Stella Maris Polytechnic, a small faith-based college in Monrovia, Liberia, will receive 100 new business textbooks courtesy of the Rotary Club of Downtown Statesboro. The club's Service Committee chairman, Phil Waldrop, delivered the boxed books to the Wal-Mart Distribution Center last week, for transportation to the port in Baltimore, where they are to be loaded on a ship destined for Monrovia.
Assisted by Mary Hazeldine, 2008-9 club president, and fellow Rotary member Joe Ruhland, Waldrop initiated the international service project as a means of helping the citizens of Liberia as they rebuild their national economy following years of post-civil war disruption. Liberia has distinct historic ties to the U.S., as it was established as a nation in the early 1800's by and for U.S. freed and free-born men and women of African heritage, along with those rescued from slave ships.
Waldrop lived in Monrovia in the early 1960's when his father worked there as an advisor with USAID, the U.S. Department of State's foreign aid branch. His father's service in creating a national police force academy was recognized by then-President Tubman, who presented him with traditional-style robes as an Honorary Chief of Liberia
Hazeldine successfully negotiated free donation of the text books from the national publisher McGraw-Hill.Waldrop arranged for free shipment to Liberia as a courtesy of the Firestone Natural Rubber Company, which operates two ships between Monrovia and Baltimore. Firestone operates a large rubber tree plantation in Liberia as a source of latex as a raw material.
Joe Ruhland arranged for free truck transportation from Statesboro to Baltimore as a courtesy of the Walmart Distribution Center, assisted and coordinated by Ronald Love, Traffic Manager at the local facility. The free transportation saved the club as much as $1,200, which can instead be used for Statesboro-area public service projects.
The Rotary Club hopes to obtain an additional donation of textbooks for three more business subjects for a follow-on shipment in the very near future.
Assisted by Mary Hazeldine, 2008-9 club president, and fellow Rotary member Joe Ruhland, Waldrop initiated the international service project as a means of helping the citizens of Liberia as they rebuild their national economy following years of post-civil war disruption. Liberia has distinct historic ties to the U.S., as it was established as a nation in the early 1800's by and for U.S. freed and free-born men and women of African heritage, along with those rescued from slave ships.
Waldrop lived in Monrovia in the early 1960's when his father worked there as an advisor with USAID, the U.S. Department of State's foreign aid branch. His father's service in creating a national police force academy was recognized by then-President Tubman, who presented him with traditional-style robes as an Honorary Chief of Liberia
Hazeldine successfully negotiated free donation of the text books from the national publisher McGraw-Hill.Waldrop arranged for free shipment to Liberia as a courtesy of the Firestone Natural Rubber Company, which operates two ships between Monrovia and Baltimore. Firestone operates a large rubber tree plantation in Liberia as a source of latex as a raw material.
Joe Ruhland arranged for free truck transportation from Statesboro to Baltimore as a courtesy of the Walmart Distribution Center, assisted and coordinated by Ronald Love, Traffic Manager at the local facility. The free transportation saved the club as much as $1,200, which can instead be used for Statesboro-area public service projects.
The Rotary Club hopes to obtain an additional donation of textbooks for three more business subjects for a follow-on shipment in the very near future.