When disaster strikes, there’s a good chance one of the first to lend a helping hand will be the Medical Supply Network, Inc., a project started and supported by Rotarians in District 6110. MEDICAL equipment and supplies are donated from several sources — hospitals, medical groups, clinics, nursing homes, doctors, rehabilitation centers and home health agencies.
Iola Rotarians got a first-hand look Thursday at how MSNI works from its director, Larry Biron.
Biron said a warehouse in Tulsa is where response begins to such things as the tornado in Joplin, Hurricane Katrina and last fall when a typhoon devastated the Philippines.
Aid comes in two forms: Cash often is provided immediately when disaster strikes; later with needs defined medical equipment and supplies are forthcoming. The group also provides supplies monthly to people in poorer nations.
“When the tornado hit Joplin on Sunday (May 22, 2011) we were there on Monday,” Biron said.
Biron explained the Medical Supply Network was started 20 years ago to help with a disaster in the Philippines. Today, it is a big-time player in humanitarian aid.
“It’s a team effort of all 82 clubs in District 6110,” and their 4,600 members, Biron said.
The project is financed through dues paid by members and ambassadors who contribute $1,000 or more to achieve the designation. Other sources of revenue are annual raffle of an automobile, which usually generates $25,000, and rental income from properties associated with the project’s warehouse in Tulsa.
“When we started, we knew we needed a place to sort equipment and supplies,” preparatory to loading containers bound for other countries, Biron said.
The better approach, for stability of the project, was to purchase a warehouse, he said.
One was found that had several other properties associated with it, which became the rentals that are an income source today. The property in Tulsa was paid off through the generosity of a Tulsa foundation and Rotarians.
Biron said it was important to have the distribution center in a metropolitan area, where there are 20 clubs nearby.
“Each weekend members of one of the clubs are at the warehouse preparing containers for shipment,” he said.
“Everyone likes to do it, but they don’t want to do it every weekend,” he said.
Biron said pharmaceuticals are excluded, because they have irrevocable expiration dates.
“Things like rubber gloves have expiration dates, too, but they’re still usable,” he said.
MSNI provides supplies and equipment to 39 countries where there are Rotary clubs, a necessity for distributions it makes.
“We send containers to ports of entry and local Rotarians take it from there, getting things to where they are needed,” Biron said.
Once-a-month, shipments are in seagoing containers that measure 20 by 8 by 8 feet. Sometimes containers that stay in-country are converted into buildings or even living quarters.
Shipping costs may be as much as $8,000.
Biron said his was the only salary paid by the non-profit group, but it also has expenses for utilities, insurance and equipment, such as a forklift used in the warehouse.
Biron urged Iola Rotarians to be “our ears and eyes,” to help find sources of medical equipment and supplies that could be arranged for donation.
Also, he recognized Iola club member Gordon Conger, who is MSNI’s newest board member and, by virtue of a contribution, an ambassador.
Rotary has global reach
