a report by pdf dato - Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur DiRaja
a report by pdf dato - Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur DiRaja a report by pdf dato - Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur DiRaja
THE WORLD OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL ROTARY CLUB COLLECTS COMPUTERS The project of the Rotary Club of Lakehurst-Manchester Township (District 7500, New Jersey / USA) started out in July as a "what if." Three months later, club officials were no longer pondering the answer to that question. The club collected used computers no more than six years old for children's charity 'Kevin's Kids'. After the hard drives were erased and Microsoft Windows XP operating system installed, the computers were given to about 120 families, all from Manchester, who benefit from 'Kevin's Kids'. Children in those families now have a computer to help them in doing their homework. Kevin Burger, 55, the Kevin in the charity's name, is director of student and administrative services for the Manchester Township School District. He started Kevin's Kids 24 years ago in response to a first-grader's statement that Santa Claus never visited his house. Burger wanted to ensure that such a thing would never happen in the school district and annually conducts a holiday drive, with the help of students, staff and parents. "Response was good. We were getting a couple calls a week on donating computers," said Geraldine Oliverie, 43, of Manchester, club president. "It's (the Rotary Club's collection) a great idea because financially, we've not been able to provide computers to every family," Burger said. Burger said there are computer labs in every one of Manchester's schools and students have regular instruction in the lab every week. However, "kids who are not doing well financially may not have access to one (a computer) in their home and use the resources in school only," he said. "With changes in technology, many people have newer, upgraded computers and not only no longer need the old systems, they don't know what to do with them", Oliverie said. "Rotary members picked up the donated computers. Both laptop and desktop systems were welcome. Related accessories such as monitors, mice, printers, and scanners were also welcome, as were the necessary power cords and cables and restoration CDs or disks and manuals", said Nate Brown. Brown, 43, of the Pine Lake Park section of Manchester is upgrading and fixing the computers through his Contributech nonprofit organization, of which he is the executive director. Contributech also collects and refurbishes computers for other needy children. "Any older than 2000 or 2001 and the technology is too old for us to deal with. Those processors aren't meant to run today's software," Brown said. Some computers will be running Microsoft Windows 98 as an operating system if that is better suited, but otherwise the children who receive the machines will have the opportunity to be on the same level as their peers, he said. "By giving computers to those families, you have the potential of helping kids for a lifetime," Burger said. Courtesy Ashbury Park Press (NJ, USA) Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur DiRaja Wednesday, 4th April 2007 Issue 37 – 2006/07 Page 6
BILL'S APRIL 2007 MESSAGE Dear fellow Rotarians, The word environment conveys different things to each of us. One person might think of green forests, oceans, and mountains, another of grassy plains and wildlife. When we consider environmental challenges, we may think of recycling or energy conservation, industrial waste, or climate change. We tend to think of issues that are much larger than ourselves as individuals, and they can seem very abstract at times. But for each of us, our environment is literally what surrounds us: the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we walk on. Our environment is our house, our yard, our street. It is our community, our country, and our planet. The cleanliness of water hundreds of miles away can affect what comes out of our tap. The cleanliness of the air in a distant city can and does affect what goes into our lungs. And what comes out of our cars, chimneys, and power plants affects not just our own families, but families around the world for generations to come. Environmental concerns are both intensely local and completely global. A garbage-filled stream has the most impact on those who rely on it for drinking water, but it also damages an entire ecosystem. A heavily polluted city hurts the health of its own inhabitants as well as those hundreds of miles downwind. As we learn and understand more about the course of climate change, we become more acutely aware that there are no local decisions. Everything we do touches others. When we consider what we are willing to do and what we are willing to change to address an environmental problem, we must remember that our decisions never concern only us. One of the lessons of Rotary is that one person can make a difference. We see this in our clubs and our districts, and particularly through PolioPlus. When we work on small projects that help only a few people, it can be hard to step back and see how we really are changing the world. It can be difficult to see how recycling a newspaper or a plastic container, walking instead of driving, or using less water can really bring a better and healthier tomorrow. But if many people make them together, those small changes will make an enormous difference to our children and grandchildren. As Rotarians, we know very well that these small changes – these private, individual choices – can add up to something tremendous. The decisions we make may seem small, but they are nothing of the kind. I ask all of you to remember that, because you are leaders in your communities, and you have chosen to help Lead the Way to a better future. In the matter of environmental responsibility, as in all others, we must first lead by example by making the choices that will bring us a healthier tomorrow. W.B. (Bill) Boyd President, Rotary International Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur DiRaja Wednesday, 4th April 2007 Issue 37 – 2006/07 Page 7
- Page 1 and 2: My dear Fellow Rotarians, Bismillah
- Page 3 and 4: From page 1..... Trying to inflate
- Page 5: PP DR HARDEEP SINGH WON THE PRESIDE
THE WORLD OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL<br />
ROTARY CLUB COLLECTS COMPUTERS<br />
The project <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Rotary</strong> <strong>Club</strong> <strong>of</strong> Lakehurst-Manchester Township (District 7500, New Jersey / USA) started out in July as a<br />
"what if." Three months later, club <strong>of</strong>ficials were no longer pondering the answer to that question.<br />
The club collected used computers no more than six years old for children's charity 'Kevin's Kids'. After the hard drives were<br />
erased and Micros<strong>of</strong>t Windows XP operating system installed, the computers were given to about 120 families, all from<br />
Manchester, who benefit from 'Kevin's Kids'.<br />
Children in those families now have a computer to help them in doing their homework.<br />
Kevin Burger, 55, the Kevin in the charity's name, is director <strong>of</strong> student and administrative services for the Manchester<br />
Township School District. He started Kevin's Kids 24 years ago in response to a first-grader's statement that Santa Claus<br />
never visited his house. Burger wanted to ensure that such a thing would never happen in the school district and annually<br />
conducts a holiday drive, with the help <strong>of</strong> students, staff and parents.<br />
"Response was good. We were getting a couple calls a week on donating computers," said Geraldine Oliverie, 43, <strong>of</strong><br />
Manchester, club president.<br />
"It's (the <strong>Rotary</strong> <strong>Club</strong>'s collection) a great idea because financially, we've not been able to provide computers to every family,"<br />
Burger said.<br />
Burger said there are computer labs in every one <strong>of</strong> Manchester's schools and students have regular instruction in the lab<br />
every week.<br />
However, "kids who are not doing well financially may not have access to one (a computer) in their home and use the<br />
resources in school only," he said.<br />
"With changes in technology, many people have newer, upgraded computers and not only no longer need the old systems,<br />
they don't know what to do with them", Oliverie said.<br />
"<strong>Rotary</strong> members picked up the donated computers. Both laptop and desktop systems were welcome. Related accessories<br />
such as monitors, mice, printers, and scanners were also welcome, as were the necessary power cords and cables and<br />
restoration CDs or disks and manuals", said Nate Brown.<br />
Brown, 43, <strong>of</strong> the Pine Lake Park section <strong>of</strong> Manchester is upgrading and fixing the computers through his Contributech<br />
nonpr<strong>of</strong>it organization, <strong>of</strong> which he is the executive director. Contributech also collects and refurbishes computers for other<br />
needy children.<br />
"Any older than 2000 or 2001 and the technology is too old for us to deal with. Those processors aren't meant to run today's<br />
s<strong>of</strong>tware," Brown said.<br />
Some computers will be running Micros<strong>of</strong>t Windows 98 as an operating system if that is better suited, but otherwise the<br />
children who receive the machines will have the opportunity to be on the same level as their peers, he said.<br />
"By giving computers to those families, you have the potential <strong>of</strong> helping kids for a lifetime," Burger said.<br />
Courtesy Ashbury Park Press (NJ, USA)<br />
Bulletin <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Rotary</strong> <strong>Club</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Kuala</strong> <strong>Lumpur</strong> <strong>DiRaja</strong><br />
Wednesday, 4th April 2007<br />
Issue 37 – 2006/07 Page 6
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