Steve Page joined Sonoma Raceway as President and General Manager in 1991 after 11 years working in marketing and special events for baseball’s Oakland Athletics where, among other responsibilities, he served as coordinator for the 1987 MLB All-Star Game. Before entering the sports arena, he spent several years on Capitol Hill as press secretary for then-U.S.  Congressman Leon Panetta.  He is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. 

Under Page’s leadership Sonoma Raceway has undergone more than $100 million in capital upgrades, transforming the facility into one of the premier motor racing venues in the country, hosting a variety of the world’s top professional and amateur automotive events.  Among his activities away from the office, Page serves on the board of directors of Speedway Children’s Charities, The Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation, the Road Racing Industry Council and the North Bay Leadership Council, of which he is the past chair.  He also serves on the advisory board for 10,000 Degrees Sonoma County, and Social Advocates for Youth and is former chair of the Sonoma County Tourism Council.

As far back as 1580 BC, Egyptian records noted cases of deformity likely caused by the poliovirus not until 1923 was the actual virus identified by Austrian Immunologist Karl Landsteiner.

Worldwide epidemics in the 19^th and 20^th century affected 500,000, killed 50,000 children, including nearly 10,000 in the United States.  Public swimming pools in the U.S. were closed, as near to us as Fleischacher Zoo and Sutro Baths in San Francisco. Ignorance and fear lead to reduced socialization and marketing of Polio insurance policies.  Iron lung annexes in hospitals cared for children unable to breathe on their own.  Local healthcare luminary Judy Coffey began her Nursing career in such a setting in Illinois.

In 1952 the United States experienced an outbreak of 58,000 cases, which left 21,000 with permanent paralysis.    Following just 3 years later, Jonas Salk developed the first vaccine, an injected dose derived from a dead virus culture.  Fast-forward two more years to 1957 and Albert Sabin’s advances introduced a live culture derivative, which could be administered orally, as many of us took with the sugar cube.

The devastating affects of Polio demanded global monitoring as continued outbreaks brought calamity to thousands

Rotary’s vision and reach was percolating.  Still in its infancy, The Rotary Foundation was encouraging clubs around the world to leverage their resources and apply member’s expertise and scope beyond local boundaries.

While returning from a Zone Institute conference as President of Rotary International, President Clem Renouf of Australia was inspired to propose focus on Health, Hunger, and Humanity as ongoing priority areas for Rotary International.

1978 enter Dr Benny Santos of the Philippines with an ambitious proposal:  Vaccinate all his country’s six million children.   Never underestimate the power of an idea whose time has come.   From that successful national vaccination program in the Philippines to build upon, enter US Physician Rotarian John Sever of the Potomac Rotary in Maryland.  His role at the National Institutes of Health gave momentum and credence to expanding the far-fetched vision of President Renouf clarity, support and impetus.

Six years later enter, Rotary President Carlos Canseco of Mexico.  Also a Physician, Carlos carried his predecessor Renouf’s vision forward, and in 1991 witnessed vaccinations proceed by an additional 16 million Mexican children.  In 1994 the America’s were declared poliovirus free.

Did you ever dare to THINK BIG?  Have you embraced the idea of International Cooperation, interagency collaboration? Stretching your comfort zone? How often do you confide a dream, hope or aspiration with others?

The paths of immunology, philanthropy, compassion and commitment converged on the world stage through the combined vision, humanitarian perspective and perspiration of thousands of professionals and volunteers alike.  Motivated, prompted, inspired to find answers through scientific inquiry, alleviation of suffering, prevention of crippling, crawling deformity, the end, the eradication of polio from the face of the earth is in our sight.  The last 0.01% of a mile to the finish line is the hardest.   As of 2012, new cases are limited to just three countries:  Afghanistan, Pakistan and Niger.  On November 6, Pakistan reported 80 cases Afghanistan 20.

Our support, your support is the cheering section..

Polio Plus initiative continues to grow, officially now known as:  Global Polio Eradication Initiative. It is comprised of representatives from Rotary, World Health Organization, UNICEF, multi-national domestic agencies and millions of donors including pivotal matching support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

This model of multi-faceted constituents, based on common interest advocacy has succeeded over three decades in safely protecting millions of children worldwide. Thousands of volunteers, within Rotary International and our partners, sharing the hope and vision of pioneers dating back to Karl Landsteiner, Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin have made it happen.

The committed careers of inquiring minds, patient therapists and hopeful progress of pained sufferers have all created this powerful record of international health improvement.

We are so close; let your support be part of the chorus in NO MORE POLIO!!

Visit Past District Governor Bob Roger’s  website   https://tinyurl.com/Bobs-Fundraising-Page  or  visit Rotary International’s link https://my.rotary.org/en/donate

Know that your contribution will make the difference in both the children’s health, and the stability and prosperity in his or her world!!!

On a regular basis, our resident photo pro Warren Smith, submits pictures of what is going on at the weekly meetings. You can always find the most recent pictures at the websites photo journal called "Meeting Sighting" Please note that all the meeting photos for the entire Rotary year are at this location with the most recent on the last page.

Thanks for all the great pictures Warren! Link to Meeting Sightings. The most recent are on the last page!