He is a model Rotarian, who has really dedicated his adult life to Rotary.  His contributions throughout the years are more than I can count.”  

Sixteen Howard County community organizations received program and project grant awards from the Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent (RCCP) at a breakfast meeting June 18. The awards, supported by fund-raising activities throughout the year, are part of Rotary’s focus on community service and commitment to giving back.

President Walter Mazzella (far right in group photo with recipients) said Grants Day is considered the highlight of the Rotary year by many club members. Grants for 2020-2021 went to: 

 Howard County Conservancy

• The Howard County Conservancy promotes environmental education, preservation and stewardship. The RCCP grant supports nature preschool scholarship opportunities  

Community Ecology Institute 

• The Community Ecology Institute cultivates connections between ecosystem health and human health. The RCCOP grant supports a community ecology center.

James’ Place

• James’ Place educates, inspires and encourages hope for those experiencing addiction. The RCCP grant will support scholarships for recovery. 

Zaching Against Cancer  

• Zaching Against Cancer aids patients, caregivers, family members and others affected by the disease. The RCCP grant supports Zack Packs filled with toiletries, snacks and creature comforts for medically fragile children. 

Gilchrist Hospice  

• Gilchrist Hospice is a leader in serious illness and end-of-life care. The RCCP grant is going for a blanket warming machine for Gilchrist’s inpatient unit. 

Rebuilding Together

• Rebuilding Together Howard County provides free home repairs to low-income families. The RCCP grant helps meet even greater needs in today’s difficult economic climate.

Howard County General Hospital  

• Howard County General Hospital offers a full range of hospital and wellness services with more than 1,000 affiliated doctors in nearly 100 clinical specialties. The RCCP grant is earmarked for new units in the hospital’s campus construction project

Respite Retreats  

• Respite Retreats programs give periods of rest or relief for cancer patients, their caregivers and family members. The RCCP grant will help refuel the body, mind and spirits of those affected by cancer. 

Maryland State Dental Association Charitable Foundation  

• The Maryland State Dental Association Foundation works to provides free dental services to people who do not have regular access to dental health care. The RCCP grant supports mobile dental clinics throughout the state. 

Grassroots Crisis Intervention  

• Grassroots offers 24/7 intervention/counseling services for anyone experiencing a personal, behavioral health, housing or situational crisis. The RCCP grant is supporting shelter programs. 

Neighbor Ride  

• Neighbor Ride improves health and quality of life for Howard County's seniors via affordable, passenger-focused and volunteer-based transportation. The RCCP grant is adding staff hours to expand services. 

Living In Recovery  

• Living in Recovery helps individuals reclaim their lives and break the cycle of “addiction-rehab-relapse”. The RCCP grant contributes toward sober housing free of alcohol and drugs, with peer support and a climate of personal accountability. 

Howard County Autism Society  

• The Howard County Autism Society seeks to improve the quality of life for people on the autism spectrum, their families and their communities. The RCCP grant supports the Patuxent Commons Housing Initiative, a mixed income inter-generational project to be located in Columbia’s Hickory Ridge Village. 

Oakland Mills High School PTSA  

• Oakland Mills’ PTA advocates for students and their families so that every child’s potential for success can become a reality. The RCCP award contributes to scholarships for senior students and grants for teachers. 

Howard Community College

• The college offers two-year degree and certificate programs preparing students for the workforce and built around careers that are in demand. The RCCP grant goes for entrepreneurial program scholarships plus a faculty speaker series open to local citizens. 

Community Action Council of Howard County  

• The Community Action Council is the county’s designated antipoverty organization, active in early childhood education and assistance for food, housing, energy and weatherization. This was the RCCP’s “Darrell Nevin Memorial Award,” honoring a deceased longtime Rotarian who was a strong supporter of the Community Action Council and other Howard County non-profits.  

A club committee considers applications for RCCP grants based on merit. Applications must be sponsored by a club member in good standing. 

A mentoring program to help academically struggling, underserved students in Howard County has completed its pilot year and plans to expand when school resumes. That’s the message Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent members heard from June 25 guest speaker Steven Porter (shown in photo with Rotarian Wendy Letow).  

Porter is a co-founder of Ohana Howard County (OhanaHC), a local non-profit modeled after a similar organization in Baltimore. “Ohana” means “family” in Hawaiian. The idea is to set up an “extended family” of volunteer mentors for at-risk 9^th graders. Beginning with 10 students and 40 volunteers at Wilde Lake High last September, Porter said the pilot had encouraging signs of progress, especially in building trusting relationships for those involved.  

OhanaHC’s goals are:

1. To help young people work toward removing any barriers that may stand in the way of their achieving success. 
2. To build a diverse, equitable and inclusive community culture with more social, economic and educational opportunities for all in Howard County.

Porter said that in addition to Wilde Lake, the program is expanding to Long Reach, Oakland Mills and Hammond high schools for 2021-22, serving eight students per school, with a total of 140 volunteers. It’s a leap of faith because “it may be two years before we see a significant difference in how these students see the world and what they try to do in it,” he said.  

The future growth for OhanaHC services is daunting, since about 400 9^th graders enter the four high schools each year with deep academic needs, Porter added. “It really would take about 1,600 volunteers to mentor these kids,” he said. “But think what it would mean to help young people make good decisions about their future.  It has the potential to change the lives of hundreds of Howard County students and the people who help them.” 

A 28-year commercial real estate veteran has been inducted into the Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent. Will McCullough (at right in photo), senior vice president at the Lee and Associates office in Columbia, was welcomed by RCCP president Walt Mazzella at the June 25 meeting. McCullough is the club’s ninth new member for the 2020-2021 Rotary year. 

Prior to joining Lee and Associates, McCullough was a leasing agent for St. John Properties, the 2018 Commercial Real Estate Development Association’s national developer of the year. He’s a past officer and board member for the development association, was named one of its “emerging leader” award winners, and worked as a commercial and industrial broker in the Baltimore-Washington market for 15 years. 

McCullough earned a BS in Business Administration at Towson University. He’s a member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, is a Certified Commercial Investment Member and is a past member of the River Hill Village Board of Directors.  

Sixteen Howard County community organizations received program and project grant awards from the Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent (RCCP) at a breakfast meeting June 18. The awards, supported by fund-raising activities throughout the year, are part of Rotary’s focus on community service and commitment to giving back.

President Walter Mazzella (far right in group photo with recipients) said Grants Day is considered the highlight of the Rotary year by many club members. Grants for 2020-2021 went to: 

 Howard County Conservancy

• The Howard County Conservancy promotes environmental education, preservation and stewardship. The RCCP grant supports nature preschool scholarship opportunities

Community Ecology Institute 

• The Community Ecology Institute cultivates connections between ecosystem health and human health. The RCCOP grant supports a community ecology center.

James’ Place

• James’ Place educates, inspires and encourages hope for those experiencing addiction. The RCCP grant will support scholarships for recovery. 

Zaching Against Cancer  

• Zaching Against Cancer aids patients, caregivers, family members and others affected by the disease. The RCCP grant supports Zack Packs filled with toiletries, snacks and creature comforts for medically fragile children. 

Gilchrist Hospice  

• Gilchrist Hospice is a leader in serious illness and end-of-life care. The RCCP grant is going for a blanket warming machine for Gilchrist’s inpatient unit. 

Rebuilding Together

• Rebuilding Together Howard County provides free home repairs to low-income families. The RCCP grant helps meet even greater needs in today’s difficult economic climate.

Howard County General Hospital  

• Howard County General Hospital offers a full range of hospital and wellness services with more than 1,000 affiliated doctors in nearly 100 clinical specialties. The RCCP grant is earmarked for new units in the hospital’s campus construction project

Respite Retreats  

• Respite Retreats programs give periods of rest or relief for cancer patients, their caregivers and family members. The RCCP grant will help refuel the body, mind and spirits of those affected by cancer. 

Maryland State Dental Association Charitable Foundation  

• The Maryland State Dental Association Foundation works to provides free dental services to people who do not have regular access to dental health care. The RCCP grant supports mobile dental clinics throughout the state. 

Grassroots Crisis Intervention  

• Grassroots offers 24/7 intervention/counseling services for anyone experiencing a personal, behavioral health, housing or situational crisis. The RCCP grant is supporting shelter programs. 

Neighbor Ride  

• Neighbor Ride improves health and quality of life for Howard County's seniors via affordable, passenger-focused and volunteer-based transportation. The RCCP grant is adding staff hours to expand services. 

Living In Recovery  

• Living in Recovery helps individuals reclaim their lives and break the cycle of “addiction-rehab-relapse”. The RCCP grant contributes toward sober housing free of alcohol and drugs, with peer support and a climate of personal accountability. 

Howard County Autism Society  

• The Howard County Autism Society seeks to improve the quality of life for people on the autism spectrum, their families and their communities. The RCCP grant supports the Patuxent Commons Housing Initiative, a mixed income inter-generational project to be located in Columbia’s Hickory Ridge Village. 

Oakland Mills High School PTSA  

• Oakland Mills’ PTA advocates for students and their families so that every child’s potential for success can become a reality. The RCCP award contributes to scholarships for senior students and grants for teachers. 

Howard Community College

• The college offers two-year degree and certificate programs preparing students for the workforce and built around careers that are in demand. The RCCP grant goes for entrepreneurial program scholarships plus a faculty speaker series open to local citizens. 

Community Action Council of Howard County  

• The Community Action Council is the county’s designated antipoverty organization, active in early childhood education and assistance for food, housing, energy and weatherization. This was the RCCP’s “Darrell Nevin Memorial Award,” honoring a deceased longtime Rotarian who was a strong supporter of the Community Action Council and other Howard County non-profits.  

A club committee considers applications for RCCP grants based on merit. Applications must be sponsored by a club member in good standing. 

A Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent donation drive for COVID-19 relief in India has earned Baltimore TV coverage plus more dollars for oxygen generators. The “breath of life” campaign was launched by club members two weeks ago to answer medical needs in the pandemic hotspot.  

The club initially raised nearly $10,000 for the generators – devices that produce medical grade oxygen from ambient air and cost $550 each. That amount was matched by SEWA International, an India-based charity supporting humanitarian causes.

The campaign story was featured June 3 on WMAR-TV2 News in Baltimore. The club’s International Service chairman, Larry Newman, gave details in an interview with reporter Abby Issacs. Within an hour of the broadcast, RCCP received another $600 in donations attributed to viewers. 

RCCP’s fund-raising has purchased approximately 45 oxygen generators thus far, while SEWA International aims to provide a total of more than 1,500.  Disaster Aid USA – a Rotary-sponsored organization for emergency relief worldwide – has met its donation goal of $250,000 for this purpose. 

Oxygenator distribution will be based on demonstrated need in all areas of India. That country’s more than 3,000 Rotary clubs will assist in placing the devices.

by Pete Pillow

While the most recent COVID-19 news in the U.S. is positive, other places around the world face higher numbers of infections and deaths. This is especially true in India, with 400,000 new cases daily, severe vaccine shortages and a lack of lifesaving oxygen.

India has over 3,000 Rotary clubs. Many are working to support their communities as the pandemic takes hold. Area governor Temrah Okonski alerted Howard County Rotarians about the critical need for oxygen, noting that our clubs have many members who either immigrated from India or have relatives there.  

Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent (RCCP) members are responding with a rapid-response “breath of life” initiative.  In one week, the club has given nearly $10,000 for oxygen generators -- devices that produce medical grade oxygen from ambient air and cost $550 each. Purchase and delivery to India is being arranged by Disaster Aid International (DAI) – a Rotary-sponsored organization that provides relief for dire emergencies anywhere in the world.  

A corporate interest in India is making a dollar-for-dollar match to RCCP’s donation, enabling shipment of 36 new oxygenators for distribution to the country’s rural hospitals. This match also applies to any future contributions. 

We welcome additional “breath of life” donations in the spirit of international community service. Interested in giving? Visit our “Donate to the Trust” page and select the India Oxygen Generator pulldown. Thank you in advance.

Many people use the end of one year to reflect on things they would like to accomplish in the coming year. What better resolution than to sow the seeds of peace in 2021?

Peace underscores much of the work that Rotary members do in improving their communities around the world. Rotary’s peacebuilding initiatives seek to create environments where lasting peace is possible. We do this by continually investing in sustainable and measurable peace programs throughout our communities and across the globe; by creating an extensive network of peacebuilders and community leaders dedicated to peace and conflict prevention; and by providing Rotarians with several avenues in which they can actively participate in peacebuilding processes within their communities.

We believe that if Rotarians and concerned citizens mobilize locally to create peace, change can happen globally. Here are 10 ways you can be an everyday peacebuilder. (Check out an expanded list here).

1. Enroll in the Rotary Positive Peace Academy.
2. Read the Positive Peace club presentation and facilitator’s guide and share the presentation with your club
3. Help recruit and endorse worthy candidates for the Rotary Peace Fellowship
4. Seek out any Rotary Peace Fellows who live or work in your district and invite them to collaborate on your club’s next peacebuilding project – they can offer invaluable help on the planning and implementation of the peacebuilding project.
5. Check out the Rotary Peace Fellowship Alumni Association website, where you can access the Online Speaker Database to find peace fellows globally who can give a virtual presentation to your club.
6. Encourage your district to become a Global Peacebuilder District.
7. Start an Inter-Country committee (ICC) or a Rotary Friendship Exchange between your district and a district in another country, or create a Rotary Fellowship.
8. Work with young leaders to promote global understanding and peace.
9. Engage with a local Rotaract club and implement a service project that fosters understanding within and across cultures.
10. Work with one of our peacebuilding partner organizations: Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI), ShelterBox, the Peace Corps, and Ashoka.

courtesy Rotary.org