A newsletter presented by
February 2014
The best stories are told in pictures. This be the case of a story
that began at Klinik Timoun Nou Yo on Saturday, February 1st
when a bus arrived at the clinic gates. And while the start of this
story will begin with words, its ending will be told in photos.
While buses are common in Haiti and most especially in all
shapes and sizes since the 2010 earthquake, they still are not
seen too often in Port Salut. So, when a fairly large bus pulled
up and a well oiled surgical team descended with supplies,
medications, skills, and enthusiasm - the air became filled with
excitement.
It had never been our intent to have a surgeon on staff at
the clinic. Even if one could be found to relocate to an area
as remote as ours, the cost of such a medical specialist would
be prohibitive. Our air conditioned surgical suite, with scrub
and shower room, had been built for visiting teams. But who
could have ever imagined that the first of such teams would be
headed by a top rate pediatric surgeon, Dr Karen Cartwright
from California, in coordination with Dr. Karen Schneider of
Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital.
The team’s visit took planning by KTNY’s Medical Director,
Dr. Robin Horak, Administrator, Yanique Boursiquot, and the
entire KTNY staff. Children had to be scheduled, the clinic
readied, and accommodations prepared at Kay Bo Lanme, our
“Motel 6” by the sea, for the team of 14. In addition, KTNY was
to remain open as usual for its children needing...
The Best Stories are Told
in Pictures
1-2
Food For The Soul
3
They Always Forget The
Filmaker
4
Stranger Things Have
Happened
5
Visitors and Volunteers
5-7
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to be seen in the ordinary course.
Clinic staff extended their schedules to
accommodate longer surgical hours and
patients who spent the night for post
surgical care and observation.
In six days the surgical team performed
67 surgeries; 55 inguinal and 2 umbilical
hernias, 4 undescended testicles, 5
hydroceles and 1 circumcision.
The pediatric medical team,
traveled to four very
remote villages, and
provided acute care for
449 children.
Impressed by the
clinic and the grounds
upon which it sits, a well
trained nursing staff, an
efficient operation, and wonderful
accommodations, the team has already
advised us of there intent to return
January 13, 2015… and we couldn’t be
more pleased to have them! For now,
No Time For Poverty extends its love,
sincere thanks and deep appreciation for
a job very well done.
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T
he truth is... “they”
don’t always forget the
filmmaker ... but we did!
It was at the November
gala...and if you know
Paul, you know that he is
not a very easy fellow to
forget.
Paul Moehring hails from
Minneapolis and has been
working in the video and
television industry since
1997. To say that Paul
“marches to the beat of a
different drummer” is an
understatement. But then,
those with creative genius
can be a bit ... different.
We suspected Paul to be
of a unique sort during
his first trip to Haiti. The
high temperatures were
surpassed only by the
humidity. Our dorms
were almost, but not quite,
completed and as a result
Paul encountered some
challenges that would have
made a lesser person, seek
the first plane home.
The power at Kay
Bo Lanme was being
installed making for only
sporadic electricity. Rooms
were broiling hot for want
of the second windows yet
to be installed to provide
cross ventilation. Toilets
didn’t flush.
Through it all, Paul
thrived! In fact, from our
observations, the more
chaos and discomfort we
threw his way, the more
Paul seemed to delight in
the experience.
Accounting for Paul’s rapid
and ready adjustment to
Haiti and his less than
desirable accommodations
was, in some part, due to
that which is “Paul.” He is
a rather easy going fellow
about the daily grind of
life. Yet, much of Paul’s
rapid adaptation to Haiti
and his circumstances was
about something more.
It was about an intense
love affair in which Paul
became enveloped. And
the fact that Paul was a
stranger in a very strange
land was simply not
relevant.
Almost immediately,
Paul fell in love with
all that is Haiti. As
a filmmaker with a
keen eye for beauty,
color and vibrancy, Paul
became enamored with
his surroundings. As an
he selected the music,
contributed to the
scripting; and spliced,
diced, and edited late
into many morning
hours. In the
end, I doubt that
this labor of love
contributed much,
if anything, to the
support of Paul’s family.
outgoing and gregarious
man, his connection to
the people was honest
and forthright. As a lover
of children, his affinity
for them was natural
and playful. And as a
sensitive man, Paul’s
utter appreciation and
recognition of that which
is Klinik Timoun Nou
Yo drove him to create a
moving and informative
video about the work we
are doing.
I have no doubt that when
Paul signed on with No
Time for Poverty he did
so to do great work and at
the same time feed his
family. In the end,
Paul donated
hundreds of
hours to our
project. He
returned to
Haiti for
a second
time for
additional
footage; he
indoctrinated
the amazing
Tracy Maloney
to volunteer
her time to narrate;
For those of you who
attended our gala I need
not speak more of Paul’s
talent and skill nor of his
commitment to NTFP
and Klinik Timoun Yo.
You saw it at the video
presentation and it speaks
for itself, loud and lovely.
For those of you who have
not had the pleasure, I
invite you to go to you
tube and enter, “ No Time
For Poverty – join us”
And to Paul... a deep and
heartfelt thank you that
should have been extended
to you at the gala for all to
hear.
http://www.youtube.com/user/NTFPOVERTY
3
F
undraising Galas do not happen overnight.
In fact, despite experience and a well oiled
machine, they require Herculean effort. It is for this
very reason that we had not had one since 2009;
all of our energies, efforts and focus were, and had
to be, put into building, developing and opening
Klinik Timoun....And if you want to talk about
Herculean effort...
Galas can do a number of things. With a little luck
and a lot of sweat, tears, and hard work, such an
event will hopefully raise a lot of money and there
is no denying that financial support is critical to
sustain the work of an organization; in the case of
No Time For Poverty it is the saving of lives and
relieving the suffering of children.
But support can be had in a number of ways and
offering a check is often the easiest when our
lives are already filled to the brim with family,
friends and careers. Yet, there is something about
the coming together for a good cause, the being
together, and the building a
momentum of support
together, which for
the moments of
the evening, and
beyond if we are
fortunate, just
plain feels good
to most who
attend.
Galas can
offer fun and
entertainment. A
lovely venue, a good
dinner and delicious
dessert, an interesting array
of silent and live auction
items, a quirky auctioneer,
and an informative but not too
lengthy program make for a great
evening out! But, if the agency is
really lucky, a gala can feed the very soul of the
organization.
4
Too often, we think of an agency or organization
behind a cause, as a “thing” of operation, without
mind, heart, or soul. No Time For Poverty, however,
is not such a thing. Our heads are ever mindful
and planful, our hearts are always connected to
the children we serve, and our spirits and passion
relentlessly drive us to do whatever it takes.
For those of us at NTFP,
the evening of
November 22nd
was magical. On
that night our
heads, hearts,
and souls
numbered
more than
230. We came
together in
celebration
of the first
anniversary of the
opening of Klinik
Timoun Nou Yo and
left fulfilled, replenished, and
revitalized not only by the very generous financial
support of those who attended and participated
but by the emotional enthusiasm offered to us that
night.
The secret truth is that there can be drudgery and
angst in asking - at least this is so for us. But if the
honor thing be true, our gala brought honor to
many: to those who purchased tickets to attend;
those who made donations though could not
attend; those who contributed items to the live
and silent auctions; those who bid on them; those
who bought raffle tickets; those table captains who
filled the hall and those who volunteered. To each
and every one we extend our deep and heartfelt
appreciation on behalf of the children of Klinik....
We hope you had fun at our gala and that you will
want to attend next year and bring your friends. We
also hope, in some small way, that on the evening of
November 22, your soul, like ours, was lifted - just a
little bit higher.
N
o Time For Poverty and Klink Timoun
Nou Yo are exceptional and extraordinary;
exceptional and extraordinary in what we do,
where we do it, and how we do it! Unfortunately,
in this challenging, though improving economy,
exceptional and extraordinary are not enough to
assure sustainability.
KTNY is open and operating like a well oiled
machine dedicated and succeeding in
saving the lives of thousands of
children and easing their suffering.
The hardest is behind us; the
impossible was made possible. But
make no mistake; the challenge of
ongoing funding is large.
Good causes compete not only to
do good work but to raise money.
Those who are most successful in the
latter are fortunate to have a known name, face,
or figure to assist in raising the consciousness of
the organization, but rarely does such a person
accidentally “stumble upon” an organization.
Connections are made through networking.
They are made when someone mentions the
great work of a foundation to someone else who
mentions the great work of that foundation to yet
another. It happens when a person
of notoriety learns through the
most unexpected of sources
about an organization that
feels good, does good work,
and would benefit from their
endorsement. No Time For a
Poverty is looking for such a
person.
If you know our organization and
believe in it, or if you care about the
children we serve and want to help...or if you just
plain excel at networking, here is what you can
do: Pick your brain on our behalf; then pick
Aunt Sally’s, Grandpa Sven’s, and your friend
Guido’s. If you, or someone you know, or
someone they know, have a connection to
an actor, athlete, or local or national public
figure who would be willing to learn about
who we are and what we do, please contact
us.
And if by chance, this newsletter happens to
reach Lori and Julia, Paul Moliter, Louie Anderson,
Josh Hartnet, Amelia Santaniello and Frank
Vascellaro, someone in Hollywood, a national
sports league or astronaut... well...stranger things
have happened!
We are grateful to those individuals and organizations who participate in NTFP be it in the giving of service,
learning about who we are, or both. Our appreciation and thanks go to:
Dr. Linda Rexford (Providence Pediatrics, Rhode Island)who traveled to
Port Salut for the second time to work at Klinik Timoun Nou Yo.
Dr. Virginia Meade (Neonatologist), who travels to Haiti almost
monthly to work at KTNY as she goes throughout the country to
promote a program of breastfeeding and neonatal care. Having lived
and worked in Haiti in her former life, Dr. Meade’s knowledge of Creole
and Haitian culture is surpassed only by her gentle nature, brilliance and skill.
5
The outstanding medical team under the direction of Sister Karen
Schneider RSM, MD and Dr. Karen Cartwright, MD. Their story is told in
“The Best Stories Are Told in Pictures” Page 1.
Molly Stevens MD
Nayra Zimmerman RN
Alisha Rabhan RN
Christine Tamberullo RN
Sister Mary McGrory RSM, PhD, RN.
Ibukun Akinboyo MD
Radha Gajjar MD
Wendy Goldstein MD
Jen Kamens MD
Steven Marek MD
Deanna Wilson MD
Kylie-Armentha Aquino Waddy
Larry Arrigoni, who volunteered with NTFP during the construction
phase of KTNY, recently traveled to KTNY to assure proper disposal of X-ray
contaminants and also attended to other maintenance needs.
Erica Schneekloth, who we first met as a student through the University of
Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute where she and a fellow student worked
on a capstone project for NTFP. Erica traveled to KTNY in December
and spent the week working on clinic systems.
Judy Gustafson, who we met through her daughter and cohort in adventure, Erica. Erica and
Judy traveled together to KTNY. Judy is an LPN and during her visit presented training on
needle safety and assisted in the clinic.
The bright and beautiful Syndia Saint-Jour, Miss Port Salut International,
who visited KTNY in November. Running on a platform of improved
health care in Haiti, Syndia’s committed to raising money on behalf of NTFP.
Maria Gagnon, who left her comfort zone of friends, family and
the familiar to serve KTNY from September 9th until October
18th, entering data, assisting at check-in, working in the pharmacy,
nutrition center and other departments, writing materials, organizing
medications and supplies, as well as numerous other tasks.
Jackie Panuska for providing love, support and “mothering” to our hard
working ever dedicated Medical Director, Dr. Robin Horak.
6
Keith Mueller who has traveled to Haiti on two occasions to get our IT
up and running and continues to consult, upgrade and hammer out our
technical challenges.
Tracy Maloney, a professional actress who we’ve never seen, met, nor been
introduced to, but who gave us a tremendous gift when she expertly narrated
the NTFP video first seen at our 2013 gala!
Newly retired Ann Arrigoni who answers our call for “Help” whenever and
however. Michele and Jeff have loved Ann for the twenty five some odd years
they have had the honor and pleasure to know and work with her.
Brian Donahue, our current intern from Brown College who designed the
new format for our newsletter!
The delightfully fun, quirky and talented team of Mayra Holguin and Sarah
Hanson who went above and beyond their internship with NTFP from
Brown College to design postcards, invitations, posters, and the like for
our gala.
NTFP’s first ever Events Committee who has already brought fun, freshness
and new ideas for next year’s gala as well as one or two “added attractions.”
Our thanks to Sheryl Ebenreiter, Karin Martinson, Jill Kraemer, Kathy
Bigelbach, Erica Schneekloth, Ann Arrigoni, Sue Fuller.
And last but certainly not least - The very many amazing volunteers, without whose hard work, our 2013 gala
would not have been the outstanding event it was!
If you are interested in visiting or volunteering, please contact Sue Grundhoffer at 651-714-6346 or sgrundhoffer@notimeforpoverty.org.
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7
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