The Rotary Clubs of Dixon, Rock Falls, Sterling Noon, twin Cities Sunrise, and Walnut are hosting the Fourth Annual End Polio Now Walk at  Centennial Park, 510 East 11th Street in Rock Falls on Saturday, October 12 at 9:00 a.m.  Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. in the Larson Shelter where coffee and rolls will be available. 

Any donation of $20 or more will receive an End Polio Now T-shirt as long as the supply lasts.  A short program about polio eradication and photo of all participants will be taken before the walk along the Hennepin Canal begins.  The walk is open to the public and no registration fee is charged.

Any Rotarian who wishes to participate and also donate to Rotary Foundation should write a check to Rotary Foundation with their Rotary ID number and club name  on the memo line.  Their donation will be sent into Rotary International to the Polio Plus Fund and recorded to their Foundation account, but also will be used in the publicity of the funds collected through the End Polio Now Walk.  Any questions, contact Betty Clementz of Rock falls Rotary at tbclementz@gmail.com. 

October Polio Note (from Rotary International Polio News)

It’s been three years since health officials last reported a case of polio caused by the wild poliovirus in Nigeria. The milestone, reached on 21 August, means that it’s possible for the entire World Health Organization (WHO) African region to be certified wild poliovirus-free next year.

Nigeria’s success is the result of several sustained efforts, including domestic and international financing, the commitment of thousands of health workers, and strategies to immunize children who previously couldn’t be reached because of a lack of security in the country’s northern states.

“Rotary, its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, and the Nigerian government have strengthened immunization and disease detection systems,” says Michael K. McGovern, chair of Rotary’s International PolioPlus Committee. He adds: “We are now reaching more children than ever in some of the hardest-to-reach places in Nigeria.”

Fellow Rotarians. Do you love music and want to be of service to Rotary Districts 6440 and 6420?  On April 25, a band made up of Rotarians will play at the District Conference in Schaumburg at 5 p.m. or so on Saturday. Song list to be determined when we have all the band members and instruments compiled. All levels and instruments are welcome, from beginner to professional. We will probably hold one or two practice sessions before we play. If you are interested please email Mike Martinez and let him know what instrument you play. He can be contacted at martinezillini@yahoo.com . If you have already signed up, no need to sign up again.