Welcome to the
Dominican Republic
On February 10th, 2008, five members of the Ogunquit Rotary Club: Lawrence
Boyle, Tracy Smith, Lucas Sevigney , Richard Littlefield and President Ben
Oliver traveled to La Romana, The Dominican Republic. They were accompanied by
Lawrence Boyle’s wife Victoria and Jonathan Sevigney a member of the Wells
Rotary Club and brother of Lucas. The purpose of the trip was to establish a
relationship with Club Rotario De La Romana Incorporado the host partner in a
Rotary Foundation Matching Grant and to work in the construction and placement
of bio-sand water filters in the barrios and bateys in the La Romana area. Clubs
funding the $25,000.00 grant are the Rotary Club of Calais, Maine (District
7810), the Rotary Club of Machias, Maine (7780), the Rotary Club of St. Stephen,
New Brunswick Canada and the Rotary Club of Ogunquit, Maine (7780).
Moises Sifran, the administrator of The Good Samaritan Hospital was our host
for our five day “ hands on” visit and what a knowledgeable and gracious host he
was. We had a very busy schedule. Along with helping to construct and place
water filters, we met on three occasions with the La Romana Rotary Club
Incorporado and once with the Club Rotario De La Rio Dulces. We visited the Good
Samaritan Hospital several times. We also visited a medical clinic at one
batey and an orphanage near the hospital. Before we left Maine we received
donations from our fellow Rotarians and local friends, and we purchased
ourselves medicines, clothing, toys, medical and dental supplies, and school
supplies which we distributed to the hospital and to the children of the bateyes
and orphanage.
The five days we all spent together in true “service above self” were
incredible. Though troubled by the conditions of the bateyes and the ongoing
needs of the hospital, we worked joyously with all the people and the tasks
before us. We bonded and went through withdrawal from each other when we came
home. We established a fantastic relationship with our host partner Rotarians
which will endure forever. All seven of us cannot wait to do even more. We will
be hosting, along with Bob Chagrasulis and the Calais Club, our friends from La
Romana next August. It is our hope to continue working on projects in La Romana
for many years to come.
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Hotel the Rotarians stayed at
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Victoria Russell and Past President Richard Littlefield
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President-elect Tracy Smith
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President Ben and John Sevigney getting some direction
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Victoria Russell working to get the water filter installed.
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Past President Richard Littlefield and Dr. Joe Boyle
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The kids loved having their picture taken.
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President Ben bonding with the children
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John Sevigney, from the Wells Rotary Club, and President Elect Tracy Smith.
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Luke Sevigney
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John Sevigney, from the Wells Rotary Club
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President Elect Tracy Smith hanging out with one of the children
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Past President Richard Littlefield
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