Submitted by: Gordon Przybylski
 
The Perham Rotary Club is undoubtedly like many Rotary Clubs in that it provides "Service Above Self" to a number of local and international causes.  One project that goes beyond service are the four annual blood drives that are held in partnership with the Red Cross.  Knowing that blood is in high demand and that every 2 seconds someone in this country needs blood, the Perham Rotary Club with a membership of about 60 men and women, conducts 2 blood drives in the spring and 2 in the fall.  The fall drives held this past October 16 and 17 was especially important due to the hurricanes that impacted thousands of lives in the United States and Puerto Rico.  
Many population centers such as Houston, and much of the south were not in a position to give blood thus putting blood supplies in high demand.  Rotarians eagerly took on the duties of the Blood Drive that included promotion (print ads, radio, Chamber of Commerce presentation, posters throughout town), set up and clean up of donation site facility, staffing the registration table, providing snacks and beverages, and 
personally contacting all prior blood donors in the area to donate once again.  Rotarians helped with on-line registration to ensure that all donation slots were filled.  The result?  The Red Cross set a goal of collecting 126 units of blood and the Perham Rotary Club delivered collecting 128 units of blood......Rotarians indeed help save lives!