Bulletin for June 1st, 2017

Danny McCoy – former Rotarian and member of our club;

Vanessa Roscoe – guest of David Roscoe

Wiktor – our Polish exchange student

 

Andrew Gaydon reported that there were only 3 open foursomes for the golf tournament. They are always looking for sponsors so if anyone can help in this regard, it would be appreciated.

On Lakeside, Bryce Leggatt reported that the silent auction would be quite different this year with only 10-12 larger items offered which should generate more competitive bidding. One item will be made up of approximately 150 coupons (for things like car washes, discounts at restaurants, etc.). He needs donations from Rotarians to meet the 150 quota – please help everyone. Gerry Willard reported that about 50 tickets have been sold but normally 100 would be sold by this time – so folks, get out there and sell, sell, sell.

 

It was reported that a Memorial has been scheduled for Stu Wilkinson on Friday, June 9^th, 3 PM at Burlington Golf & Country Club.

The Compassion Society raised $80,000.00 at their recent fundraising event.

 

Mike Molloy reported that our projector which failed at a meeting a few weeks ago had been replaced courtesy of a donation by Jamie Edwards.  Thank you Jamie!

Anthony Ford-Jones has completed 36 years at Jo Brant Hospital.

 

Bruce Maybury joined Rotary 35 yeas ago.

 

Sheila Welham reported that the Rotaract Club has 2 events underway.  The first is a blood donor clinic on Saturday June 11^th at 11 pm – 1250 Brant St, Burlington.  Contact Kristi Camacho Smith at 905-220-9488. The second event is a fundraiser for Halton Women’s Place which is a Charity Drive where new and used clothing as well as other items off their needs list including cash will be collected. Items such as the following: pillows and pyjamas, baby/infants supplies, women’s supplies, linens, kitchen products, small appliances, large kitchen items, food products, cleaning supplies for kitchen and bathroom, educational supplies. Anyone with these types of donations, or cash, can bring them to the club on Thursdays and Sheila will collect them for the Rotaract Club.

 

Wiktor outlined an interesting  weekend he had.  It started off with a stay over of an exchange student from Japan on Friday night.  From there, on Saturday, they went to a District Student Exchange Conference in Waterloo. Here he learned about double/double, visited the St. Jacobs Market where he saw Mennonites for the first time and where he was surprised there are people in the world who shun technology. On Sunday, they had information sessions which seemed to be interesting.  He also gave a speech where he thanked Rotary for this opportunity of being an exchange student.

 

Bernie Hannah introduced Hajra who was born in South Africa and entered Canada in 1975 and became a Canadian Citizen in 1986. She has received recognition for her work with Rotary International for her intense involvement with Polio Plus.

 

 

Hajra explained that she joined Rotary and after 6 months she heard about Polio Plus. Her club was taking a Polio Plus vaccination trip to Cameroon so she asked if she could participate.  That was how she got started working with Polio Plus. She explained that Polio Plus got started with a matching grant program to the Philippines in 1985 and was officially adopted by R.I. in 1988. She outlined the current status of polio with the following table:

Afghanistan  -  16 cases in 2016 and 3 YTD

Pakistan – 20 cases in 2016 and 2 YTD

Nigeria – 4 cases in 2016 and none YTD.

 

She explained that most of the polio cases in Pakistan were in the NW corner along the Afghanistan border and beyond that is where most of the cases were in Afghanistan – towards Kabul. A concerted effort is being made to get every last child vaccinated. In this regard, besides going to villages, the population in this area tend to be very transient and they therefore target children at the border crossings and at train and bus stations .  They now use an oral vaccine as well an inoculation. One thing I learned is that you can be a carrier of the virus without having polio.  Also, the virus, often resides in sewers but needs a human host to live.  It is considered that the virus will only survive for a maximum of 3 years so when the last case has been identified and no new cases appear for 3 years – our job is done.

Andrew Gaydon thanked Hajra and presented her with the usual Certificate donating 120 doses of polio vaccine on her behalf.