Rotary Club of White Plains
Report on 2004 Mission to Ecuador,
South America
By Rotarian Evan L. Delman, September 10, 2004
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Report on Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador:
We checked on the progress and status of the fire truck sent to Ecuador
in 2000. It was sent to a small city called Bahia de Caraquez in Rotary
district 4400. This small city can only be described as Mayberry with Palm
trees, a real life Shangri-La. The people were warm, welcoming and a
pleasure to be with. They invited us to homes for meals and conversation.
Family members escorted us to different sites of interest daily.
At the regularly scheduled meeting, two large duffel bags of clothing
were presented to the Rotary Club for distribution to the needy. Club Flags
were exchanged.
During the week, local firefighters were instructed on advanced
techniques in fire extinguishment and search & rescue (photos will be shown
at a upcoming meeting. Additional firefighter protective clothing was given
to this small department.
There is a 14 year old boy who is the son of the immediate past local
Rotary President. Two years ago he suffered a fractured left elbow. It was
treated at a local hospital; however, the treatment was lacking at best. The
range of motion of this child’s arm is about 35 degrees out of a total of
90. I have pledged support in bringing this child to the United States for
corrective surgery; (if the WP Club does not wish to assist, I will do so
independently.)
Report on Guayaquil, Ecuador:
This year we sent a fire truck to Doran, Ecuador, and a full x-ray setup
to a charitable hospital in the capital of Ecuador. The Rotary Club in
Guayaquil, Ecuador (Rotary district 4400) at no time offered any hospitality
or hand of friendship. The Rotary Club in Guayaquil stated that since all
the medical equipment we sent was in such good condition, it would be given
to the Military, and they were going to keep the fire truck for themselves.
They were informed that the medical equipment was to be given to a Priest
that has established a hospital for orphaned children and poverty-stricken
women in the Capital of Ecuador, and the fire truck was for a village called
Doran that is without any current fire protection. They treated our
statements with little regard.
After some heavy-handed persuasion (they were informed I am contacting
Rotary International and filing a formal complaint), they agreed to give the
priest the x-ray equipment, but they have refused to transfer our fire truck
to Doran, leaving that town without any fire protection.
A formal complaint to R.I. on the actions of the Guayaquil Club is
forthcoming.
Respectfully,
Evan L. Delman
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