DFW Airport - And We're Off - (Well Almost!)

Monday morning - up early and managing the last minute details of packing, emails, passport, etc! Gee, are the dogs fed? Is Bud ready? Carolyn has already called! Is Carl, Carolyn's husband ready for her to be gone for a month? Suitcases are packed - mine weighs more than I EVER have packed! Carolyn's has set a world record - 'cause her bags have never weighed so little!

Early morning visits from Carolyn's grandchildren, Lexi & Alyssa, Ty & Taryn made for a great, but tearfull sendoff! Keep checking the blog kids, Nana will be keeping you posted on her shanagians!

Carolyn set off the airport alarms and security descended quickly to surround her! Detector Wands were waving - and hands were doin' the Roman Roaming! False Alarm!! Oh NO! Hairpins were the culprit! But her hair looks gorgeous! (According to TSA employees!)

So currently we are in the "Hurry Up & Wait" mode - the flight to Newark, NJ is delayed due to weather there. Hopefully we will be departing soon with a mere 45 minute delay.

OK India, we are officially on our way!

INDIA - Rotary At Work! - The purpose and scope of my trip.

Last year, my Rotary club, The Rotary Club of Garland, was the international partner for a matching grant of $31,500 USD with the Rotary Club of Koppal, India. The project was to drill 6 fresh water wells that would serve up to 10,500 people daily and to provide a medical equipment for HIV/AIDS and diabetes to a small medical clinic. I promised my club that if they would support and participate in the project, that my husband & I would travel to India and help.

Since that time, I became the Co-Chair for International Service for District 5810 and decided to expand the scope of the trip to visit all the projects clubs in our district were participating in throughout India. Wow! We have a lot of projects going on in India and I am amazed at the work of our friends there!

So I and another Rotarian, Carolyn Thumann will be leaving tomorrow to travel to India! Our journey will take us from Delhi to Hyderabad, then on to Chennai across to Salem, then to Bangalore, Koppal, Mumbai then north again to Chandigarh and Solan. In addition to viewing first hand a wide range of service projects we were invited and will be attend the District Conference for D3150 in Guntur. The Rotarians of India are opening their homes and hearts to welcome us and we are humbled and grateful. The projects we will be seeing range from water & sanitation, to education & literacy, medical projects and aid to orphans. The impact is far reaching and we are simply a small part of the vast work by Rotarians in India to help and lift up the many in need there.

So India, the Texans are coming and we are excited!

Rotary District 5810 - North Texas

Rotary District 5810 is located in North Texas with over 63 Rotary clubs and approximately 3,200 members. Comprised geographically of eight counties: Collin; Dallas; Ellis; Fannin; Grayson; Hunt Kaufman and Rockwall in an area roughly 70 miles wide and 140 miles long. District 5810 is the smallest geographically of the ten present districts in Texas. District 5810 is included in Rotary International Zone 26, which includes parts of Oklahoma and Louisiana.

Our district is very active in support community projects both locally and internationally. Projects abroad include work in Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Argentina, India and others. Water, sanitation, education and medical are just a few of the humanitarian projects our members participate in. Locally we participate in tutoring, RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award), scholarships to deserving students, blood drives, Habitat for Humanity, mentoring, and numerous other community projects.

Go to www.rotary5810.org to learn more!

Rotary International - The World's First Service Organization

Rotary International was founded in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois. Rotarians are business and professional leaders who volunteer in their communities and promote world understanding and peace. Rotary's nearly 33,000 clubs in over 200 countries and regions encourage high ethical standards and carry out humanitarian projects to address such issues as water, poverty, health, hunger, education and the environment.

Through more than $100 million USD in Rotary Foundation grants each year, Rotary clubs support community projects at home and abroad. Known as the world's largest private provider of international education scholarships, The Rotary Foundation funds more than 1,000 students annually to study overseas and act as cultural ambassadors. Rotary also partners with seven prestigious universities around the globe to educate midcareer professionals in peace & conflict resolution.

Polio Plus is Rotary's flagship program. Rotarians have contributed over $650 million USD and countless volunteer hours to help immunize over two billion children against polio. Spearheading partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative include the World Health Organization, Rotary International, U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention; UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Go to www.rotary.org for more about the many humanitarian efforts of Rotary International.