On Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 our rotary District 6440 lost a great Rotarian and friend, PDG Gibson passed away after losing her battle with cancer. A warm, caring and dedicated person who left her mark on everyone she met.
I met PDG Suzanne Gibson in August of 2016 when she asked for Rotarians to work on her Community Service committee. This started an eight-year journey with Suzanne that I will cherish for the rest of my years. In 2021-2022 as the D6440 District Rotary Foundation Chair, PDG Suzanne Gibson asked me what I thought of starting a Polio Plus Society (PPS) within our district. I asked her if there was paperwork involved and she assured me that I just had to promote the PPS, so that adventure began. Under PDG Suzanne Gibson’s leadership we were able to sign up two hundred and twenty-nine Charter Members of the PPS. The PPS has now grown to almost three hundred members within D6440. During all of my conversations with PDG Suzanne Gibson the subject of getting more people in the PPS or getting more Rotary clubs to use RILEE always popped up. We did not always agree on the methods I took, but we always agreed on the mission. PDG Suzanne Gibson was always looking to help others or make life easier for someone else.
I can hear Suzanne asking me where the “ask” is in my email, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you what I believe our obligation isas Rotarians. I believe we Rotarians should all donate $100.00 per year as a minimum to The Annual Fund and Polio Plus. These two funds are the driving force to keeping Rotary in action all over the world. If you are unable to make a financial contribution then by all means wear your Rotary pin at all times.
My last conversation with Suzanne was during the Thanksgiving holiday season when she was in Florida with her family. Even in that conversation, Suzanne asked me if I had come up with any more ways to utilize RILEE. On Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 I lost a friend and someone I will never forget.
The Shot Felt ‘Round the World Documentary Film screening is in partnership with Rotary Club of Northbrook. Polio, a virus that affected mainly children during the summer months, gripped the nation with fear and left many in a dreaded “iron lung.” By examining how the nation pulled together to overcome polio, this documentary is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together.
This 2010 documentary, directed by Tjardus Greidanus and produced by Steeltown Entertainment Project, chronicles the development of the polio vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk.
Producer's description: The images and memories are still familiar to those of a certain age - children in braces or iron lungs; the terrifying fear that washed over America each summer - a fear that out of nowhere a seemingly healthy child would catch polio and be crippled or killed. A fear so great that children were forbidden to play at pools, playgrounds and movie theaters. And, then, a medical miracle occurred, and with it, a medical superstar was made, Dr. Jonas Salk, whose name became synonymous with a vaccine that he initially requested not be named after him. Less widely known are the events that took place from 1949-1955, a six-year period that changed the medical community and the country forever; how a beloved, polio-afflicted President inspired a nation to send their dimes to the unlikely place of the University of Pittsburgh, and how there, an entire community pulled together to conquer the most feared disease of the 20th century.
This film will be shown at the Northbrook Public Library auditorium
Wednesday - February 5, 2025
7:00 PM
(The doors open at 6:30 PM)
Sign up to reserve a seat for this showing at the Northbrook Public Library's 225 seat auditorium by going to the Northbrook Public Library Website and hitting the events tab.
Only three new Wild Polio paralysis cases reported this week.
We are now 3 weeks since the most recent report of a child being paralyzed by the Wild Polio Virus in Pakistan.
Bill Gates recently discussed efforts to combat polio around the world (along with other global health issues) with then President Elect Trump. “I felt like he was energized and looking forward to helping to drive innovation,” Gates said. “I was frankly impressed with how well he showed a lot of interest in the issues I brought up.”
Total Wild Polio cases
Year-to-date 2024
Total
2023
Total
2022
Total
2021
Total
2020
Globally
96
12
30
6
140
- in endemic countries:
96
12
22
5
140
2024 Total Polio Cases (Wild + Variant) 362 Year to date
2023 Total Polio Cases (Wild + Variant) 536 (1/1/23-12/31/23)
· Pakistan: three WPV1 cases and four WPV1-positive environmental samples
· Algeria: one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
· DR Congo: one cVDPV1 case
· Occupied Palestinian territory: three cVDPV2-positive environmental samples
· South Sudan: one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries:
Pakistan Three new Wild Polio cases reported this week. Seventy-one Wild Polio cases reported in 2024. Six Wild Polio Cases reported in 2023. The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 12/31/24. Four WPV1 Environmental Samples and no cVDPV2 Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Pakistan.
Afghanistan No new Wild Polio cases reported this week. 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 11/05/24. Thirteen 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
21,000,000 Children Saved from the Paralysis of Polio