Rotary Club Reflects On Year of Generosity and Good Deeds

It was standing room only in the sitting room at the Endless Vine in Franklin Lakes as Wyckoff-Midland Park Rotary President John Adams and President Elect Ron Pepper took the floor as MCs for an amazing night of sharing on March 31. 

The air was charged with a sense of renewed positive energy as recipients of awards took turns graciously accepting funds to advance their causes.  Although the needs were serious, the atmosphere of genuine community united everyone in attendance in a feeling of camaraderie and purpose.

 "First of all I would like to give thanks to Lee Parker, (owner of Three Chicas Mexican Restaurant in Wyckoff) for providing us with a delicious array of foods for tonight’s social.  And to Vine owner Laura Simonyan, who also contributed sandwiches and desserts,” said Adams.

Many of the attendees who had braved the cold rains of a Nor’easter gave thanks for things like the last child finishing up at college, the presence of a couple married for over 50 years, the safe return of family from a trip, the fact that despite the economy, scholarships and other charitable causes funded by the Rotary Club were going strong. 

Paul Platek, the District Chairman of Rotary’s Gift of Life Program began his pitch with a history of the origins of Rotary.

 "It was started on Long Island by lawyer Paul Harris, who wanted to organize a club that gave back to the community while networking in a social atmosphere.  The group met in each others’ offices, ‘rotating’ each week,” said Platek.  “This is the 106^th Anniversary and I am proud to say we are part of millions of Rotarians world-wide.”

Platek sited that an example of the work of the rotary was the "successful is the near eradication of polio."

" Once a deadly disease, it has been nearly wiped out by the efforts of Rotary Inernational, who provided vaccinations in affected nations at no cost.  Since 1985, the club has worked to reach the poorest communities in the battle to completely defeat the disease.  Pakistan, Afghanistan and India are the last countries who are being targeted for the campaign,” said Platek.

Platek also described the joy of being involved with the Rotary's Medical Mission The Gifit of Life (GOL). Both and he and his wife, Carmen, share a passion for working with the organization.  Platek, who serves as GOL's president, described the joy that hosting multiple families here for surgery from countries such as the Philippines, the Ukraine, South America and Jamaica.

Many in the room had either hosted families themselves or helped hosting families with meals, clothing, rides and even overnights to give the hosts a bit of respite.

“We also have missions to countries such as Hondurous, Bolivia and Vietnam where we bring in teams of surgeons, supplies and critical medical personnel to perform multiple operations in their facilities,” continued Platek.

 Wyckoff Councilman Tom Madigan  had discussed how he and his son, Patrick, discussed had travelled to the Ukraine as Ambassadors to the countries new heart surgery center, funded by the Rotary and supplied by donations from Montefiore Hospital. 

Surgeons, hospitals, businesses and community members work as a “Village” to make programs like the GOL successful donating generously their time, finances, energy and skills.  Platek was presented with a check for several thousand dollars raised by Ramapo High School Students in the Interact Club, a junior version of Rotary.

Parker closed the evening telling how the Rotary assisted Josephine Rispoli, a 6 year-old girl with a rare and deadly brain tumor. Thanks to the donation of Jim Vanderplaat of Vanderplaat Limo, of Midland Park and Franklin Lakes, the girl was able to travel to New York City to visit the American Girl Doll headquarters. She attended with her two best friends and parents.  They were treated to a party lunch and several hours of shopping at American Doll, where the young lady was treated to the doll and accessories of her dreams.

The evening ended with the happy crowd chattering cheerfully into the rain-soaked parking lot, members of an international family returning to their respective “villages”.

Carmen Platek summed up the evening with a simple phrase.

“You get so much more than you give.”

The Wyckoff-Midland Park Rotary meets on Thursday mornings from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the Brick House on Godwin Ave in Wyckoff.  For more information contact John Adams at 201-819-3837.