By Barry Villamil, President, Rotary Club of Pearlridge
The Rotary Club of Pearlridge set a service goal for 2024-2025 to reach out and connect with fellow Hawaii District 5000 clubs, as well as Rotary International clubs around the world. The RCOP is off to a great start beginning in late June 2024 volunteering their time with the Rotary Club of Honolulu, Hawaii Beer Festival fundraiser held at the Bishop Museum Great Lawn. It was an amazingly successful fundraiser for Rotary Club of Honolulu President Tom Coyne and club members who welcomed RCOP volunteers while working side by side throughout the event.
This past Friday, July 19, 2024, the RCOP hosted Rotary Club of Pearl Harbor Past President Bruce Fink and special guest speaker Janine LeGrand from the Rotary Club of Masindi-Kitara in Uganda, East Africa. It was so nice to finally meet Bruce after trading a bunch of emails while organizing Janine’s visit to our club. Janine instantly touched our hearts with her inspirational story and mission of Service Above Self through outreach to better the lives of the people of Uganda while improving their health through her missionary work and leadership.
We all enjoyed a wonderful meal and fellowship while Janine provided a heartwarming Power Point presentation of her mission and life as a member of the Rotary Club of Masindi- Kitara. We made a goal of exploring the opportunity of working together with other Hawaii District 5000 clubs in support the Rotary Club of Pearl Harbor and the Rotary Club of Masindi as they pursue a global grant and sending a team of Hawaii District 5000 Rotarians to Masindi.
Janine LeGrand, Rotary Club of Masindi- Kitara
“I am very honored to be welcomed so wonderfully by the Rotary Club of Pearlridge. It was a pleasure to share with you about the Rotary Club of Masindi in Uganda, East Africa and the health needs in Uganda. The love and aloha of the Pearlridge Club shown was amazing. The Rotary Club of Pearl Harbor also seems to have a great heart to help Masindi, and it could be great if the clubs worked together. Bruce Fink, who visited the club with me can follow up and give further details and when I am back in Uganda we expect to have some leadership zooms to look in the best ways to walk together.
With the Pearl Harbor club, we talked about a global grant and also Hawaii sending a team of Rotations to Masindi. When I am back in Uganda, I can get the club leadership to help make plans with the club or clubs here. Masindi is qualified and has two approved grants but are working on the local contribution which in a poor area is not always easy, but I think together we may be able to make a big difference in improving health in an area with very high health needs.”
Bruce Fink, Past President, Rotary Club of Pearl Harbor
“It would be great to do a Global Grant project in 2025 or later with Janine’s club. Janine is careful not to commit without guidance from the club leadership. We should be able to start the conversation with the Rotary Club of Masindi after Janine returns to Uganda. We look forward to including the Rotary Club of Pearlridge in the conversation.”
Mahalo to Bruce and Janine for blessing the RCOP with their friendship and leadership through the true spirit of Aloha that lives in Rotarians here in Hawaii and around the world.
Also, mahalo to RCOP members and supporters who are focused in 2024-2025 and beyond to bettering the lives of the community and their ohana through outreach that begins and is extended from the heart and soul of every Rotarian.
Video and Photos by Barry Villamil
