Janette Jordee joined Rotary in April 2023, and just a year later, she was able to work with the Jefferson Rotary Club on an international project in the Philippines, where she is from. 

Janette traveled back to the Philippines to celebrate the opening of the RCC Livelihood and Training Center in Numancia, Aklan, with the Rotary Club there. She spoke about her experience at the Waunakee club’s meeting Aug. 22. 

The Waunakee and Jefferson clubs applied for a Rotary International Grant and received $5,500 to restore the building and create spaces for the training center. 

Janette said she was told the grant process could take several months, but she reached out to the Rotary District 6250 governor, Megs Lunn, who is also from the Philippines. Janette explained the grant process had been initiated some years ago then interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The clubs applied for the grant in November of 2023, and in December, it was approved. 

In April of 2024, just a year after Janette joined Rotary, she was in the Philippines seeing how the grant money was used. 

That small amount of money allowed community leaders there to restore a dilapidated building into the training center it is today. 

It is now equipped with sewing machines for single mothers to sew sheets and clothing to sell. The RCC Livelihood and Training Center is next to Albasan Elementary School, which has also collaborated with the Rotary Club. 

Janette showed pictures of herself cutting the ribbon with the priest there, who held a ceremony to bless the center. The Rotary Club President there and several others also attended. Janette gave a speech, telling them, “Do not stop because the door is open,” she said.

The project meant a lot to Janette, particularly because she is from the Philippines. 

“I know how it is to be poor, and this grant could make a difference,” she said. 

Linda Olson reminded the club that donations they make to Rotary International come back to the club in the form of grants for projects just like this one. 

“Donating to the Rotary International Foundation is really important,” she said. 

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Other News: 

Guests: None

Visiting Rotarians: None

Birthdays: None.

Anniversaries: Aug. 29, Nicholas and Alaria Petrulis; Aug. 31, David and Mary Jean Kennedy.

Greeters: Aug. 29, Alex Welk and Tom Kennedy; Sept. 5, Shauna Hughey and Sara Whitley; Sept. 12, Tracy Graber and Jen Tasker; Sept. 29, Shelley Moffatt and ???

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