Bob is a past president of the Rotary Club of Sebastopol. He will share his goals for the year as well as provide us with District and RI news.

On a regular basis, our resident photo pros Warren Smith and Jack Strange submit 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 and Ross! Link to Meeting Sightings. The most recent are on the last page!

Additional photos may be found on the SR Sunrise Facebook Page.

Penny and Steve provided information on how to go about promoting Rotary and attracting new members, including the challenges involved as well as the anticipated cost and time commitment.

How to contribute

Ian H. S. Riseley

President 2017-18

One of the best parts of any Rotary convention is the sheer diversity of the people you see there. Whether you're heading into a breakout session, exploring the House of Friendship, or sitting down for a bite to eat, you'll meet people from every corner of the world, in all kinds of national attire, speaking just about every language. It's a lot of fun, and it's a big part of what makes Rotary great: that we can be so different and still find ourselves so at home together.

That spirit of warm community that is so central to Rotary also defines Toronto, our host city for the 2018 Rotary International Convention. Toronto is one of my favorite cities. It's a place where half the population is from another country, where over 140 languages are spoken by 2.8 million residents, and where no one ever seems to be too busy to be helpful. In addition to being clean, safe, and friendly, Toronto is a wonderful place to visit, with its attractive Lake Ontario waterfront, great restaurants, one-of-a-kind museums, and interesting neighborhoods to explore.

The 2018 convention already promises to be one of our best ever. Our Convention Committee and Host Organization Committee are hard at work lining up inspiring speakers, great entertainment, fascinating breakout sessions, and a wide variety of activities across the city. There will be something for everyone in Toronto, and Juliet and I encourage you to do what we'll be doing – bring your families along for the fun. If you plan early, your convention experience will be even more affordable: The deadline for discounted early registration (there is an additional discount for registering online) is 15 December.

As much as Toronto offers to Rotarians, the true draw is, of course, the convention itself. It's a once-a-year opportunity to recharge your Rotary batteries, to see what the rest of the Rotary world is up to, and to find inspiration for the year ahead. Find out more at riconvention.org – and find Inspiration Around Every Corner at the 2018 Rotary Convention in Toronto.

Paul A. Netzel

Trustee Chair 2017-18

"Countdown to history" is a phrase I especially like. Those three words express not just how momentous Rotary's polio endeavor is – something achieved only once before in the human experience – but also that the finish line is within sight.

Rotary and our strategic partners are united behind eradicating polio. Our 2016 Council on Legislation voted to reaffirm polio eradication as a goal "of the highest order." At the recent 70th World Health Assembly in Geneva, global health leaders reiterated their commitment to polio eradication. News coverage of our efforts pops up everywhere. Projects continue worldwide – such as District 6930's annual World's Greatest Meal – that focus on Rotarians' primary responsibilities of fundraising, advocacy, and volunteer recruitment.

Just think: The next case of polio could be the last case. But we must be careful, because that "last case" will not be the end of our task. In fact, that's when the job gets even harder. The World Health Organization will require at least three years with zero cases reported before certifying the world polio free.

During that time, intensive vaccination and observation operations will need to continue. On the vaccination side, children will continue to receive the polio vaccine. On the surveillance side, watching for signs of resurgence is vitally important. As the number of cases and patients with visible symptoms drops, this observation grows increasingly more expensive.

This is why Rotary has increased its commitment to fighting polio to $50 million per year and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has extended its 2-for-1 match of Rotary donations for another three years. To achieve this goal, we need you more than ever. If Rotarians hit the fundraising goal each year, the total will be $450 million. At the convention in Atlanta, nations from around the world and key donors pledged more than $1 billion to energize the global fight to end this paralyzing disease, including Rotary's $50 million per year. Now we all have the important job of making good on those pledges.

All of this is why I ask you to contribute something to the polio campaign – whether it is a direct donation, fundraising in your community, or telling the polio story using the multiple platforms of today's media. Also, be an advocate by writing your government officials to ensure that they fulfill their pledges and maintain commitment, and reaching out to corporate leaders asking for their continued support of polio eradication. Write to me at Paul.Netzel@rotary.org to share what you are doing or your ideas for keeping polio at the top of our agenda. We need you as never before in our "countdown to history."

This World Polio Day, get involved by hosting a viewing party, concert, or polio walk or ride. Find out more at endpolio.org/world-polio-day.