Los Alamos Reporter

Rotarian Rob Pannell from Perth, Australia Addresses Local Club

Rob Pannell, a Rotarian from Perth, Australia at the November 28 meeting of the Rotary Club of Los Alamos. Photo by Linda Hull

BY LINDA HULL
Vice President
Rotary Club of Los Alamos

During the November 28 meeting of the Rotary Club of Los Alamos, Rotarian Rob Pannell spoke about the projects undertaken by Rotary-Southern Districts of Perth, Australia, where he currently serves as Club President. 

Among them are community grants, awards that highlight youth excellence, and the Nakivale Refugee Camp in Uganda.  The camp supports more than 130,000 refugees, “mostly from the Congo, Sudan and Somalia.”  The Rotary project “provides self-sustainable income-producing and educational opportunities for the refugees.” These may include “laptop computers for training and educational purposes, sewing machines to produce clothing and goods for sale, and other opportunities as they arise.”  Pannell’s sister, Alison Pannell, is a member of the Rotary Club of Los Alamos and currently serves on its Board as Immediate Past President.

The Rotary Club of Los Alamos, through its 1312 Club Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and one of over 34,000 clubs worldwide.  Rotary, which now has 1.5 million members, was founded in 1905; the local Club was chartered in 1966.  Rotary areas of focus include promoting peace; fighting disease, particularly polio; providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; supporting education; saving and enhancing the lives of mothers and children; growing economies; and protecting the environment.

The Rotary Club of Los Alamos meets in person Tuesdays, 12:00-1:00, in the Community Room, Cottonwood on the Greens, at the golf course.  A Zoom option is available by contacting Linda Hull, 505-662-7950.  Hull is also happy to provide information about the Club and its humanitarian service.  The community is cordially invited to attend meetings and consider joining us in our projects, service, and friendship activities.  

The Rotary Club of Los Alamos thanks the United Church for use of Graves Hall when the community room at Cottonwood on the Greens is unavailable.