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Vol. 17, No. 47, May 23, 2005

IN THIS ISSUE:

This Reveille Home Page | The Friday Program: Computers for Slovakia | World Community Service Slates Important Meeting | Sayoko Press Conference | Friday Potpourri | Fix-Up, Paint-Up Project Helps Friends, Small World | Student of the Month: Devon Hector, Eastside Academy | RI Foundation Report | Big Boost for Centennial Project | New Member Proposed: Tom Harrelson | Board of Directors Minutes | Web Fun

The Friday Program:
Computers for Slovakia

John Martinka and Peter Powell provided a one-two punch for the District 5030’s Computers for the World project by spending a week in Slovakia, installing and instructing users how to use 120 computers. The project had been in the planning stages for over a year and combined with the talents of the students of Newport High school.

Martinka explained that he and his family had made several trips to his father’s homeland of Czechoslovakia over the past five years. They were busy tracing relatives and introducing themselves to these new-found family members. During the last few trips, John kept an eye out for possible projects that could involve the BBRC.

Over a year ago, the Martinka family was back in the area that is now Slovakia, a couple of hours south of Krakow, Poland. They visited a local school in the city of Zilina. It was apparent the school had no computers. John thought, “Ah ha! A job for Computers for the World!”

Turns out that the Zilina Rotary Club emphasizes youth projects, including hosting at least a half-dozen exchange students. John proposed to join with the Zilina Club to see what could be done to get some computers for the school.

During the last year plans were made for an April C4W project. John got himself caught up in the District committee for C4W and learned all the ins and outs of conducting an installation and goodwill project in a foreign country. He approached the World Community Service Committee of the BBRC and got a $5000 commitment. He then went to work on matching funds from the Zilina Club and from Rotary International.

And important link in all of this was finding a school to be involved in the important role of refurbishing the computers and forming the installation team at the foreign site. Newport High School in Bellevue became the choice, and Jeff Mason, the faculty member, who enthusiastically put his student team to work doing the project. A 20-foot container with 120 computers and 10 printers and all the cabling headed out for Slovakia on February 18. As Martinka said, “It wasn’t any too early because the container was 'contained' for 10 days in Montreal and another 10 days in Rotterdam.” It arrived just as the installers arrived in mid-April.

The project impacted Alex Modeleski, the only parent on the trip. “For years, this area of Slovakia was turning out weaponry for the Soviet bloc. Now, they’ve become New Capitalists by transforming their economy and improving technology. They have almost zero internet connections, but that is changing rapidly.”

Alex’s son Austin told of the opportunity to go to this part of the world. He described the difference in teaching, freedom, happiness. Colin, a Newport senior, said this was the “first time out of the U.S for him. Living with my host family was an eye-opener for me. I learned how their family works, how they spend more time together as a family and how this impacts the time spent with my own family in Bellevue.” Colin wonders how the introduction of computers will affect them.

Jeff Mason, the Newport teacher in charge of the project, made his observations of the trip to Slovakia and how the kids matured during this project. “We had 13 high school kids who made marvelous ambassadors. I thank the BBRC for its sponsorship of this great project.”

Peter Powell talked about the 12-hour days, describing the installation procedures. Peter’s son Connor accompanied him and his wife Molly on this trip. The planning began in earnest a year ago. “Slovakians love Americans,” said Peter.

Martinka gave a travelogue, showing the pictures that made the trip special. John praised the Zilina Rotary Club for its part in this project — 120 computers and 10 printers were installed in three different cities and schools. The description of how they connected the computers into a network was of special interest, having to drill deep into the walls, since the buildings are all made of concrete block. It was a challenge!

Martinka and Powell were awarded a certificate noting that 1220 pounds of fresh food has been donated in their name through Rotary First Harvest to needy food banks.

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