Our Rotaplast mission reached its climax yesterday as we celebrated the successful completion of over 100 cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries with cake and  lots of hugs and photos with both the mission participants and the local hospital staff.

I am extremely proud of the eight non-medical volunteers from Rotary District 5300 who worked tirelessly, each pulling and adapting under stressful conditions to bring smiles to the children of Guatemala.

I was truly impressed with the professional medical volunteers whose commitment to this outstanding humanitarian effort approached "hero" status. I was taken aback somewhat when one of the physicians told me the medical staff feel the same way about us non-medical volunteers!

As I approach my year as Rotary District governor this coming July, I feel confident that I can now count seven more Rotarians who have experienced their "Rotary moment" and will now be lifelong Rotarians who will be motivating others to reach within to embrace humanity.  — Doug Fowler, Sterilizer, District Governor Elect, District 5300

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