District 5950’s End Polio Now focus is garnering significant local press as World Polio Day approaches on October 24.
35W Bridge and France Ave. lighting
The I-35W Bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis and lights in the Southdale area of France Avenue will be lit in shades of red and yellow on October 24 to honor Rotary International’s fight to end polio called End Polio Now.
Thanks to PolioPlus chairman Tim Mulcrone’s (Chanhassen) passionate persuasion, the Minneapolis City Council declared October 24 as World Polio Day in Minneapolis. The I-35W Bridge and France Ave. lighting in the End Polio Now colors that day will bring attention and awareness to the final push for polio eradication.
When Rotary launched its eradication effort in 1985, more than 350,000 children in 125 countries were stricken with polio every year. Since then, polio cases have dropped by 99%. Forty-four cases of wild poliovirus have been reported in two final countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, in 2015.
Polio Survivors’ Conference
by Carol Parish (Plymouth)
Volunteers from 19 Rotary clubs welcomed 300 participants at the "Life After Polio: Realities and Practicalities" conference on October 2. District 5950 was a conference co-sponsor with Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute. Participants received advice on dealing with post-polio syndrome. They viewed photos and scrapbooks containing information about polio treatments in the 1940s and 1950s, saw movies of Sister Kenny Institute’s early days of patient care, and shared common experiences.
Rotary showcased its 30-year fight to eradicate the disease. Many participants were not aware of Rotary's efforts in the fight. A very special polio survivor, District Governor Tim's father, Ray Murphy, (pictured above with DG Murphy) was a 1945 patient at Sister Kenny Institute. After spending time with Ray, we all know where Murph gets the Irish twinkle in his eyes.
It was a great day to share the Rotary story and focus in on our signature project. Good work, Rotarians. You are a gift to the world!
Greetings 5950!
Hosting 300 polio survivors at the Courage-Kenny Polio Survivors Conference was outstanding. What a PR dream for our district, and a hands-on opportunity for service related to our #1 cause. Hats off to PolioPlus Chair Tim Mulcrone (Chanhassen) and District Grants chair Carol Parrish (Plymouth) for an outstanding event! Sharing the day with my polio surviving father, Ray (pictured right), was a delight. Without doubt, District 5950 Rotarians excel at being A gift to the World.
October is Economic and Community Development Month. This is the time of year clubs focus on how we give back to Rotary using our vocations to support our economy and communities. Here are some suggestions:
