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NewsletterVolume 2September 2004

Hope for Hearing Loss Video unveiled

Hope for Hearing Loss – a 10-minue video produced for the International Fellowship of Rotarians Affected by Hearing Loss (IFRAHL) ­– had its premiere showings in late August at the Rotary Club of Clover Park (Lakewood, Wash.) and Tacoma Rotary Club #8.

Clover Park Rotary, sponsor of IFRAHL and primary financial supporter for the project, got the first showing on August 25 with the Tacoma Club following a day later.

On hand for the first showing was Dr. Edwin Rubel of the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center (VMBHRC) at the University of Washington in Seattle as well as several others from the department. District 5020 Rotary leaders also were on hand as was Ben Gilbert, a director of Self Help for the Hard of Hearing (SHHH).

At the Tacoma # 8 showing, Dr. Jennifer Stone, a VMBHRC scientist, was on hand to answer questions. Also participating in the meeting and offering his help on the project was US Congressman Norm Dicks of Bremerton. Congressman Dicks said he would also join the Congressional Hearing Caucus and would make every effort to join our next tour of the hearing research center, scheduled for November.

Past Rotary International Director Floyd Olson and his wife Sandra were in the audience as was past District 5020 Governor Jim Harris and his wife Enid. Olson and Harris have joined the IFRAHL board of directors.

Don Doman, a member and past president of Tacoma 8, produced the video, with wife his wife Peg, for IFRAHL. He also served as master of ceremonies for the presentation at his club.

IFRAHL Chairman Gene Pankey of the Clover Park Club said the next goal for IFRAHL is to complete the design of the printed material that will go with the video.

Copies of the video will start going out to Rotary Clubs and other interested individuals and groups sometime in October. Pankey added that IFRAHL is also talking with firms about producing 1,000 to 1,500 copies of the video for distribution at the 2005 Rotary International Convention in Chicago next June. Because funds are limited, funding donations are being sought.

Hearing Regeneration Initiative underway

The Oberkotter Foundation has given a $1.5 million grant to the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center (VMBHRC) at the University of Washington and promised another $1.25 million if that amount is matched by other contributions within the next three years.

IFRAHL is hoping distribution of its new video – Hope for Hearing Loss – will help raise the needed $250,000 in 2005 and $500,000 each in 2006 and 2007. Success in this goal would bring the total funding to $4 million, nearly half the $10 million officials at VMBHRC indicate is needed to push the research project into high gear.

Oberkotter Foundation Honored

Official announcement of the Oberkotter Foundation’s generous grants to the VMBHRC was made recently at a reception in Seattle at the home of Virginia and Bagley Wright. University of Washington Regent Bill Gates Sr. presented the Oberkotter Foundation with a plaque commemorating the event.

Speaking during the announcement and fundraising event were Dr. Edwin Rubel of the VMBHRC and Dr. Jay Rubenstein, newly appointed director of the department. Introducing Gates was the recently retired head of VMBHRC, Dr. George Gates. (George and Bill Gates are not related to each other.)

After the formal presentations were made, IFRAHL chairman Gene Pankey and vice chair Dave Sclair gave Bill Gates Sr. a copy of the recently-completed IFRAHL video – Hope for Hearing Loss. Gates said he would view the program and thanked us for the IFRAHL efforts in getting the video produced so the message can be distributed to more people. Gates is an honorary member of Seattle 4 Rotary Club.

The funding of the Hearing Regeneration Initiative is critical to efforts to achieve a breakthrough in just a few years compared with current estimates of 20 years or longer without an intensive effort.

Programs in British Columbia

Dr. Erin Wright of the Victoria Harbourside Rotary Club has joined IFRAHL and is actively presenting the IFRAHL hearing loss program to Rotary Clubs on Vancouver Island. Dr. Wright, an audiologist with Island Hearing Services, has enlisted some of her fellow audiologists who work in other British Columbia offices to help her.

Having done the first presentation at her own club, Dr. Wright has scheduled five other programs for this fall.

She is now considering joining the IFRAHL board.

IFRAHL membership is growing

Secretary Treasurer Dr. Dave Cotant reports that IFRAHL member ship is now just short of 100 members, representing six countries, 16 Rotary districts and 32 Rotary Clubs. Several doctors have joined, one recently from Pakistan and another from Bangladesh.

At least three audiologists are now members and, of course, a good number of members are individuals who experience hearing loss or have family members that suffer from a hearing disability.

Please keep the membership applications and donations coming by reminding your friends and fellow Rotarians about the organization. Together, Rotarians can create awareness and help find a cure for hearing loss. Thanks to all of you who now support IFRAHL.

Chicago Centennial Convention

If you are a member of IFRAHL and plan to attend the Chicago Convention we would appreciate your help at the Fellowship Exhibition Booth. Please fax or e-mail your convention account number to us so we can advise RI that you will be working the IFRAHL booth.

Let us know your convention plans by e-mail: ifrahl@aol.com or fax (253)584-1446.














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