Rtn. Quentin's China Trip

Rtn. Quentin learned Alliance For Smiles through their Harbin mission on Spetember 2007 and he was touched by thier service and made him proud to be a Rotarian.

Alliance for Smiles, Inc. was founded by five members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco - Past Presidents,John Uth, Jim Patrick, and Jim Deitz; long-time Club Member John Goings, and current President Anita Stangl. A non-profit corporation, Alliance for Smiles partners with Rotary Clubs and other NGOs to send teams of medical and non-medical volunteers to China for the purpose of setting up multi-disciplinary Cleft Treatment Centers and providing free surgery for children affected by this condition.

Alliance for Smiles organizes and sends surgical teams to China for two week missions. A surgical team is comprised of approximately 20 volunteer plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, nurses and dentists. They are supported by 10 non-medical Rotary volunteers. During a mission, 80 to 120 underserved children receive surgery for cleft lip & palate anomalies. The AFS team works side-by-side with local medical practitioners to exchange ideas on proper medical techniques and procedures, as well as provide follow-up care.

Alliance for Smiles also helps to establish and maintain permanent centers to provide follow-up treatment and continuing care to children who have received surgery.The objectives and activities of the centers include dental treatment, speech therapy, parental counseling and psychological counseling.

Rtn. Quentin will join AFS's Huangshi mission from Oct.20 to Nov. 3 2007.

Here is the picture when Rtn. Quentin exchnaged club banner with President Mike while visiting Rotary Club of Beijing on Oct. 16.