On September 30 at the Morning Meeting for All Del Sol Rotarians, Canine Companions for Independence, Enchanted Chapter was the program. Betsy Knight, head of the Chapter, was the principal speaker.  She also introduced one of the volunteer "puppy raisers" and "Tass"one of he puppies being trained for the eventual formal training that takes place in California.

 

Canine Companions use Yellow Labrador Retrievers, Black Labradors and Golden Retrievers exclusively as service dogs.  These dogs are taught to perform many  tasks for disabled people, including pulling wheel chairs, fetching pills and clothes and many other tasks. They can also respond when owners have other medical problems, such as diabetic shock and seizures.

 

The dogs are provided free to their patient owners after extensive training.  During the preliminary phase of training period by the volunteers like Betsy, the dogs are taken everywhere the volunteer goes so that they are familiar with all kinds of surroundings. 

 

Betsy showed videos of Service dogs working with disabled children. It was a vey emotional presentation.

 

Betsy is a retired Lt. Colonel from the USAF and was a Rotary Exchange student in France.

 

Yesterday evening at the first Balloon Glow of this years Albuquerque  International Balloon Fiesta, Ron Hensley and his wife Cindy, John Gordon and his wife, Regina, Gregg Hallstrom and Dave Simon worked the Merchandise Tent at the Gondola Club.  

 

Next Saturday morning for the Mass Ascension another group  of Del Sol Rotarians will work the main Merchandise tent arriving at 4:30AM.

 

Both of these Balloon Fiesta events are an opportunity for Del Sol to support the premier event in Albuquerque's year and at the same time raise money to help with Del Sol Service projects.

 

On Tuesday at 5:30 PM The Satellite Group will have a ZOOM meeting in the nature of a Club Assembly.  Please note the new time and date and that this week it is a ZOOM only event.  Satellite Chair Jeff Weinrach has sent out a ZOOM link.

 

This Thursday at 7:00AM at Jimmy's Cafe and on ZOOM there will be a Morning Meeting for all Del Sol Rotarians.  Speaker this week will be John Clark, who will speak on the Egosque Method of managing pain.  John has an inspiring story to tell from being wheelchair bound to the amazing recovery he has made. 

 

Speaking of recovery, President Brad Ekhoff, who had his  hip replacement surgery a little over a week ago is making a fast recovery and may be able to reside at the Thursday meeting.