Rotarians Celebrate at Monday’s Meeting

 Led by President Al Avery, Clarkston Rotarians joinedRotarians around the world in celebrating their successful efforts to raise$200 million dollars in order to meet the Bill and Melinda Gates challenge ofeliminating polio worldwide.  Rotary International began planning in the early 1980’s for one of themost ambitious humanitarian programs ever undertaken by a private entity.  In 1985, it launched PolioPlus, amultimillion dollar initiative to immunize all the world’s children againstpolio.  Rotary’s commitment was sogreat that the World Health Assembly resolved in 1988 to wipe out the diseasethat had killed and paralyzed for 5000 years.  Clarkston Rotary enthusiastically joined in the battle.

 Since 1985, more than two billion children have received theoral polio vaccine.  Reported poliocases have dropped 99.8 %, from 350,000 a year in 1988 to fewer than 2000 ayear today.  Clarkston RotariansMary Sloan and Jeff Lichty participated in the effort by personally deliveringthe polio drops to children in northern India in 2005.

 Since 2009, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation hasawarded $355 million to Rotary International in the global effort to eradicatepolio, issuing the challenge that Rotarians worldwide would raise $200 millionby June 2012.  That goal has beenreached, and Clarkston Rotarians celebrated on Monday with a cake and a talkfrom District polio co-chair Virginia Barrons.  The fight is not over. Polio is still endemic in four countries; India, Pakistan, Nigeria andAfghanistan, although India just completed its first year without a new casereported.  We can’t quit until thejob is done and no new cases have been reported in the world for three years.

 We have completed this round of funding, but the fight goeson and fundraising must continue.

 As long as polio threatens evenone child anywhere in the world, children everywhere, including the UnitedStates, remain at risk. The stakes are that high. 

Opportunity for high school students to study overseas for a year.

 If you would like the opportunity to spend an academic year learning another language and culture under the auspices of Rotary, contact Jeff lichty at jlichty11@earthlink.net or 248-625-4244.  Read what one student had to say. 

WHAT’S ROTARY?

Rotary International is a volunteer organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service, and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. There are approximately 1.2 million Rotary club members belonging to 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.
Founded in Chicago in 1905, Rotary celebrated 100 years of service in 2005. The Rotary Foundation has awarded more than US$2.1 billion in grants, which are administered at the local level by Rotary clubs.

What is the purpose of Rotary?
Rotary clubs exist to improve communities through a range of humanitarian, intercultural and educational activities. Clubs advance international understanding by partnering with clubs in other countries. Rotary also encourages high ethical standards in all vocations.