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PDG Fred Anderson Memorial Project at Ak’Tenamit

“Set the bar high for service above self.”
Fred Anderson


Fred Anderson served as District Governor in 1990-1991 and was the first to enter the District 6990 Hall of Fame.  He was a model Rotarian who travelled to rural Guatemala along with Fort Lauderdale Rotarian Wilkie Gilbert and a group of Rotarians over 20 years ago to build 5 houses for Q’eqchi Mayan Villagers (Rotary’s Ak’Tenamit Project).  In memory of his inspiring leadership, Rotarians from District 6990 are invited to participate in the upcoming Rotary Action Trip to the Ak’Tenamit school in Guatemala in the following ways:
  • Join us on the trip!
  • Contribute to fund a memorial project in Fred’s name.  Ak’Tenamit is currently raising funds for a new dormitory, and with the generosity of a Rotarian from Cocoa Beach, funds raised will be matched up to US $50,000.00.
Click here to make a tax-deductible donation.
 
To apply for the trip contact:  Kelly Mackintosh, Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale 4444, Telephone: 954-260-8951, or email: [email protected]
 
 
March 2023 Rotary Action Trip to the Ak’Tenamit Project

“The best way to lose yourself is in the service of others.”
Mahatma Gandhi
 
Rotarians from District 6990 are invited to join fellow Rotarians from District 5240 in California for a week of service at one of the most enduring projects supported by Rotarians for over 20 years.

Ak’ Tenamit was started in 1990 with 11 boys and 3 girls in the first class. It was founded by Steve Dudenhoefer from Florida, who remains today as the Chief Technical Advisor of Asociación Ak’ Tenamit. Today, the school serves over 600 indigenous Mayan students and is managed entirely by the Q’eqchi people.  It is viewed as a global model as an effective grassroots approach to vocational education, income generation, and health care. 
 
The goals of Ak ’Tenamit are to:
  • Provide shelter and education for at-risk youth aged 12 and up
  • Help youths develop skills and gainful employment
  • Establish internships and job opportunities
  • Supply initial financial and emotional support for graduates to help ensure success
Hands-on experiences provide the knowledge and skills for gainful employment in Guatemala, which offers an alternative to migration. An outstanding number (85%) of students are employed shortly after graduation. This is because prior to graduation, students complete extensive work study programs in businesses off-campus. After employment, graduates pledge to give back a percentage of their income to their villages.

Rotarians have been huge supporters of Ak’ Tenamit for over 20 years, contributing medical supplies and equipment, funds, and labor to build new dorms and classrooms, a floating dental clinic, solar energy equipment, computer labs, restaurant equipment and supplies, new boat engines, and family water filters.

Each year, groups of Rotarians from all over the USA spend a week at Ak’ Tenamit to gain an understanding of the needs of the children, and to aid the school. We are now recruiting Rotarians and friends from Districts 6990 and District 5240 for a trip March 25 to April 1, 2023.

Steve Dudenhoefer, founder and current Chief Technical Advisor of the Asociación Ak'Tenamit, is excited that Rotarians from Florida and California will be working together to provide assistance at the school.

Friends and family (children over 14 years of age) are also welcome!
 
 
 Destination Guatemala: Rotary Action Trip to Ak’Tenamit
 
Destination:  Ak’ Tenamit, a boarding school of over 600 Indigenous Mayan students aged 12 and up in the Rio Dulce area of Eastern Guatemala. Numerous Rotary clubs (including The Fort Lauderdale Rotary Club) have built and supported this school for over 20 years.

Purpose:  To gain an understanding of the needs of children in this region of Guatemala, and to provide assistance at the school, which is viewed as a model globally for its grassroots approach to vocational education.

Potential Tasks: Light construction, computer training, teaching (English and Spanish, agricultural methods, hygiene, healthcare, CPR), aiding in healthcare clinics. All ages (14 and up) and fitness levels can take part.

Dates of the Trip: March 25 to April 1, 2023

Transportation and Meals (total trip budget: $1500 to $2000)
It is advisable to make your flight reservations as soon as possible, as the flights between Guatemala City and Puerto Barrios are SAAB 340 Twin Turboprop with 33 seat capacity.
  • Flights to Guatemala City depart on March 25 from either Miami (American 2241) or Fort Lauderdale (Spirit 243) are approximately 2 hours non-stop; the flight from Guatemala City to Puerto Barrios (TAG 5U714) is approximately 1 hour. Flights are booked separately.
  • Return flights from Puerto Barrios (TAG 5U701) to Guatemala City and non-stop back to Miami (American 1258) or Fort Lauderdale (Spirit 244) depart on April 1st. Flights are booked separately.
  • Hotels: Mansion del Rio Hotel in Puerto Barrios (1 night) and Villa Caribe in Livingston (6 nights); booked by host and payable at end of stay.
  • Transportation from hotels to school: Covered motorized boats holding twelve people.
  • Meals: Lunch at the school restaurant; dinner at Buga Mama restaurant in Livingston.  Both properties are school-owned and managed; please pay individually for meals.
Deadline for registration: January 15, 2023, with a refundable deposit of $150.00.

Contact: Kelly Mackintosh, Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale 4444, Telephone: 954-260-8951, or email: [email protected]

For more information about Ak’Tenamit, visit the Guatemalan Tomorrow Fund (a Charity Navigator 4-star rated 501-C) website for more information: thegtfund.org

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Rick Riccardi

2023-2024 Club President


Club President Letter 2023-24

Hello Fellow Ft. Lauderdale Rotarians,

I’m so proud to be your President this year. This is not a “job” I had hoped for in my later years but one that I’m excited about, and more than willing to do. “Service Above Self” and being a “Servant Leader” are principles in life (not just in Rotary) that I, hopefully, will be positively measured by.

This year, thankfully, does not have the obstacles of COVID and the aftermath of COVID to deal with. Thanks to Perry, Terry, and Jaye, our three previous leaders, I now have the opportunity to lead this club to new heights of accomplishments.

We are off to a good start with so many of you stepping up to participate in so many ways. Every member will be asked and given the opportunity to be of service to the club or to the community. We are all here to be of service, and hopefully you will all find that opportunity by serving on a committee or participating in one or more service projects. For that reason, I will make sure you all know about each committee and service project, week after week.

I would like to initiate two new long-term service projects for our club that, I believe, conform with Rotary International’s initiatives on “Bringing Hope to The World”. The first is Homelessness and Behavioral Health (including mental health and substance-use disorder).  The second is Urban Farming or “Agrihood” to bring better health (mental and physical) to our neighborhoods.

I will make sure that the new members are welcomed with enthusiasm and are included immediately in our weekly luncheons and service projects. I will ask you members with more time in our club to be of service to the club by sharing your time with other members who need to feel wanted and included. To help this along, I’m promoting the idea of a random seating system at lunch for those of you who don’t have a guest or have some reason to have to sit with a specific member.

I’m also trying a new weekly meeting structure. In order to get to know each other better, I’m asking you to volunteer to tell us who you are. On the first Wednesday of each month, we will have a club meeting that will include two of our members who are willing to tell us their story in a 12-minute presentation, with or without slides.

We will continue to have our evening social meeting on the last Wednesday of the month and continue to have our speaker luncheon meetings the other two or three Wednesdays each month.

We now have about 120 members, of which about 50 are new in the last two years. Our intention is to have more new members to replace and exceed the average 15% of members who leave the club each year. This club is here to serve each other and to serve the community – local and worldwide. Let’s let the community know what we do and how we serve, so others may have the opportunity to join us in service. I look forward to our Public Image Committee, with all its Information Technology commitment and talent, being very busy this year getting the word out on our club’s behalf.

Let’s be the best we can be.

Rick

Rick Riccardi, Club President 2023-24
Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale

International Projects

Volunteer With Us

As we begin our Rotary year, here is a quick reminder of the service projects we have on our schedule so far. We do not have exact dates for everything, but please keep these projects in mind and be on the lookout for more information. If you would like to help with any of these projects, please contact the chair directly. If you have ideas for new projects, please contact Kristin LaFleur or St. George Guardabassi.

  • Find Your Way Home – Jorg Hruschka – Select Tuesdays and Thursdays
  • Holiday Toy Drive – Linda Cooke – October – December
  • Thanksgiving Baskets – Steve Botkin – Saturday, November 18
  • Salvation Army Bell Ringing – Steve Botkin – December
  • Challenge Air – Dan Rizzi – January 26 & 27
  • Agape Love Breakfast – Gail Auguston-Koppen – February 9 & 10

Rotarians In Action


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