It is the beginning of the school year in Guatemala and three new elementary schools are starting this school year (school years go from January to November in Guatemala) full of excitement, with new equipment and the potential that this collaboration with TINFA and with its network of schools and teachers will bring.

These new partners are elementary schools in the Retalhuleu region of Guatemala. They are in the same region the existing ones in their 2nd and 3rd year program, strengthening the collaboration among teachers.

We are exited about closing the loop on this 3 year model, with school partners in year 1, year 2 and year 3. It is going to be a busy year for TINFA and the teachers. It is going to be some fun and deep learning for the students!

On January 28th, University Sunrise Rotary presented TINFA presented with a generous check of $16,500 for the project in Guatemala.

This was a team effort lead by the University Sunrise (kudos to Mike, Lee, Tim, Ricky and all the members), in partnership with the University Rotaract, the Mill Creek Rotary, the Guatemala Rotary del Este, as well as a generous matching from the District. What an impressive piece of work, and what an impact by the Rotary!  This grant will provide all the equipment, the training and the support for one new school entering in collaboration with TINFA this year, as well as the training and the support for one school on their second year of collaboration.

Our speaker February 4th was Dr. Stanley Stamm, pioneer in cardiology at Children’s Hospital. He gave a concise history of the specialty at that institution. He participated in its growth to its present state, a mecca for sick children from points near and distant. There is now a large staff of pediatric cardiologists in place, as well as three fulltime cardiac surgeons. They are steadily at work. Their success record in heart surgery, particularly transplants, is exemplary.

He also mentioned the summer camp that bears his name, which he originated years ago. Located near Mr. Rainier, it provides a week of recreation for sick children, inclusive of the seriously ill. They enjoy swimming, horseback transport, games, and do their own skits. Dr. Stamm mentions that, even in cases of children on respirators, horseback rides are provided. Special needs such as diabetes are carefully planned in advance. The endeavor requires volunteers who must do strenuous work. The children are monitored on at least a 3-1 ratio. Some 200 volunteers regularly attend.

Dr. Stamm, although retired, remains active at Children’s, attending a few meetings a week. Quite obviously, his voice is heard and respected. Residencies and fellowships are integral parts of the teaching program.

Comment: Many of those at Children’s as well as numerous teachers and practitioners locally and around the country are Dr. Stamm’s trainees. This confers on him an immortality in his own time and beyond. His residents not only experienced his teaching, but accompanied him in runs, swimming, skiing, and probably more. Anecdotes in numbers resulted from this. Finally, could there be a better place to consider allocating some funds than Dr. Stamm’s camp?

At University Sunrise Rotary today, the greatest UW Football Coach, Jim Lambright, spoke on his Life after Football and his participation in the UW Medicine Study on concussions and brain injury after a lifetime of playing football.

Jim Lambright served as the head coach at the University of Washington for six seasons from 1993 to 1998, compiling a record of 44–25–1. The Huskies played in four bowl games during his tenure and were nationally ranked twice. Prior to becoming head coach, Lambright served as an assistant on the Huskies coaching staff for 24 seasons. Lambright was born and raised in Everett, Washington, the son of a fisherman. He earned a scholarship to the UW, where he lettered as an undersized defensive end for head coach Jim Owens, earning all-conference and All-Coast honors as a senior for the Huskies in 1964.