Marlene Frisbie, District Governor Nominee Designate reports
On March 9th, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend a joint meeting of all three Evanston Rotary Clubs at Rotary International headquarters, with a very special guest speaker, RI President Jennifer Jones. Jennifer is a wonderful public speaker, but what really struck me about her address that day was the passion, compassion, and humor in her talk.
Jennifer spoke of the trip she made to Pakistan to witness polio vaccination in action. She was very honest in conveying the humanity of the visit, as well as recognizing that she was seeing a very well-orchestrated version of reality. The area she visited had been secured ahead of time, and the advance team had ensured that the family’s door that she knocked on would be opened by a family willing to be vaccinated. She spoke of the utter poverty in which the small boy lived. While she knew she could not solve all of the problems he was facing, she said she left there knowing that at the very least, he would not have to worry about contracting polio. We all keep doing our best to ensure that polio is eradicated from our world.
Jennifer also spoke of her travel schedule, which can sound glamourous but often is grueling. With utmost honesty, she talked of mornings when jetlag hit her so hard, she didn’t want to get out of bed. But she did get up and face the day, and found herself energized by the work she was witnessing of Rotarians, Rotoractors, and Interactors around the world. Her sincere words helped alleviate my own jetlag. I was very glad I’d made the effort to attend the meeting.
Speaking of making the effort, the last weekend of RYLA is approaching, and there’s still room for more attendees. An attendee from the first session sent this to Sean Nelson, “I learned so much about myself and the things I am going to change so I can be a better person and accomplish my dreams. I want you to come to my school so my peers can hear you.” Let’s make the effort to fill the second session to capacity and help more of our young people learn to thrive.
Here's to thriving with passion, compassion, and humor.
News You Can Use from Marlene Frisbie, District Governor Nominee Designate
Single-use plastics reduction -Rotary style
Thank you to those Rotarians who have responded to our Environmental initiatives, announced last week. There's still time to respond!
Jon Lavin, President of the Skokie Valley Club is interested in reducing the amount of single-use plastics in our communities, and possibly organizing a Public Image Grant to purchase Rotary branded reusable shopping bags. Contact Jon if you are interested.
Lauren Rosenthal of the Lake Zurich club is interested in seeing clubs partner with local library maker spacers and build Mason Bee Houses. These bee houses are similar to birdhouses and will increase the number of pollinators in our district. If you are interested in being part of this, send Bill Kmiecik an email and he will include you in a meeting to discuss the details.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards:
Registration is open for our District's popular RYLA youth leadership programs. For questions or more information regarding the RYLA program, please contact Sean Nelson , RYLA Chair. The last session is fast approaching, April 13-16. We need your help in filling the open slots.
Sean Nelson is willing to speak to/at your club and/or any high school events to help promote RYLA over the next few weeks. Sean can also help match clubs that have identified interested students to clubs that would like to sponsor one or more students. Did you know that any Rotarian is invited to come up and spend some time at RYLA?
Contact Sean if you're interested. This is a great program; Interact Clubs and youth you know deserve RYLA!
Women's History Month
The Evanston Lighthouse Club is sponsoring an event in honor of Women's History Month:
Cherie Animashaun, founder of Her Rising Initiative and the Club's Empowering Girls Ambassador is leading a program, 'Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Story, Tickets are available by clicking here.
Cash Request
You all should have received an email within the last few weeks about options for Clubs to support /respond to the tragedy occurring in Ukraine, Pakistan, Turkey and Syria using Club DDF. Use the link to see the options. (And don't forget that cash contributions are also welcome).
2023 Club DDF Contribution for Pakistan, Ukraine, Turkey and Syria
The Antioch Club is working on a project to support the Ukraine: working with the Rotary Club in Rivine to supply medical supplies to 2 frontline hospitals in Ukraine. Please see the attachment and contact John Cook, International Service Director for more information. This is a request for cash.
A big shout out and thanks to Rick Rivkin for our program last week (and for keeping us connected for the past couple of years with our remote and hybrid tech!)
Last week he delved into some Rotary benefits members are not taking advantage of- such as joining “groups!” Is there a "bubble blowers" group - unknown - but you can start one! Thanks Ron Bernardi for celebrating Bubble day!
There are groups for every interest, Rick is in a "wine" group. But you must create an account and log on first!
Thank you, Your Majesty, King Charles III, for the delightful conversation about @Rotary, the environment, and female leadership. We are honored to count you as part of our #Rotary family! Special thanks to Brian Rusch for styling me in the perfect dress for #BuckinghamPalace
When I got back from my afternoon ten mile run I noticed this article from Rotary International about the role of women fighting Wild Polio. After reading this article I was so inspired by those on the front lines of this fight to eradicate Wild Polio that I grabed my checkbook and sent in another donation. I hope you enjoy this article and will consider making a donation.
Pakistan’s female vaccinators are doing more than helping end a disease
Women make up two-thirds of Pakistan’s polio workforce. It’s a startling statistic for a nation that ranks 145th out of 146 countries for gender parity in economic participation and opportunity, according to a World Economic Forum gender inequality index.
The role of female vaccinators is born of necessity. Because of cultural norms, men are not allowed into many people’s homes in Pakistan. Women who provide the health care are the key link. They can build mom-to-mom relationships and provide trusted advice on not only polio but other health issues.
“Women working with women on the front line is going to be what gets us across the finish line,” says Rotary President Jennifer Jones, who met last year with polio workers in Pakistan. The country and Afghanistan are the only two where wild poliovirus is still transmitted persistently.
The female vaccinators’ work is neither safe nor easy. The women in Pakistan are sworn at, shoved, beaten, and some even killed. They’re fighting misinformation. But their work is crucial — and not just for the cause of polio eradication.
“They are supporting their education, they’re supporting their household, they’re supporting their men and giving a change in Pakistan,” says Sadia Shakeel, coordinator for a Rotary-supported polio resource center in Karachi. “This is bigger than polio.”
Shakeel calls them “little entrepreneurs.” Most of the women range in age from 21-38 and have their own children, she says. Yet they wake to say prayers before dawn, feed their children breakfast, and leave to start their work to end a disease.
Employing women is one key strategy of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. And that’s not just to deliver the vaccines at the front line; it’s also to hire women as supervisors, doctors, and decision-makers. “We cannot succeed without the women we have in the program at all levels,” says Hamid Jafari, a pediatric infectious disease doctor and director of polio eradication for the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean region.
Okay, so I don't break one of the "Four Way Tests", I must admit that I did not run ten miles. Please consider joining the Polio Plus Societyor simply making any donation you can. Thank You!
The weekly Polio report in below.
One new (2023) Wild Polio case reported this week. We are now 4 weeks since the most recent reported Wild Polio Case - on 2/20/22 in Pakistan.
What is that Polio Picture? Rotary International President insists Rotarians have to finish the job of eradicating Polio. Rotary International President, Jennifer Jones, is on a brief tour of London. Speaking at the House of Commons she said that Rotary had to deliver on its promise to the children of the world that it would help to eradicate polio. In this picture, RI President Jennifer Jones, Judith Diment, Rotary's Polio Advocacy Coordinator & Dean of the Rotary Representative Network, and Aiden O'Leary, WHO's Director for Polio Eradication, hear from MP Andrew Mitchell in the House of Commons.
A Win Against Polio is a Win For Global Health!
2023 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Case Total - 14, Benin - 1, Chad - 2, Indonesia - 3, Israel - 1, Madagascar - 5, Nigeria - 1, Somalia - 1.
2022 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Case Total - 831 Afghanistan - 43, Algeria - 3, Benin - 11 (3 in 2021), Burundi - 1, Cameroon - 3 (3 in 2021), Central African Republic - 5, Chad -44 (0 in 2021), DR Congo - 438 (28 in 2021), Republic of Congo - 1, Eritrea - 1, Ethiopia - 1, Ghana - 3, Indonesia - 1, Israel - 1, Madagascar - 14 (13 in 2021), Malawi - 4, Mali - 2, Mozambique - 21 (2 in 2021), Niger - 15 (18 in 2021), Nigeria - 48 (415 in 2021), Pakistan - 8, Somalia - 5 (1 in 2021), Sudan - 1, Togo - 2, United States - 1, Yemen - 162 (69 in 2021) .
Quote of the Day - "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. Zig Ziglar
The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries:
2023 Wild Polio Cases - 1
Pakistan One new Wild Polio case reported this week. Twenty Wild Polio cases reported in 2022. One Wild Polio Case reported in 2021. The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 2/20/23. Pakistan reported 83 Wild Polio cases in 2020. No WPV1 Samples and no cVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Pakistan.
Afghanistan No new Wild Polio cases reported this week. Two Wild Polio Cases reported in 2022. Four Wild Polio cases reported in 2021 The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 8/29/22. Afghanistan reported 56 Wild Polio cases in 2020. Four WPV1 Samples and no cVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.
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