The Scoop - January 4, 2016
Posted by Michael Frueh
on Jan 08, 2016
We are 'this' close to eradicating polio.
The first meeting of the year -
Bob Fett provided fellowship, promising a fine-free day. He commented on how many common sayings have been lost in our time - such as "don't touch that dial", "hung out to dry", and "party line".
The Sgt-at-Arms committee is looking for a few volunteers - perhaps you can serve the club in this way ??
Our social committee is bringing back the "Member Spotlight" - where a different member speaks about themselves for 3 to 5 minutes each meeting. This helps us get to know each other better - especially those members that sit with the same folk each meeting. (You know who you are.) This week - Annette Swisher, manager of the Wingate Hotel, talked to us, and in her spare time - she likes to antique...
President-elect Frost is looking to expand the international committee this year. If you are interested in the many achievements that Rotary does worldwide - perhaps you'd like to help.
A new member was inducted today - Carol Russell from Spherion. Welcome Carol !!
Our speaker today was visiting Rotarian Tim Ryan - updating us all on Polio Plus. Great news this year - with Nigeria announcing they are polio free - AFRICA is now polio free !! There may be an occasional case for several years, but we call it polio free because the large number of vaccinations make a large scale outbreak unlikely. (Even the US has a few recorded cases each year - usually from someone traveling from overseas or from someone refusing to vaccinate their children.)
Only Afghanistan and Pakistan remain for the world to be polio free. Our work is not over, and these countries pose substantial challenges in accepting vaccination programs.
A few more facts about polio:
Only 70 cases were reported last year worldwide - we are almost there...
Over 50% of the Polio Plus budget for the past several years has been for money needed to "convince" local communities to accept our vaccination program. Often, wells are dug, community centers built or repaired, and various other incentives to allow our work in their village.
There will still be outbreaks - and continued vaccination education is required over the next generation to end this plague forever. Once a community sees that it works - vaccinating new infants is much easier to accomplish.
