Rotary Program: 12/3/03

Program Chairperson: Jerry Kanney

Speaker(s): Brittany Tackett and Christopher Caldwell, Pikeville High School Drama Team;

Gan Maddiwar, M.D. - RAM Challenge 2003

Today’s program was a dual treat as students from the Pikeville High School Drama department came to give us a preview of the Winter Musical 2003 production of “Into the Woods”, which is a Broadway play by Stephen Sondheim adapted from the book of the same title by James Lapine. During its run on the Broadway stage it received three Tony Awards. The story is based on many of our favorite fairy tale characters such as Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack-in-the-Beanstalk, and the Baker who find themselves on a quest to save the baker and his family from the curse of the witch. Christopher gave his rendition of “Giants in the Sky” as Jack and Brittany sang “No one is Alone” as Cinderella. Both students did an excellent job and everyone is looking forward to seeing the whole production at the Pikeville High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday, December 12th and 13th at 7:00 P.M. and on Sunday, December 14th at 2:00 P.M.

Our own Gan Maddiwar, M..D. gave us an overview of his most recent trip to Guyana as part of RAM Challenge 2003. Guyana is one of the poorest of the Carribean isles where there are few roads, water systems or electricity. The medical team performed several surgical procedures, provided glasses, dental care and transported 75 patients to area hospitals for care that could not be rendered in the field. The lack of an anesthesiologist made the expedition more challenging than ever and most surgeries were performed with only local anesthesia and pain medication. Gan was accompanied on this trip by Dr. Gary Dotson and his wife. Dr. Dotson is a Pikeville native who practiced medicine in Florida is now retired. He has been to India on two other expeditions and to Guyana twice. Dr. Dotson has also written a medical mystery and would like to visit Pikeville for a book signing. Gan says that he gets a great deal of happiness in serving these people who would not otherwise get the medical care they need. In his native tongue he says, “Nar Seva hi Narayan seva”, or “Serving suffering humanity is serving the Lord”. This is truly a living example of Rotary’s theme of “Serving Above Self”. Thanks Gan for all you do and for bringing us the program today. Submitted by J. Morgan Chapman.