I have been a Rotarian since 2011, about the time I retired from the VHL Alliance (vhl.org). I had realized that while I had friends all over the world in the VHL community, I was not very well connected in my own community of Brookline. A friend invited me to go with him to a lunch meeting of the Brookline Rotary club.
It was just what I needed. Here were many other Brookline residents and business people who were all on a mission to improve our local community — and also work to make things better in the world! I could work with neighbors and new friends, get connected in Brookline, and also use the international skills I had learned through rare disease channels.
I rose through the ranks — Board member, Secretary, President of the local club, then back to Secretary (my favorite job) where I helped to smooth out the administrative processes in the club. As a member of the Board I helped to apply for and administer local grants and global grants.
Rotary is made up worldwide of 1.4 million people in 46,000 clubs in 200 countries of the world. Through my work in business and with rare diseases, I have visited 67 countries and helped to form VHL organizations in 18 of those. The Rotary Foundation is the largest non-profit in the world. Local clubs are able to apply for grants from the Foundation to do local projects and international projects. The Foundation multiplies the financial contributions of the local clubs — matching grants of up to $1500 for local projects, and a “multiplier effect” for global grants which, when approved, can turn a $10,000 contribution from a local club into a $30,000 grant for good works abroad. It’s an amazing organization that immediately appealed to me. I have made wonderful friends locally and throughout my Rotary District — from Brookline to Sturbridge — which is just what I wanted to enhance my retirement.
Ten years later, with the encouragement of several of the District leaders, I was appointed the District Governor for 2024-2025. Like all top leadership positions in Rotary clubs and districts, it is a one-year appointment, which a three-year commitment. As the Governor Nominee I began my training journey in 2021 with a growing list of responsibilities in the District and a series of online and in-person training events alongside other District nominees from all over U.S. and Canada. The leadership training gained through Rotary has outpaced what I learned in Business School!
In December the message came through from Rotary International that a Rotarian in Austria had asked them to find someone in Boston who could help a Ukrainian family sheltering in a small village in Austria. Their 3-year-old daughter had Rett Syndrome — a rare genetic disease. She was diagnosed after her parents realized that their beautiful baby could not turn over, could not sit up. At three she could not walk, she could not speak. Her mother was doing physical therapy with her for hours each day to keep her muscles from atrophying. They needed professional services. They needed hope.
While I had never heard of Rett Syndrome, I knew that Powerful Patient could help. I send word back to Chicago that I could work with them. They could stay at my apartment until they found better housing and we would connect them with the services they need.
I began doing research, and found a focused program for Rett Syndrome at Boston Children’s Hospital. I also found a family support group for Rett Syndrome. In order to make an appointment at Children’s they needed insurance. So I set out on the paperwork journey to get them lined up with insurance. The Welcome agency assisted with immigration paperwork; I did the medical.
As you will see in the attached article, they now have an apartment, their daughter has begun attending a well respected school for multiply handicapped children, and they are hoping to be approved to take part in a clinical trial for a new drug that hopefully will awaken the neurological pathways that will allow her to sit up, speak, and perhaps more.
The Rotary Theme this year is to Create Hope in the World. For this one family, we have created Hope. That is what I wish for all of you — in one small way in your own part of the world, create Hope for yourself or a neighbor. You will find that it not only helps them, it will light a new light of hope in yourself.
See the full article at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FfzcnbnDep9MowldsIuGMY_9xBBWtzrQ/viewWelcome.US
About Rotary:
Rotary International: http://rotary.org
Rotary District 7910 (Metrowest Boston and Central Massachusetts): http://rotary7910.org
About Rett Syndrome:
International Rett Syndrome Foundation – https://www.rettsyndrome.org/
Rett Syndrome Program, Boston Children’s Hospital – https://www.childrenshospital.org/programs/rett-syndrome-program
Rett Syndrome Association of Massachusetts, aka Rett Syndrome Angels (family support) – https://rsangels.org/
Article about this Ukrainian family: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FfzcnbnDep9MowldsIuGMY_9xBBWtzrQ/viewWelcome.US
