FOUNDER & PRESIDENT Julio Soto Cubano of Pisadas de Amor, an organization formed to help seniors in need, gave a video presentation highlighting various homes restored in San Juan, Manati, Caguas and Vega Baja.  Replacing furniture, cabinets, stoves, refrigerators, clothes and other goods destroyed by Hurricane Maria, made the homes habitable again.  With” A Todas Por Mis Viejos", as the theme, the video clearly showed the dramatic changes In the lives of many affected oldsters.

CLUB DIRECTOR GEORGANNA HILDEBRAND brought us up-to-date on several of the Global Grants funded by Rotary International including the Global Grant for Teatro Por Amor in Peace and Conflict Resolution.  This Grant covers all four housing areas that have recruited students studying conflict issues like drug use and gangs. Another large project for a Global Grant is the economic recovery in Punta Santiago (together with P.E.C.E.S.), a project that will provide equipment and training to ten businesses that were damaged by Hurricane Maria and will train 50 underserved residents in carpentry.  As reported previously, Rotary clubs in the States have been most generous in sending monies and relief efforts continues as we find worthy projects. 

In the coming Spring, the Rotarian Magazine, Rotary International's monthly publication will feature our Global Grant Program, Teatro Por Amor.  Rotary International recently sent four of their Communications Team to Puerto Rico to get a first-hand look at the work our club is doing in island communities, including Teatro Por Amor.  The four RI representatives are:  Tom McVey (Sr. Social Media Content Strategist), Claudia Urbano (Latin American Global Communications Team), Vanessa Glavinskas (Contributing Editor The Rotarian Magazine), Alyce Henson (Staff Photographer & Multimedia Producer).  That's our Rotarian Armand Pique in the photo with the visitors from Rotary International!

Ricardo Betancourt who will be bringing guest speaker, Axel Kaiser, to next week's meeting, gave a preview of Dr. Kaiser's accomplishments as Executive Director of the Fundación para el Progreso, one of the most influential Think Tanks in Latin America.  

Be sure not to miss this young Chilean attorney give his analysis of the current economic/fiscal crisis our island has faced. Rotarian Ricardo also urged the audience to increase our membership by reaching out to Law 20-22 residents of Puerto Rico.

DISTRICT GOVERNOR Juanita Valentin Morris presented Rotary International's 100 YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP certificate to Club President Pepito. in recognition of San Juan Rotary's century of the Object of Rotary, Service Above Self.

CLUB DIRECTOR Georganna Hildebrand's "Idea Box" slide presentation, gave a comprehensive overview on the results to date of San Juan Rotary's efforts post-Hurricane Maria.