RI Birthday
Rotary International celebrates its 106th
Birthday
On 23rd February, 2011, Rotary International will celebrate 106 years of service to the community. From its humble beginnings in 1905 in Chicago, where half a dozen men of like mind came together to form what would become the greatest service organisation in the World. Rotary now consists of over 1.2 millions members, spread across 33995 clubs in over 200 Countries. It includes several youth organizations, like Rotaractors, Interactors and most recently Earlyactors.
One of its greatest achievements, amongst many, is the near eradication of Polio across the Globe. Polio is a debilitating and limb deforming disease, which afflicted many around the World, but particularly the young people.
Since 1988, Rotary International and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) — the World Health Organization UNICEF and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — have worked to wipe Polio from the face of the earth. A volunteer service organization of over1.2 million men and women, Rotary began immunizing children against polio in 1985 and became a spearheading partner in the GPEI three years later.
Rotary's main responsibilities are fundraising, advocacy and volunteer recruitment. To date, Rotary has contributed more than US$900 million to the Polio Eradication effort.
With over 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas, Rotary is able to reach out to National Governments Worldwide to generate crucial financial and technical support for polio eradication. Since 1995, the advocacy efforts of Rotary and its partners have helped to raise more than U$8 billion from donor Governments.
Rotary clubs also provide "sweat equity" on the ground in polio-affected communities, which helps ensure that leaders at all levels remain focused on the eradication goal. Rotary club members have volunteered their time and personal resources to reach more than two billion children in 122 Countries with the oral polio vaccine.
Thanks to Rotary and its partners, the World has seen polio cases plummet by more than 99 percent, preventing five million instances of child paralysis and 250,000 deaths. When Rotary began its eradication work, polio infected more than 350,000 children annually. In 2009, fewer than 1,700 cases were reported worldwide.
But the polio cases represented by that final 1 percent are the most difficult and expensive to prevent. Challenges include geographic isolation, worker fatigue, armed conflict and cultural barriers.
That's why it's so important to generate the funding needed to End Polio Now. To fail is to invite a polio resurgence that would condemn millions of children to lifelong paralysis in the years ahead.
The bottom line is this: As long as Polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, all children — wherever they live — remain at risk.
If you would like to help finally wipe this nasty disease off the face of the world you can contact any Rotarian in the BVI; just $10.00 will help to achieve our goal. Bill and Melinda Gates through their Foundation have committed $355 millions, if Rotary can raise $200millions by July 2012. We are nearly there.
To celebrate Rotary's birthday, six major stock exchanges will commence business with Rotarians declaring the exchanges open, whilst at the New York Stock exchange for the first time a voluntary organisation will ring the closing bell; Yes, Rotary!!
One of its greatest achievements, amongst many, is the near eradication of Polio across the Globe. Polio is a debilitating and limb deforming disease, which afflicted many around the World, but particularly the young people.
Since 1988, Rotary International and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) — the World Health Organization UNICEF and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — have worked to wipe Polio from the face of the earth. A volunteer service organization of over1.2 million men and women, Rotary began immunizing children against polio in 1985 and became a spearheading partner in the GPEI three years later.
Rotary's main responsibilities are fundraising, advocacy and volunteer recruitment. To date, Rotary has contributed more than US$900 million to the Polio Eradication effort.
With over 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas, Rotary is able to reach out to National Governments Worldwide to generate crucial financial and technical support for polio eradication. Since 1995, the advocacy efforts of Rotary and its partners have helped to raise more than U$8 billion from donor Governments.
Rotary clubs also provide "sweat equity" on the ground in polio-affected communities, which helps ensure that leaders at all levels remain focused on the eradication goal. Rotary club members have volunteered their time and personal resources to reach more than two billion children in 122 Countries with the oral polio vaccine.
Thanks to Rotary and its partners, the World has seen polio cases plummet by more than 99 percent, preventing five million instances of child paralysis and 250,000 deaths. When Rotary began its eradication work, polio infected more than 350,000 children annually. In 2009, fewer than 1,700 cases were reported worldwide.
But the polio cases represented by that final 1 percent are the most difficult and expensive to prevent. Challenges include geographic isolation, worker fatigue, armed conflict and cultural barriers.
That's why it's so important to generate the funding needed to End Polio Now. To fail is to invite a polio resurgence that would condemn millions of children to lifelong paralysis in the years ahead.
The bottom line is this: As long as Polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, all children — wherever they live — remain at risk.
If you would like to help finally wipe this nasty disease off the face of the world you can contact any Rotarian in the BVI; just $10.00 will help to achieve our goal. Bill and Melinda Gates through their Foundation have committed $355 millions, if Rotary can raise $200millions by July 2012. We are nearly there.
In celebration of Rotary's Birthday -- why not give?
To celebrate Rotary's birthday, six major stock exchanges will commence business with Rotarians declaring the exchanges open, whilst at the New York Stock exchange for the first time a voluntary organisation will ring the closing bell; Yes, Rotary!!