Rotary Community Heroes of Hope
Introducing "Rotary Community Heroes of Hope" - a podcast dedicated to showcasing the profound impact of Rotary in District 5330 and beyond. Join us as we explore the remarkable stories of rotary heroes and initiatives that are transforming communities and creating hope around the world.
Rotary Community Heroes of Hope
Transforming Healthcare in the Dominican Republic: Rotary's Mission with Somos Amigos
What if you could be part of a mission that truly transforms lives? Join us on Community Heroes of Hope as we welcome the inspiring Douglas McClellan, who is leading a humanitarian expedition to the heart of the Dominican Republic, and Frank, the visionary founder of Somos Amigos. Together, we explore the incredible journey of providing essential healthcare to remote communities. Discover the heartwarming stories of Rotarians and non-Rotarians uniting for a common cause, breaking down barriers, and making a real difference where it’s needed most. Learn about the exciting plans for hands-on projects that promise not only to improve healthcare access but also to foster deep connections within these communities.
In a conversation filled with passion and purpose, Douglas and Frank share insights into the meticulous planning that goes into such transformative trips, from travel logistics to community engagements. This episode also emphasizes the inclusive nature of Rotary's service projects, highlighting how everyone, from healthcare professionals to enthusiastic volunteers, can contribute meaningfully. We delve into the core mission of Somos Amigos and how it aligns with Rotary's vision of dreaming big and setting bold goals. As we wrap up, we express our gratitude to Douglas and Frank for their unwavering dedication and extend an open invitation to join this rewarding journey. Stay tuned to Community Heroes of Hope for more inspiring tales of service and change.
Hello and welcome to the Community. Heroes of Hope, a podcast where we shine a light on the remarkable individuals and projects in Rotary District 5330 that bring hope and change to our local and global communities. I am Judy Zelfikar, your co-host and the current District Governor of Rotary District 5330.
Speaker 2:And I'm Niren McLean, the Rotary District Governor-Elect, and I'm Niren McLean, the Rotary District Governor-Elect. Together, we're diving deep into the heart of the community service, showcasing the impact of dedication and collaboration in addressing some of the most pressing challenges our communities face.
Speaker 1:Each episode, we'll tell stories of incredible people making a difference, innovating solutions and inspiring others to take action.
Speaker 2:We'll also be giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the projects that are transforming their lives, and we'll discuss how you, too, can get involved, contribute and be part of the positive change. Whether you're a seasoned Rotarian or just looking to give back, this podcast is for you.
Speaker 1:So join us as we explore the journeys, challenges and successes of people like you who have stepped up to make a difference. Let's celebrate the spirit of community and the power of hope together.
Speaker 2:Don't forget to subscribe to the Community Heroes of Hope on your favorite podcast platform. Stay with us on this journey of inspiration and let's spread the message of hope further than ever.
Speaker 1:Thank you for tuning in. Let's get started. Welcome to Heroes of Hope. We are here today with some amazing Rotarians who we're going to talk about humanitarian trips. Rotary does so many things around the world and this is one of those great examples of how Rotarians and even non-Rotarians can join in on helping serve our community around the world. So I'd like to introduce Douglas McClellan. Please let us know a little bit about yourself and a little bit about this wonderful humanitarian trip that you're planning.
Speaker 3:Good morning, judy. Thank you for the opportunity to chat about what we think is a very worthwhile trip that does fantastic work in the Dominican Republic in providing intermittent health care to a community that has no one else to rely on, and I was lucky enough to find this project and build a global grant around it, along with a humanitarian trip that we would schedule for April of this year. And, just as a background, I'm a venture capitalist, I'm a Rotarian, I'm a member of the La Quinta Club in La Quinta, california.
Speaker 1:Awesome, frank. Can we have you introduce yourself as well, sure, and thank you very much, judy, california Awesome.
Speaker 4:Frank, can we have you introduce yourself as well? Sure, and thank you very much, judy and Douglas, especially Thanks for the opportunity to be here with you and to tell you all a little bit more about Somos Amigos and about this opportunity that Douglas alluded to. You know, as I was doing so, I'm the founder and the director, as Douglas said, of Somos Amigos. We've been running a primary care medical and dental facility in a really remote area of the Dominican Republic for almost 30 years now. Crow flies in an area that really, apart from us, there are no other resources for reliable and quality healthcare.
Speaker 4:As I was doing a little bit of homework, I was really intrigued by learning about your founder, paul Harris, and a lot of what I learned just resonated so much with me. And as I think back to the, you know the history of Somos Amigos, his notion, I think. He talked about dreaming big and setting bold goals, and I think that just describes so well our journey with Somos Amigos. We started as a simple group of friends and colleagues who wanted to do some good and now, 30 years later, we're at this point where, as Douglas suggested, we're about to grow in a pretty major way and to think that we might have a group of Rotarians involved with us somehow some way. Starting with this trip in April is just fantastic for us. So anyway, as I said, I'm so thrilled to be here with you this morning and talk more about this.
Speaker 1:And that is really the key of it all right, all of us working together to do good in the world. So, douglas, can you tell us, can you give us a definition of what is a humanitarian trip, as defined as what we're doing here with this trip to the Dominican Republic?
Speaker 3:You know, my experience in Rotary is that my wife Nora became a Rotarian, oh, 14 years ago in District 5280, and did a lot for the district and her club there. And we did a major annual trip designed by the district governors, and in my case it was going to Peru. And you know, the idea is that we did about 25 separate small little projects along with one big one over a week's period and when that included medical supplies, wheelchairs, we provided 200 violins to a music school for kids. I mean really fantastic stuff that just came out of. In some ways came out of nowhere, in the sense that nobody had a solution for the things that we did. They just were kind of matter. It was a need and we filled that void and it's I mean, I'll tell you, it is enormously rewarding for the participants in the humanitarian trip to go down and see what Rotary dollars do for people that don't have, you know, uh, the resources to help themselves so like for a humanitarian trip, just to sort of go on that 30,000 foot view of it.
Speaker 1:Is it my understanding? We we get a bunch of Rotarians and even non-Rotarians can join us. Right, they work. We work together with a uh, a planner, a planner, a tour planner, and in that, all the logistics are put together for this group of individuals to go to another country. Their hotels are put together, their airline travel is put together, any transportation in between the service project is already taken care of. You basically are working as a team, that's, and and coming together to then go to another country and do service projects and as part of that experience, you also have an opportunity to get to know the country that you're in. Is that basically the gist of how a humanitarian project comes together?
Speaker 3:Words right out of my mouth.
Speaker 1:And so this one that is going to the Dominican Republic, Douglas, tell us how that started, what got the idea and how have you been working on that to put that project together?
Speaker 3:So we work with a travel coordinator to cost out the trip.
Speaker 3:The trip that we're talking about in April is approximately an eight-day trip that will price somewhere between $3,000 and $3,500, all inclusive, including airfare and all you know food, hotels, transportation and one or two, you know, open bars, which is always popular, and some entertainment along the way, because we try to add some cultural entertainment in so that you, you know, you get a feeling for the environment that you're in.
Speaker 3:We'll also meet fellow Rotarians. I mean, part of the global grant process is that we are partnering with a club in Santiago, dominican Republic, and we'll get a chance to meet those Rotarians there and several other cities where we'll have a combined, let's say, hosted lunch or dinner. So you know you'll get a chance to meet Rotarians from, you know, the DR that are also helping, you know, make this possible, you know, make the district or the global grant possible. So it's, I mean it's a very enjoyable time. I will say there's some downtime at the end of the trip that happens to be on a beach that I think everybody's going to be happy about. So that's, that's a. It combines good service above self and a little bit of beach time.
Speaker 1:And do you have to be a Rotarian to participate?
Speaker 3:No, you can be a friend of a Rotarian and and we're certainly out talking to to pals of ours to see if they want to join us this year.
Speaker 1:Well, and that's part the reason I ask that question is obviously our podcast reaches out to more than just Rotarians, and the point is for us to let the world know what we do and encourage them to come along with us to do that. And so we, these type of service projects actually any of our service projects in Rotary are really open for participation from within our Rotary clubs and within our community. So this is no different, right? That's right, frank. What would the team that is going down to your area, what can they expect to accomplish with the service project that you guys have identified?
Speaker 4:Well, I can't tell you how excited I am about this possibility group. To be there and to see with their own eyes and to experience themselves what their literally their investment will make possible, I just think will make a world of difference. Our clinic is located literally on the side of a mountain in the middle of nowhere. It's about two hours from the nearest city. You get there and the beauty is breathtaking. The people would do anything for you, but you just have to scratch the surface to realize that there's a lot of suffering, suffering primarily due to lack of access to health care.
Speaker 4:And so I am excited that a group of outsiders, you know, excited that a group of outsiders, you know, can come in and see for themselves that, you know, these moms and their children and these grandparents and these aunts and uncles, and all the folks we call our patients, are just such worthy, wonderful, dignified, deserving people wonderful, dignified, deserving people. They don't have the resources among themselves to bring the health care that they need to their communities. What we try to do is provide that, and what the group of visiting Rotarians will be doing, with their support, is helping us continue to make that healthcare possible. Literally, what the group will do is spend some time at our clinic getting to know some of the local people, because it is a working clinic, you know. It's not like I could say okay Douglas, please see a few patients you know, in the next consultation.
Speaker 4:Hey, douglas, please see a few patients in the next consultation. So we're working on projects, short-term projects that we can let people roll up their sleeves and get down to work a little bit. That will benefit the clinic's ongoing operation. Those plans are still coming together but there will be some of that hands-on working experience and apart from that Douglas has put together, you know, we've been collaborating a lot at a wonderful itinerary, I think, whereby the participants will not only get to see what we do but also get to appreciate what we do in the context of the larger healthcare system in the Dominican Republic.
Speaker 4:Why do we have to be where we are right? What other resources are there in the country? And I think the participants will have some of those questions answered and will make them very much aware that, whether it's, you know, on the side of a mountain in the Dominican Republic or you know, you name it, even in our own country and the States, you know, there are folks who go about living their lives very humbly but kind of forgotten by the outside world, and they need a helping hand. They do need a helping hand and I think that's, you know, that's what the Rotarians are all about, that's what Somos Amigos is all about to to provide that helping hand um to to these folks who need our help.
Speaker 1:That's wonderful. Speaking of the itinerary, douglas, can you get, do you have it in front of you by any chance, and can be a little, maybe, specific of how, how the days are going to, uh, to line up and what, what the participants might have in store and remind us again also of the dates that this project is going to move forward?
Speaker 3:The trip commences on the 18th of April with a flight out of Los Angeles International Airport and we'll, you know, fly through connecting city and arrive in the city of Santiago on Saturday, the 19th. So it's an overnight flight and you know we're not going, you know it's not South America, but you know we're we're not going. You know it's not South America, but it, you know it, it it is deep in the Caribbean, right? Uh, frank, that's maybe a good way to say it. And, um, we're, we're planning the trip during the spring, which is not hurricane season.
Speaker 1:That's a very good time to do that. We don't need to be stuck in a hurricane.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's right, and so the idea is that then a riot will, on Saturday, get checked into the hotel, and then Sunday we would, you know, have been assigned kind of different jobs for the following day and a bus would pick us up in the morning and take us out to the facilities, which is a two-hour bus ride, and we would spend the day there, you know, working on small projects, also meeting and getting a chance to hear from the local community officials, of which you know there are some, and and then just you know, whether we're painting or cleaning or or, you know, checking people in, just just help, just helping where we can, and also getting a better understanding of of how they're the you, of how the clinic operates.
Speaker 3:And then we'd be to our ride back to the city and have dinner together and then start the next day, which would be Monday, the 21st, and there we would visit one or more hospitals where patients are triaged at the clinic and then, if they've got a serious problem then are sent down to Santiago for follow-on care. So we'll get an idea of how that transfer process works and meet with the hospital officials there to, you know, better understand the level of health care that they're being. You know the average person is receiving in a major city. You know the average person is receiving in a major city, right? And then we also would have a museum tour in the afternoon the local museum, cultural museum in Santiago. And then Tuesday we would be the 22nd we'd be back up at the Somos Amigos facilities and do a kind of a second day of volunteering. And then on Wednesday, the 22nd, we are working on the political side, in the sense of we're working on scheduling a meeting with the Minister of Health, minister Daniel Rivera, and also Luis Abinader isn't it Abinader who?
Speaker 3:is the president of the country, and so we're trying to get an audience with him so that we can, you know, share with him the good deeds we're trying to do and also try to see you know, share with him the good deeds we're trying to do and also try to see, you know, to highlight Frank's work and see if that would translate into additional assistance and or help from the Dominican government.
Speaker 1:Nothing like bringing an entire team out right, frank, to show the support from all over the world, literally to help bring and highlight what you're doing right there in that country. That's a great addition to this humanitarian trip.
Speaker 4:It's an incredible opportunity, I think, for both sides. I can't tell you again how excited, and you know, one thing that Douglas didn't mention, although he alluded to it earlier, is that when the group is in Santiago, Douglas, I think there'll be a lot of opportunity for fellowship with the other, the local Rotarians from Santiago, to share from them and exchange with them. But you're so right, Judy, I mean to you know, to connect these two worlds is just really exciting for me.
Speaker 1:And then, as they finished up with talking to the government, then we would have Thursday, friday and Saturday on the beach.
Speaker 3:Not a bad way to end the trip yeah, the best way to put it. We're still looking at the exact resort, but there's golf, there's the beach, there's just great weather, and we're looking forward to getting that scheduled literally later this week.
Speaker 1:You know, these opportunities for us as Rotarians and our community also to serve in this way are so amazing and I know, douglas, that it takes a lot of work to put something like this together. We just recently got back from Mexicali, which is just over the border a smaller trip, kind of easier accessibility but it's wonderful to have all kinds of opportunities for Rotarians and our community members in our district and beyond to be able to work alongside of us and with us to do great humanitarian work in the world. So I really commend you and Frank for putting such a wonderful program together. Tell us about who would be the best person that you know when you're looking out into our community. Who do you think would really enjoy this trip and how would they connect with you to be able to be a part of it?
Speaker 3:So we should have information in detail on this humanitarian trip should be available on the district website, I would think within the next week where we have the detail.
Speaker 1:And that's district5330.org, 5330.org or rotary5330.org. Sorry, go ahead.
Speaker 3:Sure, and we'll also have flyers. We'll be out talking to club presidents within our district, and probably District 5280 as, uh, probably district 5280 as well, because, uh, they've indicated an interest in supporting us. And, um, um, I, I think you know, uh, uh, any able body, Rotarian, um that, uh, you know, you don't have to do a lot of strenuous hiking. We're not climbing Machu Picchu, here we are, you know. So this is a trip that, you know, even slightly handicapped people can easily maneuver on. So from a health standpoint, that's not an impediment. And particularly for Rotary members who have not had a chance to go on a humanitarian trip, this is, you know, not too far afield and really gives you a taste of the things that Rotary tries to build and work on. And you know, my own personal journey in Rotary was dramatically influenced by the humanitarian trip to Peru that I went on four years ago.
Speaker 1:So and was a major catalyst for me to join Rotary. It definitely is a unique opportunity to create those Rotary moments that keep us in service because we really see the need. Any final thoughts?
Speaker 3:Well, it's a fast moving year, and so we're trying to get everything organized and the information out to everybody this next week.
Speaker 1:And when would be the deadline for and you may not have this yet when would be the deadline for people to sign up to go? I would say, let's say 1st of April. The 1st of April. Okay, great, and again, we'll have that information on District 5330's website, which is district5330.org, and it'll probably be under events, the events tab, and we'll probably have it in a couple of different places, frank. Any final thoughts?
Speaker 4:have it in a couple of different places, frank. Any final thoughts? Well, you know, just to close by saying that, to just piggyback on what Douglas was saying, you know we are part of the trip goes to a rather remote area, but you know we've been working there for 30 years the safety and security of all the participants is going to be foremost on our minds. It's perfectly safe. Everything from the water that you drink to the food that our minds it's perfectly safe, everything from the water that you drink to the food that you eat. We try to anticipate every possible situation. It's a very safe, stable country. We work with people involved in transportation and accommodations that I know and trust, so it should be a very comfortable experience for everybody. And if anyone has any lingering questions or doubts, I'm sure they can reach out to Douglas, but anyone can find me through Somos Amigos as well.
Speaker 1:So why don't you give us the Somos Amigos information so that anybody listening to this podcast could find you?
Speaker 4:Sure, we are at SomosAmigosorg. Somos Amigos means we are friends, so S-O-M-O-S, somos Amigos, a-m-i-g-o-s. Connect the two words SomosAmigosorg. That's our website and my email address is Frank at SomosAmigosorg and I'd love to hear from anybody answer any questions that people have invite people to join us on a trip, especially if physicians, dentists, nurses, anyone in healthcare is listening. We also use a lot of interpreters for people who are bilingual. We'd love to have Rotarians join us on our trips.
Speaker 1:Wonderful. Well, thank you, gentlemen, both, for joining us, thank you for talking about this and doing all the work to put this type of a trip together. I know it's a big job, but I think you're going to have an amazing group of individuals that'll come back with stories that will linger with them for a lifetime. So that wraps up this episode of Heroes of Hope. We are so happy that we have an audience out there listening. We want you to subscribe, share and tell your friends about the Rotary Community Heroes of Hope, because that's how we get the word out about the impact we're having in this world.