Welcome to another issue of our bulletin! Find out who our upcoming speakers are, what our Club Members are doing, read about the latest stats on the fight against Polio and learn more about our New Club Member!
Travel Anyone?
Dear Fellow Rotarians, Friends, and International Travel Enthusiasts,
Founded by Rotarians in 2003, Reunite Cultures Fund (RCF) has organized and coordinated dozens of international friendship and cultural exchange trips.
Over the years, these programs have inspired hundreds of young people to engage with Rotary, build international friendships, and serve as cultural ambassadors.
March 22 – April 1, 2026 | Cuba
Havana – Viñales
• Travel under the “Support for the Cuban People” category
• Cultural exchange and community engagement
May 31 – June 10, 2026 | Vietnam
• Southern Vietnam: Cu Chi Tunnels – explore the historic underground network used during the war
• Northern Vietnam: Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, and more
• Meetings and fellowship with Rotary Clubs in Vietnam
• Participants may continue on to attend the Rotary International Convention 2026 in Taipei, Taiwan
• Meetings and fellowship with Rotary Clubs in Tanzania
• Relaxation and cultural experience on the island of Zanzibar
If you enjoy exploring the world, traveling with a team of Rotarians and friends, and building meaningful international connections, we invite you to join us.
Cost: USD 3,000 per person. Includes accommodations in 4-star and higher hotels, and all ground transportation during the trip. (International airfare is not included.)
Would love to visit your club via ZOOM as speaker to present program: RCF Friendship Exchange & Youth Cultural Exchange (Sample)
Vitaliy V. Bezrodnov
Founder/Coordinator
RCF 501c3 International Friendship & Cultural Exchange
Inspired by Rotarians! Service above Self
Topic: February 2026 Zoom Meeting Speaker: Andrea K. McCray - Historic Crystal Memorial Gardens Cemetery
Time: Feb 3, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Artist/journalist Susanne Nielsen is showing work in 3-d and 2-d in two group exhibitions, PAVA exhibition at the Largo Library gallery ( 2 paintings, one sculpture) through January 30,2026 and in “Face Value” ( “Bride#1”) at the Dunedin Fine Art Center (DFAC.org) through February 22,2026. Nielsen was also honored with a number of articles on the 60th anniversary of her germanradioshow.com on the arts, founded in 1965 which she has hosted since 1998, as podcast since 2011.
No new Wild Polio paralysis cases reported this week. We are now 16 weeks since the most recent report of a child being paralyzed by the Wild Polio Virus in Pakistan.
Afghanistan Uses Fractional IPV to Boost Protection and Speed Up Polio Eradication
Afghanistan’s polio program is increasingly using innovative approaches to reach more children and stop virus transmission faster. One key example is the expanded use of fractional-dose inactivated polio vaccine alongside oral polio vaccine, strengthening immunity and accelerating progress toward interruption of transmission.
UNICEF is thankful for the US State Department's contribution of US$ 15.6 million to support vaccine procurement, social behavior change, integrated service delivery and outbreak response activities in Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the wider Eastern and Southern Africa region.
India's last wild polio case was reported (15 years ago this past Tuesday) on January 13, 2011, in Howrah, West Bengal, after which the country successfully eradicated the wild poliovirus and was certified polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2014. - Ramesh Ferris, Polio Survivor & Polio Eradication Champion
Let's Advocate, Donate & Educate to END POLIO NOW & FOREVER!
Somalia: two cVDPV2-positive environmental samples
Quote of the Day - "As I grow older, I pay less attention to what people say. I just watch what they do."
Andrew Carnegie (1835 - 1919)
The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries
Pakistan: No new Wild Polio cases reported this week. Thirty Wild Polio cases reported in 2025. Seventy-four Wild Polio cases reported in 2024.Six Wild Polio Cases reported in 2023. The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 9/19/25. Seven new WPV1 Environmental Samples and no cVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Pakistan.
Afghanistan: No new Wild Polio cases reported this week. Nine Wild Polio cases reported in 2025. Twenty-five Wild Polio cases reported in 2024. Six Wild Polio Cases reported in 2023. The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 9/19/25. No new WPV1 Environmental Samples and no cVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.
Advocate, Donate & Educate to END POLIO NOW & FOREVER!
Over 3 billion Children Immunized
Over $3 billion raised by Rotary for Polio Eradication 21,000,000 Children Saved from the Paralysis of Polio
1.6 million lives saved thanks to the Polio Vaccines
Together, We End Polio!
Terry Ziegler, Polio Update Newsletter Editor
Rotary Region 36 END POLIO NOW Coordinator 2024-27
Vocational and Community Service
2025—Golf Tournament for High School Challenge Scholarship
Gathered and solicited donations for our club’s major fundraiser.
Created a system to help streamline and organize these donations and procedures for both
the golf tournament and for the recordkeeping for this annual fundraising event.
2024-2025—M-V Mentor Me District Grant Project
Oversaw the implementation of the district grant procedures.
Completed the follow-through reports to ensure funds were procured and properly
documented.
2023-2024—Community Clinic District Grant
Worked with the local community clinic to procure diabetic equipment.
Oversaw the implementation of district grant procedures.
Completed the follow-through reports to ensure funds were procured and properly
documented.
Interested? Simply reply “YES!” 
