WHAT YOU MISSED LAST WEEK

The topic of last week's meeting was the importance of blood donations and Christine Schetelich of New Jersey Blood Services, joined by Rotarian Larry Ripley, left a lasting impression with a brief video of a small boy who needs regular blood transfusions as to why we should be involved in community blood drives.

Larry, a long time member of the Rotary Club of Morris Plains, (and a member of half of the committees in the District) discussed how his club sponsors 10 blood drives a year. He spoke of how easy it would be for a small club to organize a blood drive. All we need is a date, a location, and refreshments. NJ Blood Services assists with publicity, provides promotional materials and a mailing list of people who live in the area who are blood donors. Morris Plains mails out post cards to announce their blood drives. Denville Sunrise just sponsored a "Winter Blood Drive" on February 5 and attracted approximately 50 donors - a very good day. Registrations can be done through the Blood Services on line appointment line and we could provide refreshments for donors (there was a mention of Stacey's brownies).

It looks like we are aiming for a summer time blood drive - a large percentage of blood donors are college students and they are not around during the summer - a perfect time for outreach to others. Locations are currently being scouted. More information about the blood drive and facts about blood donations will be in future bulletins.

FACT: Close to 2,000 men, women, and children in our community, including cancer, transplant and surgery patients, trauma victims, newborn babies, and many otheres need blood transfusions each day. Blood donors can be as young as 16 and as old as 76 (older if their doctor says it is okay).