A Peace Pole is a monument that displays the message May Peace Prevail On Earthin the language of the country where it is placed. It usually displays 3 to 7 additional languages meaningful to the host site.
The message is referred to as an affirmation of peace and its placement furthers Rotary's goal of building a culture of peace throughout the world.
Peace Poles are intended to inspire unity among people of all cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds. We recommend a Peace Pole ceremony to accompany the planting of each pole and this ceremony can be held annually.
Many prefer the International Day of Peace, September 21, for such an occasion.
The message May Peace Prevail On Earth was authored by the late Masahisa Goi of Japan after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
It is now an international message of peace with over 250,000 Peace Poles in every country in the world, dedicated as monuments to peace.
We welcome you planting your community Peace Pole and we will put it on our Rotary Peace Poles Map. [we will send the details to the group after our 3rd pole is up and dedicated this month].
Our club has committed to Peace Poles in Northbrook, with the first one going up at Northbrook Bank & Trust, on Waukegan & Shermer to celebrate their 25th Anniversary, there is another going up on Walters and First (Shermer) at the Northbrook Chamber later this month, and on September 9th the Village will dedicate their Rotary Peace Pole at Village Hall.
The Village will have a short dedication of the Peace Pole outside of Village Hall on Tuesday September 9th at approximately 7:10 p.m. and our club is encouraged to attend.
The plan is for Rotary to provide 2-3 minute remarks followed by 2-3 minute remarks by the Board President. The event will end with group pictures with the Peace Pole. There is a hard stop to the event of 7:25 pm for the Village Board meeting which starts at 7:30.
The Village hopes that Rotarians from our club will be able to attend and participate, along with the Community Commission. Donna Lee has been a catalyst for propelling this project forward, meeting with the Community Commission and assisting in moving the project forward.
Our club does have a project and dinner [5:30 pm] on September 9th but this timing should allow for both if you choose.
Sandy will coordinate with the Village and can answer any questions.
Our goal is to celebrate the Global Day of Peace on September 21st at Noon all time zones. More to come on that.
>>> Photo of Northbrook Bank & Trust Peace Pole - Northbrook's 1st!! Celebrating their 25th Anniversary!!
>>>Map of our region's Peace Poles (Northbrook will be adding three to this map soon!)
NOTE: All members are required to buy $100 worth of tickets or sell $100 in tickets.
VOLUNTEER TO SELL TICKETS & DAY OF:
Sign-Up Genius which describes the volunteer opportunities you may want to participate in for the Northbrook Rotary Rubber Ducky Race.
SELECT venues, dates and times in August, and September for selling Rubber Ducky Tickets.
As you know 100% of what we raise goes back to the community and international projects.
The shifts for selling tickets are only 1.5 hours, so hopefully every physically able Rotarian will volunteer for at least one shift.
There are two sign-up slots for each shift, so that if you wish, you can team up with someone else (Rotarian or non-Rotarian.) Teaming up makes the shifts more enjoyable. BUT you will need to bring your own folding table and two chairs.
RACE DAY SET UP HELP NEEDED TOO:
tent and booth,
ducky counts,
photography,
river walking to collect ducks and
various other jobs on the day of the race
These venues are an excellent opportunity to promote Rotary membership to those ticket purchasers that show interest in what we do. Signs for the tables will also be provided.
September is Basic Education and Literacy Month for Rotary. This is one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus. We all know how critical reading and writing are for success in life – for gaining information, communicating, making agreements, and so forth.
Enhancing Basic Education skills and Literacy are essential in reducing poverty, improving health, encouraging community and economic development, and promoting peace. Improvements can reduce maternal death, improve childhood survivability, and reduce poverty. They can also enable success in business or a profession.
Projects undertaken by a Rotary Club can address low adult literacy, returning youth to school, enhancing student performance, or supplementing limited school resources. Listed below are examples of a number of projects in which clubs can be engaged in.
Consider how your club is, or could showcase "THE MAGIC OF ROTARY by supporting basic education and literacy in your community or somewhere else in the world.
RESOURCES
Rotary International provides a variety of resources to assist clubs with projects. For example, Basic Education and Literacy Project Strategies (RI document 618en).
Literacy Rotary Action Group (LITRAG). This is a world-wide network of Rotarians with a special interest in alleviating illiteracy, enhancing literacy teaching and learning globally, and helping to provide materials and equipment for literacy education. Check out their website http://www.litrag.org/
PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD
There are many Rotary projects around the world supporting basic education and literacy. Here are a few examples, some of which were exhibited at the 2019 RI Convention in Hamburg.
Guatemala Literacy Project. Rotary clubs in Guatemala and North America partner with a nonprofit organization, the Cooperative for Education, to provide textbooks for children. They also support the Culture of Reading Program, and Computer Program. http://www.guatemalaliteracy.org/
Books for Africa. The project collects, sorts, ships, and distributes books to students of all ages in Africa. The goal is to end the book famine in Africa. https://www.booksforafrica.org/index.html
Rotary India Literacy Mission. The organization has a goal of Total Literacy and Quality Education. Their comprehensive T-E-AC-H program fosters Teacher support, E-learning, Adult Literacy, Child Development and Happy Schools. http://rotaryteach.org
WASH in Schools. This program provides information on water, sanitation and hygiene in the school setting. It helps to improve school attendance and enhance health. And it is fun for the children. http://washinschools.info
Souns for Literacy LLC. A letter-sound program, with touchable symbols. Souns is an early literacy program the way children are introduced to the symbols of printed language. The goal is to ensure basic literacy. It is especially helpful for special needs children. http://www.souns.org/
Kapadia Education Foundation. They support College Education in Developing Countries. Direct financial assistance and guidance are provided to needy college students in developing countries, seeking to make a difference in their communities. http://www.kapadiaef.org/
As I was sitting in my garage this morning and watching the repairman from Buckeridge Door replace my garage door springs, I began to think about the small disappointments we all encounter during our day. Broken garage door, stuck in traffic, late for a meeting, boring meeting at work or no hot water in the morning shower because your spouse takes way too much time. But then I open up my emails and read the information about what The Blane Foundation has graciously offered to our Rotary District 6440 for RY25-26 in the fight to eradicate Polio.
For those that knew Jack, you know of his compassion for others and his tireless fight to eradicate Polio. After Jack’s death, three wonderful members of his family (Trustees of The Blane Foundation) have carried on his fight. Barbara Toney, John Blane and Sarah Toney have graciously continued to donate towards the fight to eradicate Polio through The Blane Foundation. Within the next few days, you will hear about another challenge offered by The Blane Foundation in the continuing fight against Polio. Thank you Barbara, thank you John and thank you Sarah for offering another challenge that leaves me speechless – not an easy feat. And of course, Thank You Jack for all of your efforts and hours spent in getting Rotary International and the world to help eradicate this terrible disease.
I get emotional when I think of the children that need our help and can be given a chance to live their best life if they only had the Polio vaccination. If you are able to donate to Polio – please do so soon. If you are not able to donate, please understand the “Power of the Pin” and always wear your Rotary pin and be prepared to tell the story of Rotary International’s work being done around the world to stomp out POLIO!
One new Wild Polio paralysis cases reported this week. We are now 4 weeks since the most recent report of a child being paralyzed by the Wild Polio Virus in Afghanistan.
Pakistan -The first Polio Sub-National Immunization Days (SNIDs) of the high season will commence from September 1st 2025 in all Polio Super High Risk Union Councils.
Afghanistan - A Polio Vaccination Campaign will be held on Saturday, August 30, 2025 in the Eastern Zone areas: • Nangarhar: Sukhrod, Behsood, Khugyani, Batikot district and Jalalabad city, Laghman: Mahtarlam City. • Kunar province: Asadabad city. In this campaign, children will be given both OPV and IPV) to strengthen their immune system and prevent the spread of the virus.
It's Not Too Early to consider - What can I, my Club Members, and My District do to Raise Funds and Awareness for World Polio Day (October 24) 2025!
2023 Circulating Variant Polio Cases 524 in 23 Countries
New Polio Cases & Samples reported this week -
Afghanistan: one WPV1 case
Pakistan: six WPV1-positive environmental samples
Chad: one cVDPV2 case and one cVDPV3 case
Germany: one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
Israel: one cVDPV1-positive environmental sample
Yemen: 23 (2024) + 2 (2025) cVDPV2 cases
Quote of the Day - "You must begin to think of yourself as
becoming the person you want to be" - David Viscott
The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries
Pakistan No new Wild Polio cases reported this week. Twenty one 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 7/29/25. Six WPV1 Environmental Samples and no cVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Pakistan.
Afghanistan One new Wild Polio cases reported this week. Three 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 7/10/25. No 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
September 16th New Meeting Location - Max & Benny's
Beginning September 16th, we’ll begin having our Tuesday lunch meetings at Max & Benny’s in Northbrook - at the Brookside Plaza, 461 Waukegan Road (near HobbyTown -Rotarian Jean-Pierre Deheeger's shop!)
Come meet us at Max & Benny’s! Let's thank owner Ben Schlan (yes the "Benny" in Max & Benny's!!) for being a supporter of the Rotary Club of Northbrook. This long time, locally owned business provides us with a good size event room, several possible menus, and a convenient Northbrook location.
Guatemala Literacy Project. Rotary clubs in Guatemala and North America partner with a nonprofit organization, the Cooperative for Education, to provide textbooks for children. They also support the Culture of Reading Program, and Computer Program. 
Books for Africa. The project collects, sorts, ships, and distributes books to students of all ages in Africa. The goal is to end the book famine in Africa. 
Rotary India Literacy Mission. The organization has a goal of Total Literacy and Quality Education. Their comprehensive T-E-AC-H program fosters Teacher support, E-learning, Adult Literacy, Child Development and Happy Schools. 
WASH in Schools. This program provides information on water, sanitation and hygiene in the school setting. It helps to improve school attendance and enhance health. And it is fun for the children. 
Souns for Literacy LLC. A letter-sound program, with touchable symbols. Souns is an early literacy program the way children are introduced to the symbols of printed language. The goal is to ensure basic literacy. It is especially helpful for special needs children. 
Kapadia Education Foundation. They support College Education in Developing Countries. Direct financial assistance and guidance are provided to needy college students in developing countries, seeking to make a difference in their communities. 
