RFPD Events at the 2011 RI Convention – New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
RFPD Booth #1222
The Rotarian Action Group for Population Growth & Sustainable Development (RFPD) had successful meetings at the Rotary International (RI) Convention in New Orleans. Please find photos, presentations and a follow-up report below:
Annual General Meeting
Over thirty people attended the Annual General Meeting, which was held to inform members, potential members and supporters of RFPD.
PDG Lindsay presented the minutes from the 2010 Annual General Meeting, which are available upon request.
RFPD's Chairman, Harald Marschner, presented his report for 2010-2011, which included many accomplishments for RFPD. He also commented on the upcoming year for RFPD, which includes increasing membership, projects and advocacy for Population Concerns, especially Maternal & Child Health. He spoke of RI's Future Vision Plan and new Areas of Focus, including Maternal & Child Health. He extended his thanks to our members, RFPD Country Chairs, Zone Coordinators and Area Coordinators for their work and dedication to RFPD. PDG Marschner announced the appointment of Ingar Brueggemann as an Advisory Board Member for RFPD. Ingar spoke of her honor and excitement to be a part of RFPD.
Robert Zinser reported on the documentary, "The Edge of Joy", by Dawn Sinclair Shapiro. The trailer was shown and applauded. The documentary follows an ensemble cast of Nigerian doctors, midwives and families to the frontlines of maternal care. The lack of blood supply, transportation and family planning are examined as causes of the cycle that kills more than 36,000 Nigerian women each year.
RFPD booth at 2011 RI conference
RFPD's Nafis Sadik Award for Courage was announced for 2011. The award will go to Dawn Sinclair Shapiro who will receive the award on July 25, 2011 at a screening of her film in Chicago.
During the open forum, there was lively discussion regarding family planning and topics surrounding cultural and religious boundaries. Many members expressed their desire for a copy of the documentary to be shown in their clubs.
House of Friendship Exhibit Booth
RFPD hosted an exhibit booth in the House of Friendship along side the project booth "Maternal & Child Health." This is one of RFPD's largest projects, running 15 years with over $5 million in total project funding. Members and potential members, RFPD leaders and new Rotarians had the opportunity to network and discuss important topics as they pertained to Population, Maternal and Child Health and Sustainability.
RFPD Breakout Session
PRIP Ray Klingingsmith and RFPD Chairman, Harald Marschner discussing the Scaling Up Project in Nigeria. Ray promised his support.
RFPD CEO, Robert Zinser discusses the "Maternal & Child Health" project with RI Director, 2011-2013, Gideon Peiper
Mrs. Ayo Majiyagbe, PRIP Jon Majiyagbe, President Elect-RC Ibadan West, Nigeria-Stella Lufadeju, Past RI Director & Trustee– Sam Okudzeto
RI invited RFPD to it's 10th breakout session, "Maternal and Child Health." This year's RI Convention in New Orleans was dedicated to the RI Strategic Plan and its three strategic goals. PRIP Klinginsmith invited RFPD to hold a breakout session on Rotary's new Area of Focus 'Maternal & Child Health' and the contribution of RFPD projects to Rotary's strategy. Though scheduled on the Wednesday afternoon, the resonance was excellent; about 200 attendants filled the room almost to capacity. So much interest was shown in this Area of Focus that everyone lost track of time in the discussion after the presentation. Panelists of the session were Stella Lufadeju, Inner Wheel, Nigeria, PDG Kola Owoka, Nigerian Project Chairman, and PDG Robert Zinser, project coordinator. First, RFPD's signature project 'Maternal Health' in Nigeria was taken as an example to elucidate how to conduct a proper needs assessment, how this comprehensive approach was organized and how the introduced system of Quality Assurance in Obstetrics succeeded to reduce maternal and fetal mortality in the selected hospitals. Although the achievement of MDG 5 (improvement of maternal health) is lagging behind the most and the UN demanded strong commitments from governments as well as organizations and foundations, so far – out of all six Areas of Focus – Rotary spent the smallest amount for this matter of international concern and importance. This rather astonishes given the fact that organization, content and impact of the 'Maternal Health Project' in Nigeria show that the needed expertise and knowledge to make a substantial contribution to MDG 4 and 5 is with Rotary. In addition to that, Robert Zinser substantiated that the 'Maternal Health Project' is a signature project for the new Area of Focus 'Maternal and child health', contributing to all of RI's three strategic goals as well as implementing the RI Board decision from November 2010 and PRIP Klinginsmith's demand for professional large-scale projects in the Areas of Focus (see circulars from January and March 2011). The presentation was followed by a screening of the trailer of 'The Edge of Joy', Dawn Sinclair Shapiro's documentary about the risks of maternity in Northern Nigeria, showing the life inside and around a maternity ward in Kano. Dawn should have also been a panellist of this breakout session but had to cancel due to illness. In appreciation of and gratitude for the Rotary project, which she got to know while filming her documentary, Dawn made a 20 minutes version of this film, referencing the Rotary project, that can be ordered by interested clubs to be shown in their meetings.