Greetings to all

The LN-4 team, including Board members, Rotarian friends and many others, has recently completed a major LN-4 upgrade to our current inventory. The Foundation President tells the story of the biggest upgrade below.

In addition we continue to conduct new assembly events, prepare and ship more (upgraded) LN-4 prosthetics to new fitting events, and we are actively seeking more and better outreach - to identify new recipients - to improve LN-4 registration and recipient follow-up.

We welcome your support and inquiries - expanding our outreach, delivery, fitting, and training, to existing and to new Rotary club projects, and other groups who may be able and interested in this work. The item below "How To Organize Your Own LN-4 Fitting Event" is our invitation to join in this expanding venture, and describes how to do so.

Ask us how - we will guide, encourage and assist you. We are building partnerships regularly with new organizations; those who are interested in taking the LN-4 to new places with us and for us.

Don't forget to look for more LN-4 documentation, photos, testimonials, news and information at www.LN-4.org, and on YOUTUBE.COM. The LN-4 project is global; please read this newsletter with that in mind.

If you are interested in any LN-4 item mentioned here please contact us; if you know of an LN-4 related project you want to see mentioned in the newsletters, please write us a note with details and photos so we can add your story to the next LN-4 news report. You can always contact us through the web site at www.LN-4.org; you are welcome to phone and email too.

In this newsletter:
1. From the President
- D5160 - District Conference - an LN-4 Upgrade Record
- Updates to LN-4 web site
2. LN-4 Hands in Colombia - Rotaractors (Espanol y English)
3. Ernie Meadows Explains the LN-4 Design
4. Mlandvo in Swaziland - another LN-4 story
5. How to Organize Your Own LN-4 Event

A Few Words from the President Many "growth changes" to the Ellen Meadows Prosthetic Hand Foundation LN-4 projects are occurring these days; we will select a few special stories to showcase in the LN-4 Newsletter this month. Rotarians, Rotaractors and other volunteers step forward every day and ask to donate, to build hands for us, go on trips to deliver and fit LN-4 prosthetics for others, and organize events of various kinds – thank you all. On October 3, 2009, in South Lake Tahoe, CA, about 350 Rotarians of RI District 5160 set a record - by participating in the effort to upgrade 1000 LN-4 hands in one day. We did it! This is not our first LN-4 revision or upgrade – we make modifications in our manufacturing process regularly as we learn better methods and identify better parts. This, however, was the replacement of our 2 moveable digits and a change that we have been working on for several months, planning for even longer…we are excited that the resulting LN-4 is more durable and more reliable than ever. We had an inventory of 1000 LN-4 prosthetics saved up and waiting – all of which needed to be upgraded. With the invitation of District Governor Earl Kilmer to make a keynote presentation about the LN-4 Program at the District Conference, we had the opportunity to provide a report to the Rotarians of D5160 and also to offer the opportunity to complete the upgrades to these LN-4s during this District Conference. The program was a success, all our inventory is upgraded, and we have now begun to distribute these upgraded LN-4s to recipients. One of the most exciting stories was from Jaya Shah from Nepal, whom I had met 3 Conventions ago in Salt Lake City. She took a demo-hand and some literature back with her in 2007. I didn’t see her last year and then this year she came up to our booth and said she had identified 500 recipients in her area who needed a hand. We continue to work with the Rotarians in Nepal and other locations to organize a future fitting event for those identified by Jaya and the Rotarians in her club to receive an LN-4. Our newly revised website is up and running – take a look at it. We add to it every week or so – more photos and more stories. We have photos, videos and slides of recipients, recipient evaluations, LN-4 fittings - plus Rotarians and Rotaractors doing LN-4 work. We have downloadable documents to support fitting events and registrations. We expect to have an improved video of the fitting procedures available in coming weeks – look for it. Tell those who ask about the LN-4 to subscribe to the newsletter by going to the web site. Where are we – over 2,500 hands in 37 countries – name a country with a potential need – we’re probably already there! If not, we want to be! Our goal is to have distributed 10,000 hands in 2010. We can do it! Sincerely, Michael Mendonca President, Ellen Meadows Prosthetic Hand Foundation Rotary Club of Pleasant Hill http://www.ln-4.org

Rotaract Impulsando LN-4 en Colombia Ricardo Jaramillo Past President RDR 4280 Club Rotaract Cali San Fernando Distrito 4280 La oportunidad de contribuir a mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas en situación de discapacidad, es la principal motivación de todos los que hemos podido vincularnos a este proyecto, dar una mano... dar esperanza, no creo que haya una frase que represente más esta labor. Dejar de ser útiles es una de las primeras sensaciones que se pierden al perder una parte del cuerpo, y poder devolverle a esa persona, aunque sea parcialmente la posibilidad de volver a realizar tareas que podrían parecer sencillas para nosotros como lo es comer, tomar algún objeto, llevarle una flor con la mano a esa persona que se quiere... es de verdad una gran satisfacción poder contribuir con esto. Ver en principio la curiosidad de las personas por las prótesis, algunas con temor de tener que adaptarse a una nueva parte de su cuerpo, no saber si realmente les contribuirá a desempeñarse en su día a día, y luego ver que usando sus nuevas manos les aparecen sonrisas y lagrimas de felicidad por lo que pueden volver a hacer, nos motiva a seguir esta labor. La primer experiencia que tuvimos en Colombia con las prótesis, fue en la ciudad de Tuluá, luego en la ciudad de Cali, y a raíz de estas actividades otros clubes Rotaract se han vinculado como lo son el club Rotaract de Pasto Valle de Atríz y Popayán, y ahora estamos analizando la posibilidad de realizar una jornada simultanea en estas ciudades donde tenemos como meta la entrega de alrededor de 200 prótesis. Agradecemos enormemente a todas las personas que han hecho posible este proyecto en Colombia!! _____________________________________________________ Rotaract Driving LN-4s in Colombia The opportunity to help improve the quality of life of people who are handicapped is the primary motivation for all of us involved in this project, to "give a hand, give hope", I don’t think there is a better way to express the purpose of this cause. Feeling as if we are no longer useful is one of the first feelings when one loses a body part. Giving back the ability to be useful to the person who lost a limb - even if it’s only the limited ability to do simple, everyday chores or tasks such as eating, grabbing objects, to give a flower to a loved one – it’s truly a great satisfaction. At the beginning, we can see the curiosity in people’s expressions as they look at the prostheses for the first time. Some of them show fear to have to adapt to a new part of their body, without knowing if it will truly help in their everyday activities, and then to see them use their hand, to see their smiles on their faces, and tears of happiness because they are able, once again, to do their tasks is what motivates us to keep doing what we do. The first experience we had in Colombia with the prostheses was in the city of Tulua, then in the city of Cali and because of these successes other Rotaract Clubs were motivated to join in this effort, such as the Rotaract Club of Pasto, Pasto Valle de Atriz and Popayan. We are looking into the possibility of doing a joint, simultaneous effort in all of these cities where our goal is to give out around 200 prostheses. We thank immensely all of the people that have made this Project a reality in Colombia!!

One LN-4 young recipient in Pasto, Colombia...over 300 LN-4 hands have been fitted in Colombia to date Below: the history of the LN-4 prosthetic - a line up of several prototypes

LN-4 Design and Development Story - Genesis By Ernie Meadows, LN-4 Foundation Board Member and Designer of the LN-4 Prosthetic The problem for countless limb deficient men, women and children in strife torn countries, with large numbers of poor, uneducated people and unavailable or unaffordable medical services, is that no one has looked at the conditions in terms of an overall analysis. First, they have no money. Second, they have no money. Third, they have no money. Because of these three factors, there has been no commercial effort to solve the problems of this lack of upper extremity prosthetics for these needy people. Lower limb prosthetic devices can be fashioned (however crude) from a broom handle, tree branch, or whatever is available. But a hand, to be useful must be able to accomplish some, if not all, of the grip functions of the human hand. The challenge and job of an industrial designer is to study a problem, looking at current approaches to solutions, evaluate the existing methodology and then, try to create better solutions. Not easy. The prosthetic devices on the market fail to satisfy the needs of a demographic we wanted to serve, were quite expensive, required professional help for fitting, needed body-molded components, and were not suitable in many humid climates. So- what do we need? We know what we don’t want. What does that tell us? We know we don’t want a device that requires a glove, they quickly wear out, stain, tear, and reduce the functionality by requiring more force to operate from the wearer, and requires special fitting. We did not want cable controls, or custom fitted components. Plastic hands seemed to be the answer, an injection molded unit that would be stain, water and dirt proof and hand like in appearance. The concept of the two intersecting moveable digits fitting between the fixed digits was a compromise with Mother Nature. The locking gear train offered a simple way of holding onto an object, and with the wrist flex release was a way of doing without cables or external buttons or push levers to move. Putting all the components in a workable package was a solvable challenge, and after only six years of work, popped out of my workshop as the LN-4, a hand designed originally for children aged 3- 8 years. However as we know, most of the hands distributed to date have been fitted on adults. As a result, an adult model is in the works. Rotary groups, and other generous persons, in their infinite wisdom and good will, took up the challenge of supporting the funding, manufacturing, distribution and fitting of the LN-4 hands, and the rest is history. LN-4 web site

Swaziland - Mlandvo's Story From the editor: Odyssey Teams has been a wonderful supporter of the LN-4 projects. Specifically Odyssey seminars and projects have built and paid for about 1000 LN-4 prosthetics during the past couple years and we hope to continue to build this relationship for a long time. (www.odysseyteams.com) The people at Odyssey have also become friends of the LN-4 project in other ways. The note that follows was sent out by Lain Hensley a few weeks ago, (edited slightly), and I include it here – I believe it expresses the sentiments of many of us involved in the LN-4 project. ________________________________________________________ To my Odyssey family and beyond. (October 16, 2009 – Chico, CA) I am working away at my desk today sending out proposals and thinking my life is pretty good. We had a little scare yesterday. Little Lain (my 4 year old son) hurt his back and neck on the trampoline. A doctor friend assessed him and confirmed he was fine. I went to bed last night with the terrible thoughts of a worried parent. I know I shouldn't think like that, because that little voice always points to the worst possible threat to our emotions or physical self. Of course, when I woke up today little Lain was fine, and my worst fears will have to lie dormant for now. Until the next sickness or bike crash causes me to think the worst and make myself crazy with the kind of parent love that consumes me these days. My three kids are doing so well in all areas and I feel blessed to have Jean (my wife of 16 years) caring for me and them in these challenging times. She is amazing! Below is the story of a boy the same age as Little Lain and Odyssey's opportunity to impact his life. You will see his face and for now we can only make up the story behind it. I hope to learn more of his story as we build and deliver LN-4 hands for him. I hope that the next time I send you a photo of him he will have one of our LN-4 hands on and more hope in his eyes. Right now I want you to look down at your hands and be thankful for the gifts you have. We are struggling in America and the world, no doubt. Many people have consuming financial and health difficulties. And we must keep hope that we can change all this. As a friend told me 9 years ago, "just like the potter, your life and all your potential is in your hands, make something great." I hope after seeing the face of little Mlandvo and knowing his situation, you will be motivated to make something great today with your gifts. _______________________________________________________ The Story of Mlandvo We regularly receive email requests from many locations and in many forms, through the www.LN-4.org web site; rather arbitrarily we forwarded this email story to Lain Hensley at Odyssey because the work of his organization in building LN-4s for us. The narrative that follows is from one person - it is the story of Mlando, and is compressed from several emails. I want to thank Hon. Siphiwe Kunene for her compassion and effort to find us and to help Mlandvo. We are arranging to ship two LN-4 hands in the coming few weeks to Hon. Siphiwe Kunene who, with our instructions, will help get them fitted for Mlandvo soon after arrival. “I was reading a local newspaper today and saw a story titled, "Give A Hand" that really touched me. It is a story about a three year old boy, named Mlandvo, who lives in Swaziland. Mlandvo needs assistance to acquire artificial hands after a mysterious infection led to the amputation of both hands. In addition, Mlandvo was abandoned by his mother last year at his granny's place. The grandparents live in abject poverty. He is a happy young man and very clever too. He likes singing very much. The grandparents and the journalist who was helping them are very happy to know about the LN-4 prosthetics project. Thank you so much for your time and patience, and may the Almighty continue blessing you. Thank you so much for the positive response and for your wish to help Mlandvo. I am Hon. Siphiwe Kunene from the Kingdom of Swaziland, Southern Africa. “ _________________________________________________________

How to Organize Your Own LN-4 Fitting Event Community Service Project Several Rotary and Rotaract Clubs in Colombia have organized and conducted LN-4 fitting events. Several Rotary Clubs in Bangalore, India also have held fitting events as a Community Service project. The LN-4 Foundation is happy to support these and other similar LN-4 events with our current inventory of LN-4s. If your club can take on such a responsibility, it is a wonderful way to help the LN-4 Foundation extend the delivery of LN-4 the those who benefit. Often the first and key step is selecting a date and a place for the event. The place must be large enough and have some tables and light. We have seen schools, libraries and open court yards used. There should be some shelter from the weather for the people working and for those waiting also. The date must be far enough into the future to allow all the preparations to be done - we need to arrange to ship LN-4 to the location, for example. One key responsibility is to organize a publicity effort - with news articles and advertising, with posters and with TV , radio and loudspeakers, as appropriate and as done in the area and to effectively reach to people. Another key activity is pre-qualification of recipients. This may be best handled with a separate event or there may be a way to have people be evaluated and sign up over several days before a deadline. We will ship LN-4s, or a team will deliver them, and we will support your event; we only require good communications and a list of pre-qualified recipients on our form 6 weeks before your event. The prequalification form including recipient qualifications is available at LN-4.org along with several illustrations of the LN-4 prosthetic, its grips and uses - to show the person who may be qualified. We are happy to advise you in more detail about any of these steps, and we can have others who have done fittings already explain more about how they began, if that might be useful. International Service Project A team of people from your club will be trained by us to do the fitting of LN-4 hands - including LN-4 registration, evaluation of recipients, fitting the LN-4 and recipient training. The team will travel, at their own expense, to the destination and deliver the supply of LN-4 prosthetics. In addition the members of this team will train local volunteers in their fitting tasks and conduct the fitting event. On return the team members are asked to be available to present a program about their experience to other clubs and to support others in doing the same sort of project. Being part of a team from two, sometimes more, clubs in different countries who all work together as partners in this effort to help others regain their dignity and some functionality is a rewarding and important aspect of our LN-4 work.

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The LN-4 Team sends out periodic newsletters, such as this, to report on our activities, developments and progress of the LN-4 projects. This report goes out November 15, 2009.

We are appreciative and grateful for the support and encouragement of Rotarians, especially in our home District 5160, also from many parts of the global family of Rotary, including Rotaract and Interact, and from our many other LN-4 friends. We are grateful for the willingness of our recipients to trust us; recipients in so many places, in so many different circumstances. We all feel gratitude to be involved in this project - understanding it takes tremendous trust and the cooperation of many people to make all of these LN-4 stories happen. You are invited to join us and to create an LN-4 story of your own...

Your LN-4 Team