TY  - SER
TI  - Inner wheel club section - The Rotary Balita no. 791 (February 23, 1956)
N1  - The Rotary Balita no. 791 (February 23, 1956)
N2  - The above picture was taken at the investiture of eighteen girl scouts, who are sponsored by the Inner Wheel Club of Manila, at Barrio Fugoso last February 4th. Rotary Anns Jean Wilson, Millie Lim, and Monica Balmaceda (chairman of this committee) can be seen in the picture.  The short program was highlighted by the inspirational talk given by Monica Balmaceda which we transcribe in full:  My dear Girl Scouts:  This day should be of great significance to all of you here present. For the newly pledged, it is a challenge and an opportunity to show what they are worth; for those already pledged, it is an occasion to call back to mind the Girl Scout Promise and Laws, and strive to a fuller fulfillment of them.  Nothing spectacular or heroic is expected of us Little things done well are what count most. Is the Promise, you assume an honor which you are bound to prove in all your actions towards God, your country and your fellowmen. Honor is proven by good actions practiced daily. Here we have the Laws as an excellent guide:  When a Girl Scout borrows a pencil and returns it afterward, or makes an appointment with friend and arrives on time, she practices the first law "A Girl Scout's honor is to be trusted."  A Girl Scout who does not gossip about her friends; does not write on the desks in school or prevents others from doing so, keeps the second law: "A Girl Scout is loyal"  The act of picking up a fallen piece of paper or sweeping the floor makes a Girl Scout useful and a great help to others.  Greeting a fellow Girl Scout whom we never saw [omitted] refraining from laughing or making fun of [omitted] strange to us, makes a Girl Scout a friend to all and a sister to every other Girl Scout. Daily courtesy can be followed by a Girl Scout by using the words: please, excuse me, or thank you, when talking to older persons as well as to young children, or to the household helps.  Animals need our compassion and protection by reason of their helplessness, especially against cruel masters and thoughtless children. A Girl Scout proves herself a friend to animals when she discourages her little brother from cutting off the wings of a dragonfly he caught or throwing stones at birds. Feeding the home pets regularly is also a great kindness to animals.  "A Girl Scout is obedient." I am sure many find this hard to follow. It is oftentimes much easier to carry out big tasks assigned to us by other people. But the true test of obedience is that which is practiced at home, as in all other basic training. It is hard, for instance, to put a book down in a most interesting part to answer mother's call, or to run an errand at precisely the time you have somewhere to go with your friends. Obedience is the true test of leadership. It has rightly been said that one who has not learned to obey cannot hope to command.  Have you ever tried to converse in a jolly manner with your friends after being severely scolded by your mother or the teacher in school? Or laugh sincerely at a joke said at your expense? One thing all the saints have in common is the quality of cheerfulness. They are happy even when they have all the reason to be sad. So, too, a Girl Scout should always try to be cheerful, for when you "laugh the world laughs with you, but when you weep, you weep alone."  The definition of thrift in the Girl Scout handbook is: "the wise use of one's mental, physical and material resources, resulting in an absence of waste." Almost every moment of our lives is an opportunity for service-going back to a former example -the act of picking up a piece of paper - this is an act of thrift. So also is contributing 10 centavos for a worthy cause instead of spending it for ice cream.  Then, above all a Girl Scout is clean in thought, word, and deed. The other nine laws are summed up in this last law. For when a Girl Scout is pure in her thought, her words, and her actions, she is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, a good friend, is courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful and thrifty. Do you know that a girl looks like the way she thinks? Harsh thoughts bring a harsh expression to the face and kind thoughts soften it.  Everyday we are given an occasion to practice the Girl Scout Promise and Laws. Let us make use therefore, of every opportunity. Do not be contented with being merely a Girl Scout aim to be a good Girl Scout. Whatever we do, let us do it well, and this is done by daily practice.  At the last general meeting we had as our guests the Mota Sisters who gave us the musical numbers: Hawaiian music, played on the Hawaiian guitar. Our guest speakers that day were Anna Laurie Keyes and Dr. Trinidad Gomez from the F.O.A. and Rural Health Projects, respectively. Dr. Keyes of the F.0.A. introduced Dr. Gomez, who told how the F.O.A.-Philcusa, together with the Department of Health, coordinate their work.  Personnel recruited for Rural Health Units: Physicians .... 1,067 Nurses ..... 834 Midwives ..... 834 Dentists ..... 1,500  According to Dr. Gomez, they are still recruiting personnel in order to be able to help more barrios. The personnel working in these units must undergo pre-service training, before they are set out to the field.  As to funds, the Rural Health Unit project functions on an allocation of 13 million pesos Aside from Philcusa funds, this project is also recipient of aids from I.C.A. and the U.N.I.C.E.F So far there are 1,134 units working and they have found a great response from the people. More are getting health conscious in the rural areas.  At our last general meeting, President Millie Lim asked all the members of the Inner Wheel Club to do their best and be present at the next general meeting on March. It will be a closed meeting and elections for the incoming officers will be held. If you want to nominate candidates, please get in touch with Pompin Anton who has been appointed chairman of the nominating committee.  Two new members of the Inner Wheel Club haw been inducted recently: Luchi Lacson, as honorary member, and Hester, Rotary Ann of Harry Brenn
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