The Gates Foundation gave the Rotary Foundation $100 million with the understanding that the Rotary Foundation would raise $200 million. The Gates Foundation will match all donations to Rotary for polio two to one, up to $35 million per year, through 2018. And, Rotary's advocacy efforts have played a major role in decisions by donor governments to contribute more than $7.2 billion to the effort. Currently, polio has been reduced to 35 cases. Today, polio is found only in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

 

There are two polio vaccines. Oral polio vaccines (OPV) and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). The World Health Assembly resolution to eradicate polio formed a GPEI partnership with Rotary International, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the United States Centers for Disease Control. There is still work to be done. The challenge continues and funding won't go away until polio is eradicated world wide.

There are two library measures on the ballot: 1) Should a Library Capital Facilities Area (LCFA) be created to build and open a new, larger Lake Stevens Library? and 2) Should funds be raised within the LCFA to finance a new library with up to $17 million in bonds?

 

If voters approve both measures, a new library would be built that includes: Nine times the size of the current library (20,000 vs. 2,500 square feet); nearly three times as many items on-site; triple the number of public computers.

 

Space not available in the current library building for:

Children's Programs, Senior citizens' programs, student study space, group work spaces, quiet reading areas, library events, business resources, community meetings and distance-learning.

 

As Lake Stevens continues to prosper and grow, a new library is essential for a growing community. We have out-lived the current library. A library benefits citizens of all ages from the youngest to the oldest citizen in our community. Join me and the other members of the Rotary Club of Lake Stevens in approving these two measures on the February 14th ballot.